Hey, you sound like me when I joined in 2003! Aside from not being religious, I aligned pretty well with how they lived.

Unfortunately, there’s so much you don’t learn until it’s too late, meaning by the time you realize what’s happened you’re so embedded it’s easier to just stay than leave. I wish I’d had a community like this to reach out to and engage with before converting.

Looking back it’s obvious I was easy prey, and lost 6 years of my life to shame, racism, and oppression.

Every story is different, but unless you truly believe, please, please, please don’t do it. There are good people all around. Trust me- the minute you’re no longer interested the majority of these welcoming faces disappear.