I have a thought and was wondering if y'all might have an opinion
So, I need help. I am starting to get curious and finally have access to the internet. I am young, and have been in this church since I was born. Basically? I've been obsessed with cults and evil peoples rise to power since I was a little kid. Recently I've been like. Oh crap....itd kinda sounding like my church? Now I've recently had a life shattering faith breaking personal realization that's shaken my faith so that might be influencing this. Plus the preacher gave us a lesson on why we aren't a cult and made some valid points. Here they are: 1. We don't follow one human leader. We believe he's in heaven not on earth. 2. We don't demand ALL your assets. Only giving. And that's what you want, technically. (However there's a lot of pressure from other people to give at least 10%) 3. We are the only ones with logical reasons as to why we are going to heaven, you can't buy your way in. Here's the rundown of the rules in my church, the biggest ones and the ones that make me feel weird, y'all tell me if I'm overreacting or influenced by true crime (which is very well a possibility)
- You must dress modestly. Fairly normal rule for church I guess, but it's extremely strict. No shorts, must be past your knee. No chest showing obviously, no collarbones usually. No hair dye, no piercings and no tattoos unless you had them before you were baptized. Then it's ok just remember that was from your previous life.
- Take the lords supper every Sunday
- Attend chruch Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday. Always go to any church events you possibly can. Or you're forsaking the fellowship of the church.
- We are the only ones going to heaven. Like no other Christians or people. Just us, we are so lucky that we got it right.
- We are useless without it
- people outside of the church are not to be trusted and how kind they might seem they are sinful and need to be saved, and the devil will use people to get you away from the church and your church family.
- You must cut contact with anyone in your family or friends that is not apart of the cult unless you can convince them to join. If they join and leave you may but ever talk to them again unless they rejoin.
- No premarital sex
- No lgbtq+ at all
- You must repent publicly Now the one I go to is also led by a high-key racist elder who I've had to fight on several occasions. Please help me