Comparisons between NXIVM to Joseph Smith/LDS

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jfro18
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Comparisons between NXIVM to Joseph Smith/LDS

Post by jfro18 » Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:34 pm

I had followed (slightly) the NXIVM story as it unfolded mostly because I watched Smallville years ago and the actress who was recruiting women for the NXIVM cult leader was on the show, but the other day they had a primetime special on it with Megyn Kelly.

Anyway - the comparisons between NXIVM and Joseph Smith/LDS were pretty incredible. I was watching it with my wife and I wanted so badly to ask if she thought about it, but I know that is not the hill to die on.

But anyway, the most striking thing from the interview is that the mom of one of the girls involved in the NXIVM inner-circle talked about how she could've known ahead of time with a few Google searches that the guy was bad news, but she didn't investigate and because of that let her daughter go to him.

That to me is the perfect way to describe the Mormon church these days. It takes just a 10-15 minute search on Google to investigate their truth claims and determine that it's completely made up fan-fiction. Yet those who are already in the church refuse to do it, which not surprisingly is what happens to the girls who were recruited into NXIVM.

They also talked about how the NXIVM leader would choose the girls he wanted to sleep with for himself, kiss all the girls on the lips when he saw them, and then branded them with a "logo" that appeared to be a mash-up of his initials and Allison Mack's. It made me think of the stories about how the early garments were slashed with a knife to make the signs... I know it's not the same but I couldn't help think about that "mark" of being in a cult.

The most uncomfortable part watching was when they had a specialist on who talked about how difficult it is to deprogram someone who has been in a controlling group/cult. And I know my wife was paying attention to it, but again I know she just does not see anything wrong with the church so I'm sure if anything else she was thinking about what I was thinking more than about the church's similarities.

And then I got depressed after because I know my wife did not have any of the same takeaways that I did... and most likely never will. But still - amazing how controlling men who start cults/religions are just all too similar in almost every single case.

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deacon blues
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Re: Comparisons between NXIVM to Joseph Smith/LDS

Post by deacon blues » Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:33 am

I watched that show with my wife. There were parallels to Joseph Smith that made me go hmmmmm..... but I kept mummmmm.......

The scary thought was that both Joseph Smith and Keith Raineire seemed to be seeking ownership of people, especially women.
God is Love. God is Truth. The greatest problem with organized religion is that the organization becomes god, rather than a means of serving God.

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jfro18
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Re: Comparisons between NXIVM to Joseph Smith/LDS

Post by jfro18 » Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:40 am

deacon blues wrote:
Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:33 am
I watched that show with my wife. There were parallels to Joseph Smith that made me go hmmmmm..... but I kept mummmmm.......

The scary thought was that both Joseph Smith and Keith Raineire seemed to be seeking ownership of people, especially women.
It took everything in me not to ask her what she thought about the story and then ask why what Joseph Smith did was OK since a lot of it was similar in secrecy/tactics/ownership, but I value my life too much.

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blazerb
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Re: Comparisons between NXIVM to Joseph Smith/LDS

Post by blazerb » Sun Aug 12, 2018 3:36 pm

My wife wanted to turn off the TV when the show came on. I wanted my daughter to watch it. It was important that she see what is out there. For all the similarities with JS, my most immediate concern are the creepy people alive today that victimize those around them. They are found in all groups, but the church has its share. From the sexual assault protection rackets at the BYU's to disturbing interview practices, there are real problems in the church.

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