Generation Cult

Jesse grew up in "the perfect church," or so he was told. The small, albeit pushy congregation his life centered around in the town of Oregon, IL seemed almost ideal as a small child.

But then the immortal leader died.

She didn't come back to life like she was supposed to. And the new leader liked restrictions. There were so many restrictions. Jesse found himself trapped in a cycle of punishment, abuse and humiliation that made his teen years a prison -- both literally and figuratively.

Although he eventually got away, there are certain things (like felonies on his permanent record) that he'll never be able to shake.

Join us to discuss the Church of Jesus Christ Forever.

***This episode contains disturbing descriptions of child abuse. Listen with care or skip this one if you're squeamish.

Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw

Editing by Dhyana Levey

Most people have heard of Christian Science and passed by the reading rooms, but how much do you know about it? 

Hilary grew up as a radical reliant Christian Scientist, which meant her family avoided medical intervention in favor of prayer to try to cure ailments. She lived to talk about it, but others weren't so lucky.

As an adult, Hilary became an atheist and started the Leaving Christian Science Podcast on YouTube. Join us to talk about the history of this group, which is primarily made up of families who have stayed connected to it since its early days. We'll also discuss the medical neglect of children and how much pressure church members have experienced in the past to avoid doctors. While this appears to be changing, elderly members still tied to the belief system continue to suffer as they age and fall ill.

***This episode contains descriptions of medical neglect and death. Listen with care.

Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw

Editing by Dhyana Levey

Watch Hilary's show! https://www.youtube.com/@LeavingChristianSciencePodcast

When Susan was 13, her stepdad brought her into what was then known as the Divine Light Mission, an organization led by Prem Rawat (aka Guru Maharaj Ji, aka The Boy Guru, aka Lord of the Universe, aka The Perfect Master. ... etc.) She became a believer and eventually moved into one of the ashrams while she was still a teen. By that time, Susan was grappling with a disturbing incident she and another young girl had experienced.

And they weren't the only ones who had problems with a certain mahatma. 

Susan tried to tell the guru. She tried so hard. But there was no accountability. When the internet became a thing, she put her story online. Not a whole lot happened. But other people started putting up their stories about the group, too. 

One of them was Don, a former high-ranking official of the group, which had changed its name to Elan Vital (it's since changed its name many times). He also has a few things to say on this episode. 

Join us for Susan's story (and some of Don's).

***This episode contains descriptions of child sexual abuse. Listen with care.

Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw  

Editing by Dhyana Levey

More information: resourcesforthetruthaboutpremrawat.com

1974 documentary: Lord of the Universe 

Philip and Stacie wrote about a recent reparations program meant to address complaints made for decades against 3HO (Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization), led by the late Yogi Bhajan, who started Kundalini Yoga. 

Join us for a discussion with these two writers about the second generation of 3HO. The children of those who joined the organization felt like they were screaming into a void about the abuses they had suffered, especially when they were sent off to boarding schools in India. 

The complaints reached a crescendo in 2020, and 3HO offered a reparations program to its former second generation members who reported neglect and psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. 

The program just concluded and Stacie and Philip wrote about it recently for Baaz News in an article titled 3HO's Boarding Schools Were A Living Hell

https://www.baaznews.org/p/3hos-boarding-schools-abuse-yogi-bhajan 

They've covered this group for a while and have much to say about its practices, businesses, treatment of children, and actual efforts to make changes. We'll also have comments from Narangkar, a past guest from Season 2 who grew up in 3HO. 

If you haven't already, go back and listen to Narangkar's story, which we just rebroadcast.

Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw   Editing by Dhyana Levey

We're rebroadcasting an episode from 2019 to remind you about a guest from Generation Cult's first episode of Season 2. Narangkar is an artist who grew up in 3HO (Healthy, Happy Holy Organization), which is connected to Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma.

Narangkar and her two sisters navigated a troubling childhood during their time within the group that included neglect, child-swapping, violence and a traumatizing stay at a harsh boarding school in India.

*This episode contains disturbing descriptions of child abuse and death. It serves as a companion to the next episode coming up on Generation Cult discussing a 2023 3HO reparations program.

For information about Narangkar's blog go to: https://rishiknots.com

For more information about Narangkar's art go to: https://narangkar.com

Kate grew up in the secluded High View Church Farm where children worked and lived in militant conditions, rarely saw their families, and had little contact with the outside world. She left with only a couple of dollars in her pocket and no idea if that was a lot of money or not. 

Education was a lifeline but it's also pretty expensive. Kate lived in her car some of the time to save money. Now she advocates for housing for students. She's also the co-founder and managing editor of Red Hen Press, author of seven books of poetry, and a teacher at Chapman University. 

Join us to discuss her life and just-released debut novel entitled Under the Neon Sun, which follows the struggles of an unhoused young queer woman trying to get her education after leaving a cult.

**This episode contains descriptions of child abuse

Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw   Editing by Dhyana Levey

The church Amanda grew up in was started by a man known for his ejection from the KKK for being too militant. The tight and secretive community that revolved around the church valued white supremacy, male dominance, and obedience.

Amanda had a lot of questions. A girl with questions wasn't valued in this community. Neither were women who wore pants or got educations. She did a lot of things that made her congregation mad, including learning how to not be racist. Join us for a very interesting discussion.

***This episode contains descriptions of racism and child abuse

Music by Leanne Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw   Editing by Dhyana Levey

Yes, we are back! We're kicking off Season 4 with a conversation with Grace. She grew up in a little-known Christian fundamentalist group referred to as the Geftakys Assembly and, although her family left when she was young, she was impacted greatly by leadership's harsh rules regarding women and children. So greatly was Grace impacted that she dove into a years-long history/research project and created her own podcast about it called "In God's Name: An Unseen Cult."

New episodes are being released now. 

Join us as we talk about Grace's upbringing in the group, how her family left, and why she went back recently to interview former members of the Geftakys Assembly and produce her own show.

***This episode contains descriptions of child abuse

Music by Leanne Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw   Editing by Dhyana Levey

We're back with yet another special literary edition! For this bonus episode, we're celebrating the recent launch of the book "Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult." It's out now in bookstores and on Amazon.

The author, Michelle, was raised in an end-times group that was started by her grandfather in the 1930s. 

As survivalists in an organization referred to as “The Field,” her family lived in isolation on a mountain, where they foraged for food and viewed basic comforts as a sin. Michelle endured illness, abuse, hunger and neglect before finding solace in nature and education. 

Now a professor of journalism, she lives a comfortable life in Southern California but still enjoys using her knowledge of edible plants to forage in her surroundings. Her book, which was released in March, discusses her childhood as well as how to forage through nature for what provides sustenance. 

In this interview, we speak to Michelle about her life, writing a book about it and how she got through some of her most challenging times.

Generation Cult is dropping back in with a bonus edition to celebrate today's launch of Liz Ianelli's new book called "I See You, Survivor: Life Inside (and Outside) the Totally F*cked-Up Troubled Teen Industry." In it, Liz details her years left at a program within the Troubled Teen Industry, a network of expensive residential programs, wilderness camps, and religious-affiliated establishments meant to set your child straight. 

Join us as we discuss Liz's time in one of these programs, how she relates it to a cult, the abuses she and her friends endured, and the struggles kids who live through this experience have after leaving. 

Liz has been an outspoken activist against the Troubled Teen Industry for many years, arguing that the programs should be shut down or, at the least, held accountable for their practices. This is her first book, released to the public on Aug. 29, and it can now be found in various bookstores as well as Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Survivor-Troubled-Industry/dp/030683152X

***This episode contains discussions of suicide and child abuse