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RE: From Catholic Opus Dei to Atheism
March 31, 2016 at 2:39 pm
(March 31, 2016 at 7:06 am)Anka Wrote: And after you become aware of these negative aspects you can find it too hard to leave, especially for numeraries.
Joining a group you come to think isn't doing the good you thought they were is a dissonance-creating moment and there are a lot of cognitive hurdles to overcome in leaving them.
Quote:Most of them are recruited at the most vulnerable moments of their life
High-pressure, high-demand groups often recruit at just this time because it's easier to convert members that way. If you're happy and content with life, where's the impetus to join such a group? The draw isn't as strong. But if you can target vulnerable people you've struck gold.
Quote:The only excuse I have for myself and how I could be so blind is the simple fact that new members of OD are always making just an initial commitment without knowing any of the details of OD life are treated as full members. Instead of allowing new recruits to examine the details of membership and then re-evaluate their commitment, OD just deliberately withholds information and then strikes with a great pressure on new recruits to remain in OD, even if they object to one or more aspects of OD life.
You don't need to make excuses for yourself. You've described how this group walks its members into the organization with baby steps, and before you know it you're in over your head and can't remember how you got there. You weren't blind, you were being shielded from seeing things that might have raised red flags.
I'm glad to hear that you left a group that you were very unhappy in, and welcome to the forums. 
Teenaged X-Files obsession + Bermuda Triangle episode + Self-led school research project = Atheist.
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RE: From Catholic Opus Dei to Atheism
March 31, 2016 at 4:25 pm
(This post was last modified: March 31, 2016 at 4:26 pm by Anka.)
(March 31, 2016 at 10:44 am)pocaracas Wrote: (March 31, 2016 at 9:56 am)Anka Wrote: Sorry to hear that  Most of the supernumeraries in Russia are married and their spouses are not involved in OD, we were the first supernumerary couple in Russia, even received a letter from OD Prelate. It's easier for supernumeraries whose spouses are not in OD, they can always 'blame' them for not letting them to go on a retreat or for using contraception.
I can only suggest watching some videos with Escriva's public speeches in Argentina or Peru, I don't know why but when you actually look at him in videos instead of reading his books you can see what a sneaky, unpleasant and bigoted person he was. I would also recommend giving her the book by Maria Carmen del Tapia I've mentioned, it helped me a lot.
Thanks...I'll give it a look.
Not sure she'd be receptive to it though...
It's not like she's making excuses not to follow those directives...she IS following them... :le sigh:
Do you have kids? If yes, try to stay with them when she goes to the OD Centre, they will become very interested in your kids when they will become teens, supernumeraries' kids are the best material for future numeraries. Here in Russia they opened a foreign language club for kids and Summer camp for teens. They keep the prices low compared with other language courses and they are perfectly aware that it will be popular and parents will bring their kids for studying Spanish, English, German or French with native speakers not knowing that their kids' teachers are from OD. Most of the supernumeraries' teenage kids are already in OD, you can join them at the age of 14.
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RE: From Catholic Opus Dei to Atheism
March 31, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Hey Anna, welcome.
Can't wait to hear the next instalment on how you came to Atheism. :-)
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RE: From Catholic Opus Dei to Atheism
April 1, 2016 at 10:02 am
(March 31, 2016 at 4:25 pm)Anka Wrote: (March 31, 2016 at 10:44 am)pocaracas Wrote: Thanks...I'll give it a look.
Not sure she'd be receptive to it though...
It's not like she's making excuses not to follow those directives...she IS following them... :le sigh:
Do you have kids? If yes, try to stay with them when she goes to the OD Centre, they will become very interested in your kids when they will become teens, supernumeraries' kids are the best material for future numeraries. Here in Russia they opened a foreign language club for kids and Summer camp for teens. They keep the prices low compared with other language courses and they are perfectly aware that it will be popular and parents will bring their kids for studying Spanish, English, German or French with native speakers not knowing that their kids' teachers are from OD. Most of the supernumeraries' teenage kids are already in OD, you can join them at the age of 14.
yeah... 3 kids... The eldest is 12. My wife's asked me to let him get into a club thing (that I'm willing to bet has connections with OD), but I refused.... he has to study. Not waste time with idiocy.... the kids already waste enough time with idiocy... on Sunday -.-'
Well... at least i get the place to myself for about 2 hours 
Anyway... since I'm not around for a few weeks in the year... they do go with her to the center sometimes... 
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RE: From Catholic Opus Dei to Atheism
April 1, 2016 at 3:20 pm
(This post was last modified: April 1, 2016 at 3:22 pm by Anka.)
(April 1, 2016 at 10:02 am)pocaracas Wrote: (March 31, 2016 at 4:25 pm)Anka Wrote: Do you have kids? If yes, try to stay with them when she goes to the OD Centre, they will become very interested in your kids when they will become teens, supernumeraries' kids are the best material for future numeraries. Here in Russia they opened a foreign language club for kids and Summer camp for teens. They keep the prices low compared with other language courses and they are perfectly aware that it will be popular and parents will bring their kids for studying Spanish, English, German or French with native speakers not knowing that their kids' teachers are from OD. Most of the supernumeraries' teenage kids are already in OD, you can join them at the age of 14.
yeah... 3 kids... The eldest is 12. My wife's asked me to let him get into a club thing (that I'm willing to bet has connections with OD), but I refused.... he has to study. Not waste time with idiocy.... the kids already waste enough time with idiocy... on Sunday -.-'
Well... at least i get the place to myself for about 2 hours
Anyway... since I'm not around for a few weeks in the year... they do go with her to the center sometimes...
12 years is a perspective age for OD, they usually start inviting kids without their parents to their 'clubs' or Summer camps at this age. So be careful.
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RE: From Catholic Opus Dei to Atheism
April 1, 2016 at 4:03 pm
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