May 26, 2008
David Tchappat is already a winner.
For those mentally and physically trapped within the Exclusive Brethren, leaving is not a rational option. From the moment you are taken as a child a few days old and immersed in a tub of luke warm water under the watchful eyes of your family members and a few local Exclusive Brethren representatives, you are given no choices. Your future is mapped and your ambitions will become sublimated to become part of ‘supporting the Assembly’.
The concept of ‘Household Baptism’ is just one example of where the Exclusive Brethren take choices out of the hands of an individual. To most Christians, Baptism is quite simply a personal decision and an outward expression of a life ‘reborn’. Although Christening is a common practice in many denominations, this is simpler to view as a dedication by the parents to bring up a child in the Christian tradition.
There is no ‘Believers Baptism’ in the Exclusive Brethren. This is the most common form of Baptism in the Christian community where a new believer will decide voluntarily to ‘be baptized’ as a public expression of their new faith and that they have left their old life behind them. It is this form of Baptism that many feel has the greatest meaning and significance – because they made the decision.
Continue reading »
May 25th, 2008
So the ‘Big Brother’ era for David Tchappat is over. The level of interest stemming from his brief sojourn in the Australian reality TV series was quite noticeable. Hits on this blog and the Peebs.Net Exclusive Brethren Information web site increased by almost 25% following the announcement that an escaped cult member was going to appear on the aptly named ‘Big Brother’ show.
Two of Big Brother’s most controversial housemates were punted from the show tonight after a shock double eviction rocked the famous Gold Coast Share house.
Former cult member David bit the dust even after cleverly revealing his intriguing past strategically a fortnight into the show.
The 33-year-old firefighter was raised as a member of the ‘Exclusive Brethren’ an extreme Christian sect that denies members access to TV, radio, and even restaurants.
Sensationally, David escaped the cult as a 19-year-old.
Continue reading »
Concerns regarding the ability of Kevin Rudd to ‘walk the walk’ following his undoubted ability to ‘talk the talk’ increased earlier today as the news broke of his rejection of a letter written to him by members of this site. The letter was sent based on Rudd’s oft repeated and clearly-defined statement regarding the Exclusive Brethren a few months ago when he called them an “extremist sect and cult”. Kevin Rudd then went on to say that he “believed they break up families”.
That is all we needed to hear. It is all that we have been saying for years. So the community of ex-Exclusive Brethren wrote to him.
Here is the Submission and the covering letter by Australian Peter Flinn:
25th February 2008
The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600Dear Prime Minister,
Exclusive Brethren
I am writing on behalf of a group of ex-members of the religious sect known as the Exclusive Brethren, and many others concerned about their activities. Our ages range from 30 to 80 years, and many of us have suffered traumatic experiences as a result of the doctrines and practices of this sect, whether having “escaped” recently or as long ago as 50 years.
Continue reading »
In a possible Quote of the Week, David Tchappat is quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as stating “Living with the Exclusive Brethren is like living in the Big Brother house…”.
Um … probably not David. Although, we do admit there are some possible similarities.
If you remove the fact that you are living, eating and under the same roof with people who are distinctly not EB material – and add to this the fact that this is a manufactured environment for Television (a pipeline of filth) – and of course, sadly, you are a ‘Person under Discipline’ and this means that you are denied a number of things: including eternal salvation, ability to speak freely with members of your family still inside, and darnit, you’re going to miss the Rapture …
No – we concur that you are there because of money, that you are there because you’re ‘different’ and you’re there because you miss not having a family around you – a circular observation perhaps.
Continue reading »
