IndoctriNation Rachel Bernstein

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at:
www.patreon.com/indoctrination



In this solo bonus episode, Rachel shares her insights into the disturbing world of the 7M TikTok cult popularized in the recent Netflix documentary "Dancing For The Devil" Led by Robert Shin, this group has exploited young dancers, manipulated their dreams, and torn families apart. From brainwashing to financial exploitation, the stories of former members are both shocking and eye-opening.

Thanks to all of our Patrons for making this episode possible!!

Daniel Schricker is a composer and writer based in Adelaide, Australia. He completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Adelaide, being awarded a PhD in 2020. In addition to his doctoral research in music composition, his academic interests include cults and fringe religious organizations. Some of his recent writings explore the theological and psychological aspects of high-control groups, leading to guest appearances on cult-themed podcasts in Australia, the UK, and South Africa. He was also a presenter at the 2023 International Cultic Studies Association Conference where he discussed some of his experiences growing up in KwaSizabantu and his role in pursuing justice for survivors of the group.



Daniel provides a detailed overview of Kwasizabantu's origins in South Africa, its expansion into Europe, and the oppressive practices within the group, especially regarding their extreme views on confession and courtship. He also discusses his involvement in recent investigations and his efforts to raise awareness about the group's harmful practices.


The conversation shifts to the role of fear in the group's theology, the brutal treatment of children, and the psychological impact on members. Daniel explains how the group's belief system diverges from mainstream Christianity and the importance of distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy religious practices.


Rachel and Daniel also explore the influence of online figures like Lori Alexander, who promotes a hyper-patriarchal version of Christianity. Daniel shares his insights on how such online ministries can exhibit cult-like characteristics and the dangers they pose to their followers.

Read Daniel's article on The Transformed Wife and more on his blog:
https://revivalreviewed.wordpress.com/2024/04/09/the-cult-of-lori-alexander-the-transformed-wife/



Connect with Us on Social Media:


Twitter: www.twitter.com/_indoctrination

Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast

YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft

Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.

Returning guests, Stacie Stukin and Phillip Deslippe are joining the show once again to speak about their newest investigative piece on the troublesome boarding schools of the 3HO community.



Stacie Stukin is an arts and culture journalist from Los Angeles. She was a contributing editor at Yoga Journal and has also written about yoga for the Los Angeles Times and Time Magazine. Over the years, she’s had the opportunity to write about Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, including a majorly impactful article for Los Angeles Magazine about the sexual misconduct allegations against Yogi Bhajan and the subsequent reckoning within the 3HO community.




Philip Deslippe is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and holds an MA from the University of Iowa. He has written articles for several academic journals including the Journal of Yoga Studies and Tricycle magazine. Philip was himself a member of 3HO for about a decade after taking a Kundalini Yoga class at his undergraduate college in the mid-1990s. He left in 2008 and went on to conduct research into the origins of Yogi Bhajan's Kundalini Yoga that culminated in the ground-breaking 2012 article "From Maharaj to Mahan Tantric" for Sikh Formations.



In this revealing conversation, Stacie & Phillip delve into the disturbing practices within the 3HO community, particularly focusing on the abusive and neglectful conditions at the boarding schools in India. Philip provides a detailed history of Yogi Bhajan's rise to power and the hierarchical structure he created, which facilitated widespread abuse and control. Stacie shares harrowing accounts from former members, highlighting the long-lasting impact of the community's toxic environment.



The discussion also covers the recent reparations program for survivors of abuse within 3HO. While the program aimed to provide settlements and institutional changes, many claimants found it re-traumatizing and inadequate.


Read Stacie & Phillip's "3HO's Boarding Schools Were A Living Hell":

https://www.baaznews.org/p/3hos-boarding-schools-abuse-yogi-bhajan

Find more info on Stacie and her work here:

https://www.staciestukin.com/

Find more info on Phillip and his work here:

https://philipdeslippe.com/



Connect with Us on Social Media:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/_indoctrination

Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast

YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft

Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at:
www.patreon.com/indoctrination



In this continuation from a previous bonus episode, Rachel explains how mantras and repetitive meditations can both heal and harm. She shares her insights by exploring the work of Elizabeth Clare Prophet and the Church Universal and Triumphant who is infamous for her hypnotic monologues.



Thanks to all of our patrons for making this episode possible!!

Natalie Hoffman is the author of Is it Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage: A Christian Woman's Guide to Hidden Emotional and Spiritual Abuse and her recent memoir All the Scary Little Gods. Natalie is also the host of the Flying Free podcast. She is a mother, grandmother, educator, and passionate advocate for women of faith in abusive homes and churches. Through the Flying Free Sisterhood program, Natalie empowers women to discover and use their God-given voices, gifts, and freedom to choose for their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.



Rachel and Natalie delve into the multi-layered aspects of Natalie's life, from her upbringing in a strict Christian environment to her journey through an abusive marriage and her eventual path to healing. Natalie shares her experiences with internal family systems (IFS) therapy, a method that has helped her understand and heal from her past trauma.


They discuss the covert nature of emotional and spiritual abuse within religious settings and the importance of bringing these hidden issues to light. Natalie emphasizes the need for self-compassion and the significance of being an empathetic witness to oneself.


You can find more info on Natalie and her work at: www.flyingfreenow.com



Connect with Us on Social Media:


Twitter: www.twitter.com/_indoctrination

Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast

YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft

Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.

Ryan George spent the first 20 years of his life in a cult, attending a series of Independent Fundamental Baptist churches including one where his dad was the pastor, whose word was the ultimate authority. It wasn’t until Ryan was confronted with the truth that his father was a serial sexual abuser hiding his sins behind Bible verses, that Ryan realized his faith was built on a foundation of lies. He’s spent the last 25 years reevaluating what he truly believes, and miraculously, while he left the spiritually abusive IFB movement, he didn’t leave behind his faith altogether.


In this episode, Ryan recounts his experience of confronting his father and the complex path of untangling his personal faith from the harmful tenets of American fundamentalism and the teachings of Bill Gothard. Despite the spiritual and physical abuse he endured, Ryan managed to reconstruct his faith and find redemption. His new book, "Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse," delves into these experiences and his journey toward healing.



Rachel and Ryan also explore the broader implications of abuse within religious settings and how it impacts families and communities. Ryan's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out and finding one's own path to healing and faith.



Connect with us on Social Media:

Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination

Facebook: facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast

Instagram: instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast

YouTube: youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft


Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.