Cult Stories And Sect Stories

I am here yet again, if it's possible to click my username and see what all I've said, I still have no idea if that is something that can be done or not- my previous posts go over my situation in more depth. The short of it is: I am intersex, trans, mixed race, chronically ill and disabled and a trauma survivor. America is a hellscape, I need to get out of it, have for years and now here we are. I was attacked twice since Trump's election just trying to buy groceries, my doctor tried to take away medication I need to survive, as my intersex condition has severe health consequences that I NEED HRT for. It's not just about presentation for me (though it also helps dysphoria), it's that if I do not have it I will bleed out and my testosterone levels will go up so high it could cause heart damage or worse... I just say these things to be understood. My situation.

My mother and grandparents raised me with strict religious rules and the like, to the point where an exorcism was allowed to be attempted on me when I was thirteen or so because my obvious symptoms of a trauma disorder (among other signs of being a SA survivor) plus being intersex was a no-no. They wanted it corrected. I still deal with severe scrupulosity, guilt and just... Hurt, so much hurt and fear because of it all, it's too much to get into but that I think paints a clear enough picture even without knowing just all it included.

To the point. Current events are pricking at the 'be rapture ready' teachings I got shoved down my throat, I don't even know what I believe anymore, it's hard to feel belief or love for a god that you were abused in the name of. Who, if he's out there, has heard me scream and cry and beg and did nothing. If he's not, well... Is that better or worse? I don't know. I've been saying I'm agnostic but even saying it makes me feel like I need to kneel and beg for forgiveness for denying god so I just try to avoid it as a whole. Even so, though, there are still times where I give in to compulsions and wind up praying for hours for forgiveness and to be saved. Hurting my body in the process, as I have joint issues, that's my primary disability physically at least. The one time I tried to reach out for help for this, to my mother, her only response was. "It's never a bad thing to pray."

Every time I see someone say that it's the end of the world, in a religious sense or not, I just start sobbing and have to fight the urge to just pray and pray and beg until my throat hurts and my joints are on fire. Every time I see people in other countries say we are all responsible and can't be trusted due to Trump and MAGA, which don't get me wrong I understand because look at everything but I wish people would remember that there are people about to be slaughtered that tried to warn everyone about this that they're lumping in with their oppressors, I just want to do the same. Beg and plead with god to make this all stop. I have before, I did the other day, and asked for a sign that he hadn't thrown me away. Guess what happened next?

I found a bag of rotting meat that someone hadn't put in the fridge or freezer after we went to the store. I just broke down sobbing.

There are coincidences, I believe that it was one, the logical part of me. The part of me still grappling with the abuse, grooming and indoctrination I was put though keeps telling me. "He was telling you you're going to rot. You're disgusting, evil, you deserve the painful death awaiting you before you are sent to burn in hell." And, if you are reading this and highly religious, don't even bother commenting. I don't want to hear your proselytizing and hatred. I've heard any and everything you could possibly tell me, I assure you, it will do nothing. You won't get any good points with the man upstairs for converting a "lost soul." I'm not even an atheist, like I said, I just don't know what the hell I am and even if I am a believer the word 'Christian' now burns me given what has been done to me and the current state of the world. The rise of Christo-Fascism.

I have no one to talk to, so, I am going to now write something here I wrote the other day in a debate/conversation in an online circle that I saved to show my therapist so she could see how badly I've been doing. I just need someone to hear me, I guess? That's how and why I'm here. I googled 'anonymous venting sites' and found this here. I am sorry I keep spamming here. Now, the comment (and yes I showed my therapist):

"I hope and pray to whoever is listening that I manage to get someone to help me out of America before we're all caged in, I won't make it, I check damn near every box for people Trump and his not-sees want dead. I would say that I hope countries start allowing refugees from here, especially the most vulnerable like disabled folk and the lgbtqia2p community, but MAGAs fleeing what they voted for (and the ones who tantrumed over Kamala not being perfect enough for him so didn't vote at all which basically voted him in anyhow) are too big a risk to let in on accident. So, I know most likely no one will let us flee to safety, it's terrifying and heartbreaking. I can't say I blame them, though. Look at how everything is going, the things he is saying. Doing. So, as sad and scared and mad as I am, I give all support to them. I just wish that those who have been trying to warn everyone from the start, those on the chopping block first, were not forgotten and punished. I wish we could get thrown a life preserver. Here's to history never repeating again, to other countries standing strong, putting Trump in his place."

I really do feel like I'm just trying to crawl out of a Russian Nesting Doll, or a maze of cages, I was able to escape the first one my so called father trapped me in. Now, I'm in another, my mother may have saved me from him but has still kept me trapped. It's still no way to live, there is still harm, I'm just not in direct danger constantly like with him. I am afraid that the moment I finally get out on my own (I am a disabled adult dependent after being stuck with my father is the short version trying to find my way to being able to function independently safely) I will find that I'm just in yet another prison the size of a country. Or, a state, if it ends up with state to state travel even being banned...

I still keep praying even though it feels like no one is listening, I have to, I have no other choice. My brain won't let me completely give up on the possibility god is up there listening, won't let me deny completely, even if I feel pure terror first and foremost. And, well, I don't have any people in my life to go to do I? So, all I can do is cry and cower, complain in spaces like these or beg a sky that may or may not be empty (or at least hold something that despises me despite creating me) for help.

There's really no good categories on this things, so I had to pick the closest one.

Today is Mom. Feb. 3, 2025.

My comments/story will probably not make any sense, and it'll probably be a bit all over the place but just bare with me.

Giant unopened lotuses, shrouded in a shadow. Me sorta floating above them. Then I crash through some thick curtains. There's people there. It kinda looked like a grocery store. I was looking at a cookie container with 2 cookies. I ended up eating a purple cake. Not too sure why? I walk around. No one is around. I see that it looks like an apocalypse of some sort. But not the zombie kind. There's this giant white figure in the distance. One of my childhood friends grabs my hand and brings me to some sorta safe place. It's sorta run down, but her boyfriend/fiance was there, my former neighbors were there, and even my mom was there(which in reality, my mom passed away). Anyway, the giant figure in the distance looked like those stereotypical medieval European dragons. Large, white, and winged! It didn't seem to use fire, but it looked like it was having a child's tantrum. I then decided to go for a short walk, since it seemed far enough in the distance. I walked near a lake. I decided to sit down under a tree. Someone else was there, but I couldn't make out who. All I know is that the person next to me was a male. He said he careful and be quiet. His arm points to a certain direction. Two large hornets nests were about 7-8 feet away from us. Why dude was there, I don't know. I freaked out and ran out. Obviously I got stung a bunch of times. I wake up with my arm in a sh*t-ton of pain. No marks on my arm or anything, just sharp pain. But that's normal for me, as I feel everything in my dreams too. Like the sound of the wind, water at my feet, background chatter if there are people, the taste of food or drinks, and the feelings of both pain and pleasure. I feel everything. Which is quite annoying, since I've dreamed of getting shot once. It was very real in my dreams. I was in my mother's car, my mom got shot and got unalived, I got shot in my side and upper right arm. And when I woke up it was excruciatingly painful! Ever dreamed of being surrounded by over 1000 cats... That was one of my dreams once too, and they were so forking fluffy!! Dreams of walking along the sand and picking up a pearl. I've dreamed of a beach that wasn't covered in sand but mini pearls and the ocean was beautiful in that dream, I met a very um... Good looking mer dude in that dream, and he told me to keep a particular shell, the kind you see people blow into and it makes some sorta loud noise. But still. We met near a small archway made of stone. And another dream was more um, dark and scary. But I wasn't the experiencer in that dream, only an observer. I walked through a corridor of many different scenes. From a young blonde boy who was being tortured, to a young woman dangling from the ceiling with thick twine, to crows surrounding a man on a purple velvet couch. And there were many more, it was a pretty scary dream!!

Anyway, I gotta head to the doctors. I'll respond to previous comments from other stories I've shared later.

Bye-bye👋🏻😊!!

In our high school circle, there's a girl named Melanie who’s deeply entrenched in her Christian faith. Melanie is a devout follower and attends a local Baptist church every Sunday without fail. This personal devotion has never been an issue for us; in fact, it’s always been inspiring to see someone derive so much happiness from their faith.

Initially, Melanie’s religious expressions were subtle and respectful. She’d wear her cross pendant and occasionally share Bible verses on her social media platforms. However, over time, her approach began to change, becoming more overt and, frankly, overwhelming. It reached a point where she would arrive at our school lunch table with a Bible in hand, frequently interjecting our conversations with phrases like “God is amazing!” and persistently sharing her religious views.

Her approach intensified when she started a separate Instagram account to advocate for living a holy life according to scripture. She even attempted to launch a Christian podcast. The tipping point for us came one day over lunch when Melanie ranted about how "disrespectful" it was for people to wear cross necklaces if they weren't devout Christians. She also criticized "Jesus Christ Superstar"—a musical I hold dear—claiming it was blasphemous.

I felt compelled to address her that day. While I acknowledged her right to her beliefs, I expressed that her constant integration of religious commentary into every aspect of her interaction was becoming exhausting for everyone. I also explained that artistic interpretations like the musical were valid explorations of Jesus as a historical figure.

Melanie snapped back, questioning, "Are you implying you’re better than Jesus?" Frustrated, I retorted, maybe too harshly, "Look, Jesus loves you, but even he would appreciate it if you toned it down a bit."

This escalated to me criticizing her for letting her religion overshadow her personality and subtly implying she was superior because of her devoutness. Melanie hasn't spoken to us since that confrontation. Though my friends support my stance, claiming Melanie was being hypocritical and overbearing, I’m left questioning if I was too harsh.

The sarcasm and choice of words, in hindsight, might have been unnecessary. Reflecting on this, I can't help but wonder what the immediate reaction would be if this confrontation occurred in the setting of a reality show. Likely, it would have been sensationalized, with dramatic music and close-ups, possibly swaying public sympathy towards Melanie for being 'attacked' over her faith, or alternatively, it could have painted me as a protagonist standing up to religious zealotry, depending on the audience's prevailing attitudes.

I'm not a particularly religious person, and usually, I respect everyone's beliefs as long as they don't impose them aggressively on others.

I'm employed as a delivery driver at a local pizzeria. Typically, I cover the morning shift alone since it’s not usually very hectic.

Today, out of the blue, a call came from a woman requesting a large order to be delivered to the nearby hospital. It took quite a while to prepare because of the size of the order. Meanwhile, another order was placed online, destined for a church, which happened to be in the complete opposite direction of the hospital. My boss had to inform the woman at the church that her delivery would be significantly delayed due to the circumstances.

Once the hospital delivery was done, I headed back to the shop to pick up the church order. I heard that the lady from the church had been furiously calling the shop, complaining about the delay. She did not seem pleased when I finally arrived with her order. Her first words were, "I don't care who's to blame, but this is forty-five minutes late. This should never happen, I've got hungry kids waiting."

I chose to remain silent.

"Not much of a talker, are you?" she prodded.

"Just trying to ensure you have a good day, ma’am," I replied coolly.

She scoffed, turned away, and as I muttered under my breath, "That’s very Christ-like of you."

Returning to the shop, predictably she had already called to complain about my 'mocking' her faith. My manager isn't my biggest fan, so she took the opportunity to lecture me about customer service, demanding I always apologize and smile, regardless of the situation.

I questioned whether it was justifiable to apologize and smile after being verbally abused, and she nearly terminated my employment on the spot.

Since I was already doing overtime this week, I decided to wait till the end of my shift today before quitting.

Does that make me a bad person?

Imagine if this scenario unfolded on a reality TV show. How intense would the reaction be on social media or among the show's viewers? The dramatic interaction could potentially become a pivotal moment, underscored by debates on professionalism, religious tolerance, and personal limits in service-oriented roles.

I'm a 28-year-old woman currently residing with my mother due to my financial constraints, as I'm still completing my education with a college grant. My upbringing in the Adventist Church left me with some deep-seated emotional issues.

Since my father's death, my mother has entered a relationship with a new partner who practices an Afro-Brazilian faith. While I've expressed my struggles with religious discussions due to my Religious Trauma Syndrome diagnosed by a therapist, he has repeatedly tried to share his spiritual experiences with me. Despite requesting respectfully to refrain from this topic when we're alone, he has ignored my requests multiple times, causing me significant distress.

This repetitive breach of my boundaries led to a confrontation where I was firmer after he once again approached me with the same topic. I believed he understood my point after he became silent, perhaps feeling ashamed. However, he later complained to my mother, claiming I was rude, which resulted in a harsh rebuke from her accusing me of immaturity and intolerance. I explained my side, agreed to apologize for the tone but not for maintaining my boundary.

I personally apologized to him but reiterated my stance on avoiding religious conversations for my mental health's sake. He dismissed my approach, suggesting that adulthood involves tolerating discomfort. This makes me wonder if I'm really in the wrong here.

Imagine the drama this situation would cause if it played out on a reality show! The cameras would zoom in on our heated discussions, and viewers would probably be split. Some might applaud my stance on mental health boundaries, while others might criticize me for not being more accommodating. The producers would eat up the tension and the mixed reactions from the audience would add even more spice.

Am I being unreasonable here?

I've been married to my husband, Alex, for 17 years. We have two kids, Emma and Jack. Alex and I have been best friends for most of our marriage, but everything changed recently.

About a year ago, Alex was involved in a car accident. He was hit by a drunk driver and was in a coma for a month. It was an incredibly difficult time for our family, and the kids and I stayed by his side whenever we weren't at work or school.

Thankfully, he recovered and was able to return to his life after months of recovery and intense physical therapy. Things seemed to be getting back to normal until a few weeks ago when he became extremely religious. He started to believe that God had saved him and that he needed to use this second chance to spread his faith.

While I support people expressing their beliefs, Alex has adopted a very conservative form of Christianity, which is causing a lot of tension between us. Jack is in his senior year of high school and busy with college applications. Emma, watching her brother, has become interested in college too. The other day, she came to me in tears because she had asked her dad for advice on good colleges for computer science, a field she is passionate about. He told her she wouldn't be attending college because her role was to be a wife and mother, and college would be a waste for her.

I was livid. I confronted Alex about his statement, and he said he was spreading God's word and didn't want our children led into a sinful lifestyle. I asked him if he expected me to quit my job (I work from home as an accountant) and focus solely on being a wife and mother. He said he had been wanting to discuss this with me and thought I should quit my job since it wasn't suitable for a woman.

I was completely blindsided since he'd never expressed anything like this before. I told him I wouldn't quit my job, and our daughter would attend college regardless of his approval. He rolled his eyes and said I would come around eventually.

Things escalated last night. Emma was getting ready to go to the movies with friends, wearing jeans and a crop top—typical teenage attire. Alex stopped her and demanded she change, calling her outfit inappropriate. She asked why, and he said he wouldn't let her leave the house looking like that.

I was stunned as he'd never spoken that way before. I told Emma to go as she was, and she left. Alex then accused me of not caring about our daughter's soul. I told him it was her body, and she could dress how she wanted. He argued that her body belonged to God, not her, and I needed to respect his beliefs. I said I couldn't respect a belief system that treated women as second-class citizens, and he stormed out of the house.

He hasn't returned yet. Have I been wrong?

What do you think would happen if this scenario played out on a reality show? Would people side with me, or think I should support Alex's newfound beliefs?

Ok, first off the religious group I will not mention by name as it is not the point of this post. However, I will say I do believe they are a cult because they recruit people, force them to give the "council" all the money they make, and by around 60 when they are old they throw them out of their housing facilities that they own. They cut people's connections with all family and friends no exceptions. If you can't make money they don't want you. They are not small I'll tell you that much. We were learning about different groups in American history. We were in about 6 small groups all discussing about the groups. When I saw the one about the "religion" that's when I said to my group they were like a cult. This group is still a thing today.

Anyway, in english class my group was discussing about the group and I said, "oh they're like a cult" then the teacher chimed in.

T: "That's a strong word"

Me: "Well that's basically what they are"

T: "how"

Me: "Well they make these cartoons that..."

T: "Well many people make cartoons that doesn't mean they are a cult"

Me: "well the cartoon...."

T: "I'm just telling you you shouldn't call them a cult and it's wrong"

Me: "ok fine"

She kept cutting me off before I could even explain my reasoning. But should I not refer to them as a "cult"? Am I an asshole for referring to a religious group as a cult? If you have any questions about the group I'm talking about I'll try to explain it in a way not to call them out. I do believe they are a cult.

Imagine if I was in a reality show and brought up this topic. Would people side with me or would they think I'm just being rude? How do you think the audience would react if I explained my reasons on camera? Would they understand or think I'm out of line?