Post Number Three 

We are releasing the song and related music video titled Lucifer, on October 6th!

Here's another post and some new light to the background of it.

Lift up your eyes and see!

Flora grew up in a cult.

Read more here (the images might be disturbing to some)

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raised-with-demons-how-the-potter-s-house-church-keeps-its-followers-under-control-20230410-p5cz9n.html

Growing up in a church like this meant living a peculiar life, filled with strange ideas about the reality around us. One of the things that were emphasized in the cult of Potters House, was the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Speaking in tongues was a sign of the Holy Spirit in you. If you didn't, well then there was some sin in your life, something hindering you from receiving him. Whether or not originally meant as such, it had become a tool for classifying and judging fellow Christians.

Speaking in tongues, all of the congregation at once, was an integral part of every service in this church. It was "praising the lord" in a non-existent language. It was loud, chaotic even, everyone just speaking word porridge that they didn't even know the meaning of.

There were also other gifts, like profesying and receiving words of knowledge straight from the Holy Spirit, and interpreting them.

Holy Spirits influence on you was particularly strong if you fell down when the hands were laid upon you. Or if you had other emotional reactions, laughing, crying, etc.

Potters House wasn't the only church this happened in. All kinds of revival movements took place in many charismatic churches, Toronto Blessing maybe being the most famous one.

The downside of this emphasis was that it made you feel like a loser, a bad christian. When you didn't get the same emotional reaction from the prayer as the guy next to you, you felt guilty.

When they touched your forehead and said "fire!" expecting you to fall down, and you didn't, you started wondering what was wrong with you. And you grew weary of all the expectations. Weary of the constant demand of being on fire for the Lord.

So, somewhere along the way, something started to break. Something inside you started rising...

And you'll hear all about it in our next release...

Photo by @jasual_audio_visual

 Post Number Two: 

The release of our new song and music video is approaching fast! So, while anxiously waiting for that, I give you post number two, which is about the attitude and teachings about money that the cult I grew up in used to emphasize. 

Give! With a Cheerful Heart!

Living in a cult meant living a peculiar life with different rules than in the surrounding world. One of the ways this cult, (and most cults actually) cultivated control over its members was financial control.

Tithing, that is giving "to god" a tenth of your income, was often preached about. In fact, not giving was stealing from god, since he had given you everything and everything was his to begin with. That's how it was explained in the many, many sermons about money.

In fact, it was so often preached about, that there was usually half a sermon before the money basket started circulating among the congregation. We were to give "with a cheerful heart". We were not to gather a treasure down on earth, but to "lay up our treasure in heaven".

Giving money in addition to the tithe was also often encouraged. Because we shouldn't "worship money", not let it be our "idol", that is, more important than god. Of course, giving wasn't supposed to be compulsory, but the amount of preaching about the subject sure created pressure ?

And it was a sacrifice. If it meant struggling financially, even poverty, it was all for god, as he was sure to bless you. In the future. At some point.??

So, as a child I sure had my share of bad concience about wanting to keep my pennies for myself, rather than put them in the basket. It was a process to get rid of that mindset. Because it is a entirely different way of thinking, a mindset. A cult mindset.

This story is just one example about how cults control their members. There are many other stories, and it all comes down to control. Will you obey silently, or will you rebel? Because somewhere along the way, something's gonna break. Something inside you will rise...

And that's what the next song and video is about ?

Screenshot by @jasual_audio_visual

The story of Potters House, Australia:
(might contain disturbing content)

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raised-with-demons-how-the-potter-s-house-church-keeps-its-followers-under-control-20230410-p5cz9n.html

Living in a cult meant living a peculiar life with different rules than in the surrounding world. One of the ways this cult, (and most cults actually) cultivated control over its members was financial control.

Tithing, that is giving "to god" a tenth of your income, was often preached about. In fact, not giving was stealing from god, since he had given you everything and everything was his to begin with. That's how it was explained in the many, many sermons about money.

In fact, it was so often preached about, that there was usually half a sermon before the money basket started circulating among the congregation. We were to give "with a cheerful heart". We were not to gather a treasure down on earth, but to "lay up our treasure in heaven".

Giving money in addition to the tithe was also often encouraged. Because we shouldn't "worship money", not let it be our "idol", that is, more important than god. Of course, giving wasn't supposed to be compulsory, but the amount of preaching about the subject sure created pressure 😅

And it was a sacrifice. If it meant struggling financially, even poverty, it was all for god, as he was sure to bless you. In the future. At some point.??

So, as a child I sure had my share of bad concience about wanting to keep my pennies for myself, rather than put them in the basket. It was a process to get rid of that mindset. Because it is a entirely different way of thinking, a mindset. A cult mindset.

This story is just one example about how cults control their members. There are many other stories, and it all comes down to control. Will you obey silently, or will you rebel? Because somewhere along the way, something's gonna break. Something inside you will rise...

And that's what the next song and video is about 🖤

Screenshot by @jasual_audio_visual

The story of Potters House, Australia:
(might contain disturbing content)

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raised-with-demons-how-the-potter-s-house-church-keeps-its-followers-under-control-20230410-p5cz9n.html

#hc #hatefulchains #goth #gothband #newsong #musicvideo #cult #cultlife #livinginacult #comingoutofacult

20 vk

Näytä käännös

Living in a cult meant living a peculiar life with different rules than in the surrounding world. One of the ways this cult, (and most cults actually) cultivated control over its members was financial control.

Tithing, that is giving "to god" a tenth of your income, was often preached about. In fact, not giving was stealing from god, since he had given you everything and everything was his to begin with. That's how it was explained in the many, many sermons about money.

In fact, it was so often preached about, that there was usually half a sermon before the money basket started circulating among the congregation. We were to give "with a cheerful heart". We were not to gather a treasure down on earth, but to "lay up our treasure in heaven".

Giving money in addition to the tithe was also often encouraged. Because we shouldn't "worship money", not let it be our "idol", that is, more important than god. Of course, giving wasn't supposed to be compulsory, but the amount of preaching about the subject sure created pressure 😅

And it was a sacrifice. If it meant struggling financially, even poverty, it was all for god, as he was sure to bless you. In the future. At some point.??

So, as a child I sure had my share of bad concience about wanting to keep my pennies for myself, rather than put them in the basket. It was a process to get rid of that mindset. Because it is a entirely different way of thinking, a mindset. A cult mindset.

This story is just one example about how cults control their members. There are many other stories, and it all comes down to control. Will you obey silently, or will you rebel? Because somewhere along the way, something's gonna break. Something inside you will rise...

And that's what the next song and video is about 🖤

Screenshot by @jasual_audio_visual

The story of Potters House, Australia:
(might contain disturbing content)

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raised-with-demons-how-the-potter-s-house-church-keeps-its-followers-under-control-20230410-p5cz9n.html

#hc #hatefulchains #goth #gothband #newsong #musicvideo #cult #cultlife #livinginacult #comingoutofacult

20 vk

Näytä käännös

Living in a cult meant living a peculiar life with different rules than in the surrounding world. One of the ways this cult, (and most cults actually) cultivated control over its members was financial control.

Tithing, that is giving "to god" a tenth of your income, was often preached about. In fact, not giving was stealing from god, since he had given you everything and everything was his to begin with. That's how it was explained in the many, many sermons about money.

In fact, it was so often preached about, that there was usually half a sermon before the money basket started circulating among the congregation. We were to give "with a cheerful heart". We were not to gather a treasure down on earth, but to "lay up our treasure in heaven".

Giving money in addition to the tithe was also often encouraged. Because we shouldn't "worship money", not let it be our "idol", that is, more important than god. Of course, giving wasn't supposed to be compulsory, but the amount of preaching about the subject sure created pressure 😅

And it was a sacrifice. If it meant struggling financially, even poverty, it was all for god, as he was sure to bless you. In the future. At some point.??

So, as a child I sure had my share of bad concience about wanting to keep my pennies for myself, rather than put them in the basket. It was a process to get rid of that mindset. Because it is a entirely different way of thinking, a mindset. A cult mindset.

This story is just one example about how cults control their members. There are many other stories, and it all comes down to control. Will you obey silently, or will you rebel? Because somewhere along the way, something's gonna break. Something inside you will rise...

And that's what the next song and video is about 🖤

Screenshot by @jasual_audio_visual

The story of Potters House, Australia:
(might contain disturbing content)

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raised-with-demons-how-the-potter-s-house-church-keeps-its-followers-under-control-20230410-p5cz9n.html

#hc #hatefulchains #goth #gothband #newsong #musicvideo #cult #cultlife #livinginacult #comingoutofacult

20 vk

Näytä käännös

Living in a cult meant living a peculiar life with different rules than in the surrounding world. One of the ways this cult, (and most cults actually) cultivated control over its members was financial control.

Tithing, that is giving "to god" a tenth of your income, was often preached about. In fact, not giving was stealing from god, since he had given you everything and everything was his to begin with. That's how it was explained in the many, many sermons about money.

In fact, it was so often preached about, that there was usually half a sermon before the money basket started circulating among the congregation. We were to give "with a cheerful heart". We were not to gather a treasure down on earth, but to "lay up our treasure in heaven".

Giving money in addition to the tithe was also often encouraged. Because we shouldn't "worship money", not let it be our "idol", that is, more important than god. Of course, giving wasn't supposed to be compulsory, but the amount of preaching about the subject sure created pressure 😅

And it was a sacrifice. If it meant struggling financially, even poverty, it was all for god, as he was sure to bless you. In the future. At some point.??

So, as a child I sure had my share of bad concience about wanting to keep my pennies for myself, rather than put them in the basket. It was a process to get rid of that mindset. Because it is a entirely different way of thinking, a mindset. A cult mindset.

This story is just one example about how cults control their members. There are many other stories, and it all comes down to control. Will you obey silently, or will you rebel? Because somewhere along the way, something's gonna break. Something inside you will rise...

And that's what the next song and video is about 🖤

Screenshot by @jasual_audio_visual

The story of Potters House, Australia:
(might contain disturbing content)

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raised-with-demons-how-the-potter-s-house-church-keeps-its-followers-under-control-20230410-p5cz9n.html

#hc #hatefulchains #goth #gothband #newsong #musicvideo #cult #cultlife #livinginacult #comingoutofacult

20 vk

Näytä käännös

New Release coming soon! And it's About Cult Life Again...

Before our next release is announced and the name revealed, some context and back ground is in order. I have done a series of posts on Instagram about this, specifically about growing up in a Charismatic Christian church, or as outsider definitely would call it, a cult. I'll share the posts here as well, and probably some more will come. 

Here you go!

Open Your Eyes to the Revelation!

Photo by @jasual_audio_visual

Did you know that Flora was raised in a cult?

"The church I grew up in was part of an American Evangelical Christian movement called The Christian Fellowship Ministries, or Potter's House Christian Fellowship. They emphasized obedience to your pastor, heavy commitment to the church, spreading the word/converting people," gifts of the spirit" like speaking in tongues, and giving your money to the church."

Read more here (the images might be disturbing to some)

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raised-with-demons-how-the-potter-s-house-church-keeps-its-followers-under-control-20230410-p5cz9n.html

"Obedience was the first and foremost requirement in this church. They didn't even send their young pastor candidates to bible school, but thaught them themselves, pastor to pastor. This way the head of a new church was always subject to his 'mother church'.
Obedience was ensured by requiring heavy attendance from the church members: there were two services on Sunday, one on Wednesday, and there was Saturday 'outreach' and morning prayer meetings.

Shunning, cutting of contact to members who left or somehow rebelled, was also one of the methods of control. Questioning your pastor and things like academic education (which would teach you to question things) were frowned upon.

What I learned through the up-bringing inside this kind of church, was to be obedient in an unhealthy way, and not to question matters of faith.

Coming out of the cult mindset and the process of rejecting the lies was a long journey, taking several years, a few crisis and turning points. Rejecting the lies I was taught and the lies I told my self, was crucial."

And the story of that rejection is the subject of our next song and music video.

Flora