c/cult-watch-weekly

Hit exactly 100 people in my 'cult recovery' support group this month and it hit me hard

I started tracking how many people I've talked to since leaving that group in Eugene back in 2018, and seeing that number go up to triple digits made me realize how many of us are still quietly trying to figure out normal life after years of obedience training, anyone else keep a count or just me?

Walked through that NXIVM building in Albany last month and it gave me the creeps

I was up in Albany for a family thing and decided to drive past the old NXIVM headquarters on Willett Street since I'd seen the documentaries. The place is just a regular looking brick building now, totally empty, but there were still these weird symbols carved into the concrete out front. My buddy who lives nearby said people still drive by to take pictures like it's a tourist spot. Has anyone else visited an old cult property and felt weird about the energy there?

Showerthought: Comparing how my old church handled money vs. how a legit nonprofit does it was like night and day

After my pastor asked for a 'love offering' for a private jet while ignoring the leaky roof, I started looking at their tax filings and realized the financial controls were nonexistent compared to the local food bank I volunteer at, where every dollar gets tracked and audited - has anyone else noticed this pattern in their own experiences?

Dropped $300 on a cult self-help program that was just group therapy

Signed up for The Ascension Path in March after a friend pushed it hard. $300 for 8 weeks of "inner transformation." Turned out it was just the guy reading from a textbook and making us share feelings in breakout rooms. Has anyone else fallen for one of these online guru programs?

Picked a zoom meeting over an in-person cult survivor support group last month

I figured the zoom would be easier since I'm on the road, but the in-person group I skipped turned out to have a former NXIVM member who was doing a Q&A that night. Has anyone else regretted choosing the convenient option and missing out on a legit face-to-face connection?

Debate: Is a commune a cult or just a bad housing choice?

I spent 6 months living in a commune in Oregon that seemed nice at first but then the leader started controlling who we could talk to. The philosophy was about simple living but it cost me $3,000 in savings and I lost touch with my family. Do you think communes cross the line into cult territory because of the isolation or is that just how intentional communities work?

Tried watching that NXIVM docuseries with an open mind and ended up more confused than when I started

Debate: Is the NXIVM documentary too soft on the lower level members?

I just finished watching The Vow on HBO and I can't decide how I feel about the way they handled people like Mark Vicente and Sarah Edmondson. On one hand, they were victims too and they helped expose Keith Raniere. But on the other hand, they were recruiting people for years and taking their money before they had their wake up call. I was sitting on my couch in Denver last week thinking about how Mark literally made a documentary praising NXIVM back in 2012 called Escaping Utopia or whatever it was. He was all in, promoting this guy, bringing in new marks. Then only after he got personally screwed, he flipped. Is that redemption or just self preservation? Where do you draw the line between someone who was fooled and someone who was actively helping the abuse happen?

Took me 6 months to spot the red flags in that "spiritual coaching" group I joined

I joined this online group back in March thinking it was just a supportive community for self improvement. The leader kept pushing these expensive retreats and personal sessions, but everyone seemed so happy. It took me until last week to realize they were using love bombing and isolation tactics to keep people from leaving. 6 months of my life. Has anyone else taken way too long to see what was right in front of them?