escaping cults and finding freedom
I listened and watched for over twenty years as the people who said they were God’s mouthpieces spewed the “if you died today, do you know for sure you’d be in Heaven” sales-pitch, scare tactic, 123-repeat-after-me, manipulative, skeezy lines. I used to believe in the pious, creepy, condemnation and arrogance-laden, self-righteous shit shows solemnly (gleefully) …
Saved from the silence. What does that really mean? Well, for many survivors of oppression, it means that our voice is not optional. It is not a choice. Rather, it is a sacred calling and solemn responsibility. We don't get to choose when to break the silence. We don't get to decide whether it will …
Peacekeepers. On the surface, the term might look innocuous. They prevent disturbance, preserve the status quo, keep the rebels in line. But when it comes to peacekeepers within interpersonal relationships and faith community environments, there's a vast difference between enforcing the status quo and creating true, lasting peace. A peacekeeper protects the rules and the …
One thing I’ve noticed about abusers is they rarely function in a vacuum. Where there is a chronic abuser, there will be enablers. I once read the account of a young woman who grew up in an abusive home. Everyone knew her father was violent. The clerk at the small town grocery store. The parishioners …
I was beginning my nightly preparations for bed recently, worn out by another productive, yet hectic day. Exhausted, I splashed water on my face and gently rubbed cleanser across it to remove all traces of makeup and anything else clogging the pores of my skin. My thoughts wandered as I rinsed it away and reached …
Saved From The Silence 