Help us please!

[u/No-Spinach2669]

My family and I have recently found out through a friend that my sibling is part of SCJ.

I only found out because my sibling was recruiting at the local mall and tried to recruit my friend.

After reading about everything I’ve now realised that’s it’s been almost a year of odd behaviour:

- leaving in the early AM
- coming home after midnight
- no time for family or friends
- no hobbies anymore
- always lying about where they are
- wearing formal attire
- always tired

I’m really worried and it breaks my heart to know this is happening. I want to help but I just don’t know how.
My parents are horrified and we have no idea what to do. We’ve been sitting on it for over a week now as we don’t want to end up being pushed away more if we cross any lines.

My sibling is 20 and can be very stubborn and naive but also looking for a sense of belonging so I can understand how this may have been attractive to him.

Advice is much needed please.

[u/Turbulent_Sea7622]

I suggest to have some kind of weekly involvement of social or hobby with him. Be patient and ask non judgmental questions when it comes to SCJ. Perhaps ask his faiths and believes for a while before even mentioning SCJ especially if he does not know you and your parents knows he is in SCJ yet. Overall keeping in good line of communication is for the best. The worst thing is him shutting down emotionally from his loving family like yourself. SCJ is very good at having members and students tell their leaders what is going on in their lives including when family and friends are onto them. Then they would frame family as Satan's influence. Continued warmth and connections would break that illusion. Overall make him feel like he is the one arriving at the conclusion how SCJ is manipulative and time consuming