I escaped an informal cult: Ask me anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it the ashram on East West Highway?

Do you mean Western Ave? I had a friend who lived at that one for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not scientology or one of the other ones you've heard of - it's much smaller.

Did they serve kool aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not scientology or one of the other ones you've heard of - it's much smaller.

NXIVM? you work at movers and shakers

[Anonymous]

Was it Amway- now Quikstar? Some local groups are crazy cult-like

[Anonymous]

OP good for you for getting out. I can only imagine how difficult it was to get out especially since you were so young & your parents were part it.
Do you have any tips anyone trying to get a friend out of a cult? My dear friend of over 30 years joined a cult over 20 years ago and it’s ruining her life.

[Anonymous]

Do you know why your parents left the cult the first time and why they decided to rejoin it? How many siblings do you have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A you, or have you ever been, a Duggar?

No. I am really not comfortable saying which one, even though it's probably not one the average person has heard of.

Why would you not want to expose these people who illegally imprison and abuse children and women? Why wouldn't you want to help those who have been unable to escape these brain washing cults that wreck lives? Are you still afraid of them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there a charismatic tyrannical leader with loyal enforcers, as one so often hears?

We're members expected to work and give all money over? And do all the work for the leaders? What was the division of labor?

I did not find him to be charismatic, but yes. Or maybe he was charismatic in the earlier days and then just ruled by reputation of the earlier years combined with fear. The division of labor was pretty traditional except that women also did men's work but men never ever did women's work.

I never saw money. Like, ever. The buying went through a few people for everyone. So I'm not sure how that was working. My father had an outside job but I never heard about paydays or paychecks or anything.

It sounds like Gloriavale, but that's in NZ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A you, or have you ever been, a Duggar?

No. I am really not comfortable saying which one, even though it's probably not one the average person has heard of.

Why would you not want to expose these people who illegally imprison and abuse children and women? Why wouldn't you want to help those who have been unable to escape these brain washing cults that wreck lives? Are you still afraid of them?

I understand why OP would not want to name them, particularly if she is living in the DC area. This site is easily searched on Google, and giving those folks any access to even her general vicinity would be really scary.

My family left a situation that sounds somewhat like the one being described here called, also on the West Coast. Rather than being an independent cult, it was an offshoot of a major religion but warped and under the control of a single leader. It was not FLDS or any other offshoot of the Mormon church, for what it's worth.

[Anonymous]

Sounds a bit like Xenos.

[Anonymous]

It’s not really an AMA if you are not answering questions and being vague.

That said, I am glad you escaped.

[Anonymous]

You are an idiot

[Anonymous]

This thread is 10 years old.

[Anonymous]

Do you belong to a formal cult now, requiring you to don evening wear and raise your pinky when you take a sip of tea?

[Anonymous]

A loved one of mine is in a small sect of fundamentalism that fits all the criteria of being a cult. Any advice on what I can do to wake this person up or do I just have to wait and hope ?

It is excruciating to watch