Posted by Suggestion on March 19, 2005 at 06:48:40
In Reply to: Re: One question at a time posted by Monika Kosz on March 18, 2005 at 16:54:09:
"How did you personally start your day when you were in the sect?"
This is already written about in many places, but I will oblige you with an answer. I got up before breakfast, and if it was at a time when I had children, I took care of their needs first, then tried my best to make it on time to the 2 big important events for the day. All homes had a scheduled breakfast and get-together time which was called devotions.
Breakfast was usually maximum 45 minutes or so, depending on whether there were lots of small children around. Some one on a roster had to get up an hour before to make the breakfast. Dishes could be done during, immediately after breakfast or immediately after devotions.
Devotions consisted of song, prayer, reading of the bible, mo letters, and could last anything from 30 minutes to 3 hours depednding on the shepherd, the home, or the trend at the time. They could be more geared towards children, divided into parts for children and for adults. In many home situations, younger children were herded off to have their own childrens' devotions which was oriented towards them.
During breakfast, we might try to pack in some verse memorization. One would try to recite a bible verse and reference by heart, and another would help along. Sometimes devotions and breakfast were combined.
"What kind of specific language did you used?"
English mostly. Kind words. Language revolved around the group. Look at the glossary of terms on this site, or read the mo letters for examples. Most members emulated the style in the mo letters. Lots of GBYs (God Bless You's) PTLs (Praise The Lord). Really, this stuff is already well documented everywhere. READ MORE around this site.
"How did you personally greet other members? (if anyhow)"
Smiles. Happy to see you looks. Hello, hi, hola, anything. Hugs, kisses, anything. Usually a hug went along with it.
"How did you welcome a new member? (if you had the chance)"
Same as above.
"What topic did you find taboo topics? (personally)"
This is also already well documented. Whatever was MADE to be taboo in the group. Questioning or doubting the prophet or his status. Not going along with any of the thousands of changes implemented by the leaders. Anything that made us criticise. Anything we carried with us from our pre-cult life. Asian members for example might find it hard to talk about sex. They might tolerate the sexual aspects of the mo letters read for devotions without discussing it. It might be an area that is left alone for a while until some leader comes along and puts an ultimatum on them to become sexualized. The mind control I described is already well documented everywhere.
Did any of this help? Your questions are becoming slightly, only slightly easier to answer. *wink wink*
As "Passing By" said, you might gain more insight by interacting more, and I understand this is exactly what you're trying to do. I would suggest READING the publications themselves, and the exchanges on this site and others. It might be hard for you, but if you're serious, you'll do your part, and doing your "homework" will show you are serious. It's hard to know what you really know and don't, because you come across through your questions as someone who has not done much research or have much of an idea about the topic, but when this is pointed out, you say that you in fact do a lot research and reading. Somewhere along the line we having a "lost in translation" syndrome coming in. Again, this is NOT about trust or reluctance. It is about how difficult it is when you feel like, "god, where do I even begin, with a question like that?" Apart from experience and perspective, it could be cultural, language and nuances that are in the way.