My childhood friend, The Truth Project and Jews for Jesus.

[honkydonkey]

I have been friends with her for over twenty years. Our political views have never been an issue until recently. And what I find very odd is that we seem to agree on most issues. Well, after some personal issues in her life, she threw herself into church. There is a church located in Louisville, Kentucky called Southeast Christian Church. It's a huge mega-church that has it's own zip code, police protection, etc. Some people refer to it as "six flags over Jesus". Over the past year I have witnessed her transform. What I would like to know is, what is going on behind closed doors in this place? She gave me a DVD a while back where the assistant pastor spoke about how everyone was welcome and that politics are not injected into their sermons, etc. but what I have seen would tell me otherwise. She has been taking a class called "the truth project". Does anyone here know anything about this class and what exactly "the truth" is. And what about Jews for Jesus. Have any of your heard of this? I love my best friend more than anything, I just fear that she is being brainwashed. I saw on her facebook page that she recently became a supporter of Sarah Palin. How can anyone in their right mind support that idiot? Especially someone like my friend. She has a masters degree. She isn't an idiot herself. It's almost like the common sense switch has been turned off in these people. Anyone else have close friends or relatives that are being brainwashed by the church by these programs?

[Stellabella]

1. Yes.

After we found out about a horrible genetic disease in the family, one member turned to religion big time. She is now a dominionist, thinks God is the answer to everything, and is very conservative. None of the rest of the family is very religious at all.

On edit: The Truth Project is part of Focus on the Family, the kneejerk right wing assholes run by Dobson who think they're the only ones going to 'heaven'. And judge everyone else. Scary people, and really insane. They are extremely homophobic.

[honkydonkey]

6. Maybe I should attend a class...

I'd love to see for myself what they are saying. And has Dobson always been so crazy? Maybe I was just naive but I used to think back in the old days that he wasn't that bad of a person but the more I read about him, the more he frightens me. And do you have anything that shows proof that Dobson believes that only his followers will go to heaven? I'd love to read that (and share it with her anonymously).

[Stellabella]

21. All of those whacko fundie groups think they're the only ones

going to heaven. I don't have an exact link, but I used to belong to one of them. As a child. No choice.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. The "mega church" thing should be the tip-off....

No Christian who professes to follow Christ should ever step foot in a "mega church" -- they are anathema to his message and how he lived his life.

And yes, your friend is being brainwashed. Sadly, it happens to a lot of good people who may be at a vulnerable time in their lives.

[honkydonkey]

13. Like the DVD

I found it very compelling. They are masters at manipulating people. She knows how I have been feeling about organized religion since they have thrown themselves into politics so much. And that video was made for people like me, obviously. I think they lure you in, using your weaknesses, and slowly introduce you to their way of thinking. You don't even realize it's happening until you are totally brainwashed. I'd love to find a church that doesn't preach hate from the pulpit but my options are limited because I live in such a red state.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. Find a Unitarian or United Methodist church...

They tend to be very forward thinking churches.

[CreekDog]

3. We had a rep from the Jews for Jesus speak at my church not long ago

about his life experiences.

he was a lifelong Lutheran. :wtf:

okayyyyyyyyyyyyy. :eyes:

[honkydonkey]

15. Ha!

I think that speaks volumes. I wonder if any real jews are even involved in this project?

[CreekDog]

16. Yes there were when the group was founded

at the same time dinosaurs roamed the earth.

(you should just put me on ignore at this point) :eyes:

[Ian David]

4. In Texas, you can legally kidnap her to perform an exorcism.

That is, if I understand the law correctly (but I am not a lawyer).

[CreekDog]

19. That would make you a Sadducee?

:shrug:

[Ian David]

5. You should put quotes around the "Jews" so it reads "Jews" for Jesus.

I even use air-quotes when I talk about "Jews" For Jesus.

[SmokingJacket]

7. Just took an interesting little trip to a strange world...

Here's a link to "The Truth Project" FAQs, a Focus on the Family thing:

http://www.thetruthproject.org/about/faqs/

Sounds like it's all about the Bible as Literal Truth.

I do think some fundamentalist churches use cult methods, like brainwashing. But sometimes, people just wash their own brain.

[honkydonkey]

17. WTF?

Is it just me or does this sound like the way Sarah Palin would answer a question? Talking in circles.


Question
How does Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project® define "truth"?


Answer
The Truth Project begins by defining truth as “that which conforms to reality.” But it’s much deeper than that. We want this study to serve as a catalyst for examining one's personal worldview, which we define as “the set of individual truth claims which I embrace so deeply that I believe they reflect what is really real – and therefore they drive what I think, how I act, and what I feel.”

Many people today – unfortunately, most people – don’t seem to think that there is any universal standard of absolute truth. But we believe differently. The purpose of The Truth Project is to develop a biblical worldview: “A formal worldview based ultimately upon that nature, character, and being of God as it is expressed in His infallible Word and His creation. It becomes the foundation for a life system that governs every area of existence.”

For us, the “truth” is God’s truth, as set forth supremely and most definitively in the Bible – and we regard this truth to be absolute in the sense that it cannot be compromised and is not open to purely subjective interpretation. Ultimately, we cannot dissect the truth; we can only proclaim it.

[SmokingJacket]

20. Man, that hurts my brain.

Basically: truth is reality, except if I decide "God's Reality" -- apparently something that doesn't conform to actual reality, but which I rilly rilly want to be true -- is something different.

[honkydonkey]

23. I thought I was having a brain fart.

Most of their "explanations" look like this. She showed me a few of the workbooks a while back. It was late at night when I started to look over them so I assumed that I was just too tired to wrap my brain around what they were trying to say. They make it all so vague. I guess it doesn't really matter to me what they are trying to say because I don't want to understand it. :P

[tanyev]

8. Read "The Great Derangement" by Matt Taibbi.

He spent several months doing research in Hagee's mega-church. Very insightful.

[honkydonkey]

9. Thanks. I will check that out. BUT

I'm afraid what I might find. lol.

[tanyev]

11. Yeah, it's a little scary, too.

But at least Matt makes it an entertaining read.

[arcadian]

10. Jews for Jesus is a right-wing neocon group.

It's all terror all the time with them.

[honkydonkey]

14. Are there any real jews

actually associated with "jews" for Jesus?

[Greyhound]

12. It is not possible to over-estimate the power of delusion. n/t

[Porschenut1066]

22. Church and Hypnosis

I am a Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, I have taught medical students at UMC and have worked with many of the folks who produced "What the **** do we know" the movie.

One thing I know is that it is very easy to write a script that will put people into light state of hypnosis. This is achieved by placing what are called "in bedded commands" within the speech. Once the congregation is fully engaged and doing actions that you have programmed them to do perhaps repetitive actions then you tell them the "truth" You see once someone is in Hypnosis they will accept almost any suggestion, even things that are not logical, or that do not jive with their education as "literal fact"

I see this technique being used in the Bible. Mathew knew what was going on because he used hypnosis as a Greek doctor.
Anyway, the point is that depending upon what the pastor preaches, that is what the majority of the congregation will take away as truth. Remember the good part is that the pastor (supposedly) knows the truth and if you disagree you are being influenced by the evil devil. So everyone who disagrees must be evil!

This Good vs. Evil dichotomy thinking is how every "Holy War" has happened.

So I ask;

Which bit of the ten commandments do they not understand? "Thou shalt not Kill".
Which bit of "Love your neighbor as your self".
Which bit of "Blessed are the peace makers"

So bottom line is your friend has probably been to enough services to start to adopt their ideas as her own not knowing that they are using hypnosis to convert her. (Brainwash if you like.)

[honkydonkey]

24. Church is now her life.

It seems that everything she does revolves around church and their activities. She has new "church friends", she goes to church singles meetings (which btw, has only introduced her to total assholes or people with mental issues), she takes several classes, etc. Church isn't just on Sunday for her. It's all the time.
One thing I have learned is that the very people who used to sing "Jesus Loves All The Little Children", don't believe what they are singing. Well, maybe all the little Christian children. I once asked my dad how he would feel if my son and daughter were Iraqi's and were blown to bits. His response was basically, "oh well, they don't deserve to live because they aren't American Christians". I find it rather sickening how the words of Jesus are conveniently forgotten when they don't jive with what their "Christian" leaders are doing.

[garlicmilkshake]

25. I often enjoy quoting Matthew 6:5 et. seq. to people like that

6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in
the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

edit...the following 2 verses are significant too: (These are the words of JESUS...the guy who these people are supposed to listen to) :eyes:


6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.