Same thing happened to Lauren Drain.

ìFåГt Mägîç yea it is

It's sad but completely in-line with their extreme take on scripture.

@QQminusSIt should also be mentioned that Sam Harris's view of the world is far too simplistic. He's blind in one eye but he doesn't know that.

@QQminusS Harris has been fooled by the veil of appearances. He sees only the material.

She was hotter when she was in a cult.

@@chriscueva1866 😂 that's fucked up

Because she was raised well.

@@6foot8jesuspilledpureblood82 Raised well despite her parents and immediate family being batsh't insane. +1 upvote for being contrarian and edgy though.

Taylor Made I agree this was very interesting and I love to hear and see different point of views

She's a sellout who's betrayed the message for media fame.

Why you gotta take something nice and make it all creepy like?

@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 Because it's an observation that I found amusing😆😘

@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 it's not creepy..she married the man. And I'm certain he didn't slide into her DMs on romantic stuff outright. It was just a joke.

And a hot wife too. What a waste to lose that sexy fox to religion.

kuddos for getting out.

Been there. There are many kind JWs, but no thank you.. Not for me. Ugh. Exhausting.

Oh, for sure. How brave and loving she is now. All her life, they taught her she was right and going to heaven. No one else was going, only the Phelps and WBC member. They picket the funerals and the families of soldiers KIA.

She been out for years now.

JW?

@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 Seventh-Day Adventist. The first time I ate shrimp I was expecting to die because of the bible curse on the shrimp. But somehow I survived. Since then I've eaten crab and lobster and pig without any noticeable ill effects but I'm in my 70's and there's still time for the hammer to fall.

​@@hermenutic I think your good. I would put money on the fact that those sins were placed in the bible because ancient peoples had no idea what trichinosis or parasites were. Besides if I'm wrong and god is real I feel completely justified in not lying to myself and being honest. If god wants to toss you or I in the pit for that it's his prerogative I guess. LOL The shellfish sin is one of my personal favorites. The other is wearing mixed fabrics. So basically if you wear shoes your going to hell if don't repent. Curious how you never see a people protesting those who eat crustaceans right? It's always about sex in some way as if any unrepented sin can't get you tossed into hell either way.

@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 The hypocrisy and idiocy of religion is evident to me. However I do believe there is a mystical / spiritual connection to the experience of existence based on the concept of Logos as first mentioned by Heraclitus about the time of Buddha and Lao Tzu, 500 or so years prior to Jesus of Nazareth. and his contribution of the kingdom of God. My position is the result of the logical outcome of the transcendentalist thought of the 1800's . So I accept the notion of something making the ball start rolling. I call that the "God Concept" Others call it evolution. The origin of existence is a mystery that came from the 'big bang'. What 'banged'? There is no answer to that. Our physics cannot decipher it, but it must have been. That is a mystery, isn't it? I think of that mystery as 'God''.

Thank you !!

Agreed

Not out in public, they aren't. I'm sure there's still a few people in the cult, but they're not active anymore like they used to be.

Daddy Fred died

@@themajesticspider-man6116 Good!

With trump and the rise of evangelicals, they’ve definitely gone into the shadows, oddly enough they actually hate Trump

@@leviritter6279 hope it's warm for him in Hell

Niecey Nichole The Bible clearly states that you must separate from those that have left the faith. It even goes so far as to say “Not to eat with them”

Niecey Nichole I was raised Baptist and have since left the faith.

Bryan G but is that what Jesus preached? Is that what Jesus lived by? According to Matthew 9:10 -9:14 Jesus was eating with sinners. So why would we be too holy to eat with sinners if Jesus didn’t consider himself too holy to eat with sinners. Like I said it’s amazing how many Christians don’t actually follow Christ.

Nieces Nichole we are all sinners because Adam and Eve were tricked by a talking snake to eat from the forbidden fruit by your all knowing god who knew this would happen but still let it happen. So he put them in the world knowing he would condemn them, knowing he could arrange everything differently but didn’t. So god wanted Adam and Eve to sin. He is a trickster. You are not a sinner! You are told that to subjugate you in the faith. It’s a lie. You are much much more moral and kind than your god. Your morals are your own and better than “gods morals”. I don’t know you but I know this for a fact, just by reading the Bible. Read it! EVERYTHING!

@@willmind4296 The Adam and Eve Story is just a metaphor for puberty.

That family gets no respect.

@@spunkmire2664 He means respect to the person who left that hateful cult

@@neonpixel27 I knew what he meant. I stick with what i said.

alarcon99 As long at it’s not on Sunday

Yes, it's amazing. Absolutely worth it.

I really enjoyed it

I call them "Convenient Christians."

Justin Timefortea true and all religions started off as cults and were considered religion only once they gained a vast amount of followers. I mean if we look up the definition of cult it is quite clear that religion is the epitome of the definition.

Justin Timefortea exactly

@@ItsmeNiecey & Justin Timefortea Your both oversimplifying what a cult is and what qualifies. All religions are not cults but all religions use some cult behaviors. I wouldn't consider most Catholics to be in a cult but I would consider all Jehovah's Witnesses to be in a cult for instance. The difference lies in the amount and type of control used against a member of that group. Here's a description of cult tactics. See if all religions would qualify. I. Behavior Control 1. Regulate individual’s physical reality 2. Dictate where, how, and with whom the member lives and associates or isolates 3. When, how and with whom the member has sex 4. Control types of clothing and hairstyles 5. Regulate diet - food and drink, hunger and/or fasting 6. Manipulation and deprivation of sleep 7. Financial exploitation, manipulation or dependence 8. Restrict leisure, entertainment, vacation time 9. Major time spent with group indoctrination and rituals and/or self indoctrination including the Internet 10. Permission required for major decisions 11. Thoughts, feelings, and activities (of self and others) reported to superiors 12. Rewards and punishments used to modify behaviors, both positive and negative 13. Discourage individualism, encourage group-think 14. Impose rigid rules and regulations 15. Punish disobedience by beating, torture, burning,cutting, rape, or tattooing/branding 16. Threaten harm to family and friends 17. Force individual to rape or be raped 18. Instill dependency and obedience II. Information Control Deception: a. Deliberately withhold information b. Distort information to make it more acceptable c. Systematically lie to the cult member Minimize or discourage access to non-cult sources of information, including: a. Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, newspapers, magazines, other media b. Critical information c. Former members d. Keep members busy so they don’t have time to think and investigate e. Control through cell phone with texting, calls, internet tracking Compartmentalize information into Outsider vs. Insider doctrines a. Ensure that information is not freely accessible b. Control information at different levels and missions within group c. Allow only leadership to decide who needs to know what and when Encourage spying on other members a. Impose a buddy system to monitor and control member b. Report deviant thoughts, feelings and actions to leadership c. Ensure that individual behavior is monitored by group Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda, including: a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audiotapes, videotapes, KZfaq, movies and other media b. Misquoting statements or using them out of context from non-cult sources 6. Unethical use of confession a. Information about sins used to disrupt and/or dissolve identity boundaries b. Withholding forgiveness or absolution c. Manipulation of memory, possible false memories. III. Thought Control 1.Require members to internalize the group’s doctrine as truth a. Adopting the group’s ‘map of reality’ as reality b. Instill black and white thinking c. Decide between good vs. evil d. Organize people into us vs. them (insiders vs. outsiders) 2.Change person’s name and identity 3.Use of loaded language and clichés which constrict knowledge, stop critical thoughts and reduce complexities into platitudinous buzz words 4.Encourage only ‘good and proper’ thoughts 5.Hypnotic techniques are used to alter mental states, undermine critical thinking and even to age regress the member 6.Memories are manipulated and false memories are created 7.Teaching thought-stopping techniques which shut down reality testing by stopping negative thoughts and allowing only positive thoughts, including: a.Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking b.Chanting c.Meditating d.Praying e.Speaking in tongues f.Singing or humming 8.Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism 9.Forbid critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy allowed 10.Labeling alternative belief systems as illegitimate, evil, or not useful IV. Emotional Control 1.Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings - some emotions and/or needs are deemed as evil, wrong or selfish 2.Teach emotion-stopping techniques to block feelings of homesickness, anger, doubt 3.Make the person feel that problems are always their own fault, never the leader’s or the group’s fault 4.Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such as a.Identity guilt b.You are not living up to your potential c.Your family is deficient d.Your past is suspect e.Your affiliations are unwise f.Your thoughts, feelings, actions are irrelevant or selfish g.Social guilt h.Historical guilt 5.Instill fear, such as fear of: a.Thinking independently b.The outside world c.Enemies d.Losing one’s salvation e.Leaving or being shunned by the group f.Other’s disapproval 6.Extremes of emotional highs and lows - love bombing and praise one moment and then declaring you are horrible sinner 7.Ritualistic and sometimes public confession of sins 8.Phobia indoctrination: inculcating irrational fears about leaving the group or questioning the leader’s authority a.No happiness or fulfillment possible outside of the group b.Terrible consequences if you leave: hell, demon possession, incurable diseases, accidents, suicide, insanity, 10,000 reincarnations, etc. c.Shunning of those who leave; fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and family d.Never a legitimate reason to leave; those who leave are weak, undisciplined, unspiritual, worldly, brainwashed by family or counselor, or seduced by money, sex, or rock and roll e.Threats of harm to ex-member and family In the new, updated edition of Combating Cult Mind Control I have a graphic of the Influence Continuum that helps bring together the BITE model variables. "The BITE Model"

@@bikesbirdsandbonsai2012 "In some way or another every religion satisfys that criteria" Sure probably, just a bit more or less depending on the religion but calling a Methodist church a cult makes the term useless. It's also not in keeping with what we think of as a cult. Nobodies locked up in the basement of your local Methodist church or being beaten for visiting the neighbors church. Westboro, JW and some other evangelical protestant faiths I would completely agree are cults. The extreme levels of though, and social control that just don't exist to those extremes in mainstream religions most of the time are the difference to me. I can quit the Catholic church and not get disfellowshipped. I may not get communion but that isn't the same level of control the JW's exert on their members and their families.

Paul33 I remember seeing Shirley and some teenagers on Howard stern, I don't remember little girls though. But she was on the show.

@Brian Cliffdogg, arranged by her family, no doubt. Is he one of the Phelpses?

@Brian Cliffdogg, poor girl. I heard that Steve Drain started out as a liberal and a documentary filmmaker. He spent time at the WBC doing a documentary and was somehow transformed. Seeing him in that interview shortly after he cast Lauren out was scary. He looked to be utterly consumed with hate for his own flesh and blood....all because she dared to question church doctrine. Sadly people outside of that so-called church have done much worse. Parents who were indoctrinated into Fundamentalist Christianity have actually murdered their own children because they preferred having a dead child than a gay son or lesbian daughter.

She did narrate her own book! She has such a great speaking voice

Religious lunatics.

Pure... pure evil that is.

They're a cult.

@@ifartmagic extremist? Like how? Crusade type stuff? Planning of murder?

@@Glenningway what do they do?

@nyancyan 83 I suppose you can type in westboro vs anonymous. I remember watching this awhile back! This is what Megan was speaking about. The dude this lady was speaking to on this old video would be her husband

@he11b1ade That still didn't stop the tracing of the D.N.A.

There is only ONE reality. This tRumpian 'alternative reality' bs . . . . is just that . . BullShit! These people know right from wrong . . . they chose to go down the wrong path. I cut some slack to kids who are born into this nightmare . . . but once they get into higher education . . . away from their F'd up family - - I believe they are accoutnable for their decisions and actions.

Why is it a shame she's like her mum?? In looks, yes, in attitudes and beliefs there's no comparison! ! I'd love to have a wonderful bone structure like Megan.

She’s not excusing it, she’s explaining it. “They know right from wrong despite whatever bullshit they believe” - that’s the point though, they don’t. The point to explaining their belief systems in detail is to explain WHY they genuinely believe they are doing good - ‘spreading the message of god’. The reason it’s important is because the sustained, positive interaction is what deradicalized her. She’s spent the last 8 years apologizing for her actions, and I’ll imagine she’ll continue to do so. What is it that you want? Do you want people to be better, or do you want vengeance?

She literally walked away from the only family she’d ever known and loved and entered into a world that loathed and held her in contempt (understandably). That took a great deal of courage and she continues to show how much she has changed and still deals with judgment and criticism in interviews and criticism with a lot of grace and humility.

@@brennabreithaupt4224 with that twisted reasoning . . . then I'd guess you would support Lori Vallow/Daybell in the murder and dismemberment of her own kids . . . because of the wacked-out shit she believed. Well. . . to each their own . . . I guess

@@mowsey321 she's selling a book. Let's see how she uses the proceeds from the book(s)

@@tthom2459 so what? Shes a villain for taking her story and sharing it with the world to try and teach others the lessons from her experience? She was abused as well, she’s not now nor has she ever been the villain. She was a victim plain and simple. She did heinous things absolutely, and even as an adult but she did so because before she could ever think for herself she was indoctrinated/brainwashed. We’d all like to believe we would have done better but the scary and sad reality is that most of us would have done the same if those were our predominant influences. Unfortunately I think fewer of us would have risen above all of that to be who she is today. So shame her all you want, I don’t subscribe to your line of thinking nor do I fault her for turning her experiences into something positive by showing the power of kindness and the ability for people to change. That will do far more than throwing money at this problem.