Got roasted by a former Moonie for my 'cult alarm' approach

I used to think I could spot a cult by the shiny pamphlets or weird handshakes. Then I met a woman at a diner in Portland who escaped the Unification Church in the 80s. She said I was missing the real red flags like love bombing and identity isolation. Now I focus more on how groups change your daily habits and less on their marketing. Anyone else get humbled by a survivor who totally reframed their radar?

3 comments

3 Comments

abby_cooper2d ago

Yeah, survivors really know the quiet signs that take years to undo.

the_miles2d ago

That diner in Portland story is exactly the kind of thing that sticks with you. @abby_cooper nailed it about survivors knowing the quiet signs that take years to undo. I've learned to watch for the small daily shifts in how someone talks about their time or money.

young.michael2d ago

Same thing happened to me but with a guy who got out of Scientology. He told me I was too focused on the weird beliefs and not enough on how they slowly cut people off from their families. Changed my whole approach since then.