Intrepid Storytelling

What happens when a Bible study that seems harmless slowly becomes a high-control religious group? And how do you recognize manipulation when you genuinely believe you’re doing the right thing?

On this episode of Intrepid Storytelling, host Deanna Powell sits down with Chris Vishoot to share his experience inside Shincheonji, New Heavens, New Earth, also known as the Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony—a controversial South Korean religious movement he describes as a cult. Chris opens up about how he was recruited, the warning signs he didn’t initially recognize, and the long process of questioning what he had been taught and ultimately leaving the group in July 2021.

This conversation explores cult recruitment, religious manipulation, psychological control, indoctrination, and recovery from a high-control group. Chris explains how an ordinary-looking Bible study gradually became more demanding, why secrecy and hidden membership made it difficult to understand what was happening, and how fear-based teachings, love bombing, and pressure to devote more time to the group affected his life. Chris also discusses Dr. Steve Hassan's BITE Model of authoritarian control, the sunk-cost fallacy, gaslighting, social isolation, sleep deprivation, and the importance of asking thoughtful questions instead of confronting or shaming someone who may be involved in a high-control group.

Most importantly, he shares how concerned friends and roommates helped him begin questioning his experience—and how research, speaking out, and connecting with other former members became part of his journey forward.

00:00 Introduction | Intrepid Storytelling

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Video of Judge Robert Dorn Sentencing Kids to Jail for Running Away or Missing School: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAHyzWnvZFB/?igsi=YmhsNHM1dzhxOW9l

Article of Mayor Robert (Roosevelt) Dorn Pleading Gulity to Corruption: https://www.google.com/search?q=judge+robert+dorn+inglewood&client=ms-android-tmus-us-rvc3&hs=WGCB&sca_esv=c18f865cebe507ff&source=android-browser&sxsrf=APpeQntCcoAn52j6L0zxoBf71Hpa7BHFJA%3A1787944071227&ei=h9yRau6kDfqLruEP2sm12QI&biw=384&bih=742&oq=judge+robert+dorn+ingl&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhZqdWRnZSByb2JlcnQgZG9ybiBpbmdsKgIIAjIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSOk8UPcOWL4xcAF4AJABAJgBlAGgAdUHqgEDMC43uAEByAEA-AEBmAIHoALsBsICBRAhGKsCwgIFECEYnwXCAggQABiJBRiiBJgDAIgGAZIHAzEuNqAH7B2yBwMwLja4B-gGwgcHMC4xLjUuMcgHJYAIAQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

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00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning

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