Good point Clive and Cbarb. But it's back to the issue of subtlety. Maybe some openly deny medicine in favour of prayer, but these are the more pronounced cases. How many members hide the fact that they are ill in case it is discerned as their fault? Or hide that they are receiving treatment for things? What of mental illness which can't be evidenced by x-rays and such? Would any memb
Forum: Destructive Churches

Clive, I had nearly forgotten Narnia...which is strange because CSLewis (and, of course Mr Black!) was the, like, the only approved reading. And in smc you don't actually have to even read the bible...just listen to your leader, who speaks for God anyway...pfft! I wonder if history will show smc becoming synonymous with ridiculous organisations that are spiritually devoid and run like an in
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CovLass, I don't want to be a doubting Thomas, but I'm not holding my breath, as we speak. However aspects of smc have apparently needed further looking into by OSCR. If the smc leadership are stressing their fallibility (which is what I read from what you posted.) then this is a stark admission. I wonder if they will actually act on public complaints...ie. address them finally. That wo
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Cbarb, I'm utterly horrified. I wish I could enlighten you, it's just not doable. Unjustifiable and it's where forgiveness ends for me. Can you ever truly heal? I wish I could answer. However, you are here, helping. YOU. So despite everything, you're still an asset to humans. Regarding your personal journey throughout then and now, I can only say I'm glad I met you and ta
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Cbarb hi, I can't believe they are actually admitting this information control. But are they just "protecting" kids from inappropriate content or attention? If so, good practice Cedars. What about when a kid wants to phone home at a random time? I do know that unregistered and unsynced machines (and even some newer phones..) will not connect. Control, N. Korea-style. Does anyon
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Clive, are you trying to lower the tone? This forum is quite well-known for it's diversity and our ability to resolve and discuss issues, You just suggested Cbarb believes in basically every little fantastic tale...though you forgot to mention some actual examples. Anyway, it has been proven that thought can cause kinetic energy. So we can move things with "the force". :) Just go
Forum: Destructive Churches

Haha, good one... Filthybackslider, welcome here. Smc gave you your name too, just like me? Nope, you are definitely not alone in your experiences. It's looking more and more like we are the majority, sadly. (or finally..) But yes I too babbled nonsense just to get the numerous shaking hands off my head and shoulders. But I felt no guilt or guile. Significant or not... I certainly didn�
Forum: Destructive Churches

Cbarb, I reckon the cushion may have deflected the worst of the damage. :) Clive, yes! I really don't know any Christians who think that each prayer will be answered or answered in the way asked for. I suggest it's more to do with knowing that your prayers are heard.. Answered prayers mean very much to me, thanks. As you expand you seem almost go faith-bashing. Blind-faith, fundamen
Forum: Destructive Churches

In full agreement Cbarb, But tell the truth...it's not fair to blame your sons for you having gaming addictions/issues. And are you saying you've watched the Omen?? :0 Oh your poor infected soul. Again, to be serious, the more that comes to light, (daily!) the harder I find it all to believe. Oh, I DO believe but even without the ridicule from here and there, how, how, how do such
Forum: Destructive Churches

Clive, is this why you are an atheist? God isn't an wishing well or an autoteller. I don't know any Christians who think like this. Funny point about DR boasting that He is like her church's personal butler. I wonder how hard she is praying for our untimely demise... So if we die today, call the polis, someone, because Diane ordered the hit and she won't be able to resist te
Forum: Destructive Churches

Clive, haven't some of these recent pages shown you that it is way more complex than you seem to be breaking it down. The "sandwich-makers" of old, really wouldn't have had concerns compared to today. The timeline is 2 stories now, the good grafters that built the church under a much more respected leadership. Perhaps you were one of these? The work done by them cannot be over
Forum: Destructive Churches

ThePetitor, I meant to add. While this all-seeing leader couldn't discern that I was just counting the minutes until me and my bro could head out to the woods at Wiston and get ridiculous, I didn't get even a dram that evening. Spent all my time looking after my drunken brother who (very loudly) was being sick. In the dead of night at Wiston, wretching sounds travel far indeed. And in
Forum: Destructive Churches

Wistongirl, just write a few more brief posts and when you have posted 25 (I think..) times; you then earn the privilege of pming. :) So just pop on to say hello to 10 people, individually. I'm chocabloc busy right now but I'm going to try to pm a hello to you. If you receive it and reply your private messaging may get bump-started. I'm sure that happened to me. Plus, I think rrm
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Yeah, you're cool Wistongirl you get me totally, you know. The complications and history. It's a devastating dilemma. It's exactly why I post here. And why you should. :) The thread remains pretty much centred on prevention of more behaviour listed here that has proved harmful. If nothing else we maybe will help avoid future lives blighted. Meanwhile many of us try and make sense
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Wistongirl, can I just say that I am actually with you on the "two sides" issue. I try to balance my experiences and get the best possible message. I was only under their roof for a relatively short period and do cling to the valuable, good memories. I didn't judge EA to be trying anything on. Yes she is family too. Hence years of unwitting entwinement. But reflecting on the incid
Forum: Destructive Churches

Here's a good one ThePetitor. :) I wasn't going to publicly mention this act of kindness shown to me by a leader of smc. My mother's funeral was conducted by Effie Alexander. A lovely service, mainstream and everyone was grateful. Then because I fell away, I had no further contact, and never expected to. But wait! about 2 or 3 years later (ironically around the time I was looking
Forum: Destructive Churches

Welcome Wistongirl! How lovely to hear from someone who (without being too conned...) has fond memories of time at smc camps etc. For many years, and now of course, I too have great memories and they have been immensely validated by the good people (and their level of understanding) here on this forum. It is true that the length of time spent within smc is not directly proportional to the level
Forum: Destructive Churches

Has anyone else noticed, as you read through this thread (and others here on Rick Ross's forum); it's like a "DIY manual" of how to create fear and control? Reverse extrapolate (intrapolate?? can't find a dictionary...) peoples' accounts shared here and how they portray this org's leadership and structure. What is clear is that leadership confabs must consist of
Forum: Destructive Churches

lintar123, I don't think you come across as cynical. And wouldn't blame you anyway, given your experience. I was convinced she was The Headteacher, (not deputy) and was never corrected). Call it quibbling but....there IS a difference. I wouldn't let people think I was the boss, if I was only 2nd i/c. Just another myth dispelled, thanks lintar123. Although I have very different me
Forum: Destructive Churches

Page 100!! Less talk: more action for me...methinks. I.
Forum: Destructive Churches

That's better wordeded, Rensil. :) I was trying to say something akin...re JJ. As a kid, she came across all right and I never heard any negative comments about her. (Well you don't hear these things from within anyway..) People like dr or gg, young as I may have been, I was definitely warned that they were OTT and not to listen too much. I was certainly never wary of JJ. But back t
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Hi Clare, can I be the first to welcome you to our little discussion (99 pages of it!!) ? Welcome! I still don't really understand the emphasis on leading women. and no I don't have a problem with girls (or boys) telling me what to do. Nor do I care if people are homo, hetero or "internally struggling" ... I do have grave reservations about the way sexualization is dealt wit
Forum: Destructive Churches

Cbarb, well that is a sad story of duplicity and betrayal. Interesting too, but a good example of smc at its finest. Heehee, it's not my browser. I visit here from a tiny, weak but effective machine. Paranoid about when they start to fight dirty. Cyberwarfare is a possibility, this machine is expendable. My cobbled Frankensteined monster however, is primed, target-ready and unconnected, als
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Sorry E.Ray, I meant to say, don't remember grace really, but, truthfully I do recall Jennifer as approachable and patient. I actually don't remember being on the receiving end of her discernment. Was pretty young though and can't speak for others. Obviously I wasn't aware of much more than I needed to be. Sure there were times we acted up and she would look at the floor. We
Forum: Destructive Churches

Anybody else get the creeps reading ThePetitor's draft? ThePetitor, compliments on your writing. Looking through smc-tinted-specs; I can definitely deem this draft as acceptable. In fact it is complete and infallible...though we can always adjust it to meet any specific requirements of any leaders involved in a complaint/grievance...in the interests of preserving their elevated status and t
Forum: Destructive Churches

OK we can laugh now, from the outside. (and it can make hilarious reading, especially the once-carved-in-stone-now-not-applied hats for women rule...I'm still trying to believe that one...). A quite simple thought came up reading your rulebook Cbarb, and your addenda CovLass: Smc leaders see satan and sin everywhere, in fact, as we know, they can even discern it! Constant talk of sin (espe
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Rensil, I'm still laughing. A book of rules would be like a Stephen King novel. Anyway , I am both mentally ill and backslidden (I admit..). Nonetheless, in the real world, my opinion is valid. I think that the leaders of smc have actually mislaid their belief in God; and a long time ago. But they seem completely content to believe in themselves. I would not want to be them when it all com
Forum: Destructive Churches

Welcome E.Ray. I just wanted to say I'm glad you managed to get out clean, so to speak. I suppose I did too, but due to family circumstances. I just hope you are fine and continuing down your chosen path. You find somewhere else to attend yet? Or are you assessing the options, seeing as there are so many real Christian fellowships out there. I am glad you posted as it is reassuring to know,
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Hi Lintar123. Pleased to make your aquaintance. Thanks for the reassurance I didn't imagine the kneeling. I mean, can you just imagine the reactions/discerning looks if we had chosen to "take five" to refresh the blood flow??? I was way too eager to be seen as committed. That's the struthers way.. Still I find your story of recovery (and falling in love despite the interferenc
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ThePetitor, Archbishop Laud knew exactly what they meant and intended. It wasn't a question, it was a spiteful, spuriously aimed exclamation, designed to belittle or offend me in particular. They failed though. It is not for the giver to offend, it is whether the receiver wishes to be offended. I couldn't sit quiet while he rubbished claims here, but I tried to be polite and even offer
Forum: Destructive Churches