Netflix’s new psychological thriller Unchosen might be a fictional tale about a young woman caught up in a reclusive cult. But the plotlines are actually based on true stories from people who have escaped cults across the UK.
Cult life is more common than some of us might think. The International Cultic Studies Association estimates that more than a million people are involved in a cult at some point in their lifetime. Many victims have no clue that something odd is up because manipulation is exactly how cults operate. But for the lucky ones who do manage to escape, there's often a turning point, or defining moment, that pushes them to leave.
Someone asked, "For those of you that escaped cults... what was your 'I need to get the [heck] out' story?" and over a thousand survivors came forward with their stories. From the creepy to the shocking and the downright heartbreaking, Bored Panda has put together a list of the best. Many are proof that even if we think something will never happen to us, it actually just might.
#21
This is actually something I was just thinking about the other day. I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness, and I think it was less one big “aha!” moment and more a bunch of little things.
For those unfamiliar with the group, witnesses believe that Armageddon is coming any day now, and the only way to survive is be a baptized JW. They also refuse to accept blood transfusions, celebrate holidays, toast, date without supervision, and practice yoga, just to name a few things.
A big one for me was watching a leader from the very top of the group describe unbelievers as “vessels fit for destruction” and pull out a malformed piece of glassware to illustrate, he then smashed it on the floor to illustrate what will happen to us. Another prominent leader of the group was recorded warning that tight pants are designed by perverted homosexuals.
On a more personal level, the last year I was a witness I left a large religious gathering and was met with protestors. I realized something questionable is likely happening if people are taking time to protest. The picket signs weren’t even aggressive, they said things like “there is support! You can leave!”
The reason this even needs to be said is because witnesses shun people who leave the religion. I hadn’t seen either of my 2 older siblings in about 10 years. I hung out with school friends outside of school for the first time when I was in grade 12 and my mom cried because she was afraid she was a bad parent. I got out at 17 and haven’t looked back. Sorry if this was a small novel!
For those unfamiliar with the group, witnesses believe that Armageddon is coming any day now, and the only way to survive is be a baptized JW. They also refuse to accept blood transfusions, celebrate holidays, toast, date without supervision, and practice yoga, just to name a few things.
A big one for me was watching a leader from the very top of the group describe unbelievers as “vessels fit for destruction” and pull out a malformed piece of glassware to illustrate, he then smashed it on the floor to illustrate what will happen to us. Another prominent leader of the group was recorded warning that tight pants are designed by perverted homosexuals.
On a more personal level, the last year I was a witness I left a large religious gathering and was met with protestors. I realized something questionable is likely happening if people are taking time to protest. The picket signs weren’t even aggressive, they said things like “there is support! You can leave!”
The reason this even needs to be said is because witnesses shun people who leave the religion. I hadn’t seen either of my 2 older siblings in about 10 years. I hung out with school friends outside of school for the first time when I was in grade 12 and my mom cried because she was afraid she was a bad parent. I got out at 17 and haven’t looked back. Sorry if this was a small novel!
11points
#22
Former JW myself, though even as a child I was never really sold on it, always felt wrong. My mother is still hardcore into it and a few family members on her side. They are actually a bit more liberal than most as my sister is gay and they are still very warm and welcoming to her. The passing of my father, who was not a JW, softened up my mother a bit. I didn’t have the same experience and felt like I was being forcibly brainwashed and I remember a few encounters with ‘elders’ over my attitude and behaviour. I broke away because I wanted to be a musician. That went over really well as you can imagine. I’m in my 40’s now and have had a moderately successful music career to date, I never looked back.
I feel bad for my mom, a few years ago I caved and went to meeting with her to humour her. This is after maybe 20 years after giving the brothers the finger and I hadn’t seen my mother in years. It was 2 hours of hateful, ignorant tirade. It’s been a while since they knocked on my door, I must be on a no knock list from the last time they were in the neighborhood. I’m quite sure I made an impression.
As far as a single instance that happened that made me feel I needed to get out? It was when I was blindsided with a meeting with the ‘elders’ that my mother set up and she just sat there for over an hour watching these grown men verbally attack me and try to tear me apart mentally because I didn’t get it. I checked out right then and there and bided my time. I ended up leaving the country at age 20.
I feel bad for my mom, a few years ago I caved and went to meeting with her to humour her. This is after maybe 20 years after giving the brothers the finger and I hadn’t seen my mother in years. It was 2 hours of hateful, ignorant tirade. It’s been a while since they knocked on my door, I must be on a no knock list from the last time they were in the neighborhood. I’m quite sure I made an impression.
As far as a single instance that happened that made me feel I needed to get out? It was when I was blindsided with a meeting with the ‘elders’ that my mother set up and she just sat there for over an hour watching these grown men verbally attack me and try to tear me apart mentally because I didn’t get it. I checked out right then and there and bided my time. I ended up leaving the country at age 20.
11points
#23
Former Mormon. I became disenchanted with it when I came out, I realized I needed to formally leave when I found out that its foundations are lies from start to finish. The fact that "God-sent unchanging doctrine" keeps being rewritten and the dark history is frequently either explained away or denied is a pretty big part of it too.
11points
#24
I wouldn't call it a cult, per se, but a non-denominational church from when I was about 12 or 13. The kind of place where people speak in tongues and get healed, even falling to the floor and convulsing.
I bought into it for a few months. The first wrinkle came when they told me if I played Pokémon or read Harry Potter I'd be going to hell. At the time I was obsessed with both.
But the defining moment was several months later, when I decided to have the pastor pray for me - not because I felt I needed it, but because I was getting very jaded and decided to put his Benny Hinn powers to the test.
The pastor pressed on my temples so hard and kept pushing me backwards. Ended up doing kind of a Matrix bend as he tried to get me to be "healed" or whatever it was. I never fell, but I had a wicked headache afterwards.
By that time I had gotten my mother into the church and she would keep me going every Sunday, but the faith was long gone.
And joke's on them, because I ended up having a Harry Potter themed wedding and got married by a friend who pretended to be a wizard.
I bought into it for a few months. The first wrinkle came when they told me if I played Pokémon or read Harry Potter I'd be going to hell. At the time I was obsessed with both.
But the defining moment was several months later, when I decided to have the pastor pray for me - not because I felt I needed it, but because I was getting very jaded and decided to put his Benny Hinn powers to the test.
The pastor pressed on my temples so hard and kept pushing me backwards. Ended up doing kind of a Matrix bend as he tried to get me to be "healed" or whatever it was. I never fell, but I had a wicked headache afterwards.
By that time I had gotten my mother into the church and she would keep me going every Sunday, but the faith was long gone.
And joke's on them, because I ended up having a Harry Potter themed wedding and got married by a friend who pretended to be a wizard.
10points
#25
When the other churchgoers started speaking in tongues during the sermons.
Noped out at 14 and never looked back.
Noped out at 14 and never looked back.
7points
#26
Also grew up a JW and was in for 25 years. Once a year JWs have a 3 day convention. Basically you have to sit through various bible lectures for 8 hours a day. JWs believe themselves you be the only true religion and everything else is “false religion”. So you grow up very critical of other forms of worship. For me personally I was critical of mega churches as they seemed more like a concert and hangout than actually learning anything from the Bible. While the once a year conventions consisted of thousands of JWs in place for the weekend it was almost business like. Everyone sat in their seats quietly during the lectures. We had a one hour break for lunch and everyone would walk around and talk and that was it. Well in 2019 the JWs has an international convention where they had 40,000 in attendance. People who visited from other parts of the world were told were their “traditional garb”. JWs came in with poster signs. They started singing and dancing during the program and cheering during any video clips played. I found myself in a 3 day megachurch. The very thing I grew up criticizing.
7points
#27
On the first day of joining this particular church, when it can to giving offerings, the pastor demanded that the ushers lock the doors so that everyone contribute. Lol.
7points
#28
I was in a band with someone who left a cult! The band dissolved as a result- everything was literally prescribed by the cult, leader, and the members of the cult that were senior to him, his clothing, his job, his lifestyle where he lived who he associated with, he couldn’t function in regular reality and slowly unwound after that. He is a really amazing guitar player it was a pixies tribute band back in the 90s days such a bummer!!!!!
5points
#29
Ex Church of Christ here.
Very strict on attendance, you are expected to be there for every service and if you aren’t or miss often, there’s unspoken/hush hush judgement about it.
You are expected to not question authority of the Elders nor the preacher. You are mostly only expected to answer the questions they pose in bible class. If you’re a woman, you’re expected to not speak hardly at all, even in bible class.
You are expected to feel guilt about all of your sins and outwardly show that you do by coming forward at the end of the sermon/invitation to ask for the entire congregations “thoughts and prayers.”
You are expected to follow what the Bible says and ONLY what the Bible says. You do not do anything the Bible doesn’t explicitly say or give an example of early Christian’s doing. You are definitely not allowed to do anything the Bible expressly says not to do.
You are expected to conform and be one of the Congregation. You are to dress, act, and behave like everyone else, especially to imitate the Elders as they are the “Shepherds of the congregation”
Men are expected to work in the congregation through song leading, preaching/invitation, leading prayers, serving the Lords Supper. Women are expected to be silent and do no work except teaching children’s Bible class, prepping the Lords Supper, and cleaning the building.
You are expected to engage in worship through singing (acapella, everybody sings), praying silently/personally during prayer, and partaking in the Lords Supper.
Very strict on attendance, you are expected to be there for every service and if you aren’t or miss often, there’s unspoken/hush hush judgement about it.
You are expected to not question authority of the Elders nor the preacher. You are mostly only expected to answer the questions they pose in bible class. If you’re a woman, you’re expected to not speak hardly at all, even in bible class.
You are expected to feel guilt about all of your sins and outwardly show that you do by coming forward at the end of the sermon/invitation to ask for the entire congregations “thoughts and prayers.”
You are expected to follow what the Bible says and ONLY what the Bible says. You do not do anything the Bible doesn’t explicitly say or give an example of early Christian’s doing. You are definitely not allowed to do anything the Bible expressly says not to do.
You are expected to conform and be one of the Congregation. You are to dress, act, and behave like everyone else, especially to imitate the Elders as they are the “Shepherds of the congregation”
Men are expected to work in the congregation through song leading, preaching/invitation, leading prayers, serving the Lords Supper. Women are expected to be silent and do no work except teaching children’s Bible class, prepping the Lords Supper, and cleaning the building.
You are expected to engage in worship through singing (acapella, everybody sings), praying silently/personally during prayer, and partaking in the Lords Supper.
5points
#30
I used to be in a cult called the anti social justice warrior on tumblr, at first it was simple. We just dind't like people who overly complained about things and trying to take down things and censoring all of the "cool and fun" stuff of media. Soon, when the trump election happened, all of my anti sjw friends were starting to get a bit weird. Supporting this idiot who has no idea of how the government works and no idea how a government works. This guy was all over the place.
Soon, I just started to get a bit liberal. All i wanted was not to have the crazies in media but then I started to realize the crazies literally while they can be wrong sometimes, it's better to be wrong sometimes than all of the time.
Soon, I just started to get a bit liberal. All i wanted was not to have the crazies in media but then I started to realize the crazies literally while they can be wrong sometimes, it's better to be wrong sometimes than all of the time.
1point