Welcome to Wendy's
Cult Recovery Blog

A cult survivor’s blog recovering from stepping off the world into a cultish new religion

Introduction

This blog is a journal as I unravel my 15 years in a 'new religious movement' (aka a cult called 'Unification Church' or 'Family Federation for World Peace' or 'The Moonies'). My cult journey included an arranged marriage and domestic abuse. It is the foundation for my evolving cult survival memoir.

Target readers are those seeking to leave cults or who have left, and their friends and family, and those who have experienced (or are experiencing) domestic abuse, particularly in a faith-based marriage. The cult (or cultish group) may be religious, spiritual, academic, business, political, multi-marketing/commercial or a personality-based. Target readers also include aspiring memoir and life story writers and spiritual searchers.

My blog will primarily focus on my cult experience and recovery, but I will also write on domestic violence and my eclectic spiritual search for healing and meaning through the New Age spirituality, other Bible-based cults and mainstream Christianity. My journey hasn't finished. Does it ever?

Theological unravelling and the 'God' word

I was a Catholic Christian when I joined the Unification Church. While some ex-cultists are definitely repulsed by anything to do with religion, for valid reasons, I have found myself in my post-cult years still spiritually searching. The past few years, I have found myself having to unravel my old Unification beliefs and the theology even more. So some blogs will touch on theology and 'God' and trauma recovery in light of one's relationship with God.

If reading these particular topics of God and theology trigger you, you can skip those blogs posts and hopefully find some others on the general cult experience that you can resonate with. Or perhaps this blog page isn't for you. That's okay. This is certainly not a religious blog, but the topic is there as this is my journey. I do not want to contribute to anyone's religious trauma.

'Remember who you are' artwork by Ann Vargas Art

That 'cult' word

Another loaded word is 'cult'. It can be used in a derogatory manner and used haphazardly. It also can be very apt. One definition of a cult that I resonate with is:

“A cult is a group or movement held together by a shared commitment to a charismatic leader or ideology. It has a belief system that has the answers to all of life’s questions and offers a special solution to be gained only by following the leader’s rules. It requires a high level of commitment from at least some of the members.” (Anja Lalich, California State University, Chico, Department of Sociology, Ph.D).

The 'Moonies' word

The nickname for Unification Church members, which Reuters instructs US journalists is a pejorative term, is ‘The Moonies’. We members used to wear it as a source of pride. After all, we were following the supposed Messiah, Sun Myung Moon (Rev. Moon). Some members today take offence. I use the term to help identify the group, and I'm not ashamed that I was a 'Moonie'. It was part of my journey.

DISCAIMER: I am no expert in cult recovery or domestic violence recovery. My writing is part of my healing and learning journey, and as much as I hope others reading it might find it of value, it is not to be taken as medical, psychological or spiritual advice. Please seek medical and psychological support if you are triggered by my writing. Contact your GP (family doctor) or look at the support services on my Cult Recovery Support page.

Triggering topics may include:

Sexual abuse - Spiritual abuse - Religious trauma - Domestic violence Financial abuse - Medical negligence - Control and coercion - Cult deception - Grooming - God

When writing of my cult experiences, some names and details will be changed to protect people’s identity.

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