|
|
Post by schroek on Jun 5, 2007 21:04:01 GMT -5
I was raised in this religion and have wondered for years if I was the only one that thought it was an emotionally and spiritually destructive cult. I just found this site and praise God for it! I would like to encourage everyone to be honest but not unnecessarily cruel or judgemental. My mother was raised in "The Truth" and she was one of the most genuinely devout (although misled) people I've ever known.
Here's my question. Because of the secrecy and isolation from others, incest and sexual abuse was rampant in our family. When I told my mother about one instance, she wouldn't talk about it but told me later that "the workers handled it". No one ever approached me to get the full story. Anyone else experience anything like this?
|
|
|
|
Post by sharonhargreaves on Jun 5, 2007 23:56:08 GMT -5
Yes - many have experienced exactly what you are depicting.
There have been untold numbers of tragic accounts -
I have sent you a personal reply also - please check out what I have written you on that reply.
sharon hargreaves
|
|
|
|
Post by sojourner on Jun 9, 2007 22:53:38 GMT -5
As horrible as it seems there is abundant opportunity for sexual perversion in this group that has very little if any accountability. Yes there has been incest and there have been ISSUES with workers, Elders and commoners that include inappropriate sexual encounters. It is way more common than most would believe. The book " Reflected Truth" has some personal testimonies of such things. We have seen situations swept under the carpet for years.
Craig G aka Freeman
|
|
matia
Senior Member
Posts: 242
|
Post by matia on Jul 12, 2007 19:11:21 GMT -5
Hi there again
This is my 2 nd post
Re The above, yes I know that this goes on in NZ this happened to my handicapped brother
A man who had offered for the work did the dirty deed, and tried to show us certain things , how sad that the top brass dont listen to the under dogs cheers
|
|
|
|
Post by oncethere on Dec 28, 2007 0:11:50 GMT -5
Re Incest and Sexual Abuse - I've been there. The workers won't do anything about it even though they know the details. Where do people go for help?  Even the police are reluctant to get involved. Who protects these people? I've not registered before and the only reason I did so was because your post board makes me ill. It appears that the protection of perpetrators is paramount and the victim is left to "deal with it". I sincerely hope that at some point, the laws of the land will prevail and the people who commit these crimes will be brought to justice. I don't hold my breathe though because it doesn't appear that it will happen. It is great to forgive and "forget". However, those of us who have suffered at the hands of trusted people can never forget because our lives have been so affected and destroyed by these people. All the talk that I see on your post board is insulting to those of use who have suffered. Deal with the issues and stop talking it to death!! The only ones that can help the "truth" is those who are in it. Someone needs to take a stand and not be fearful of the repercussions of the friends and workers. Do you think Jesus would condone abuse of women and children? I have made a stand but there is no support in the "truth" for truth. Protection of the cult at all costs. I fear for the many more who will suffer at the hands of the "chosen ones". |
|
|
|
Post by juliette on Dec 28, 2007 0:37:47 GMT -5
I think there is a widespread idea that this is really not a problem. If you never see and hear about it, it must not exist. Cases that are brought into the open are seen as aberrations. In the many cases that some of us have heard about, the crime took place decades ago, and now the victims are adults. In the case of one abuser, two victims have recently notified the authorities, but the statute of limitations is up.
So I'm asking those who have been victims, what do you think it would take for the rank and file in the fellowship to sit up and take notice? Are you willing to write an account of what happened to you? What if many survivors came together and told their stories along with the effects of the abuse on their lives? What if victims called the authorities and reported the abuse (even if it was decades ago) and then made their official complaint public? I'm interested in your thoughts on this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Observing on Dec 28, 2007 8:16:53 GMT -5
Re Incest and Sexual Abuse - I've been there. The workers won't do anything about it even though they know the details. Where do people go for help? Even the police are reluctant to get involved. Who protects these people? The police are not reluctant. The parents and even the victims themselves report abuse to the workers rather than to the police. As happened in the Catholic church, you need to report crime to those who deal with crime. This is not a religious issue. It does when the crimes are reported. The problem is the reports really need to be made by the victims. Have you dealt with the issue? Did you go to the proper authorities? As long as the parents and victims will not report it there is little others can do. This is not a religious issue. If you believe Jesus is God and that God is all knowing and all powerful, then the conclusion if that God condones it. He knows about itm has the power to stop it, yet allows it to happen. Sounds like the definition of condone to me. It is not a religious issue. As horrible as it seems there is abundant opportunity for sexual perversion in this group that has very little if any accountability. This happens everywhere. |
|
|
|
Post by oncethere on Feb 1, 2008 12:21:54 GMT -5
We have gone to the authorities. It takes a very long time and our faith in them is also in question. The workers knew of some events and never went to the authorities either. The last event, they refused to become involved.
When a victim is young, it is also the responsibility of those who know what is going on to help to protect them and contact the authorities if the victim can't. The workers are as culpable as the abuser - they are in the know and let it go.
You say it is not a religious issue. The people of the truth hide behind their religion to not have to deal with sexual abuse. While I was being abused, I was quoted scripture - it was used to justify their actions - it may not be a religious issue but they certainly use their religion or their doctrine as something to hide behind.
Denial seems to be the pervasive way of dealing with things.
|
|
|
|
Post by Observing on Feb 1, 2008 14:13:45 GMT -5
We have gone to the authorities. It takes a very long time and our faith in them is also in question. The workers knew of some events and never went to the authorities either. The last event, they refused to become involved. I don't know where you live. In the state of Texas it takes less than 24 hours after the report is filed. Reporting is the responsibility of the victim and/or the guardian. If there is abuse, say by the guardian, then it is required, at least in Texas, that if you have knowledge of the abuse you report it. If you do not report it it is a criminal offense. If they knew about it and did not report it they may themselves be reported to the state. It is a criminal issue. If it is reported to the authorities, they cannot hide. What the abuser did was criminal regardless of how it might have been couched. |
|
|
|
Post by degem on Feb 2, 2008 10:29:14 GMT -5
I absolutely HATE the thought of incest and sexual abuse. There is a case in our town which is absolutely horrific ! Actually no one words can describe it! It involves a baby girl under a year old and her father! I cry and get so angry when I think about it.  Gem |
|
|
|
Post by Brick on Feb 2, 2008 11:58:11 GMT -5
The police are not reluctant. The parents and even the victims themselves report abuse to the workers rather than to the police. As happened in the Catholic church, you need to report crime to those who deal with crime. This is not a religious issue. Amen. To me, this is like trying to get a speeding ticked resolved by taking it to the workers. A ridiculous thought, I know, but so is reporting a crime to workers. What are they going to do? Lock the perpetrator in an outhouse on the convention grounds and only feed them convention stew and boiled potatoes for a few years? |
|
|
|
Post by wingsofaneagle on Feb 4, 2008 1:07:26 GMT -5
The police are not reluctant. The parents and even the victims themselves report abuse to the workers rather than to the police. As happened in the Catholic church, you need to report crime to those who deal with crime. This is not a religious issue. Amen. To me, this is like trying to get a speeding ticked resolved by taking it to the workers. A ridiculous thought, I know, but so is reporting a crime to workers. What are they going to do? Lock the perpetrator in an outhouse on the convention grounds and only feed them convention stew and boiled potatoes for a few years? Now THAT is a thought!!!!! ROFL That sentence could be worse than 20 yrs behind bars!!!! ;D ;D ;D |
|
ktb
Junior Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by ktb on May 17, 2008 15:33:47 GMT -5
Hello,
|
|
ktb
Junior Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by ktb on May 18, 2008 18:46:23 GMT -5
Hello all,
I attempted to post yesterday but my computer misbehaved just as I was posting!
I was B&R in the truth and my father was an elder. Incest and molestation was rampant in my immediate family. I was molested from for as long as I can remember. As a child I was also taken for others to use me.
I agree with above. This is a crime that should be reported to the police. NOT the workers. They can't even figure out the origins of the truth without messing that one up!
Why hand them this???
ktb
|
|
Even the police are reluctant to get involved. Who protects these people? 
Gem
