Category Archives: The Blessing

Cults in Our Midst: Jen Kiaba on ‘And Then Everything Changed’ podcast

Jen speaks to Ronit Plank about her life in – and recovery from – the church. Summary: The term Moonies, Vulnerability to cults and Cultic practices in business, religion, MLM. 10. Intro to church and influence in political right. ‘Bad moon rising’ by John Gorenfeld. 14. Blessed Children. 15. Moon’s marriage to 16 year oldContinue reading “Cults in Our Midst: Jen Kiaba on ‘And Then Everything Changed’ podcast”

The Unification Church – An English Perspective: Miriam on the Cult Vault Podcast

Miriam speaks to Kacey on the Cult Vault about growing up in a church nursery in England, the pressure to be a good ‘blessed child’, and example for the younger ones, her arranged marriage and eventual journey out of the church. Summary of content: 1. Intro to church and parents joining. 9. Offering children andContinue reading “The Unification Church – An English Perspective: Miriam on the Cult Vault Podcast”

Blessed Child the Documentary: Cara Jones

‘More than a decade after leaving the Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church (the “Moonies”), filmmaker Cara Jones attempts to finally break free from the religious movement which dominated her childhood in an attempt to unpack the legacy of the decisions her parents made while challenging assumptions – hers and ours – about cults andContinue reading “Blessed Child the Documentary: Cara Jones”

‘A Chorus of Sorrows’ and ‘A Million Dreams’: Limi Bauer on Falling Out podcast

In this heartwrenching episode, Elgen Strait talks to Limi about her experience growing up in a nursery for ‘Blessed Children’. Featuring a recording of her voice as a child, with other children in the nursery, Limi describes the difficult separation from her parents at such a young age. Part 2 covers Limi’s experience of raisingContinue reading “‘A Chorus of Sorrows’ and ‘A Million Dreams’: Limi Bauer on Falling Out podcast”

‘The Fucked up Brady Bunch’ on Falling Out

Elgen Strait starts the second season of his podcast ‘Falling Out’ with a reunion of the contributors for the first series. This three hour conversation features the collaborative story-telling skills of eight ex-moonies making sense of their past:

Healing Through Art: Lessons on Leaving with Jen Kiaba (Part 1 & 2)

Jen describes how creativity is often discouraged in cults, unless it glorifies the leader. After Jen’s trauma in the church and eventual journey out, she found language to express the experience through self portraits on her way to recovery, https://www.jenkiaba.com/lessons-on-leaving/healing-through-art-my-story In part two, Jen explores the research behind art therapy and why it works. https://www.jenkiaba.com/lessons-on-leaving/healing-through-art-research

Dismantled -Moonie No More: Jen Kiaba on Talk Beliefs

Jen speaks about the mythology of the Unification Church, her experience growing up in it, being labor-trafficked, and having an arranged marriage blessing. Her recovery is explored through powerful photographic self-portraits and the value of art as therapy.

Tainted Blood and Forced Beatings: Ares Meyer on the Falling Out Podcast (Part 1&2)

In Part 1, Ares speaks to Elgen Strait about his experience growing up as a ‘Jacob’s Child’ in the Unification Church. In Part 2 Ares and Elgen discuss the Blessing, Special Task Force, Washington Times, dating after the church and the ‘indemnity stick’ ceremony.

Eternity in a Box: Donna Cervelli Part 2 on Falling Out Podcast

In Part Two of Donna’s interview with Elgen, she talks about being kicked out of New Eden Academy and the pressure and problems of purity within the church. Summary of content: 4. Falling is worse than Hitler. 7. Camp Sunrise and older blessed kids, blessing seniority. 10. Dae no. Nim and cheong pyeong. 14. FearContinue reading “Eternity in a Box: Donna Cervelli Part 2 on Falling Out Podcast”