Here is a topic with some food for thought...

In the family, at least when I was in it, there was always this sense of people being of less value or less-than if they were "older". (With the exception of Berg, of course). I always thought alot, and one thing I thought about when I was in the family was how they were always talking about new bottles and old bottles and the new up and coming (now SGAs) disciples who would be the best because they would not be conditioned with the things we were before joining. It was as if we were always "less" important. To me it seems akin to being "breeders" for the family group, because children were so often separated from their parents, and in many places, as in my case, it was reinfoced to parents that the kids were the "familys" kids, not the kids of their family by blood. I guess berg envisioned something akin to the worship the hitler youth had for hitler. Well, so much of those ideals bothered me. I think it was one thing that helped me in leaving when my kids were younger. But I wonder sometimes how much of the family hang-over might subconciously work in peoples lives in ways that could pit us against each other or feel like as FGA we are somehow collectively responsible for everything that happened with any SGA. We were all under the influence of the cult, and obviously some parents left and kids stayed in, including after their reaching adulthood. Any time this is brought up, it seems to be a touchy subject, but I think as ex-members, it is good to recognize what we have all been through. I was still young when I left the family. (30). But with kids and no support it was very very hard getting on my feet. And forget having a life of my own. I always felt guilty for anything that I did for myself and I think that was a family hang-over. I am worth something today. I am not worth less because of age. I think it is good to have diverse boards, and that young ex-members need their space to relate to each other as only they can. But I hope for more dialogue between us. We could support each other in so many ways as ex-members. This venue does not force or push religion. Another hangover I think is the conspiracy and endtime paranoia. Seeing that current events are shaky at best, it is easy to "float" back into that mentality. I remember my reactions to Sept. 11th before finding these sites. I have to remember all the paranoia of the time when The Great Escape letter, Monster on the Move, Flee Bag and all that came out. Not to mention Kohoutek. Usually America was the target and was being wiped out with comets, nukes or whatever. Since the beginning of recorded time, there have been atrocities and wars, famines, major plagues, new illnesses etc. I think I am maturing more towards my age. I saw a quote from Martin Luther King, I think, I am not even sure, and I cannot quote it exactly, but it was something like 'If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant my tree...' It is a comforting saying. I think all the paranoia was one reason that I had so many nightmares about plane crashes (and me being on a plane going to america,) when I was overseas. I think that is why this nightmare is so common to probably many exers. I also had nightmares of water that would suddenly rise higher and higher and I would try to keep getting to higher ground and couldn't seem to get high enough. It was very frightening. Another thing is magical thinking. When I came back, I actually believed a hurricane came and was so very frightened during it because I was sure god was going to kill me and those I was with because I left the family. I can only imagine the type of thinking people who have grown up in the family have along those lines, or have had. I would welome any posts from all ages regarding family hangovers they had, when they realized they had them. I guess the basic subject is DISPELLING FAMILY HANGOVERS..