Have you ever known anyone in a cult?

[BigMark]

Jessica had the brimstone fire down below.

[Duchess]

I kind of feel like I was in a cult of right wing extreme pentecostal belief. My heart was genuine in wanting to connect with God, but it was exploited by this large megachurch I went to. It was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and the head pastor ended up leaving because he got caught having an affair with the Church receptionists twin sister, whom he married. Big scandal.

I was involved in the church before the big Swaggart and Bakker scandals.

One of the preachers John Wesley Fletcher was involved with Bakker and slept with Jessica Hahn. He and his wife came to our church. He prayed over me once along with many others. He died of AIDS.

Do you still like that American pastor with the big mega church. I can't think of his name but I can see his face in my mind. Damn. He is not a godly person. Shit damn. What the hell is his name? ThinkingThinkingThinking. Joel Olsteen?

[cannongal]

Aussie is an idioism.  She looks down her nose at everyone , yet pretends not to know much about America.    Prove me wrong

[Clang McFly]

Aussie is an idioism.  She looks down her nose at everyone , yet pretends not to know much about America.    Prove me wrong

Nice to know her mental illness can be defined.

[aussiefriend]

I kind of feel like I was in a cult of right wing extreme pentecostal belief. My heart was genuine in wanting to connect with God, but it was exploited by this large megachurch I went to. It was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and the head pastor ended up leaving because he got caught having an affair with the Church receptionists twin sister, whom he married. Big scandal.

I was involved in the church before the big Swaggart and Bakker scandals.

One of the preachers John Wesley Fletcher was involved with Bakker and slept with Jessica Hahn. He and his wife came to our church. He prayed over me once along with many others. He died of AIDS.

Do you still like that American pastor with the big mega church. I can't think of his name but I can see his face in my mind. Damn. He is not a godly person. Shit damn. What the hell is his name? ThinkingThinkingThinking. Joel Olsteen?

I think back in the day I was very naive. I have heard that they are mega wealthy. His wife "holds court" at her house. I genuinely took him at his word. But since then they have hosted Trump, Kanye West and that obnoxious Joyce Meyer. I also heard they hang out backstage in the green room so that they dont have to mix with the common folk. 

Mega wealth, these days I got mega questions. I remember Jim and Tammy back in the day, when I first saw them, I thought they were great. So it doesnt feel good getting sucked in by fakes. I think there is some genuine with Joel but there is the money aspect. Doesnt sit well with me. 

The time of the flooding when they wouldn't help people and open their church until it made national headlines. They tried damage control but it was too late. 

These days, I look at them differently, I really want them to be true, but if they are not, I want to see that too. Not be in denial.

[MirahM]

Funny this thread was bumped as I had just heard about some "12 Tribe Cult" that follows hikers on the trails. The Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian trail.
I haven't learned alot yet about them so I didn't want to post anything.

Good for you Aussie for seeing the truth about those churches. I remember going to a church where the pastor had his own parking spot-not that big of a deal since it is a big place and he needs that-but then he had to mention it in the sermon as if it were a blessing God gave him for being good.
ummmm no

[aussiefriend]

Even Joel Osteen, I raved about him in the 2000s but I think he might be fake and his wife is too. Hosting Trump and Kanye. Yeh it's cultish. I think also when the Hurricane happened and they didn't help people and even when they conceded they still only helped a little and reluctantly.

But Joely baby is cashed up and drives a Ferari to church. They have their mandatory private jet plane now so that his wife doesn't assault flight attendants anymore.

I think when you want to discover and learn the truth you can be not strong enough intellectually and get conned and grifted by these type of entertainment churches. Jimmy Swaggart still going strong.

[MirahM]

What is the deal with the Free Masons? Anyone have experience with them?

[sally]

I have tons of experience. What would you like to know?

[rothschild]

What is the deal with the Free Masons? Anyone have experience with them?

There are levels of Masonry. The farther up you go, the further down the rabbit hole you will find yourself.

[BigMark]

Some say they are what's left of the Knights Templars, that I find fascinating.

[Duchess]

So they don't work with stone?

[Duchess]

[BlueTiki]

What is the deal with the Free Masons? Anyone have experience with them?

I know they have special lodges for colored folks.

Prince Hall I believe.  I'll ask my Mum.

She was a Job's Daughter.

(As an aside . . . I made out with a DeMolay when I was fifteen.  Great kisser and super cute.)

[MirahM]

What is the deal with the Free Masons? Anyone have experience with them?

There are levels of Masonry. The farther up you go, the further down the rabbit hole you will find yourself.

I found some videos on tik tok last night of some of thier rituals.......it was....interesting.

[MirahM]

I have tons of experience. What would you like to know?

Who do you know that is a freemason? Do you think it is a cult? Or does it seem legit, or just like any other "religion" or organization out there?

People I have met that are freemasons seem really nice and like it is a positive thing in thier life. The secrecy of some of thier practices and rituals is strange to me.

[rothschild]

What is the deal with the Free Masons? Anyone have experience with them?

There are levels of Masonry. The farther up you go, the further down the rabbit hole you will find yourself.

I found some videos on tik tok last night of some of thier rituals.......it was....interesting.

Low-level Masonry.

[aussiefriend]

I kind of feel like I was in a cult of right wing extreme pentecostal belief. My heart was genuine in wanting to connect with God, but it was exploited by this large megachurch I went to. It was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and the head pastor ended up leaving because he got caught having an affair with the Church receptionists twin sister, whom he married. Big scandal.

I was involved in the church before the big Swaggart and Bakker scandals.

One of the preachers John Wesley Fletcher was involved with Bakker and slept with Jessica Hahn. He and his wife came to our church. He prayed over me once along with many others. He died of AIDS.

Do you still like that American pastor with the big mega church. I can't think of his name but I can see his face in my mind. Damn. He is not a godly person. Shit damn. What the hell is his name? ThinkingThinkingThinking. Joel Olsteen?

I feel a little duped by Joely Osteen. His violent wife who holds court in the mega mansion they own, the high up ladies of the church go to her bible studies and she is the leader of their bible study group. They now have their own Private Jet Plane of course, so she doesn't attack any more flight attendants. Then you guys had a hurricane and they refused to open their big church to help shelter those that needed to be in safety. Even after the outcry they reluctantly opened the church, and only a small part of it for the public to access. Smiley Joely had to go on national television and do damage control. He has made so much money. It's like if you listen to his positive messages, all those good things happened to him and his family only. The rest of us are still battling. 

I hate hypocrisy, and my heart was genuine like many people but I think I am smarter now that there are people out there who manipulate and profit off others searching for answers and the truth. It's kind of like a fake psychic. Or like Trump and his bibles.

[MirahM]

I just realized thier name is Osteen and not Olsteen. All this time I've been saying it wrong. Glad you saw the light.

I remember pulling up to a church once and there was parking for the pastor, which-not too big of a deal-they should have a space. But the problem I had was when he mentioned it in his sermon naming it as a blessing, along with his big cadillac and any other riches he had. Jesus lived more humbly than that.
So strange how perverted everything is nowadays.

[Duchess]

I just realized thier name is Osteen and not Olsteen. 

Apparently I haven't learned that yet.