Perry Bulwer shares his indoctrination into the Children of God cult and how his Catholic upbringing and search for spiritual community influenced his radicalization and belief in the cult leader as the end-time prophet.
Perry's witnessing of disturbing events such as corporal punishment and sexual abuse within the cult prompted him to reevaluate his beliefs and ultimately make the decision to leave.
The practice of 'flirty fishing' within the group started as a selfless act to save souls but eventually turned into religious prostitution, revealing the leader's hypocrisy and manipulation of beliefs.
Deep dives
Introduction to Support Group
Rachel introduces her support group for individuals who have come out of systems of control and are seeking a supportive environment. The group is designed to help people recover from manipulation and control, whether it be from relationships, cults, or other harmful situations. Since support groups can vary in their effectiveness, Rachel advises individuals to be mindful of their experience and seek a group that feels safe and helpful.
The Story of Perry Bulwer
Perry Bulwer, a former member of the Children of God cult, shares his experiences growing up in and eventually leaving the cult. Perry explains that his indoctrination into the cult was influenced by his Catholic upbringing and his search for a spiritual community. The cult manipulated his religious beliefs and gradually introduced the extremist teachings of the cult leader, David Berg. Perry shares the process of his radicalization and his belief that Berg was the end-time prophet. He also highlights the effects of abuse within the cult and the long-lasting consequences for second-generation cult survivors.
Realizations and Breakdown
While still in the Children of God cult, Perry started to witness disturbing events, such as corporal punishment and the mistreatment of teens in detention camps. He became aware of the suicide of a teenager within the cult, causing doubts and questions about the group's teachings and practices. Perry also learned about the sexual abuse of children within the cult, particularly the horrifying story of Mary Berg, David Berg's granddaughter. Witnessing the abuse and the suffering of others shattered Perry emotionally and prompted him to reevaluate his beliefs, ultimately leading to his decision to find a way to leave the cult.
Flirty Fishing and the Slow Introduction of Sexual Doctrines
The podcast episode discusses the practice of 'flirty fishing' within the group and how it evolved over time. Initially presented as a selfless sacrifice to save souls, 'flirty fishing' involved women approaching men in nightclubs under the guise of proselytizing. The group's leader, David Berg, used the metaphor of fishing in biblical teachings to attract new members. Eventually, the practice turned into religious prostitution, with women being encouraged to receive money or donations for sexual acts. The slow introduction of sexual doctrines, such as permission to masturbate and the encouragement of prostitution, revealed the leader's hypocrisy and manipulation of the group's beliefs.
A Day in the Life and Leaving the Group
The podcast episode explores a typical day within the group, with members divided into work teams and engaging in activities like selling literature and communal meals. However, the experience varied depending on location and time period. The podcast guest shares their personal journey within the group, including working as a cook and driver. They also discuss the turning point that led to their decision to leave, such as witnessing the abuse of a mentally ill woman who had been tied to a bed and suffering from intense psychological pressure due to the group's false prophecies. After leaving the group, the guest experienced a prolonged recovery process that involved acknowledging their personal culpability, seeking justice for other survivors, and dedicating themselves to activism as part of their healing.
Perry Bulwer was Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada, where he joined the Children of God after dropping out of high school at age 16. He then spent the next two decades living in Children Of God communes across the world. In 1991, at the age of 36, he was finally able to escape the cult. Perry now advocates for second-generation cult survivors, and continues to shed light on the Children of God, a/k/a "The Family".
He is the author of the new memoir "Misguided: My Jesus Freak Life In a Doomsday Cult", A unique first-hand account of a life spent in the Children of God, the millenarian doomsday cult under the sway of the charismatic leader, David Berg.
In this engrossing and insightful conversation, Perry unpacks some of the indoctrination tactics he came to understand after leaving the cult. He goes on to share some important points about the history of this dangerous group and how his own experience ties in with it outlining how some of the horrors he witnessed became a catalyst for the courageous advocacy work he does today.
Before You Go: Rachel explains how cultic groups can pervert morality and values to serve the leader's benefit and outlines the confusion it can cause when followers return to the outside world.
You can find out more about Perry and his work at: www.perrybulwer.blogspot.com
Follow Perry on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094395042799
You can find out more about Perry and his work here:
https://perry-bulwer.blogspot.com/
Check out Perry's blog on Religious based child abuse here:
https://religiouschildabuse.blogspot.com/p/books-about-children-of-god-aka-family.html
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www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html
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rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html
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