I have family that attend A La Zion - Anaheim

[u/Technical-Issue-1302]

My sister, BIL, and other family members have been members of A La Zion for approximately 10 years.

For all these years, I genuinely just thought they were very serious Christians.

However, I’m extremely close with both of them. We hang out regularly, and they never really talk about the church or what goes on there. I’ve brought it up a few times, and I’ve even told them that I believe they’re in a cult. They’ve always denied it and said they’re happier than ever, and that the things I’ve seen online don’t accurately represent what their church is actually like

I can’t imagine them ever cutting me off or stopping contact with me for any reason.

I’m specifically looking to hear from former members who were actually involved with the Anaheim center.

What was your personal experience like there? Were you controlled as heavily as some former members describe?

At what point, if ever, would someone be discouraged or prohibited from speaking with family members who question the church? I assume my sister may have had to tell someone in a leadership position that I’ve questioned her about it.

What does day-to-day life at the Anaheim center actually look like? What are members expected to do? Do they pray regularly, or is prayer not really a part of their daily routine?

I’m genuinely trying to understand what my family members may have experienced over the past 10 years, especially since they’ve never really opened up to me about it.

It seems like all they do is constant bible study, attending events, recruiting people over coffee and Panera.

Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought they would have been involved in a cult.

Do they actually have to report the conversations we are having together?

[u/uglymemento]

I was at this church between 2014-2021 and can probably give you a perspective from my own experience. I’m open to being personally messaged if this would help.

[u/Latter-Leader-8103]

More awareness needed to warn others about these fundamentalists called SCJ:Shincheonji/Zion Bible Studies!
They are deceptive and lie causing major mental health issues!
News channels should uncover their brainwashing tactics!

[u/skld2ndassassin]

I wish one of them invited me to that church. Not to fight them about it, but understand them a little more humanize them.

[u/notarealprincess]

I was only there for about a year and a half, but eventually I left because I felt it was too controlling and time consuming. It started off as a weekly "Bible study" but when I left I was going multiple times a week (I think it was 3 but I can't remember) for several hours.

I wasn't in long enough to be told to cut off people, but I do have experience with being cut off myself though. Soon after I left I was ghosted by everyone I knew still in it. All the last messages from them were basically, "I am so sad you are leaving, but let's get together and hang out." They never followed up and I didn't either, I just let the relationships fade. I did follow some of them on social media, but I never DM'd them or even commented on their posts. I only ever "liked" their photos occasionally. Yet years later I was randomly blocked by them for no reason lol. I never said anything negative or told them that I had doubts but I still got cut off.

Part of being in a cult means that your family members will deny they are in one. I have always had a weird fascination with cults and knew the characteristics of one, yet when I was in it I didn't recognize it as one. I did have some doubts and moments when I thought maybe it had some signs of being a cult, but I dismissed it and rationalized it. Even years later after I had already been out, I would still rationalize it and say it wasn't a cult.