Life groups

[Riders]

So why do churches use life groups? I have found that all the 12 Step church groups want me to socialize in their Christianized 12 step programs. My Friend Julie is in a life group for people her age only she says they a are only allowed to socialize with people in their group and why is that?

 

[sun rise]

they a are only allowed to socialize with people in their group

I'm not in favor of such controlling demands. It smacks of cult-like cutting people off from others.

 

[Rival]

What is a life group?

 

[Shiranui117]

What is a life group?

I think it's a social group for people of a given age range, marital status, etc. It's meant to put you in a small group/community of people in roughly the same circumstances as you and hopefully make it easier to find friends like you.

 

[Riders]

Its ok for those who need,. I would have liked a singles group when I was there. But I wont be put in a situation to where I'm expected to socialize only with a certain group.

 

[ChristineM]

I think it's a social group for people of a given age range, marital status, etc. It's meant to put you in a small group/community of people in roughly the same circumstances as you and hopefully make it easier to find friends like you.

I think something like that would drive me nuts.

 

[JJ50]

So why do churches use life groups? I have found that all the 12 Step church groups want me to socialize in their Christianized 12 step programs. My Friend Julie is in a life group for people her age only she says they a are only allowed to socialize with people in their group and why is that?

That is terrible, and she should tell them where to stick that demand!

 

[Riders]

Yea it's just really weird.Because I have always felt as an obese person:

that the church and over eaters anonymous expect me to fit in only with other fat people or in the case of Sex Addicts Anonymous.

The reason is this.The 12 steps programs at church and the secular ones say you need to be around other people like you to get sobriety or in OAs program abstinanve from food.

To some degree it's true Birds of a feather flock together.Getting away from addiction the best way is to John with others who have over come

But a lot of these programs have folks in the church programs and 12 steps who say you spent all that time on money and energy in your addiction.

So in order to free from it you should spend every wake ng moment your not with your family or job should be in the program with other people like you.

The reason I'm bringing up 12 step is I feel like the church is similar to this in the life groups.

They teach in order to have a full spiritual life you should be with others who are exactly like you.

I as a Universalist feel as though this is a way of excluding others that are not carbon copies of me.

To me I really think Christian folks in my Mom's AA meetings and some Christian's do not approve of my socialized ng with Universalist because UU has a stereotype of having all nerds that I would not be smart enough to go there.

Same way with meditation and Zen Buddhist meetings where you see alot of fit healthy folks sitting on the floor.I ask for a chair because I'm the only ones person there

I know Christian's who would be shocked if they knew I did that

They go around birds if feather should apply to every circumstance and social situations including a couple of Christian's I've met at D and D games who stereotyped D and D folks to being all nerds too.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

So why do churches use life groups? I have found that all the 12 Step church groups want me to socialize in their Christianized 12 step programs. My Friend Julie is in a life group for people her age only she says they a are only allowed to socialize with people in their group and why is that?

I don't know what a life group is, but any time you hear about "You're only allowed to socialize with people in our group," that is one of the first marks of a dangerous toxic cult. Stay away. Far away.

It's one thing to say that as a recovering drug addict you should stay away from drug users, since they will likely bring you right back down into your cycle of abuse. This is NOT the same as saying you should avoid everyone outside the recovery group. There are plenty of emotionally healthy non-toxic people outside the recovery group.