- Topic
How would you distinguish between a church that shows…
Love bombing (manipulative, superficial, conditional)
and
Extreme friendliness (sincere, without ulterior motives)
It seems that both would look about the same to a visitor who didn't know anyone personally. I'm curious about how you all would advise someone (or yourself!) to tell the difference.
The way to tell the difference is test it. Tell the "friendly people" that you are going to try other churches and then make your decision. See how they try to convince you of that not being a good idea. See how they try to manipulate you in to staying with them, attending an exciting event, studying with them, having dinner with them, etc. A Christian church will allow you to make your own choice. A cult like WMSCOG will try everything to hang on to you. Remember, they are rewarded (even if it is only in praise) for recruiting new members. It is like a sales rep trying everything to get the sale because they want their commission.
When you’re talking about cults sincerity goes out the window.
But the way you differentiate one from the other is when you start making compromises with yourself.
And then there’s the guilt.
Ooooh, the guilt.
Tell 'em you're broke and need some money?
That is hilarious Emil!
genny wrote:
How would you distinguish between a church that shows…
Love bombing (manipulative, superficial, conditional)
and
Extreme friendliness (sincere, without ulterior motives)
It seems that both would look about the same to a visitor who didn't know anyone personally. I'm curious about how you all would advise someone (or yourself!) to tell the difference.
Tell the B/a/s/t/a/r/d/s that you have no Money and that you could never learn how to preach because you have no capacity to retain information. Then tell them that you just love their floral arrangements and that you love the fact that they give you "free food". Make sure you dress like a dirt bag and bring 5 unruly kids with you; also bring 5 or 6 adult friends with you (too many witnesses to throw you out) and a video camera. You'll see just how much they love you.
P.S. Ask them to help you pay your electric bill this month, LMMFAO.
Hahahah, prop up that camera and start vlogging ๐
"- Heeey, youtuuuube!!… "And see how their blood drops below freezing point in the matter of seconds
Stained wrote:
Then tell them that you just love their floral arrangements and that you love the fact that they give you "free food".
P.S. Ask them to help you pay your electric bill this month, LMMFAO.
I like these. I think they are practical tests of love.
Seriously Genny, I don't think I would fall for any amount of love bombing if it came packaged with a 2CC and mother god.
๏ปฟ๏ปฟ
emil wrote:
Seriously Genny, I don't think I would fall for any amount of love bombing if it came packaged with a 2CC and mother god.
The problem is… they don't tell you a lot about their beliefs until they have you love bombed and wanting to be a part of the group.
My husband and I attended a church in our neighborhood for the first time this summer just to see what it was like. They were very friendly and greeted us. They gave us information about the church. The following day, I received an e-mail thanking us for coming and giving us contact information if we had any questions. We also received a phone call inviting us to attend one of the small groups during the week. That was it. WE have received no more phone calls. There was no pressure to meet with anyone to understand their doctrine, to study with them so we could find mysteries in the Bible, etc. NO PRESSURE! That is where the WMSCOG is different. First time "interested" targets have their phones blowing up with text messages and phone calls to meet up again. Sadly, the recruited WMSCOG members take this as "they really like me and want me to hang out with them," not the truth: "We want to recruit you so we can send you hard earned money to Korea to make some false gods richer."
I think it would take a while. People want to hear good things about themselves, so they want to listen at first, but then after a while I think some people see through it. The love bombing is to make sure you feel welcome there and also to get you would feel bad if you turned these nice people down when asked to do a bible study or whatever. The difference with a real church is that they wouldn't harrass you to come or make you feel guilty if you don't. Also, it is possible that people would start to see that something is wrong when they start getting pressured with fear instead of baited with honey. And then when they start in with criticizing and ostracizing members who leave. You would think that would be a wake up call, wouldn't you?
I do agree with Emil that if they were up front with the 2CC and mother god information, there is no way most people would fall for it. That is obviously why they don't let people know right away. That is the main strength of this forum. If people know what they are getting into, they would never join, and we have to let people know so they can make an informed decision. Otherwise, wmscog is just a well concealed bear trap.
emil wrote:
Seriously Genny, I don't think I would fall for any amount of love bombing if it came packaged with a 2CC and mother god.
๐ speak for yourself
fly lice wrote:
๐ speak for yourself
I am speaking for myself ๐
The only family I know personally, where they made a successful recruitment, they actually brought up 2CC and "Mother" at the couple's home by showing them scripture verses. The man kicked them out but his wife had fallen for it. She got her dose of love bombing later.
The love bombing I experienced was very subtle. When I first began visiting the church everyone greeted me & was very friendly, which I appreciated because I never felt welcomed at other churches I had attended. I wasn’t harassed by phone calls or text messages. I would study 1-2 times per week, no more than 1 hour intervals. Maybe that experience varies from person to person, or church to church. I know towards the end of my membership I was the one being pressured to stalk others, which isn’t my thing. My attitude was if they want to come to the church or study they will return the 1st phone call.
Now that I’m out I do recognize I did receive love bombing but like I said it was very subtle compared to other stories I have read on here.
Not sure you can
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