World Freedom Day is a United States federal observance declared by then-President George W. Bush to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe. It started in 2001 and is celebrated on 9 November and the year 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of the historic event.
For people who have survived Armstrongism this day is highly relevant since we have also separated ourselves from a cult with exactly the same firm grip on people as the former Russian empire (and satelite nations) had upon their people.
For many the question is still: "Why are memories from those years so strong?"
That is a perfectly legitimate question, and I fully understand where this is coming from. It's one thing to understand that Armstrongism was a cult based upon erroneous theology - but quite another to know that friends are still caught up in the errors of mind control. We have all spent a number of years (and many even decades), and thus built up numerous friendships with a large number of people.
Many of these friends could be helped if only they were willing to listen to facts about their idols. But even in situations where people don't agree, at least the effect of interpersonal relationships could help them realize there IS indeed a world outside "the faithful few"...
That's why the World Freedom Day is rather thought-provoking to many of us.
You and others you know must have suffered so greatly being under such false teaching. I'm so glad that you and others have been brought out from that and made free in this unique way. I am thankful to have godly teachers in my church who teach and do not distort God's Word, the Bible. That alone is our only true guide to faith and life, and churches that teach it in truth are safe places.
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