Laura McConnell is all too aware of the intricacies of Christian fundamentalism.
The 43-year-old writer and activist grew up in rural New South Wales and was raised in a secretive sect.
The group which claims to have no name, but is commonly referred to as The Truth and Two by Twos originated in Ireland in the late 1800s, before offshoots began in other parts of the world.
The organisation also claims to have "no earthly leaders", but Laura rejects this notion.
She points to a strict hierarchy, where male members, known as "workers", assume a priest or pastor-like position.
"[It's] the man in a family or community group who maintains control and says what people can wear," she explains.
"[He's the one] who tightly reins people in when they're getting a bit too 'naughty' and wearing lipstick or daring to have their skirts too short."
Laura McConnell was the fifth-generation of her family born into a secretive Christian sect. (Supplied: Laura McConnell)
Laura adds that women can even be policed for sporting open-toed shoes.
"Our community is very tightly controlled, in terms of gender and sexuality roles," she says.
If these facets of fundamentalism sound counter-cultural, it's intentional.
"[It's] a movement that originates in thelate 19th century and 20th century in reaction to liberal Christian theologies," explains Dr Aechtner.
dorian said
09:26 AM Mar 19, 2023
All religions, mainstream or otherwise, seek to indoctrinate young children. It's very hard for them to reject their brainwashing later in life.
Falling for this nonsense as an adult is hard to comprehend, though.
Gundog said
10:02 AM Mar 19, 2023
dorian wrote:
All religions, mainstream or otherwise, seek to indoctrinate young children. It's very hard for them to reject their brainwashing later in life.
Falling for this nonsense as an adult is hard to comprehend, though.
Much like climate change hysteria, strong on rhetoric, short on evidence.
dorian said
10:31 AM Mar 19, 2023
Gundog wrote:
dorian wrote:
All religions, mainstream or otherwise, seek to indoctrinate young children. It's very hard for them to reject their brainwashing later in life.
Falling for this nonsense as an adult is hard to comprehend, though.
Much like climate change hysteria, strong on rhetoric, short on evidence.
You're confusing religion with science.
Cuppa said
10:46 AM Mar 19, 2023
Whilst I don't have a religious bone in my body, I do believe that for many religion is a positive influence in their lives. I also believe that the 'misuse' of religion has either caused or been used to justify terrible things over the centuries & still is. War & armed conflict 'with God on our side.
However, in my limited experience, fundamentalist religious beliefs do not necessarily equate to sect or cult like behaviours.
Two of our two best friends are fundamentalist Christians. They have been as long as we have known them. Both now in their 60's and well educated with university degrees. Both have supportive extended families who are not religious. We have had many interesting discussions about religion with this couple who have in the past been missionaries overseas in less developed countries (something I consider wholly inappropriate), but whom have never once tried to proselytise with us. We consider them eccentric & they consider us sinners who they pray for. In large part their politics are socialist, green & humanist. We have much in common, including self sufficiency. We were neighbours on adjoining acreages for more than two decades. They are the closest thing we have to family in Australia.
They do hold creationist beliefs, consider homosexuality a sin, among many other things which we have discussed, but which from our perspective always become narrowed down to one thing which is inarguable - faith.
Yet despite their religious beliefs they are not judgemental about people even when judgemental about people's behaviours. In our case we have remained very good friends, us with them , & them with us despite our sinner status & their strange (to us) beliefs. Bottom line is that they are good & caring people, & that they are also as critical as we are about things like sexism in religion. And we are able to agree to disagree on their continuing to donate funds to missions in PNG etc. Hillsong was a hard realisation for them to accept, but they have.
Very different to cults/sects which we have gained some insight to from another friend who had close links to 'The Family' in Victoria when growing up, & another friend who's Jehovah Witness family & church members 'excommunicated' her when she married a non Jehovah Witness. ( her family have softened their stance over the past 4 decades).
-- Edited by Cuppa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 11:07:44 AM
Aussie1 said
10:59 AM Mar 19, 2023
Gundog wrote:
dorian wrote:
All religions, mainstream or otherwise, seek to indoctrinate young children. It's very hard for them to reject their brainwashing later in life.
Falling for this nonsense as an adult is hard to comprehend, though.
Much like climate change hysteria, strong on rhetoric, short on evidence.
X2
Cuppa said
11:06 AM Mar 19, 2023
Aussie1 wrote:
Gundog wrote:
Much like climate change hysteria, strong on rhetoric, short on evidence.
X2
An invitation from you both which I'm happy to decline.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 11:09:12 AM
Aussie1 said
11:16 AM Mar 19, 2023
Cuppa wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Gundog wrote:
Much like climate change hysteria, strong on rhetoric, short on evidence.
X2
An invitation from you both which I'm happy to decline.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 11:09:12 AM
Can't see the word invitation . just a comment. Some may agree and some disagree. That's freedom of choice or was last time I checked
Cheers
Cuppa said
11:26 AM Mar 19, 2023
Aussie1 wrote:
Cuppa wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Gundog wrote:
Much like climate change hysteria, strong on rhetoric, short on evidence.
X2
An invitation from you both which I'm happy to decline.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 11:09:12 AM
Can't see the word invitation . just a comment. Some may agree and some disagree. That's freedom of choice or was last time I checked
Cheers
Aussie1 said
12:17 PM Mar 19, 2023
dorian wrote:
All religions, mainstream or otherwise, seek to indoctrinate young children. It's very hard for them to reject their brainwashing later in life.
Falling for this nonsense as an adult is hard to comprehend, though.
Correct, not just the "young", as many adults or so called mature age are sucked in as well . It is my view that it is the weak and feeble minded who are successfully targeted. Silly buggers.
Magnarc said
12:55 PM Mar 19, 2023
Religion.
Used in olden times to suppress the masses. Over the years has caused the deaths of thousands, Inquisition, Crusades etc.
Modern day equivalents are no better,they just work in a different way,creaming off funds for their own benefit not to mention the the indecent acts carried out by some on innocent kids.(before someone jumps down my throat, I did say some?) Parasites feeding off the gullible.
It's about time that all religions here in Australia were made to pay income tax instead of getting a free ride on the backs of the rest of the population. 20% would be a good start, might steady them down a bit not to mention the budget benefits.
Did I say that I am an atheist? can't remember.
Santa said
01:19 PM Mar 19, 2023
An interesting topic.
Not just the "feeble minded" who are subject to religious belief, some highly intelligent people, past and present, have strong religious belief.
I can understand kids indoctrinated from an early age having blind faith, it's the way things are and is seldom challenged.
Adults who convert or see the light is an entirely different thing, these people are searching for meaning, and I suspect are susceptible to any convincing dogmas of faith they may be presented with, perhaps this is related to intellect.
-- Edited by Santa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 01:31:36 PM
Aussie1 said
01:38 PM Mar 19, 2023
Personally I agree with the late George Carlin's take on religion. U tube George Carlin, "The greatest Bulls^%t story ever told". Humorous, however pretty much on the money.
Tony LEE said
03:11 PM Mar 19, 2023
Hillsong and similar sects are no less dangerous
Aussie1 said
03:46 PM Mar 19, 2023
Tony LEE wrote:
Hillsong and similar sects are no less dangerous
agree 100%
Santa said
06:36 PM Mar 19, 2023
Our ex PM is a happy clappy.
-- Edited by Santa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 07:55:08 PM
Good example Santa. Beggers belief. A sucker is born every day in my opinion.
Izabarack said
08:51 PM Mar 19, 2023
I find it useful to approach religious belief as an Anxiety issue.
Aussie1 said
09:35 PM Mar 19, 2023
Nah, just the weak & feeble who need to take a spoon full of concrete and toughen up.
Webmaster said
10:15 PM Mar 19, 2023
Hi everyone, Thanks for your input, however I am closing this now. As per our forum rules, we do not allow discussions of religion as they usually lead to bad feelings.
Hard to believe people still fall for this stuff!
A quote from the article states "
"If people are attracted to it, there's something in your social cohesion and social structures which is not working.
These people are looking for meaning as a result of something being wrong."
I agree.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-19/spiritual-warfare-christian-fundamentalist-church-sect-australia/102097882
Life in a secretive sect
Laura McConnell is all too aware of the intricacies of Christian fundamentalism.
The 43-year-old writer and activist grew up in rural New South Wales and was raised in a secretive sect.
The group which claims to have no name, but is commonly referred to as The Truth and Two by Twos originated in Ireland in the late 1800s, before offshoots began in other parts of the world.
The organisation also claims to have "no earthly leaders", but Laura rejects this notion.
She points to a strict hierarchy, where male members, known as "workers", assume a priest or pastor-like position.
"[It's] the man in a family or community group who maintains control and says what people can wear," she explains.
"[He's the one] who tightly reins people in when they're getting a bit too 'naughty' and wearing lipstick or daring to have their skirts too short."
Laura McConnell was the fifth-generation of her family born into a secretive Christian sect. (Supplied: Laura McConnell)
Laura adds that women can even be policed for sporting open-toed shoes.
"Our community is very tightly controlled, in terms of gender and sexuality roles," she says.
If these facets of fundamentalism sound counter-cultural, it's intentional.
"[It's] a movement that originates in thelate 19th century and 20th century in reaction to liberal Christian theologies," explains Dr Aechtner.
Falling for this nonsense as an adult is hard to comprehend, though.
Much like climate change hysteria, strong on rhetoric, short on evidence.
You're confusing religion with science.
Whilst I don't have a religious bone in my body, I do believe that for many religion is a positive influence in their lives. I also believe that the 'misuse' of religion has either caused or been used to justify terrible things over the centuries & still is. War & armed conflict 'with God on our side.
However, in my limited experience, fundamentalist religious beliefs do not necessarily equate to sect or cult like behaviours.
Two of our two best friends are fundamentalist Christians. They have been as long as we have known them. Both now in their 60's and well educated with university degrees. Both have supportive extended families who are not religious. We have had many interesting discussions about religion with this couple who have in the past been missionaries overseas in less developed countries (something I consider wholly inappropriate), but whom have never once tried to proselytise with us. We consider them eccentric & they consider us sinners who they pray for. In large part their politics are socialist, green & humanist. We have much in common, including self sufficiency. We were neighbours on adjoining acreages for more than two decades. They are the closest thing we have to family in Australia.
They do hold creationist beliefs, consider homosexuality a sin, among many other things which we have discussed, but which from our perspective always become narrowed down to one thing which is inarguable - faith.
Yet despite their religious beliefs they are not judgemental about people even when judgemental about people's behaviours. In our case we have remained very good friends, us with them , & them with us despite our sinner status & their strange (to us) beliefs. Bottom line is that they are good & caring people, & that they are also as critical as we are about things like sexism in religion. And we are able to agree to disagree on their continuing to donate funds to missions in PNG etc. Hillsong was a hard realisation for them to accept, but they have.
Very different to cults/sects which we have gained some insight to from another friend who had close links to 'The Family' in Victoria when growing up, & another friend who's Jehovah Witness family & church members 'excommunicated' her when she married a non Jehovah Witness. ( her family have softened their stance over the past 4 decades).
-- Edited by Cuppa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 11:07:44 AM
X2
An invitation from you both which I'm happy to decline.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 11:09:12 AM
Can't see the word invitation
. just a comment. Some may agree and some disagree. That's freedom of choice or was last time I checked 
Cheers
Correct, not just the "young", as many adults or so called mature age are sucked in as well . It is my view that it is the weak and feeble minded who are successfully targeted. Silly buggers.
Religion.
Used in olden times to suppress the masses. Over the years has caused the deaths of thousands, Inquisition, Crusades etc.
Modern day equivalents are no better,they just work in a different way,creaming off funds for their own benefit not to mention the the indecent acts carried out by some on innocent kids.(before someone jumps down my throat, I did say some?) Parasites feeding off the gullible.
It's about time that all religions here in Australia were made to pay income tax instead of getting a free ride on the backs of the rest of the population. 20% would be a good start, might steady them down a bit not to mention the budget benefits.
Did I say that I am an atheist? can't remember.
An interesting topic.
Not just the "feeble minded" who are subject to religious belief, some highly intelligent people, past and present, have strong religious belief.
I can understand kids indoctrinated from an early age having blind faith, it's the way things are and is seldom challenged.
Adults who convert or see the light is an entirely different thing, these people are searching for meaning, and I suspect are susceptible to any convincing dogmas of faith they may be presented with, perhaps this is related to intellect.
-- Edited by Santa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 01:31:36 PM
agree 100%
Our ex PM is a happy clappy.
-- Edited by Santa on Sunday 19th of March 2023 07:55:08 PM
I find it useful to approach religious belief as an Anxiety issue.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your input, however I am closing this now. As per our forum rules, we do not allow discussions of religion as they usually lead to bad feelings.