Hi to all and welcome to new members. I am quoting ex-l here
ex-l wrote:it sounds like you might still be psychically hooked up to the "god of the BKs" ... Sometimes the mental conditioning, the pull, psychic connection or magnetism, is still strong and I think many ex-BKs have a hard time dealing with and pulling away ... or facing any type of religious idea ... if individuals such as yourself have by-passed the BK God and made their way back to "the Godhead" ... or whether they are still hooked up to the BK god but in an unbranded manner.
and would like to ask him to expand a bit on this concept of being psychically hooked by a spook, or even other persons, or to refer me to any old post where I can read more about this interesting open topic.
It is very true that, because of BK creed and system being a "package" as Lokila aptly defined it, it becomes difficult for members and ex-es, to sift out truth, or to build or rebuild a relationship with God once they felt deceived by the BKWSO.
The BKs talk about defamation especially when members leave the organization and become critical. In my books, the reputation of the group is impaired by the bad behaviours of members and especially leaders, of the inconsistency between what they preach and do. Nothing new, it happens in all religions.
Also the "yuktis" of instilling fear and the rest, of future punishment, guilt, repentance, are very stale and unfortunately they do work. Especially on people that lack self esteem, assertiveness and want to please others or be accepted/loved by a group ... or God himself.
About the prohibition to think:
Dogmas are also the core of religions,and even though the BKs claim that this is not a path where blind faith is required, they do crush people with an inquisitive intellect in many ways, mainly shaming them by labelling, what IMHO is a healthy attitude and a right of any living creature as "criticism" and "manmat".
These are conjurers' type of tricks, hypnotism, repeating something over and over again until the listener's will power is put to sleep and is at the mercy of his puppeteer.
And another trick is ""diversion". Don't you dare looking at the heaps of dirty laundry in this "spiritual family".
Let's instead point the finger somewhere else:
Gurus, the vision of a punishing God, selling spirituality for money, are all sins visible in other religions and groups, but we are totally different and clean!!!
ex-l wrote:I suspect most folks here are "once bitten, twice shy"
Unfortunately, not all those who get burnt once become careful fast, next time! Sometimes it takes decades to wake up and heal, and many ex-cult members do not recover at all. There are many factors involved, slowing down the exiting or even just developing a more independent stance and approach.
One could be the brainwashing and the difficulty in de-programming and finding oneself again and reinventing the self and one's one life after a cult experience. Another one is the variety of anesthetics one gets when BKs. Initial "honeymoon" period experiences, praise from teachers, being given titles, a role or a badge, and many more, if we want to compile a list! BKWSO is a rat that blows and then bites
!
About opening the arms, in this case, to a sect or a ghost channeled through a medium:
Translating it into a more "worldly" situation, I cannot forget the words of a Buddhist friend of mine who tried to explain to me the difference between opening the heart in relationships, and making our heart available for others to cut it into pieces.
One good thing I learned in Gyan is that a virtue, if misused or abused, becomes a defect. So, good faith, openness, being giving and helpful, need much wisdom to be used in a balanced way. Or else they turn into something harmful for ourselves and others. Innocence is a deity quality, naivety taken to the extreme is not just foolishness, but being out of touch from the self and reality.