Cults : the experiences of three survivors

This study investigates the cult involvement of three individuals. The first is a nineteen year old woman who became involved in occult practices with her peer group. The second, a woman in her forties who was, for eight years, an active member of the Children of God (The Family) cult. Thirdly, a man in his forties who was a working member of the Unification Church (the Moonies) for a period of seven years. A qualitative approach was used and in-depth interviews were conducted with all three subjects. Each interview was tape recorded and verbatim transcriptions were made. As a result of the data obtained in this manner, four dominant themes emerged: family and parental influence, self-esteem issues, power and control, and camaraderie; each interacting with the others in a way that made all three subjects vulnerable to potentially destructive spiritual seeking. Excerpts from each of the subject interviews were used to develop the dominant themes. As the study progressed, the focus shifted from the cults to the individual, and how life experiences prior to the cultic involvement had made each susceptible to the formidable power and control promoted within the groups. Further, the investigation underlines the way in which the individual's perception becomes the individual's reality.