I can relate so much to this lady. It's scary as hell. I can connect every single experience she talked about. And, FINALLY, someone SAID " IT" OUT LOUD! That there are others who don't ( still to this day) feel " Normal" because of the way we grew up, and the things that happened to us. I consider myself a survivor, not a victim. God, what I would give to talk to this lady over coffee. Thank you SO MUCH for bringing this to your channel, Eric. And, Thank You so much to the lady who had the courage to go public.
I was also born into The Children of God but my family left a few months before I turned 10 so my memories are vague. Thanks for this great interview. I've heard many stories from my other siblings but everyone in my family has a different perspective about it. It certainly was a world of its own.
Wow! Yeah it was a whole world. And since it was world wide there were varying degrees of the doctrine. I heard a ex member from Brazil who said in thier commun they listened to the radio for a time. Glad you got free young! Thanks for sharing.
@@christinababin7020 We sometimes had TV, I remember watching Sky News and football all the way over in Hungary. We had a computer with computer games too. I think in the last few years my parents got disillusioned and didn't have many other group members in the house. So I was lucky, some of my older siblings remember some worse times. We have a good relationship with our parents who have changed quite a bit since.
@@stephenlathwell8128 thats good to hear! The farther away from the top you were the better it was. We had vcrs and were able to watch cult made videos....it sucked. Propaganda is boring. Lol!
Another fascinating interview, Eric. Christina, I’m so sorry for the abuse you suffered and pray for your continued healing and wellbeing. You are such an inspiration. ❣️
What an insightful story! Important to remember that everyone comes from a different background. A big take away I got from this is that we all need access to education and information. By keeping people in the dark the cult was able to make them feel trapped.
Thank you for this interview. Thank you for telling your story Christina, thank you Eric for giving her the opportunity to tell it on such a platform. As someone that had parents divorce at a very young age, experienced physical and mental abuse (very minor compared to the cult) I can fully understand how long it takes to work through all the trauma that you go through. In the last 5 years since my dad died I struggled with how to deal with all I went through. One question I have is, how did this change your faith? I watch a documentary on the cult and the story of Ricky Rodriguez and it's heart breaking. My experiences stretched my faith in God to the max but I still believe and even strengthen my faith in God. Last year I came to the conclusion that God is good and people are not. Now that doesn't mean I can't gain trust in people but I understand that people will let me down and I will let those around me down it's all in how we work through those disappoints to better ourselves. I can see how this would change someone into fully turning their belief against God. How did it change your faith? Again, thank you and God bless.
I wanted to ask her the same question about her faith. I have been in many "cultish" churches, but my faith in God is intact. I came to the same conclusion, i.e. God is good, people make terrible choices.
Sounds like your a surviver yourself! As to my faith in God, I always felt a deep connection to God and when I was in the cult I strongly felt that while he was not IN what they were doing I felt him WITH me. That has not changed. I do shy away from organized religion.
@@christinababin7020 It's an amazing story and testimony you have. So happy that you didn't loose your faith completely. I can understand shying away from organized religion. Forced religion is no religion at all. God gives us free will to choose him or not to choose him. That's the beauty of our relationship with Him. May God continue to be with you and your family. Take care.
It's interesting that criticism of people's religion is often promoted as being akin to racism. No one wants to talk about or deal with extremists. The Sate of New York published a report about the Children of God confirming what Christina is saying back in 1974. Ted Patrick started deprogramming members of the Children of God back in the early 70's and ended up doing multiple correctional and prison sentences for trying help people out of extremists groups. To my mind, the authorities shot the messenger and the churches promoted Freedom or Religion, despite the depravity of the group, for fear that their own influence might be reduced. Thank you Christina and Eric.
Wow. I am so very sorry that you had to go through this, Christina. I, too, pray for your continued healing. I see so many parallels to the dynamics and techniques of the cult you were in, and our society today. It seems the same people are pulling the strings in our society on a more grand scale. Blessings on you for speaking up!!!
So true, we are experiencing abuse on a grand scale - the dark side think they have us significantly traumatized, confused, distracted and out of touch with our true natures to be able to get away with whatever they want. It's up to the individual to find balance.
You are that hero Christina, with hands shooting your own fire. Your journey has set you free. What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it so succintly so we can learn. With respect
wow, christina is such an awesome person!! i had a rough time in school as a kid, such small trauma in comparison, and at times i still struggle to not feel like a product of all the negative things that i was told (and believed) about myself when i was young. it is so inspiring to hear how christina has not let the horrific things she experienced overshadow the good she has experienced now that she is free.
I watched a short documentary on a Ricky (forgot his last name) where he planned his revenged on these scumbags and I was horrified with the things they did to him so I wanted to learn more about this suck cult and I ended up finding this video. God bless you Christina. Thanks for sharing. Even with everything you’ve been through, you seem very vibrant and bubbly. You’re strong. 🙏
One thing that stuck out to me was when discussing the hazing aspect at 47:55 Christina was using present tense to describe her experiences, alongside her earlier saying how she still sometimes feels like an outsider I wonder if this doesn't suggest that psychologically this is not something she has moved past as much as she would like to think.
That is a great point! I kept these storys to myself for over forty years. Its new for me to say them out loud. So that could be part as well. The more you tell a story the more you forget so since I'm just coming out I belive that while I do not have a lot of emotions around them they are fresh to me. If that makes any sense. I think that's great insite from you and ill look into it for sure.
You don't ever NOT carry this stuff with you. Even when you heal a LOT. It is part of who you were made into as a person ( if that makes sense) . When everything is controlled by someone else, or others, and re- enforced in ways that most people are unaware even happen, it doesn't go away, ever. I've lived the past 24 years knowing I am ok. Knowing I am strong. Knowing how to protect myself. You can't erase what made you "You", and the bad stuff is part of that. It's what you do with it that makes you feel " Free". Still, the nightmares come...the situational awareness, the hyperawareness, I don't know any better way to explain it from my side of things. And, I don't ever WANT to forget completely. It helps you to see those that the average person doesn't see. And, sometimes you can help others OUT, get away, too.
@@christinababin7020 You SPEAK your Truth. I'm so thankful you were " The stubborn" one in the end. When I met my late Husband, I would barely look at him. The whole nine yards. He gave me the best gift anyone could. He literally taught me how to be free. In 24 years he NEVER once called me a name. He always reinforced telling me I was a person who had the right to live my life however I wanted. I'm not kidding when I say he saved my life. After so many years he started joking " Oh Lord! I've created a Monster!" I truly believe that the Lord said " This is NOT GOOD, this is beyond NOT Good in so many ways, In "everyway". You better believe I am , and always will be truly grateful, that I was blessed to have him come into my life.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Sounds somewhat like North Koren defectors' stories. Must be hard to revisit your experiences but it's important to be exsposed.
Let's get a few things straight here. Her parents failed her FIRST & FOREMOST!! The other issue I have with her story is that its hard to understand a person calling herself a "victim" even after choosing as an adult to stay connected to the group in. I'm sad for the victims that are really struggling to get out AND STAY OUT! You don't go back to visit & spend the night with members of this group as recent as 2.5 yrs ago and then try to speak out as a "victim". Its just as shameful as the gross "cult" she describes. Some of us know the truth.
So so sorry for your abuse! So proud of you for your courage to reveal the Truth. Why hasn’t the FBI done anything?!??? In lieu of what has come out regarding Simon Biles? What can we do to help. This is so wrong!
Eric perhaps this comic is interesting to you elan.school/chapter-1-5/ It is by a survivor of the Elan school, where also cult techniques are being used. In too many cases I wonder about the techniques and how often in history, cults were deeply connected to secret services and politics. Anyone will be hard pressed to find a cult where I won't turn up those connections easily.
I can relate so much to this lady. It's scary as hell. I can connect every single experience she talked about. And, FINALLY, someone SAID " IT" OUT LOUD! That there are others who don't ( still to this day) feel " Normal" because of the way we grew up, and the things that happened to us. I consider myself a survivor, not a victim. God, what I would give to talk to this lady over coffee. Thank you SO MUCH for bringing this to your channel, Eric. And, Thank You so much to the lady who had the courage to go public.
I was also born into The Children of God but my family left a few months before I turned 10 so my memories are vague. Thanks for this great interview. I've heard many stories from my other siblings but everyone in my family has a different perspective about it. It certainly was a world of its own.
Wow! Yeah it was a whole world. And since it was world wide there were varying degrees of the doctrine. I heard a ex member from Brazil who said in thier commun they listened to the radio for a time. Glad you got free young! Thanks for sharing.
@@christinababin7020 We sometimes had TV, I remember watching Sky News and football all the way over in Hungary. We had a computer with computer games too. I think in the last few years my parents got disillusioned and didn't have many other group members in the house. So I was lucky, some of my older siblings remember some worse times. We have a good relationship with our parents who have changed quite a bit since.
@@stephenlathwell8128 thats good to hear! The farther away from the top you were the better it was. We had vcrs and were able to watch cult made videos....it sucked. Propaganda is boring. Lol!
Another fascinating interview, Eric. Christina, I’m so sorry for the abuse you suffered and pray for your continued healing and wellbeing. You are such an inspiration. ❣️
Thanks Barb!
What an insightful story! Important to remember that everyone comes from a different background. A big take away I got from this is that we all need access to education and information. By keeping people in the dark the cult was able to make them feel trapped.
Thanks Melissa! So true!
Very true. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this interview. Thank you for telling your story Christina, thank you Eric for giving her the opportunity to tell it on such a platform. As someone that had parents divorce at a very young age, experienced physical and mental abuse (very minor compared to the cult) I can fully understand how long it takes to work through all the trauma that you go through. In the last 5 years since my dad died I struggled with how to deal with all I went through. One question I have is, how did this change your faith? I watch a documentary on the cult and the story of Ricky Rodriguez and it's heart breaking. My experiences stretched my faith in God to the max but I still believe and even strengthen my faith in God. Last year I came to the conclusion that God is good and people are not. Now that doesn't mean I can't gain trust in people but I understand that people will let me down and I will let those around me down it's all in how we work through those disappoints to better ourselves. I can see how this would change someone into fully turning their belief against God. How did it change your faith? Again, thank you and God bless.
I wanted to ask her the same question about her faith. I have been in many "cultish" churches, but my faith in God is intact. I came to the same conclusion, i.e. God is good, people make terrible choices.
Sounds like your a surviver yourself! As to my faith in God,
I always felt a deep connection to God and when I was in the cult I strongly felt that while he was not IN what they were doing I felt him WITH me. That has not changed. I do shy away from organized religion.
@@christinababin7020 It's an amazing story and testimony you have. So happy that you didn't loose your faith completely. I can understand shying away from organized religion. Forced religion is no religion at all. God gives us free will to choose him or not to choose him. That's the beauty of our relationship with Him. May God continue to be with you and your family. Take care.
It's interesting that criticism of people's religion is often promoted as being akin to racism. No one wants to talk about or deal with extremists. The Sate of New York published a report about the Children of God confirming what Christina is saying back in 1974. Ted Patrick started deprogramming members of the Children of God back in the early 70's and ended up doing multiple correctional and prison sentences for trying help people out of extremists groups. To my mind, the authorities shot the messenger and the churches promoted Freedom or Religion, despite the depravity of the group, for fear that their own influence might be reduced. Thank you Christina and Eric.
Wow. I am so very sorry that you had to go through this, Christina. I, too, pray for your continued healing. I see so many parallels to the dynamics and techniques of the cult you were in, and our society today. It seems the same people are pulling the strings in our society on a more grand scale. Blessings on you for speaking up!!!
So true, we are experiencing abuse on a grand scale - the dark side think they have us significantly traumatized, confused, distracted and out of touch with our true natures to be able to get away with whatever they want. It's up to the individual to find balance.
Thanks Eric. Christina, you are a treasure.
You are that hero Christina, with hands shooting your own fire. Your journey has set you free. What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it so succintly so we can learn. With respect
It was way too short! Strangely it was uplifting to hear Christina's experience I guess we were spared from much of the darker stuff.
wow, christina is such an awesome person!! i had a rough time in school as a kid, such small trauma in comparison, and at times i still struggle to not feel like a product of all the negative things that i was told (and believed) about myself when i was young. it is so inspiring to hear how christina has not let the horrific things she experienced overshadow the good she has experienced now that she is free.
I just love Christine ! I love her spirit and her drive to heal and live her life.
“charity narcissism” is a great term
Not if your name is Charity. lol OMG no.
Agree!
She looks so young.
Recovery! Great work on yourself Christina
Definitely!
"Thought reform and the psychology of totalism" Robert Lifton. How she talks about dealing with the outside world sounds like a DPRK refugee.
DPRK?
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
Yep.
Oh ueah, thats the biggest cult out there.
I watched a short documentary on a Ricky (forgot his last name) where he planned his revenged on these scumbags and I was horrified with the things they did to him so I wanted to learn more about this suck cult and I ended up finding this video. God bless you Christina. Thanks for sharing. Even with everything you’ve been through, you seem very vibrant and bubbly. You’re strong. 🙏
One thing that stuck out to me was when discussing the hazing aspect at 47:55 Christina was using present tense to describe her experiences, alongside her earlier saying how she still sometimes feels like an outsider I wonder if this doesn't suggest that psychologically this is not something she has moved past as much as she would like to think.
Fair point. I think she will always be working through it.
That is a great point! I kept these storys to myself for over forty years. Its new for me to say them out loud. So that could be part as well. The more you tell a story the more you forget so since I'm just coming out I belive that while I do not have a lot of emotions around them they are fresh to me. If that makes any sense. I think that's great insite from you and ill look into it for sure.
You don't ever NOT carry this stuff with you. Even when you heal a LOT. It is part of who you were made into as a person ( if that makes sense) . When everything is controlled by someone else, or others, and re- enforced in ways that most people are unaware even happen, it doesn't go away, ever. I've lived the past 24 years knowing I am ok. Knowing I am strong. Knowing how to protect myself. You can't erase what made you "You", and the bad stuff is part of that. It's what you do with it that makes you feel " Free". Still, the nightmares come...the situational awareness, the hyperawareness, I don't know any better way to explain it from my side of things. And, I don't ever WANT to forget completely. It helps you to see those that the average person doesn't see. And, sometimes you can help others OUT, get away, too.
@@christinababin7020 You SPEAK your Truth. I'm so thankful you were " The stubborn" one in the end. When I met my late Husband, I would barely look at him. The whole nine yards. He gave me the best gift anyone could. He literally taught me how to be free. In 24 years he NEVER once called me a name. He always reinforced telling me I was a person who had the right to live my life however I wanted. I'm not kidding when I say he saved my life. After so many years he started joking " Oh Lord! I've created a Monster!" I truly believe that the Lord said " This is NOT GOOD, this is beyond NOT Good in so many ways, In "everyway". You better believe I am , and always will be truly grateful, that I was blessed to have him come into my life.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Sounds somewhat like North Koren defectors' stories. Must be hard to revisit your experiences but it's important to be exsposed.
Cults and multi level marketing seems to be a disturbingly common thing in America.
This is the stuff that drives me crazy!
Much Respect for Christina, thank you for your courage and honesty. Just one question are you still a Christian
I have always felt God was not in what they did to me but he was there with me.
Eventually Eric will have enough to write a book.
Man eric you really need to give us some background before starting the interview
I hear you but I really want the guest to tell the story.
They “joined to get away from American capitalism. “
RUclips doesn't like this video, keeps buffering even on different devices
Let's get a few things straight here. Her parents failed her FIRST & FOREMOST!! The other issue I have with her story is that its hard to understand a person calling herself a "victim" even after choosing as an adult to stay connected to the group in. I'm sad for the victims that are really struggling to get out AND STAY OUT! You don't go back to visit & spend the night with members of this group as recent as 2.5 yrs ago and then try to speak out as a "victim". Its just as shameful as the gross "cult" she describes. Some of us know the truth.
So so sorry for your abuse! So proud of you for your courage to reveal the Truth. Why hasn’t the FBI done anything?!??? In lieu of what has come out regarding Simon Biles? What can we do to help. This is so wrong!
Isn't this the same cult that Rose McGowan was born into?
I think so, and possibly the Phoenix family too.
How did the cult members travel country to country? Did members have passports and citizenship with US?
was this cult linked to the Australian cult 'the family' run by Anne Hamilton-Byrne?
No, that was a diffent cult,. Funny how so many cults love that presence of being a Family.
@@christinababin7020 i'm so glad you made it out!
Eric perhaps this comic is interesting to you
elan.school/chapter-1-5/
It is by a survivor of the Elan school, where also cult techniques are being used.
In too many cases I wonder about the techniques and how often in history, cults were deeply connected to secret services and politics.
Anyone will be hard pressed to find a cult where I won't turn up those connections easily.
Sounds like a thought reform program to me. Thanks for sharing.
I've heard Megan Markel referred to as a charity narcissist. Her explanation is very Megan.
She is so sweet
I want to see you and Eric do a whole hour on the political prisoners in DC
Jim Jones cia
Aw. That's right!
"they failed us" yeah, that might be true, but it was all intentional and business as usual