I grew up in a super controlling religious cult. The kind where questioning anything meant you were “under Satan’s influence” or whatever. It wasn’t just strict, it was straight-up manipulative. My whole life was dictated by this group, and my parents were deep in it too.
When I finally left a few years ago, they completely cut me off. No calls, no messages, just silence. They said I betrayed them, that I was “choosing the world” over “God.” It hurt like hell, but I also felt free for the first time.
Fast forward to now. I’ve been doing okay, working hard, building a life for myself. Guess who just reached out? Yup. My parents. Turns out they’re broke and suddenly “miss me.” Not because they actually want a relationship, nah, they want financial help.
They didn’t want me when I was figuring things out, when I needed support or even just a kind word. But now that their bills are piling up, they’re acting like nothing ever happened.
I’m still trying to figure out how to feel. Part of me feels guilty because… well, they’re still my parents. But another part of me is like, where was this love when I was sleeping on my friend’s couch and crying myself to sleep?
I haven’t answered yet. Just needed to get this off my chest.
Comments
Run
Your “parents” disowned you, meaning that you’re not their child, according to them.
Let them deal with the consequences of abandoning you.
I hope you remember that helping them won’t give you the relationship with them that you want, and on the off chance that they inexplicably decide to be better people and rebuild a relationship with you at some point in the future, your refusal to help them now is not going to erase that possibility. Take care of yourself first.
Do not answer, and do not feel guilty. They’re not reaching out to you, they’re reaching out to your money. To take it.
Would bet dollars to donuts they haven’t left the cult, and any money would go to the cult… we’ve seen other posts around here like this one.
Yeah ummm no
Unless they are out of the cult you should block them.
Letting them back in could open up a whole new issue of them trying to get you to join the cult again. If they didn’t accept you when you left/ didn’t acknowledge what they did when getting back in touch then it’s clear their only reason for reaching out was because they needed something from you.
Accepting this is setting a new precedent for how your relationship will look from now on.
Don’t answer until you figure out what you want
Tell them to ask their fellow cult members for help, since they are more important than their child.
They tossed you to the side, don’t reopen the door.
I would them “pray silently for what you need, and choke loudly and a dick while you wait”
You’ll feel a million times better if you stand up for yourself. You can be kind and firm… I love you, but I can’t help financially.
Either you can remind them of being disowned, or you can tell them that you’re happy to rebuild a relationship, but you don’t have the finances to help them. If their first reaction is anger, it’s time for you to press block. Or at the very least, tell them instead of money, you’ll give them a credit towards their local therapist.
If they try to make amends it’s only temporary until they get what they want. Don’t give in. Making amends is never asking again and stick around, earning forgiveness. Knowing how thru disowned you and gave three fucks about it, they don’t know the meaning of forgiveness. Of acceptance. Don’t hold your breath. I recommend you move on. They showed you their stripes. Don’t let them take you down with them.
You don’t owe them anything, but lock down your credit and keep a close eye on that kind of stuff…
Every action has a consequence. Let them pay the price, no need to be collateral.
No doubt that they kept tabs on you from afar, at least the cult did, all it takes is one celebratory pic on your ig or snapchat or fb for them to identify you as a potential mark/money source. Dont give them a penny
It makes me wonder what sin they have committed to have those hard times brought on themselves. Maybe if they just prayed more and with an honest heart? 🤔 (Yes, I also grew up in cultish religion)
Tell them to ask Jesus for the money.
You don’t have parents. They cut you loose. Stay free. Stay happy. Stay logical and strong.