How One Tree Hill Star Bethany Joy Lenz Broke Free From a Cult

[@LouisaWatt]

It’s interesting that the genesis of the switch from Bible study to cult was a new person with a pathological personality coming in and moulding the group to their own will. I’ve had situations where I left groups because one toxic person ruined them and I never understood why everyone else put up with their dominance. I’d rather be alone than controlled… so I’ve ended up alone a lot.

[@nikkio.9990]

I will for a forever be fascinated and horrified by how one singular person can control and/ or ruin an entire group. There isn't a person alive who hasn't experienced this at least once.

[@LouisaWatt]

@ for sure

[@JeantheSecond-ip7qm]

@@nikkio.9990 I’m horrified and fascinated by how people allow themselves to be lead by toxic people.

[@nikkio.9990]

@@JeantheSecond-ip7qm yes that too ! Sort of a tangent but I listened to podcast yesterday discussing how America's founding fathers ( with all their blind spots, ie slavery) did know a few things about humanity. they knew that given the opportunity the will of the people would always be a short term memory and to want to go back to a dictator/authoritarian leader and that's why they put so many checks and balances in the Constitution. Most of society is simple minded, unfortunately.

[@RJ-ep7qg]

“I wonder if there’s some kind of actual mental block that prevents people from being able to see what’s right in front of them because the stakes are just too high. The internal protective mechanism of the entire construct of your identity would have to be dismantled and reassembled if you were to shift your mindset . . . “ Wow. You articulate it so perfectly. I think it also applies to political affiliation, or the medical industrial complex, or questioning anyone in power. They make you feel like your whole identity/life is in jeopardy.

[@kimmywimmy7305]

It’s called Cognitive Dissonance. She defined it really well, without knowing that it has a name.

[@RJ-ep7qg]

@ You might be right, but I think it goes beyond cognitive dissonance. It’s more than being uncomfortable or experiencing a contradiction. It’s deeper than that-as though to confront/admit the truth would be the end to who you are and everything you know. There might be a word for that, but I’m not sure cognitive dissonance gets to the heart of it.

[@louhortonsculpture]

Yeah, and sunk cost fallacy or entrance and exit costs.

[@kristalcampbell3650]

Whew, the idea of having to perform in order to feel worthy and that being a replacement for a healthy family organism hits close to home.. right down to the adhd (and autism). Cults are so adept at spotting who is going to go the extra mile for them. I wish that ability were used for good.

[@PreacherBoys]

[@electra424]

Fantastic interview! Thank you both

[@PreacherBoys]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@maurafenlon8071]

I absolutely love this interview. Even though I was not in a cult per se I was raised in a very abusive family that centered around Catholicism. There are so many elements of what you’re saying I can relate to. This podcast has helped me a lot to understand that, we shouldn’t be punished for having good hearts and that’s what is used to suck people in.

[@PreacherBoys]

[@spiderlegspinch9001]

I was watching an interview in a documentary a while back and one of the experts said that rebellious people are more vulnerable to being seduced by a cult. It really stood out to me because my mom was a very rebellious teen who ended up in a cult. I have never been in a cult, but as someone who was also very rebellious and always questioning things to the point of uncertainty I can see how following something blindly can have a big appeal. Constantly challenging view points including your own can be exhausting after a while

[@PreacherBoys]

[@spiderlegspinch9001]

@@PreacherBoys goodness that's a great question. I want to say it was a documentary about Jones Town. It's hard cause I watch so many documentaries.

[@longshank59]

TY Eric and Bethany Joy so thought provoking and powerful. Wonderful interview as someone who was in Drama Class in H.S. people that were either RELIGIOUS FANATICS or QUEER people who were criticized by the fanatics I was part of both.

[@PreacherBoys]

Thanks for watching!

[@electra424]

Wow I just watched Thinner for the first time a while ago and I was wondering why she looks so familiar! She's barely aged it's incredible. I can't wait to watch the full interview!

[@PreacherBoys]

She definitely looks like her!

[@daniebeth]

I though the same ! I recognized her from Guiding Light!! Never watched One Tree Hill. She looks exactly the same.

[@z-rp1ef]

Best hair and beard version for you. Love The Topic.

[@PreacherBoys]

Wow thanks!

[@mandogrogurescuedogs]

Great interview!!!

[@PreacherBoys]

Thanks so much for watching

[@rubykennedymedia]

Geez. I was watching So Cold The River last night and I could not figure out where I knew the actress from. Then this came across my timeliness and I was like...her!!! Now I know. Lol.

[@PreacherBoys]

How was it? It’s on my watchlist

[@rubykennedymedia]

@PreacherBoys it was pretty good.Actually I really liked it.

[@DarqueSyde66]

Excellent video

[@haylebales]

Eric's asks about the difference between feeling shame and personal responsibility. I have struggled with making sure I hold my feet to the fire and hold myself extremely "accountable" for everything but I'm missing the piece that my intentions were very pure and loving. It's actually self-harmful to be so dogged in thinking and rethinking my personal accountability given pure intentions. I think this comes from having parental narcissists who never took accountability for anything so I saw the effects and harm of that amplified. I also think it confused my understanding because narcissists suggest that their intentions were good but continue with harmful behavior. I have to remind myself that I don't have this personality profile and that when I say my intentions were good they *really were good (counter to the lies I've heard from parental figures). I also think narcissists lie to themselves all the time and buy their lies (that it's for everyone's good) even in the midst of great evidence that it's not. Know your personality and whether you have that disorder and it should help in evaluating how to feel about your actions. Have you had a heart guided by genuine interest in loving others for instance...

[@druidgurl]

The conversation about the friend who married a man with red flags hurts so much. My best friend just got married last Sunday to a red flag. I gently tried to explain why I didn’t think he was a good choice for her and she ghosted me. It’s been over a year since we spoke. I can’t imagine abandoning a lifelong friend for a romantic interest, but it happens all the time, especially in the context of a cult. My heart is broken.

[@kimmywimmy7305]

That term she’s looking for is called Cognitive Dissonance. It’s the fear of learning the truth because you lived in the lie so long that you can’t let go.

[@patriciabritton5917]

Honestly if a person does not know the Bible or was not raised in church they could easily be caught up in a cult. people make mistakes but once you realize it is a cult you can find a way out. When people are looking for peace and purpose and community people can get caught up in cults. One definition of a cult is a group that does not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, That he is the only way to Heaven, not a religion or a denomination. Jesus and him alone is the way to Heaven. Salvation is a free give from God you can not earn it or buy it or you are not saved by your works. So these points are ways to know if something is a cult.

[@JuliaKautt]

I think you can know your Bible and still be in a cult. It depends on how one filters the Word.

[@thepringler100]

People who speak like they “know the Bible” in a way others do not make the very best cult leaders.

[@mjacton]

That's an easy thing to say from the outside, but it's easy for cult or cultish leaders to say the right words and then say "they" aren't doing it right.

[@user-qi4ff5in9z]

Guiding Light

[@kalic6091]

Yes, Michelle and Danny ❤

[@13thBeatleJr]

I joined a cult in the summer of 2016. I was seeking biblical counseling with addiction. I was told if I don’t cease this particular sin I was never one of the chosen ones. I was told how I should vote, who to associate with. That my family was lost. The pastor would preach so fast and intellectually and the music was dead and the people around me like zombies. I got out of it after I read the book of John and believed upon Jesus. This is a Calvinistic cult - sister church of John MacArthur whom I discovered is a reprobate. I’m now free!

[@EricEscandon-c1l]

having come from a narcissist family which is VERY cult like, I've spent the last decade researching and learning from professionals in things like psychology and counseling. Yes, there is psychologically that codependency that people choose and to choose to be in an abusive relationship, a trauma bond. That is one reason, I am sure there are others. but there is spiritually too, a darkening of one's understanding. The bible says about bribes that it blinds discernment. Often times bribes are used in political context but bribes can also be used to properly describe the reason of spiritual darkening of the senses. The bible is adamant time an time again to wear the truth, to not sell it for a lie.

[@EMO_alpha]

What does that shirt mean??

[@37south47]

I am 20 minutes into this video and not a single word has been said in describing the cult you weee a part of. So this leads me to suspect that you two may be using the word “cult” in referring to actual Christianity. Using buzz words and talking about church and spirituality are usually red flags when I hear non believers speaking about Christianity. Also at the beginning of the video the dude mentioned “fundamentalist” which is another buzz word for ant-believers. Overall my point is that you cannot claim to have been in a cult and not tell anyone what it was that made it a cult. You have to diagnose or at the very least describe the specifics that you believe made it a cult and it literally does not make sense to not do so. And finally, it’s hard to take seriously a grown man doing an interview that says “like” every other word like a silly teen. Here’s my suspicion… the dude grew up in a Christian home, decided to become a sodomite, and then decided Christianity was a cult because it does not confirm his lifestyle. And as far as the woman I think she may just be looking for any anti-Christian philosophy to latch onto… Could be that I am completely wrong… maybe I’ll find out before the video ends lol

[@PreacherBoys]

Yeah you’re completely wrong about everything you said. lol 🤣 She is still a professing Christian (I am not) She discusses her cult in detail in her book, in which there was tons of manipulation that drained her of time, resources, and almost all of her finances. Also, the sodomite comment is so outta left field 🤦‍♂️

[@37south47]

@ I don’t care what she talks about in her book! Not one scripture! Not one mention of God or Jesus as her saviour in this interview and not one question about the specifics of the so called cult she was involved in! At the very least it was a terrible interview and at the worst it was an anti-God discussion as I said! Funny how you do not address anything I said but a comment about sodomites!

[@smedlz]

​@@PreacherBoys I'm also 20 minutes into the video and nothing has been discussed concerning what the supposed cult actually is. All that has been said is that y'all went to church and read the Bible. And that's not describing a cult.

[@issac-j3m]

I don’t mean to sound heartless but I did my research on who she’s talking about . The doctorine seems a little off but the pastor at least seems like a normal guy

[@lyzdavis2019]

Do normal guys start fraudulent businesses and embezzle $2 million from their clients?

[@issac-j3m]

@ that makes the leader a pos but I’m talking about the thing in general

[@smedlz]

Which supposed cults are you guys talking about in this episode? Been listening for 20 minutes and nothing has been said besides yall wrnt to church and read the bible (which isnt cult like)

[@kristenford1859]

Did you read the book she wrote? She details it all in there. It was “the big house family” a bible study turned to a cult when a pastor from another state came in

[@smedlz]

@kristenford1859 no, I didn't read her book; I was hoping to get to know about the cult through this interview.

[@smedlz]

@@kristenford1859 thank you for this information

[@37south47]

Yep I was right! 47 minutes in and I find I was 100% correct! This is an anti-Christian conversation! The statement that went something like “the ones doing the controlling by the promise of eternal life”. Yep, you are both God haters! This is a propaganda type discussion against Christianity!

[@louise8130]

That was the feeling I was getting at too. 😢 Yikes.

[@37south47]

@ That is called “discernment”. Bless your heart lady!

[@PreacherBoys]

Joy is a professing Christian… I was but am not any longer. So you’re pretty far off the mark there by calling her a “God hater.” People *can* manipulate others by holding eternal life over your head. Tons of religious cults have in the past - not it’s Christian. I’m not sure how you think that that’s a broad-brush against all Christians.

[@37south47]

@ Not one single mention of Christianity! Not one Bible verse from her! Not one mentions of God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit! Not one mention of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yep… like i said… this was an anti-God conversation no doubt! The fatal flaw though is that she did not offer and you as the interviewer did not ask the specific details that made what she was involved in a cult. What did they believe and how did they oppress or control her? That is vital information in finding out what is real and who is lying and who is a believer and who is anti-God. At the very least you can determine whether it’s an actual cult by guess what…… asking some questions! Wow! What a terrible interview!

[@maggierayner9408]

Mormon leaders hold members hostage using the promise of Eternal Life. (Author, In Polygamy’s Shadow)

[@i-have-a-dream-without-media]

Now she‘s in another cult

[@mjacton]

Huh?

[@i-have-a-dream-without-media]

@@mjacton In Hollywood. Shows that too much righteousness can lead to evil (see Ecclesiastes)