r/cultsurvivors • u/kyythecarebear • Sep 03 '25
Survivor Report / Vent I believe I am in a cult.
My mother and I are stuck in this situation currently, we’re struggling to get out of it. I’m in a Christian based non-profit organization. They partner with Dream Centers (I’ve heard they’re cult like) from LA and Phoenix. They are overtly Christian zealots with ridiculous rules and regulations. It’s a mob rule mentality, and I’ve checked out the B.I.T.E model. A majority of the stuff on there, this place does. It’s sad because this place is supposed to help women. I’ve watched 2 people be completely manipulated, used and abused. My mom and I are stuck here at the moment, with nowhere else to go, and because we’re not easily manipulated and have our own opinions, we are mistreated here and retaliated against. We have mandatory Bible studies often, and pretty much the only people allowed here are people who volunteer from an evangelical church. We were made to sign documents stating we could be maimed, disfigured, and even killed here & that we could not take legal action against them because of it. We’ve been told we shouldn’t have our own opinions, that we need to keep our “blinders on”, that the only book with any real knowledge is the Bible, and we are forced to listen to Christian music 24/7. They monitor what we watch on tv, ask to see what we’ve been doing on our devices, and are monitored through cameras and microphones. We are threatened with being kicked out if we object or ask questions about things, we can’t discuss anything outside of the house, or even with the other 2 girls because we’ve been told we can’t communicate with each other on certain topics. We are now only allowed to sit certain places because they wanted to separate my mother and I, and they say we enable each other and keep trying to split us up. I was told not to share my feelings with my mom, and we are directed to go to the leader about everything. We have been told we can’t make purchases without asking permission first, which is just not legal. Any objections to any of this is met with us being labeled as “the enemy”. The leader genuinely believes she’s the oracle of god. She will say something, go to the bathroom, and then say “god has spoken to me” and completely change whatever rules she just set up. She genuinely believes god is speaking to her. They tried to block us from talking to social service agencies and have told us what is allowed to be discussed, and what isn’t allowed to be discussed with the agency (we are not to disclose anything about the house rules or anything about the leader). They lied to us about what this place was, and then said we signed up for a program (we did not) and they lie to us about everything. Things we should know. They say we aren’t allowed to talk about certain things because we will instill fear, and fear is from the enemy (satan). The manipulation is insane here, and we are left doubting ourselves. They told us we did not need to be Christian to be here, but force it on us every chance they get. The only solution to any problem is to pray, lay praying hands upon each other, and any coincidence that happens/ if something bad happens, or even if the animals act weird, we are told we need to huddle and pray because the enemy is attacking. The leader even forbid my mom from leaving the house with me at one point. We had plans and my mom had stayed home from work because she wasn’t feeling that well, then I asked her to come with me someplace, we had been down the street when we hear the psycho leader screaming my moms name, the leader forbade her to leave with me and told my mom that she had manipulated her by staying home that day. On top of this, one of the girls that has been completely manipulated is an immigrant, and any money she gets from the government is taken from her along with her important documents and held by the leader, she was even made to work under the table as a maid without having any work visa. It’s very sad to see. We have nowhere to go currently, and I have my two cats, so we are stuck here. They are trying to turn us into their definition of perfect Christian women. Since coming here my mom has been suffering mentally and so have I, and there’s not really anything we can do.
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u/AUiooo Sep 03 '25
Look up domestic violence shelters & ask for assistance.
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u/kyythecarebear Sep 03 '25
We are trying. Technically my mom could go to one, I can’t. She doesn’t want to leave me behind here.
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u/AUiooo Sep 03 '25
Still worth asking, it’s a domestic relationship of sorts. Might call 211 and ask, some areas have shelters for under 24, there also might be missions or shelters.
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u/anonimwriter Sep 03 '25
I beg you, if it is possible, go out for a while and then come back with a microphone and hand over the recordings to the police.
Or try to convince a true religious leader (bishop, imam, rabbi) so that your story can have more voice. What they're doing looks like a horror movie. Also try asking a plainclothes cop to come with you
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u/MzSweet Sep 03 '25
Y'all need to find a way out immediately. Find a womens shelter, or any type of shelter or organization that can help you get out. There are groups of people who help people in cults escape.
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u/WhatKindOfMonster Sep 03 '25
This is the International Cultic Studies Association's checklist for those considering leaving a high control group. Hopefully you find it helpful to get organized and consider what you'll need to get out.
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u/Shot-Connection-6900 Sep 03 '25
After reading about your experience, I am deeply sorry and saddened. I hope this article can be helpful to you: https://www.facts.org.cn/n2589/n2700/c919215/content.html. In addition, I recommend that you visit the anti-cult section of this website (https://www.facts.org.cn/index.html), which may be helpful.
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u/Altruistic_Bee_8175 Sep 05 '25
I strongly recommend reading Escaping the Island (available to read digitally for free on the site linked). It’s a guide for recognizing and getting out of cults. Though the author was a former Jehovah’s Witness, it’s relevant to anyone in a high-control group. It has a lot of practical advice for planning to leave, escaping, and rebuilding afterward.
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u/GPT_2025 Sep 03 '25
Memorize and use against any cult: Galatians 1:8
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u/SvenAERTS Sep 04 '25
Galatians 1:8 is a biblical passage, found in the New Testament's Book of Galatians, that declares an anathema, or curse, on anyone, including an angel from heaven, who preaches a gospel different from the one already preached by the apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia. The verse serves as a strong warning against distortions of the true message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that only the gospel preached by Paul is the authentic truth.
Key aspects of the verse: Paul's Authority and the Gospel: Paul, asserting his apostolic authority, highlights that the gospel he preached was a divine revelation.
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u/GPT_2025 Sep 04 '25
Galatians 1:8 "Narrow Gate, Narrow Passage" KMV: I marvel that ye (Christians) are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another (man-made) "gospel" Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the (True) Gospel of Christ. But though we, (Apostol's) or an (any) angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we (Apostol's) have preached (27 books N.T.Sola Scripture) unto you, (Christians) let him** be accursed! ( antichrist!) * any man- made traditions, rules, rituals, laws, commandments, new "sins" etc.
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u/Angie1316 Sep 13 '25
This sounds similar to the coal. I left. They wanted to control every aspect of our lives as always wanted us watching his preaching asked us to get away from people who are not in the same church. It was absolutely crazy.
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Sep 15 '25
Just pick up and leave .
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u/kyythecarebear Sep 15 '25
Just did today.
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u/nooralhouda_ac Sep 25 '25
Are you safe now ? i hope you and your mom are ok and that you’ll both be able to heal <3
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u/Third_CuIture_Kid Sep 18 '25
Do you not have any relatives that might be willing to give you a temporary place to stay, or is your family even worse than this place?
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u/SvenAERTS Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 05 '25
"... we were obliged to sign documents, .. that we could be maimed, disfugured ...". Contracts that are in breach with the Universal Rights are illegal. A judge will not accept: ... yes, but he signed that he was OK we would torture hum, murder his children, maime him, or whatever ... " ... such contracts are void, zero value in court, won't stand.