In Reply to: Where did my faith go? posted by Erika (reposted) on December 27, 2003 at 20:45:03:
Dear Ericka,
my post does not address your question as others do because I think it's not the right question to ask. The experience we had in the TF has nothing to do with faith so it's not a matter of where it went or where it is. The experience is a psychological experience and only when you come to understand this can you then move on to a peaceful quest of your faith concerns.
You do understand that "leaving" a cult really doesn't mean anything, right? It's not like quitting a job! YOU have to get the cult out of you and there is a process, a methodology for that. I recommend that you get in touch with your local cult-info center and ask for info on the psychology of mind-control. Of course the web and sites like this on will also provide a measure of info. The most commonly recommended book is called "Mind-control and the psychology of totalism" by Robert Jay Lifton. Great book! There are other book that also provide an explanation on the process. Check you local library.
It's been my observation that faith is one of the utmost concerns of the ex-member. Yet, it appears to me that putting it front and center actually prevents the issue from becoming clear. What I mean is that when the experience of having been in TF is resolved then the issue of faith becomes much easier to grapple and understand. It's very much like the what the addict must do to resolve his addiction... address the reasons why there's the addiction and not just remove the item of addiction.
My recommendation is simple... put the bible away, put the whole faith thing away for a while and take a break from "religion". God isn't going to punish you I assure you and he's definitely NOT in some book that some politician put together in 300 ad.
You'll find your faith when you stop looking for it because you will have taken the time to find out what IT ISN'T!
Good luck and all the best in the coming year.