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?

3 comments

3 Comments

brooke_jones6d ago

3,000 dollars and losing your family just for "simple living"? That's not intentional community, that's a cult with a welcome packet.

wade_kelly776d ago

The "losing your family" part is what got me. I read an article about a woman who joined one of these communities. She had to cut off contact with her parents because they "didn't support the lifestyle." That's not simple living, that's control. The $3,000 is just the entry fee to get isolated.

anthonynelson6d ago

I get where you're coming from but I see it a bit differently. Some people genuinely need that kind of structure to break free from bad habits or old patterns that were holding them back. The high cost and strict rules might be less about control and more about making sure people are really committed before they join.