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Deprogramming


Twinky
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There have been lots of threads started or discussing how people coped with life after TWI, people having visited therapists, psychiatrists, church groups, Alcoholics Anon, divorce groups, etc.

There is another group of people who were "rescued" by friends or family and underwent "deprogramming" at the hands of (possible?) experts. Soem of those people escaped and went straight back to TWI. Some may have escaped and stayed away from TWI. Some may have escaped and returned to TWI and then left voluntarily or been thrown out later.

This is a group of people whose experiences I have never seen discussed here. If you are one of this group, please will you share some of what the deprogramming was like, and its effects on your life then and now?

For example: At what point did you realize TWI wasn't what it set itself up as? Did you believe the deprogrammers? Did what they said or did change your mind in any way, or just strengthen your belief in TWI as God's chosen organization? What made you leave TWI, ultimately? How do you feel now about those who gave you up to the deprogrammers? ...or whatever else you want to tell us at the Cafe.

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I don't know if there is too much of a "group" of us around these days, at least on GS.

And I don't know if there is anyone (besides you) around with much interest in hearing my (or anyone else's) story any more.

But, I will go into it for you, either here or privately, before too long when I hit the right combination of mood and time.

I 'll say a thing or two here now...

If you have stuff shoved down your throat, as I had, you develop a mistrust for what was shoved, and a mistrust of those responsible for doing the shoving, whether or not the stuff that was shoved is true.

In short, it is not the way to leave.

This view is not unanimous with those who have gone through the experience; there are those who were thankful for being "rescued"...

But to me it would have much better had I been allowed to make my own decisions about TWI. I know the moderator of a busy anti cult forum has the same view I do after having gone through a deprogramming (not from TWI).

I was told that my deprogramming was needed because neither I nor anyone else could ever leave TWI on their own, as we were so controlled. That has of course been proven false by the many who have left on their own.

Yet, we are each different and had different experiences. When I read Kristen's account, I know it took an awfully strong love to help get her out without the deprogramming route. How life would have turned out for her has that been attempted is not up to me to speculate. But if that is what it would have taken to get her out after the hell she went through, I would have had no problem accepting that.

BTW, I myself lament the lack of others who have gone through a deprogramming to talk or e-talk with, no matter what their past or current view of their experience. Several years ago I made an attempt to contact Barrie Hill (her name then), with whom I remember a very brief but interesting encounter at my last ROA, but that was unsuccessful.

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I was never deprogrammed.

However, I know a bit about the subject.

There's 2 types of processes that are called "deprogramming."

A) Discussion and comparison of different beliefs, with ex-members discussing doctrine and so on.

In some ways, it's not entirely different from what we did after we left twi.

B) Kidnapping someone, then brainwashing them (using "forceful indoctrination") until the person

is "broken" by the brainwashing and is willing to believe what the brainwasher said.

People have been "deprogrammed" this way from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism, from

Roman Catholicism to Protestantism, and from atheism to theism,

depending on the beliefs of the person paying for the "deprogramming."

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I was never deprogrammed.

However, I know a bit about the subject.

There's 2 types of processes that are called "deprogramming."

A) Discussion and comparison of different beliefs, with ex-members discussing doctrine and so on.

In some ways, it's not entirely different from what we did after we left twi.

B) Kidnapping someone, then brainwashing them (using "forceful indoctrination") until the person

is "broken" by the brainwashing and is willing to believe what the brainwasher said.

People have been "deprogrammed" this way from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism, from

Roman Catholicism to Protestantism, and from atheism to theism,

depending on the beliefs of the person paying for the "deprogramming."

In the case of the deprogrammings from TWI that I know about, I don't think there is any DESIRE to "break' someone. The cause is noble...we are paralyzed by mind control, therefore we need to be held against our will until we are freed of the mind control and can think for ourselves. In my case, I was not deprived of sleep or bathroom privileges or food. It was more like two or more on one (never one on one) reasoning sessions to "help" me see how I couldn't think for myself as long as I was in TWI. Still, yes, I was kidnapped and held...no option to leave. It "succeeded" to the point where i stayed out of TWI...but only because I was basically afraid to do anything in my life. But I could never accept in my mind what they were "telling" me during that time.

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This is a difficult area, because we'd all bought into the idea (at the time) that TWI was guardian of the truth and the churches were all ds influenced. Therefore, the more anyone said, the more possessed they must have been. Therefore, the more to be disregarded. In fact, I think the "forceful indoctrination" (WW's method B) is all the more likely to keep someone dug even more deeply into TWI.

The more outward looking approach of comparison and looking at other Christian movements is on face more likely to succeed but again is open to TWI filter impressions of, "It's nly succeeding because it's ds influenced."

Lifted Up: sounds like they only succeeded in paralyzing you in even more fear. Not "release from your bonds."

You were out before I ever got in.

Can't wrote much at the moment. My TWI past caught up with me, and caught me completely by surprise, last night and I need to settle a little before I can do things coherently. Nothing to worry about.

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One of my cousins was in the corps, and underwent an attempted and failed deprogramming by the parents.

Of course, with the escape, my cousin was made into an example of der prevailing verd.. gawd's deliverance..

I cut off contact from my aunt and uncle basically for the duration of my involvement in twi.. and they perhaps may have been my only way out.

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The cause is noble...we are paralyzed by mind control, therefore we need to be held against our will until we are freed of the mind control and can think for ourselves.

Yeah, right! <_< ... Being held against our will while in TWI? Paralyzed by 'mind control'? ... Please! No more than an experience in any other kind of staunchly fundamentalist group.

If the 'mind control' we had supposedly undergone was so 'paralyzing', please explain why so many had left on their own during 1) twig, 2) in the middle of a PFAL class session, 3) right off of the WOW field, and 4) even get thrown out of the Corps for not having their payments up to date? You do not have a 'paralyzing mind control' situation with control that weak! Hell, I've seen a lot _more_ of the kind of 'paralyzing mind control' (and the fear thereof) you speak of in a mainline fundamentalist church or even in some strongly conservative political groups.

Abuses of psychological, physical, and sexual nature in TWI? Yup! Definitely! ... But the kind of 'mind control' where people just could not leave, and they 'need' to be pulled out by means of deprogramming/exit counseling/intervention specialists?

No! :angry:

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In the case of a minor (under 18) who ran away from home.{ For the sake of this point I am assumng that the child was not fleeing a truly abusive family life. Just the normal "I don't like the rules I'm splitting" "no one loves me" of the teenage angst.} That child needs to returned by law enforceement to their parents

IF the member of any group is married the spouse has every right to pursue legal means to prevent assents etc being given away to said group in order to insure their, and any children's, financial stability etc.

But the individual, if an adult of sound mental abilities, has the right to believe in purple cabbage gods, eat nothing but strained rutabagas, and hand out glossy leaflets while dressed in a pink tutu with orange spangles without interference. That is why this country is this country

It goes with out saying that if the individual poses serious physical danger to themselves or others law enforcement needs to be involved.

BUt, even in the case of the minor, the right to believe as we choose is fundamental. The fact is that for almost all of us the truth is that we live work, and are surrounded by others whose belief systems we disagree with. As long as those beliefs are maintained at personal level and do not affect others around them those beliefs are sacrosanct

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I personally cannot fathom how deprogramming could be any better or different than whateverthehell you're involved in

I can't either, having been through it.

It was hell.

Now, Kristen AND SOME OTHERS went through a different hell in TWI that I didn't, so I would not want to make that statement universal...

But your statement sure works for me.

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