I was born into the WCG in 1974. It was all I knew until the split happened in the 1990s. I was young and just wanted to be normal and hang out with my friends. My mom had re-married a very abusive man from the WCG. At the same time her short marriage crumbled, so did the WCG.
It has taken me until now to realize that I was raised in a cult. Even though I haven’t attended a church service for many, many years, I have lived this intense shame and guilt. I could never explain why I always thought the worst of myself. I have always felt second place to others and that I never fit in. Now that I am dealing with the lies that I was raised with and recognizing the impact that they had, I finally feel free.
This huge emotional barrier to life has been lifted from my soul.
My husband (never a member of WCG) could never understand where all this self-hatred came from. We had many discussions as to why I would feel so bad about myself.
I felt that I was living the wrong life with the wrong set of beliefs. I was not living “the truth.”
Your site has been so wonderful and all its revelations have set me free. Herbert Armstrong was just a sick man who was all out for the money and the control.
My mom still attends United Church of God. I love her and bear her no ill will, but I am so sad for all that she has lost out in life. She started attending WCG as a woman with four little boys, no formal education, and a very emotionally abusive husband who later turned into a raging alcoholic. So she was a prime target. She had been attending for at least 10 years when I was born. And now she is a lonely elderly woman on a small income and still tithing.
Thank you, thank you, for all your information.
I can finally say with certainty that I am free from this burden of lies.
My life can now be one of happiness and love and a bright future. I no longer wait for God’s wrath or the Great Tribulation. And the only place of safety is one in God’s true love and not in Petra.
Many Blessings to you.
By Adrianne – Child survivor of WCG
