Okay....

I didn't stay away very long.....

While thinking all things GRC - which admittedly involves my own bias against those with limited thinking and views - but that is my issue!

I was wanting to ask some things I've long wanted to know about the GRC:

Are the following examples things that fall under the heading of views held officially by the cult - or are they more the result of thinking by individual members - if indeed individual members have the right/desire/opportunity to think independently;

* Females are discouraged from having real careers.

Females from my family born into the GRC have not had careers, or indeed much education. They languish in jobs such as washing cars for sale in car yards, house-sitting, and bakery assistants. While those female family members who joined GRC gave up their professions once they married, and certainly never worked after children were born/raised.

* 'Bad' things that happen to non-GRC members happen because they are not 'saved'.

The GRC people I have known have been very judgemental. If you are not a GRC member and do not have a job/lose your job, have serious illness (or even die) and countless other life issues - all things are easily traced back to not being on the 'right' side of the Lord.

Over the years there has been a number of deaths in our family. One was particularly tragic and saw a young family member (non-GRC) suffer horribly as a result of terminal illness. We were all involved in round the clock palliative care for the weeks the illness lasted....well except for the GRC family member. One made a single visit. Two attended the funeral. They were quite remote and seemed unmoved by events.

Not so long ago a GRC family member suffered a horrible illness and was on life-support...I wondered if that person would be made to suffer later that they must have made the Lord unhappy?

* Issues that are seemingly beyond anyone's control are again traced back to being 'saved 'etc.

One non-GRC family member once argued with a GRC family member about babies born with disabilities. The GRC member indicated that it could not/did not happen to GRC people because they were on the 'right' side etc.
Non-GRC family members found great irony in word that the parent of a GRC spouse had quietly been placed in a home after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. GRC family members would not visit the person in question.

* Infertility is some punishment by God of non-GRC people.

Apparently some GRC members are against the use of IVF and other fertility treatments - it is an affront to God.

* Members are not encouraged to own their own housing or do other things to secure their financial future.

GRC people I have known have rented for decades and decades, in areas where housing was affordable, and when houses could have been purchased at low interest rates. THe pattern is being repeated in the next generation - with those that are finally 'allowed' to leave home. One GRC family member grew quite jealous that another family member not only had a large luxurious main home, but also a beach house....

* Health issues experienced by people once they join GRC miraciously disappear on becoming saved.

I have heard this time and time again. Heart murmurs...bad backs...all gone. I know one member extremely obese, at certain risk of various health problems with no interest in medical advice, as the Lord will protect....arrrghhhh!

* GRC members are encouraged to marry young - to the first boy/girl friend they have.

My family is helping again to further populate the GRC. Extremely young people are marrying, and only leaving their family home once that marriage has taken place. These marriages have been to their first friend of the opposite sex. They are all starting their own families soon after....and their fates somehow seemed sealed!

So, I am not sure which of the above are GRC rules, or just mere coincidence...maybe someone here might help me separate the two?

Thanks!