When my sister returned to The Truth many years ago, my favorite grandma was ticked. She’s now dead, but when alive, Grams would have considered herself to be a front-row Baptist. When my sister went back to our childhood religion -- the Witnesses -- Grams said, “I don’t know why she wants to get mixed up with that cult!”

A few weeks ago, I found myself thinking about my grandmother’s comment while sitting in the audience at the annual conference of A Common Bond. That’s the group devoted to homosexual ex-Witnesses, and the lead speaker was J. Todd Ormsbee, a sociology professor from San Jose State. Don’t ask me what the J. stands for, because I forgot to ask him. He’s a brainiac from Brigham Young University, via the state of Utah, and he says lots of brilliant things you’ve never thought of and uses words like counter-hegemony. Yeah I know, I had to look that up myself.

A Common Bond meets 2009

But anyway, he gave a really enlightening lecture about “alternative religions,” and given that he grew up a Mormon, he should know a thing or two about alternative religions. Personally, like my grandmother, I favor the term “cult,” but J. Todd prefers “alternative,” which is okay by me. He’s also gay, and given that the ACB conference was mostly made up of gay and lesbian people, he had a captive audience and engaged everyone with a scientific discussion of particular religions who profess to be logical and rational and hope to eventually rule the world, but in reality they lie outside of mainstream society. Religions that require absolute adherence to their dogma. Religions that preach about how the entire human civilization outside of said religion are outsiders to God. Religions that fear the overwhelming number of evils in the world. Religions like…I don’t know… the Jehovah’s Witnesses, let’s say.

I gotta tell you, it was quite the eye opener to have the epiphany that the JWs aren’t the only alternative lifestyle in the religious world, and that phrase is beginning to grow on me…”alternative lifestyle in the religious world.” I’m not sure how the Mormons or the Witnesses feel about that, but an unfortunately large section of the religious community likes to over use that description when they condemn me. They refer to my existence as an alternative lifestyle. A choice. Kind of like when you wake up in the morning and have to choose between corn flakes or Lucky Charms. Personally, I like Lucky Charms, but I don’t think that has anything to do with the fact that I’m gay. I could just as easily eat corn flakes, but I have never once in my life thought I could be intimate with a member of the opposite sex. I’ve always known that, but I didn’t choose it. I fought it. I prayed to Jehovah daily, asking him to cure me.

So today, when I think about Christianity and faith from a “big picture” standpoint, I’m inclined to use Professor Ormsbee’s reference to alternative religions. It’s a more inclusive label, I think. It sounds more objective, even clinical and academic, and it takes the bite out of my memories of growing up in The Truth. But, truth be told, I agree with my grandma. I grew up in a cult.

http://toddshammer.wordpress.com/

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written by blueeyes54 , October 25, 2009

You're a human first.

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written by Kitty , October 31, 2009

Hitler believed that the destruction of masses of people was a necessity so that those deserving could live in a utopian society. Sound Familiar?

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written by C.T. Thieme , October 31, 2009

I cannot truthfully say that when I left the Witnesses at 17, I was not welcome home as my father was never a JW, only my mother. However, it was clear that I needed a new and safe place to be and grow. That place was a small attic apartment with a couch I was always welcome to crash on and a key hidden above the downstairs door. The apartment was the home of Larry and Dan, my dearest friends, Dan like a brother, Larry like a father. There is common ground in becoming what you truly are despite an environment to the contrary that makes the circumstances interesting but strips it all down to the basics. Two men I was taught to hate were the two men who welcomed me in their family with love and maybe even saved my life if not just my soul. I miss them both dearly and will never forget the gift of their friendships. Their story is at the website below.

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written by C.T. Thieme , October 31, 2009

Larry's story: http://perpetualheathen.com/larry/index.htm

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written by Luke , March 14, 2010

It was nice to read your post, I'm a sociology student also and have found that the term 'cult' doesn't fit the JWs in the way most of us would expect.

It does depend on which theories you come from, but cult is a lot more innocuous than first thought, it describes groups which encourage your worldly existence like meditation or yoga etc.

Some have argued that JWs are a sect, which is often seen as claiming a monopoly over 'truth' and removing individuals as much as possible from the otuside world. (Generally this is what most people think of when using the world cult).

But like you, I think the 'alternative' description is much more pleasing when taking linguistic revenge on the JWs.

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