Radicalization, and the Minnesota Murder Cases John Collins grew up inside William Branham’s “Message” world, left it, then spent years mapping how the theology and network morphed into today’s authoritarian ecosystems. I welcomed him back to The Influence Continuum to speak about the murders and share his knowledge surrounding the twisted networks of doctrine and influence that may have influenced them. Collins’ most recent book is Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR. Author and webmaster of William Branham: Historical Research, John was born and raised in William Branham’s “The Message” cult following and is the grandson of Willard Collins, former pastor of William Branham’s “Branham Tabernacle” in Jeffersonville, Indiana. When we did the recording and broke the story about Boelter’s link to the extremist group, we got a message on my YouTube from Boelter’s former baseball buddy and floormate at college, who witnessed his radicalization. Jeff Petricka consented to a recorded interview on my YouTube channel. John’s story hits an essential point about brainwashing while growing up. He was taught such an extremist form of obedience that he was told if Branham said the sky was pink, his eyes were wrong. He was corporally punished regularly. He told me leaving felt like being air-dropped from a North Korean camp into the United States, where nothing is familiar. His deconstruction took years.

With human resilience and persistence, John worked to heal himself and help others. John was told stringed instruments were “of the devil.” Today, he keeps his drums in the frame and every video on purpose, and I can see at least 8 (if not more!) stringed instruments on his wall. A really important interview!

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