Cult Witness: the Hidden World of Cults (Documentary, Biography, Drama, History, Thriller)

Рет қаралды 98,551

Күн бұрын

At the age of 19 Samuel Stefan, consumed by crisis, was drawn into a cult. It would be 10 years before he was able to escape. Using a technique called ‘love-bombing’ cults prey on the vulnerable, recruiting new members with love and warmth. After a period of brain-washing, members are forbidden to leave, enslaved through psychological control or even violence. With full access to six escaped cult members, as well as experts, Cult Witness unravels the hidden world of cults; the hold they have on their victims, the reasons people form and fall prey to them and what takes place within.
Director : Samuel Stefan & Nick Oakley
Genres: Documentary, Biography, Drama, History, Thriller

Пікірлер: 93

@TibiSum 9 ай бұрын

I don't know if you will see this, Stefan, but I have watched this twice now and very much appreciate the humble and human way you share your story. Also, the moment of a PTSD flashback with the lemon, that means so much to me as a survivor of the things I went through and the lifelong PTSD experience that is a major, but not defining part of my life. That lemon at a party, biting into acid; that moment of complete alienation that comes on harsh and real and all encompassing and then we need to locate a way back to the relational after being taken to a moment of such terrible aloneness. We have to shake off violence and then be able to make small talk. And not just violence, but a moment of true disempowerment and loss. Most of us won't experience a cult. I didn't. But we can have families that operate like one. Relationships that involve these dynamics. Our families can be located in groups with shared values and abuse can be in the space with us and no outsiders can come through to help. I feel the dynamics can be continentally large and two person small. I grew up in an unsafe home and my sense of self was consistently under attack, from preverbal times. My mother is sick and she enacted Munchausen's with me as her proxy. She pulled the school, her friends and the rest of my family into her falsehoods. I know what it means to lose your innate right to have a self or selves. I also know what it means to then be a teenager out with wolves instead of safely growing with my friends. I know what it is like to be beaten, deprived of air., though not with more than one attacker. That must have been so completely overwhelming and I'm beyond sorry to know you experienced that many times. I just want to express gratitude because while most people aren't involved in cults, most people don't experience self-death under the grip of a caregiver, either. These cult stories are places where I feel my own story is explained, out loud, to larger communities that are open to hear it. People like me, who are taught not to protect their inner world or even their bodies often end up surviving intimate partner violence or do drift into cults. We require representation, not just to heal, but so we can have help preventing it from happening to others. You and the people you talked to in this film understand why we don't leave. For me it wasn't even some kind of sunk cost fallacy, like it so often is for people. It was clicking into the dynamic that I was born and raised in, where one person's needs outweigh the other's and they are entitled to dominate and oppress. Big loves. This film looks to me like you've had some good time since to process. I hope you are well. I hope you are you.

@bajoobiecuzican 9 ай бұрын

I feel each of these words you’ve written are as if they were my own… the telling of my story and the struggle to just be. Beautifully written. Deep. And touching. I feel you. So many of us do. I’m glad you are here. ♥️

@ConsciousKissCollective 8 ай бұрын

Excellent post. Wise and meaningful words.

@beatrixatthecchwclub5620 9 ай бұрын

I am so sorry young man, that you where coerced into such a horrible situation, you are a beautiful individual and NO ONE has the right to break your will. God bless you

@LloydCJ-eu3yg 10 ай бұрын

That recording of "The real Jim" is sooo vague that it even describes me too. 😂😂😂

@sapecina1 9 ай бұрын

Support and thank you for sharing , all the best to you ☺

@ekkolima 10 ай бұрын

I left the Pentecostal Christian Church 12 years ago, and I could tell you that it's a very long journey of self-discovery and healing. Find people that are positive and understanding of your situation, don't get too close too early and if you feel something off, just leave it alone altogether. But now I'm at the point where every relationship doesn't have to be a roller coaster.

@LarzGustafsson 10 ай бұрын

For me it's the other way around. Healing is in Jesus only.

@robertjarman4261 10 ай бұрын

Large seek psychiatric help quickly especially if you are American.

@beatrixatthecchwclub5620 9 ай бұрын

christianity encourages kindness compassion caring forgiviness , any manipulation, intimidation or domination is the opposite of that

@sandraatkinson3409 9 ай бұрын

AMEN !!@@LarzGustafsson

@sandraatkinson3409 9 ай бұрын

AMEN !!@@beatrixatthecchwclub5620

@stevendale7658 9 ай бұрын

Wheres catholicism christian mormon etc all cults by definition of actions

@alisong2328 8 ай бұрын

This movie is from 2010. Samuel Stefan has gone on to make "The Mindful Revolution" in 2015 and "Energy Pioneers" in 2019.

@michaelklein8105 7 ай бұрын

what's the difference between a cult and the major religions?

@coenterhaar9183 5 ай бұрын

There is a common denominator in cults. That is, that the leaders all have no empathy, although they pretend too. They also all use love bombing, gas lighting and silent treatment. Covert narcissism in a nutshell. Scary people. Stay away.

@coenterhaar9183 5 ай бұрын

No difference.

@coenterhaar9183 5 ай бұрын

No difference.

@ChantePierce-kp3uf 9 ай бұрын

This video is well suited for people who have no idea how cults work. In America we have had a lot of media regarding Cults and their leaders & followers.

@martintaylor1758 10 ай бұрын

Messiah addicts give me the creeps.

@markrichardson3566 9 ай бұрын

Cults are evil, becarefull they are everywhere 🙂

@coenterhaar9183 5 ай бұрын

Has anyone else noticed that this empathetic young man was the victim of covert narcissists? Symptoms of covert narcissists are love bombing, gas lighting, silent treatment, and above all, no empathy! To me cults are run by covert narcissists.. This documentary is an extremely example! What an awful and scary experience for the presenter of this documentary! As he said, it's so subtle at the beginning, and before you know it, you've been caught! Wish him all the happiness for the rest of his life!

@gmy33 5 ай бұрын

Dont forget a guru needs a follower .. and truth searchers are everywhere ... its a mechanisme . And yes lets brake those cirkels and help eachother !!!

@CroiaCallahan 8 ай бұрын

If someone asked for MY child’s hair….THAT would be enough for me to run the other way!!

@mtbiker4life918 9 ай бұрын

I took a 12 step program with 2 Christians. I'm glad I did the program but the leader was insisted in throwing bible versus at me daily, and wanted me to check in with him weekly. The whole phone calls he took up hours talking about his problems. The more I backed away the more harassing he got with his texts after I talked to him about boundaries..I finally had to block him. As soon as they don't have control they become unglued. I will say this as I've been involved with 2 churches. Once you leave all contact stops. The one church who I was faithful with I had to move due to a better carrier. Not even the pastor reaches out.

@glorialovesChrist 8 ай бұрын

Unfortunately,many churches are businesses:not loving caring communities with healthy boundaries . Also, some churches exploit their volunteers for free labor. I have a few close godly loving Christian friends with healthy boundaries.

@jurigagarin7829 10 ай бұрын

I find it confusing that the interviews about different cults are mushed together.

@kalimanbuda2389 9 ай бұрын

Atheism and despise for anyone called leader are the two keys to make fun of cults as well as religions and political parties..they all work the same..!!

@Joanna-li6ub 10 ай бұрын

What is flattering.

@nadafairooz4459 10 ай бұрын

الانجذاب

@rowanbowyer6560 9 ай бұрын

The brethren sound very much like the Jehovahs witnesses, really disturbing

@cidercik 9 ай бұрын

There is a local athletic club that acts like a cult. The leader and the long term members shower new members with lots of attention. You can see how their facebook likes and friend count increases. There is a type there, 40 to 60 yr olds, not many friends but now have loads. And then they are told about a local couple that needs to learn a lesson. They are told that this couple's activities need to be tracked, followed, approached and hassled. The police do absolutely nothing, but many in the area know what's going on and the cult's reputation is growing.

@gmy33 5 ай бұрын

Pretty vage .. but if you can monitor it or help people ... do it !!!

@mabelperdomo8062 10 ай бұрын

Aquí en 🇩🇴 dice que fue publicado hace 3 horas, no quise esperar para verlo.

@alexandrawhitelock6195 9 ай бұрын

Fascinating…

@ijohnny. 9 ай бұрын

Extraordinarily annoying for the therapist to keep chanting, "Mm, mm, mm,, mm, " while her charge is in the middle of sentences.

@gmy33 5 ай бұрын

This gren woman is troubled .. I would not take advice from her

@missbettyboop2509 9 ай бұрын

Did anyone notice how Jane..the daughter pushed that estranged uncle off from that hug??? Interesting body language..i wonder if he had hugged his own sister?

@user-rc7xx8ds5r 10 ай бұрын

What cult was he even in??

@sandymclean9630 9 ай бұрын

the gentle wind ?? hmmm

@blue8710 9 ай бұрын

'Power corrups'- no, power doesn't corrupt. The individual was already twisted even before they got that power. The worst thing about all these cults is that they misuse the word of God to their advantage.

@JoseAraujo-su6wc 9 ай бұрын

It's all about strength,if you're weak one, power will dominate yourself as identity.... Hallows of vanity, narrows and materialized existences, frustrations, self centered egos.. As we loose from our self's, as we could be as identity as self trade coin to be part within others... It's hard to be our self's, but the gain it's marvelous... Opinion of non religion person, I don't need it, I believe in human bounds by plural existence as colective and equal, but always being thruly to our self's

@alexandrawhitelock6195 9 ай бұрын

Look at Amish, uber orthodox jews, Latter Day Saints, etc. all male dominated.

@gmy33 5 ай бұрын

A guru is nothing without followers.. so also warn them !!!

@upgrade1015 10 ай бұрын

So this guy is paying for everybody to move around different countries? How are they making money for this? Is this guy independently wealthy? What does he do for work? This race is more questions than answers.

@antiquesandlearningtolive4369 10 ай бұрын

Cults tend to have you sign over everything you own to "prove you're in". This money and property is handed up to the leader. Study Jim Jones for a phenomenal demonstration of masterful control. Up to the point he was abusing drugs so badly he was losing control. He knew he could lose control one day, so the final outcome is, "if I can't control you, you are dead to me". When about to be exposed he forced most people to drink poison, and the rest to take revenge on "those who destroyed the group".

@DeathWard187 10 ай бұрын

He is taking a cut from members pay checks

@tristarperfecta1061 9 ай бұрын

That's what I wonder. I've considered joining a cult if it could be profitable.

@DeathWard187 9 ай бұрын

Not for you. Only the leaders make money. And sadly its to the detriment of other people. If that's how you want to live your life i feel bad for ya bud.@@tristarperfecta1061

@The-Perfect1 9 ай бұрын

Well they sold their homes and gave him the money, similar to most cults that attract abstract people, they’re never poor just vacuous.

@jovanapleskonjic5726 9 ай бұрын

Weeel in favore to Hare Krishna ....Vedic knowlege is far from cult ...this is some strange shit i just watched

@missbettyboop2509 9 ай бұрын

Ha???

@yosra3551 9 ай бұрын

8:02 that's witchcraft. And the teacher is a literal djinn that observes you. We all have a personal devil assigned. They know you from birth. They can see us, we can't see them, they are in a parallel dimension. And... well... it's still a fair fight.