Reddit mentions: The best religious cults books

God will call us to different churches for various reasons. I would pray though and ask God for wisdom as to if He wills for you to deal with the "rules" that have been added to scripture at this church or find another one.

Sometimes the legalistic rules that are added are not so obvious though at first. My husband and I recently left a church where many would think it was more free and less legalistic than yours. People came wearing basically anything they wanted. Tattoos were more common than not, as even most of the leaders had them. And as for secular music, my husband and I felt like the odd ones out because we have strong convictions about what we listen to and watch even. But there were other "rules." They wanted everyone in the church to be plugged into a small group. This was for discipleship and for the church members to grow in the faith. Sounds great right? The problem that we encountered was that for some with jobs that ended later, the start times were too early to make it on time. Plus, we had a situation where we felt led of the Spirit to go to what they called an "unsanctioned" small group as it was not following the church's plan of how it was being run (top down kind of leadership and accountability structure etc. . . ) But young people were coming, getting saved, being healed. It was amazing! So we went, but it caused us to appear as "rebels."

Then we couldn't sign up for any ministries that the church had (worship team, mentoring, or being any leadership positions, even though my husband and I have done ministry for decades) because we couldn't check the little box that said we were in one of the church's sanctioned small groups. Sigh. This is just one of the situations that felt like there were so many hoops to jump through. Even after we finally were in an "official" and approved group later on, I was kept from being on the worship team due to some unknown reason (I was told I was still rebellious and had "character issues.") I cried over this rejection. I still lament it, as I am posting about it even now, but we eventually had to leave the church because they were not at all free! I couldn't even sing the worship song called "Who you say I am" without crying in that church as the song says, "Who the Son sets free, is free indeed. I'm a child of God, Yes I am... You are for me not against me." I cried out to Jesus and told him that I didn't feel free at all in the church and the leaders were not for me. They were against me (and my husband too.) Within a couple of months, however, we were miraculously led to a different church. I am now the worship pastor, and singing more than I ever have and my husband is the new associate pastor! So God has a way of setting the captives free for sure. But Spiritual abuse can happen anywhere.

I highly recommend a book called "Broken Trust" by F. Remy Diederich (only $2.99 on Kindle- https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Trust-practical-spiritual-Overcoming/dp/1976390850/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Broken+Trust+F.+Remy&qid=1554863256&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull )

F. Remy Diederich also recommended another free online book the other day that I have loved (not quite finished yet but it is really good and helpful for discerning what makes for a controlling and abusive type church environment. Here is the link: https://faithafterdeception.wordpress.com/2018/07/28/choose-freedom-choose-happiness-introduction/

So Mimi has responded back:

"Hi Todd,

Happy to answer your questions. My book is called Passionate Journeys: Why Successful Women Joined a Cult.

While there were individual devotees in Eugene between 1981 and 1984, there was no group presence. However, Sheela and KD Mayor of Rajneeshpuram) spoke in Eugene in an event sponsored by the ACLU in 1982. In the Willamette Valley, they had a much larger presence in Salem and of course Portland.

When the group dispersed, very few individuals settled in Eugene, although some passed through on their way to other destinations. Over the decades, there have been some Osho (Rajneesh’s new name) meditation sessions near the university.

Thanks for your questions and you are welcome to share my responses."


I /u/mrtoddw have included the link on Amazon for the book: https://www.amazon.com/Passionate-Journeys-Successful-Women-Joined/dp/0472088440

I had a therapist but she really didn't get the cult dynamic. I called Steve Hassan's center and spoke to a woman there for twenty minutes and felt better than after weeks of therapy. There's also an exJW recovery workbook.

EXiting the JW Cult: A Healing Handbook: For Current & Former Jehovah's Witnesses by Bonnie Zieman http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YCJSJ5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_udp_api_a0ClxbQYMSBQA

If you need help along the way there's no shame in that. I ultimately did benefit from therapy, and it helped me put myself back together.

In her book "Going Undercover to Rescue My Daughter From the Cult of Jehovah's Witnesses", Nancy Sage described how her 16-year old daughter, Tammy, decided to leave the WT.

Tammy asked one of her JW friends if she would drink poisoned Kool-Aid if the GB said she must. This friend replied she certainly would.

Tammy bailed.

You can hear the story in an interview with Sage on Youtube. It comes up around the 6:08 mark.

Maybe at this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/97ylw8/jehovahs_witnesses_are_a_cult/

This link?

Darn it, the 'Bonnie Zieman' link didn't load. Let me try her website.

[edit] This might be it, but one has to buy the book to get all of the information:

https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Cult-Code-Therapists-Therapist/dp/1546894683/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498315702&sr=1-1&keywords=cracking+the+cult+code

Yeah, this has disappeared from Bonnie Zieman's website:

>If you prefer, you can still download my free two-page document which briefly outlines typical cult dynamics and after-effects. You can find it under the tab “For Therapists” on this website.

However here are the results of my Reddit search "therapist cult". Perhaps this will help:

https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/search?q=therapist+cult&restrict_sr=on

Find a licensed, professional psychologist who knows...

1. who Bonnie Zeiman, Madeleine Tobias and Janja Lalich are,
   
   
2. what Complex PTSD is, and
   
   
3. who most of the people are who are listed in the very first paragraph of this earlier post.
   
   Section seven of that earlier post will help you find the professional help you need.
   
   See also:
   
   Can People truly Recover from Cult Indoctrination and Manipulation?
   and
   
   Treating Cultism as an Addiction.

Show your therapist the pdf on this website to help them understand what being in, and subsequently leaving, a high control religion does to people. Bonnie Zieman was once a pioneer who left the org and became a therapist and it's her site.

Oh... I see she has a brand new book specifically for therapists called Cracking the Cult Code. I'm giddy with excitement!

Have you ever read "The Cult at the End of the World"? Because if not I strongly suggest it. Nothing is like Aum Shinrikyo was in the late 80s/mid-90s.

I mean, yeah, they're a cult, but Aum was truly operating on another level.

It's really late where I am so I'll just be brief and say if I was in your shoes right now I would bust myself to get into college and read through Bonnie Zieman's ebook as self-therapy until you can avail yourself of the real thing. I'm doing the same thing but I'm in my 30s, seize this opportunity while it is easier.
https://www.amazon.com.au/EXiting-JW-Cult-Handbook-Witnesses-ebook/dp/B00YCJSJ5S

And go you for writing your story at the meeting!

My First Book of Mormon Stories?

Bhagavad-Gita for Children and Beginners?

The Littlest Satanic Bible? Looks like the Satanic Temple has a kid's thing, but it's already been linked.

Prepare her for a world full of Fnord with The Itty Bitty Principia Discordia? Hmmm... Can't seem to find a kids version of this.

I know! I know! Teach her about the ways of Slack with The Book of the SubGenius: The Sacred Teachings of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and its companion Revelation X: The Bob Apocryphon, Hidden Teachings and Deuterocanonical Texts of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs! They don't have a kid's thing either, but such is life! (This SubGenious stuff is. a. hoot.)

For anyone on Twitter, would be a good idea to advertise the book mentioned in another thread here, with all the usual JW hashtags: http://www.amazon.com/Quitting-Jehovahs-Witnesses-Other-ebook/dp/B00EP59KUW/

(I'm not on twitter and too lazy to sign up)

I read Underground, but I also read The Cult at the End of the World. Kaplan and Marshall tell the story of Aum Shinrikyo. Murakami reflects on the Japanese mindset through interviews with members of the cult.

The Cult at the End of the World is the craziest and most entertaining non-fiction book I've read. It focuses on the leader and the people trying to bring him down. It's thrilling, it's horrifying, and it's a damn good read.

Bonnie Zeiman's books would be good to share with a therapist

https://www.amazon.com/Bonnie-Zieman/e/B00XROE7JG

Especially this one:

Cracking the Cult Code for Therapists: What Every Cult Victim Wants Their Therapist to Know

https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Cult-Code-Therapists-Therapist/dp/1546894683/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Bonnie Zieman, therapist and exjw, also wrote a little book to help therapists understand.

https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Cult-Code-Therapists-Therapist/dp/1546894683/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=bonnie+zieman&qid=1573914339&sr=8-2

Definitely.

https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Cult-Code-Therapists-Therapist/dp/1546894683/

This book was recently marketed here on Reddit. Have not read it myself, but topic is spot on.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07BP2MG6B/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1522676202&sr=1-1

Whole libraries have been written on this topic:

http://www.amazon.com/Cults-Inside-Out-How-People/dp/149731660X/ref=pd_sim_14_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=41kqOer3qDL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=1GH4JJDV4XA1R22TQPV5

The Washington Times is owned my a cult leader.

No reliable sources out there?

What does it say about American politics when a famous 1970s cult leader publishes a Washington newspaper, dresses up in the U.S. Senate offices like King George III, and no one in D.C. seems to care? One night in 2004, at one of Washington’s most outrageous dinner parties, members of Congress bought a shining crown and robes to a billionaire mystery man who calls himself the True Father: the Reverend Moon, sushi mogul, conservative philanthropist, and publisher of the right-wing Washington Times. After Salon.com journalist John Gorenfeld broke the story of Moon’s coronation, the New York Times compared the scandal to an act of the Roman emperor Caligula.

Rick Alan Ross is a cult expert. Although it's not specifically about Jonestown this book explores the psychological damage and how to recover from it...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cults-Inside-Out-How-People/dp/149731660X

I'm sorry you are going through this. We've been through similar with our step-children.

Your ex is practicing parental alienation. However, do your best to avoid putting your child in the middle or seeming like you are attacking his mother in your responses. Teach critical thinking skills and use the Socratic method of questioning (look it up on YouTube). Document your ex violating the court order by talking negatively about you and your beliefs and traditions. Document the guilt and emotional distress your child experiences from this. Find a therapist that is knowledgeable about the mental and emotional impact of being involved in a cult. Bonnie Zieman has a book specifically for therapists that helps them assist patients that were or are involved in cults. It's really short, so it's not an onerous read.

Yes, I think you will eventually need to go back to court. Please consult with a lawyer.

Edit : Here's a link to the book
Cracking the Cult Code for Therapists: What Every Cult Victim Wants Their Therapist to Know https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073D2KYX5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5lfDCbDP6T62V

Currently reading: New York is Hell by Benjamin DeCasseres, Introduction by Peggy Nadramia

Recommended list:

• The Occult Technology of Power - Personally recommended by LaVey.
  
• The Gentleman Downstairs
  
• Infernalia by Michael Rose
  
• IMP: The Poetry of Benjamin DeCasseres
  
• Homo, and 44/100% Nonsapiens by Gerald B. Lorentz - I believe LaVey had a copy of this after it was recommended to him.
  
• The Devil and Philosophy: The Nature of His Game - Features essays by Peter Gilmore
  
• Bearing The Devil's Mark by Matt Paradise

There's a book called "The Exoneration of Emma, Joseph and Hyrum" that goes into this in great detail and brought new evidence to light. It's available on amazon and definitely worth the read if you want to dive into the rabbit hole of Secret Masonic Combinations in early mormon history. He documents from journals that both Brigham and Heber were constantly hanging around newspaper offices the days leading up to the murder, awaiting the important news of Joseph's death, and shows that there alibis are demonstrably lies.

https://www.amazon.com/Exoneration-Emma-Joseph-Hyrum-Part-ebook/dp/B07728CX7N

http://www.lostmormonism.com/samuel-smith-poisoned/

https://puremormonism.blogspot.com/2017/10/brigham-youngs-hostile-takeover.html?m=1

Why did the murderers paint their faces black unless there was a risk of being recognized? Seeing as they were all supposedly from Carthage and were there to kill every mormon polygamist what was the chance of being recognized? Why were the other 2 mormon polygamists in the room supposedly full of gunfire almost completely untouched? Why would Joseph yell the Masonic distress cry unless he recognized some of the men as being brothers from the Lodge, which the 12 were far more involved with? Why did William Smith flee Nauvoo for his life after outing the 12 publicly for practicing polygamy, claiming the 12 were trying to kill him like they did his brothers? Why did he hide out in Elijah Abel's house on the east coast? Why did Lucy Mack accuse Brigham of murdering her sons?