I am completely amazed at your response. Shocked would be more truthful. You are entitled to your opinions, even though you have no idea what I am talking about, when you group all Messianic groups into one. We have nothing to do with "Jews for Jesus" and never did, nor do we have anything to do with UMJC. You have deliberately done my shul a disservice without knowledge.
Forum: Destructive Churches

Just to answer from one point of view -- I am Messianic, attending a shul in Washington State. While the leader who started our shul is Jewish, as are many others, we are not all Jewish, and non-Jewish members are welcome. We do not attempt to "convert" people to be Jews. The founder of the shul attended and taught in Baptist seminaries, and some of what is taught at the shul foll
Forum: Destructive Churches

Okay. Before I left a particular church organization, I began to see it as a cult. Now, I call it a cult. I am curious if it is thought here that it truly was a cult. 1. The organization's original two leaders were charismatic and were basically idolized, although the later three organization leaders seem to command less such esteem. 2. The pastors in its individual churches demand
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteHopeMy apologies for not being clear. I'm trying to find info on personal relationships, i.e. abusive spouses or significant others. Do these relationships have the same mind control issues that cults have? Most info out there pertains to the "victim" being codependent, but I think that by stating that, it stops any further thought or conversation about other issues that m
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Hurting, you asked, “Can you let me know how you came to the realization that that church was up to no good?” The realization, while it took a long, long time to bring forth positive fruit, began when I was ages two and three. My pastor screamed at the top of his lungs from the pulpit, screaming until his face literally turned purple and big blue veins stood out on his neck. He would spy on
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Larry, A lot of the things you wrote struck a chord with me. Many in my old church also enjoyed their “dirtiest sinner” pasts and the cleansed-notoriety their pasts brought them. This was confusing to me. I also saw many of the works there as superficial — works for the sake of works, sometimes with very ugly purpose behind them. Those who succeeded in that church revered the pastor and other
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Richard, since i notice you are still here, I was born into the cult I left after 50 years there. My parents remained together until the death of Father at the age of 86 or so, but i will never forget the first time I heard of divorce, when I was about seven. I thought it was a fabulous invention, and I hoped Father would get one, taking us with him. I have had job issues, because I have a h
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Pardon me! I was in a big rip when I wrote that, and my last two paragraphs are not very understandable. They should read as follows: The Nazarene church leaders I have been around are not a money-hungry lot. My husband’s pastor, for an extreme example, appears to give out more money than he appears to receive in offerings, making up the loss through several very good investments he has per
Forum: Destructive Churches

Quotealli_wanI came across your website while trying to find information about the Church of the Nazarene. . . . I am concerned because my mother has joined this organization and her behavior (which used to be merely erratic) has now become fanatic and frankly alarming. . . . In light of this, I am naturally concerned when she almost immediately joined another church (this time being the Chu
Forum: Destructive Churches

You might want to check out this site:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

diesel51, I was a member of a similar church for just over 50 years. I know what you are saying about the miracles in the lives of the people there, including myself. My mother told me about how I was healed of polio at the age of two when they called the ministers to pray for me instead of taking me to the doctor. As they prayed, they watched my foot, which was turned backwards and red, t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am new here, and this is my first post. I am still recovering, having left about cult 4 years ago, after 50 years if involvement. I have not sought professional help, although I have considered doing so many times. What I find most disturbing and most beneficial are my dreams. I have both nightmares and dreams. Upon waking, I sort through their elements and recognize each one's mean
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups