Evil Films presents...

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[jehu]

I didn't think much of the Rock TV video.  So when I saw this, I laughed.  Navigate to this page and explore the video on the right side of the layout.

Mind Control Made Easy
or
How to Become a Cult Leader

[MamaD]

That was creepy.

Do you know the background of the people who did it? Obviously, they had a bad experience, too! It would be interesting to know where they are coming from.

Have you ever seen The Simpson's "Joy of Sect" episode? It makes a similar point...not quite as dark. At one point, Marge is trying to leave the sect they have joined and the loudspeaker is saying "You are free to leave". As Marge is trying to leave, she has to go over a barbed wire fence and a field of land mines as she hears the phrase repeated, "You are free to leave!"

[AgathaL'Orange]

I was going to post that link a few months ago, but I was afraid it might be too inflamatory!  I am glad someone else posted it though.  I thought there was some relevance in this forum, even if it was extreme.

[exshep]

I thought  the links sounded familiar. I thought they were on DecComm.   I am burned out in the anti-cult movement;  so it probably lost its humourous edge.  There is a  book called Help My Guru Died which had  a "cult" following in the anti cult movement.   I have not read it in years.  It was funny.  Still around.  

I can side with you on the imflamatory stance.   Maybe in a private forum. On the public side, it might send a bad message.   I had reservations sharing a vaudeville routine of former members.  

Sounds like you made a good decision.

[exshep]

That was creepy.

Do you know the background of the people who did it? Obviously, they had a bad experience, too! It would be interesting to know where they are coming from.

Have you ever seen The Simpson's "Joy of Sect" episode? It makes a similar point...not quite as dark. At one point, Marge is trying to leave the sect they have joined and the loudspeaker is saying "You are free to leave". As Marge is trying to leave, she has to go over a barbed wire fence and a field of land mines as she hears the phrase repeated, "You are free to leave!"

Even 20 years later, that would creep me out.  Pyschologically it would be accurate.  There was the door, but how does one leave what is familiar to  a post group existance.  The only reality is the group itself.  Good description.

[jehu]

I think that's courtesy of some people from the est, Scientology or LGAT side of the equation.  It always helps me to look at their perspective because they're not working from the Bible.  When you look at things those groups are doing without biblical reference and then see commonalities with things that are going on inside a church, it helps to understand.  Obviously not everything in the video applies to us, but it does present a more blatant example of what "cult" means to someone like me.  There have been quite a few people from the inside of GC who have been willing to look at the movement with fresh eyes from an outside perspective, and that is - for lack of a better word - encouraging.  There are still going to be people who are preaching extreme unity to the exclusion of 1 Cor 12 and some other great passages which offer advice on making unity functional.  Hopefully GC can somehow grow around weeds like those.  I know I wasn't able to thrive in that environment.  Now that I'm doing at least as well as before I found fellowship there, I'm not really as bitter.  I see where videos like these correlate and where they don't (at least for my experience).  I hope you guys are doing well... I know I haven't really checked in much recently.  It's good to know I don't have to hold the wall up