My Life Post-Cult: Back to Normality

When she was fifteen, Lauren Drain's family joined the Westboro Baptist Church, known for picketing the funerals of veterans and spewing hate speech. Years later, Lauren was banished by her father for questioning their practices. In this interview with Eboo Patel at Chicago Ideas Week 2012, she shares her incredible story. For more, visit / laurendrain

[@64imma]

Honestly, any organization that doesn't welcome questions is not an organization fit for membership.

[@eph2vv89only1way]

+64imma Dead on! Generally when an organization, person, or other entity discourages questions and preaches disowning people who question them it's because they are afraid of something. Of course they won't admit that, not even to themselves, but it's the truth. When something is true it stands up to honest scrutiny and is strengthened by it. When something is not true it won't stand up and is weakened by it.

[@johnallenmacfarlandjr9440]

I'm asking questions I hope she answers

[@serenityflies1462]

64imma. You've just described governments in the 'free' world!!!!!

[@tissasenanayake4189]

I am glad she escaped from this cult and found freedom

[@MrSouthernlord]

Tissa Senanayake She is still a Christian so she didn't completely make it out.

[@tissasenanayake4189]

MrSouthernlord Correct. But at least she rid herself from religious fundamentalism. I have no problem with people who have a nominal faith in God.

[@lpg64593]

+tissa, I agree. I wish her the best

[@jaylynn444]

+MrSouthernlord I totally get what you're saying - and you may just trying to be funny (I'm a little slow this early in the morning, lol!) To be fair, not all Christians are extremists. I have a few friends that are Christian, and they do not hate, and believe that God loves us all. Unfortunately, they are of a small percentage, as most are against the gay community, which I take huge issue with (one of my best friends is gay, and he would give the shirt off his back for anyone). They contradict themselves by saying "God loves" but then they pick and chose WHO they think HE loves :(

[@MrSouthernlord]

+Clark Drew The Westboro Baptist Church adheres to the teachings of the bible far more closely than most religions. This is what Christianity really looks like. The more a religion moves away from this hateful and destructive religious text the nicer it becomes.

[@Elodie_vera]

I love how she pulled a complete 180 and is an amazing fitness inspiration, patriotic flag waver, and overall good person who only cares about the prosperity and well-being of every other good person out there.

[@mets2128]

+EllynaurusRex Thank God the TRUE GOD that she found a way out of that Biggotry cult

[@mets2128]

?

[@williamzhao2521]

touche my friend. Almost like a double agent am I right? lol. That generated a lot of publicity. Similar to how North Korean agents and Russian mafia agents operate.

[@raceandcrime]

and as such she can share with the world this kind of warning?: Some statistics about the homosexual lifestyle and its effects: One study reports 70% of homosexuals admitting to having sex only one time with over 50% of their partners (3). One study reports that the average homosexual has between 20 and 106 partners per year (6). The average heterosexual has 8 partners in a lifetime. Many homosexual sexual encounters occur while drunk, high on drugs, or in an orgy setting (7). Many homosexuals don't pay heed to warnings of their lifestyles: "Knowledge of health guidelines was quite high, but this knowledge had no relation to sexual behavior" (16). Homosexuals got homosexuality removed from the list of mental illnesses in the early 70s by storming the annual American Psychiatric Association (APA) conference on successive years. "Guerrilla theater tactics and more straight-forward shouting matches characterized their presence" (2). Since homosexuality has been removed from the APA list of mental illnesses, so has pedophilia (except when the adult feels "subjective distress") (27). Homosexuals account for 3-4% of all gonorrhea cases, 60% of all syphilis cases, and 17% of all hospital admissions (other than for STDs) in the United States (5). They make up only 1-2% of the population. Homosexuals live unhealthy lifestyles, and have historically accounted for the bulk of syphilis, gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, the "gay bowel syndrome" (which attacks the intestinal tract), tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus (27). 73% of psychiatrists say homosexuals are less happy than the average person, and of those psychiatrists, 70% say that the unhappiness is NOT due to social stigmatization (13). 25-33% of homosexuals and lesbians are alcoholics (11). Of homosexuals questioned in one study reports that 43% admit to 500 or more partners in a lifetime, 28% admit to 1000 or more in a lifetime, and of these people, 79% say that half of those partners are total strangers, and 70% of those sexual contacts are one night stands (or, as one homosexual admits in the film "The Castro", one minute stands) (3). Also, it is a favorite past-time of many homosexuals to go to "cruisy areas" and have anonymous sex. 78% of homosexuals are affected by STDs (20). Judge John Martaugh, chief magistrate of the New York City Criminal Court has said, "Homosexuals account for half the murders in large cities" (10). Captain William Riddle of the Los Angeles Police says, "30,000 sexually abused children in Los Angeles were victims of homosexuals" (10). 50% of suicides can be attributed to homosexuals (10). Dr. Daniel Capron, a practicing psychiatrist, says, "Homosexuality by definition is not healthy and wholesome. The homosexual person, at best, will be unhappier and more unfulfilled than the sexually normal person" (10). For other psychiatrists who believe that homosexuality is wrong, please see National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. It takes approximately $300,000 to take care of each AIDS victim, so thanks to the promiscuous lifestyle of homosexuals, medical insurance rates have been skyrocketing for all of us(10). Homosexuals were responsible for spreading AIDS in the United States, and then raised up violent groups like Act Up and Ground Zero to complain about it. Even today, homosexuals account for well over 50% of the AIDS cases in the United States, which is quite a large number considering that they account for only 1-2% of the population. Homosexuals account for a disproportionate number of hepatitis cases: 70-80% in San Francisco, 29% in Denver, 66% in New York City, 56% in Toronto, 42% in Montreal, and 26% in Melbourne (8). 37% of homosexuals engage in sadomasochism, which accounts for many accidental deaths. In San Francisco, classes were held to teach homosexuals how to not kill their partners during sadomasochism (8). 41% of homosexuals say they have had sex with strangers in public restrooms, 60% say they have had sex with strangers in bathhouses, and 64% of these encounters have involved the use of illegal drugs (8). Depending on the city, 39-59% of homosexuals are infected with intestinal parasites like worms, flukes and amoebae, which is common in filthy third world countries (8). The median age of death of homosexuals is 42 (only 9% live past age 65). This drops to 39 if the cause of death is AIDS. The median age of death of a married heterosexual man is 75 (8). The median age of death of lesbians is 45 (only 24% live past age 65). The median age of death of a married heterosexual woman is 79 (8). Homosexuals are 100 times more likely to be murdered (usually by another homosexual) than the average person, 25 times more likely to commit suicide, and 19 times more likely to die in a traffic accident (8). 21% of lesbians die of murder, suicide or traffic accident, which is at a rate of 534 times higher than the number of white heterosexual females aged 25-44 who die of these things(8). 50% of the calls to a hotline to report "queer bashing" involved domestic violence (i.e., homosexuals beating up other homosexuals) (18). About 50% of the women on death row are lesbians (12). Homosexuals prey on children. 33% of homosexuals ADMIT to minor/adult sex (7). There is a notable homosexual group, consisting of thousands of members, known as the North American Man and Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). This is a child molesting homosexual group whose cry is "SEX BEFORE 8 BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE." This group can be seen marching in most major homosexual parades across the United States. Homosexuals commit more than 33% of all reported child molestations in the United States, which, assuming homosexuals make up 2% of the population, means that 1 in 20 homosexuals is a child molestor, while 1 in 490 heterosexuals is a child molestor (19). 73% of all homosexuals have had sex with boys under 19 years of age (9). Many homosexuals admit that they are pedophiles: "The love between men and boys is at the foundation of homosexuality" (22). Because homosexuals can't reproduce naturally, they resort to recruiting children. Homosexuals can be heard chanting "TEN PERCENT IS NOT ENOUGH, RECRUIT, RECRUIT, RECRUIT" in their homosexual parades. A group called the "Lesbian Avengers" prides itself on trying to recruit young girls. They print "WE RECRUIT" on their literature. Some other homosexuals aren't as overt about this, but rather try to infiltrate society and get into positions where they will have access to the malleable minds of young children (e.g., the clergy, teachers, Boy Scout leaders, etc.) (8). See the DC Lesbian Avengers web page, and DC Lesbian Avengers Press Release, where they threaten to recruit little boys and girls. Also, see AFA Action Alert.

[@Buddah_the_one_true_god]

@@raceandcrime Are you a member of the Westboro Baptist cult?

[@juanmartinortega4898]

I feel Bad for the kids in that Church

[@fallenslave6684]

I feel bad for those who have gay parents. And families where they are divorced. Manny ateists who becomed Christians told that their parrents were horrible. Honestly, I don't see no problem in, telling that, your child to dress modestly. To stay pure till marriage and to dont get drunk. What is all the problem with Church hating people? Church was like the best place in all my life. The most loving people, my best friends. It was so cool to me. Still is! I have got so manny good advices. So manny encouragements. And onest truths. When I was doing something bad. I don't know why you guys like atack something what you don't know. It is like someone kills a person and his name is Nick and then you say all people with the name of Nick are criminals. Are you all right with spreading that misinformation? Please don't say things with an entire magnitude of ranges. I am baptist. I am Christian. My parents are. My relatives all are baptist. And each of them are womderful people. I have the best parrents on the word! Same with my brother and uncle etc... It is really offensive to say that all people like myself who go to church, are weird and stuff like that. First of all I live in Europe. I don't even think that you know or had gone to a different church than your country. Maybe my comment is long but I needed to adress this. God Jesus bless your life. Read the Bible and belive it and repent this is my best advice.

[@abrady79]

I feel bad for kids that don't go to church. This church was the extreme...

[@doodles4433]

@@abrady79 i dont go to church, and i’m glad my parents had the good sense to allow me to decide for myself what i believe

[@abrady79]

@@doodles4433 I was raised in church, moved out and didn't go for years and now go back. I made my own decision and was raised in church.

[@jessicabredesen432]

As someone who made the journey out of the IFB cult, I can totally relate to her experience. There is a certain comfortableness about being in a cult, and it takes courage to leave. God bless her!

[@jubmelahtes]

what's the IFB cult

[@jessicabredesen432]

The Independent Fundamental Baptists. They don't wave signs or get in the news very often but they are very controlling, and they eject and use people in the same ways.

[@phoneprincess13]

I went to a Baptist middle school. Hammond Baptist from Indiana. Looking back I am appalled by what they taught us. And even as a little kid I could not wrap my mind around the concept of god or religion. I think I was born an atheist. If others get fulfillment from religion that is great, but you can't go around telling everyone else how to live. What I am amazed by is that they have not had their tax status rejected. They are clearly a hate group. Take the word god out of the message and they are as reprehensible as the kkk. I hope that you have found happiness and peace since leaving the cult.

[@jessicabredesen432]

I am sorry to hear that. Thank you for the kind words, I have found happiness and peace, and I hope that you have too. I'm Christian, and it is so grotesque and hateful to see people project God and the Scriptures onto their hate. Most Christians, myself included, are the total opposite of that, and we look forward to seeing these cult survivors leave.

[@ActivistVictor]

+ Joshua Baldwin glad you hAad tghe strength to get out, hope evrything is going well for you

[@GraceJones1]

Good for you Lauren! I grew up in a really strict Korean traditional pastor's family, and I only thought there was only one way to believe in God, but sure enough, after I left my home and joined the AF, I found God in a different way 😊 Good for you for staying strong and not losing faith 😊

[@MCWalter126]

How r u?

[@TeamMagix6]

It's true when they say the person you are on the inside reflects how you are on the outside. If you see her in one of the WBC's music videos, she looked like a mess, but now she's beautiful and there is a positive energy that is coming from her now which is evident by just looking at her.

[@twigagawizard]

I hope the rest of their children end up like her. They interviewed one of the little boys and you could tell he didn't know what the fuck he was talking about. They don't understand why they're doing it.

[@nicholaswetzel7119]

Jason Rodriguez Are you talking about the one who said people in the military are the type who rape little boys?

[@madcrabber1113]

I remember seeing her in a documentary or on Howard Stern, I can't remember which but I could tell by her facial expressions in response to the insanity that was her parents that she wasn't into it.

[@joyunicycle]

Finished reading Banished. It is the most intense book I've ever read and experienced and I'm glad you escaped the cult. God loves you Lauren, and I hope that your family someday knows that too. Praying it goes well. :)

[@babydaniegirl]

You are so brave for coming forward, and for leaving in the first place. Thank you for sharing your story, I wish you the best of luck in your future.

[@spanishpedals]

Lauren, I will definitely be buying your book. Thank you for providing a voice for others. It's a beautiful thing to love others the way you do. Your parents should be very proud of you. I truly pray that one day, they will come to their senses. Best wishes to you.

[@davidinchester]

What lovely young lady and ay she has a lovely life. It is nice to see her having a life of her own, obviously it will be without her family, so I hope she meets someone who love her and who she can love.

[@LuvBugBlaqkHart]

she's so amazing! I'm so proud of her and how she was able to get out of that beyond negative hateful environment!

[@MCWalter126]

How r u?

[@sarahsvibody]

This just popped up on my recommendations. I had no idea. I'm so sorry this happened to you. No one deserves this emotional abuse. Love, kindness and understanding own a place in all of our hearts. Thats what everyone deserves to receive and believe no matter your religion. My heart really goes out to you and your strength to overcome. 💕

[@freshcutzwag]

I'm so glad she left. She is such a wonderful woman, she has so much courage and strength. Going through something like that, can scar someone for life. I have an insane amount of respect for her, and wish her the best in life !

[@BonbondeParis]

I have always felt such sadness and compassion for the innocent children born into this bizarre family, and horrific cult. To be indoctrinated with such fear, hate, and isolation, berated at every turn, is a complex form of child abuse! Fred Phelps controlled his decendants with the iron fist of rage he had within; I am convinced he was either gay, OR a victim of sexual abuse himself (never having processed his own feelings.) Perhaps now that he has met his maker, the foundation of the "church" will begin to crack, and we will see more Laurens

[@lpg64593]

you are so brave! As a loving human being I know u miss your siblings and even ur parents. u wouldn't be human if you didn't. time will heal,God has your back. Good luck to u. by the way, your body is beautiful as are u overall. best wishes, my dear😊

[@billandben0000]

oh my goodness. I'm so blown away by this all!! I've just started following you on twitter (@charquatch) and you give me faith in humanity again!

[@Tony4Liberty]

@Lauren Drain You are gorgeous. I'm also very impressed with how strong of a person you are. Not many people can say they have the where-withall to understand the environment they grew up in was so wrong and horrible. It's great that you were able to do this and I'm sure God has big plans for you and the message behind that.

[@CliffinDallas]

I pissed off a friend who knows I'm a atheist. He started in again about god and asked me to read the bible as proof of god. I told her she can no more prove god with a bible than I can prove the existence of Spiderman with a comic book.

[@michaelmejia352]

Worst argument I've ever heard. The bible is the most historically factual book of its kind. Spider man is mere fiction. You dunce.

[@condensation8374]

+Michael Mejia Oh my lord... You're the one who blindly believes in a religion based on a book without any real evidence.... You dunce I compare religion to ghosts. The closest thing to proof of God is the Bible. The closest thing to evidence of ghosts are stories. Learn your facts before opening your pie hole please. Ignorant idiot

[@dddanielsr]

you are brainwashed too.... If you think the fairy tale of noa's arc is true, there's no sense with your case...

[@kimmysavemiley]

So many officise stuff

[@anthonybolton2717]

@@michaelmejia352 there are no facts in the bible

[@hunte148]

Here is what I don't get about the Westboro Baptist Church. Their reasoning for the actions they take, i.e. picketing funerals, speaking out against homosexuality and preaching the bible, is their way to warn people and encourage them to repent. And yet they go about this in a completely ineffectual way that serves to inspire hatred toward their organization and ultimately Christianity as a whole. I honestly think these people are doing more to hurt their cause then help it and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. I mean from what I’ve seen they are obviously extremely intelligent people yet they persist in goading people from virtually every other walk of life at every turn.

[@vaishalatube]

There is an infinite number of ways no one is able to understand this...it's not even a church, it's just a cult. They're doings are simply wrong on too many levels to describe and you definitely mentioned one of myriad, but what I'm trying to get at is that they're just completely crazy to even possibly attempt to figure out.

[@JDC352]

The common accusation is that they do what they do with no other material intent than to have others stand against them so they can then, in turn, sue based in their right to free speech (hiding behind religion). So, in short, they are scamming the system while sweeping up money gained from frivolous law suits.

[@Kurenzen]

James D. Chamberlain III Cult ? Church ? same thing. When Churches go wild they become cults as to there are no bad churches.

[@Kurenzen]

James D. Chamberlain III In Short: A Cult would the obverse of A Church. But is still a church. Just like one side of a Coin is the Obverse of a coin is still a coin. Expanded: What is the difference? When someone commits a crime they become a criminal, especially for shocking crimes like rape! Now if you mean there are gray areas please tell me because rape does not sound like one. Furthermore Religions often worship Gods so do cults, Some Religions Deify peoples like the Popes, Jesus, Budda, Saints, etc so many other as an Honnor So Do Cults. A Cult is just Church that breaks the law OR commits acts so shocking to the conscience that the majority of people no longer support it. Many Church used to be fine with Slavery and Burning Witches.

[@Kurenzen]

James D. Chamberlain III Religion is questionable! The Catholic Church has and turns a blind eye to abuse of children, and they were part of the Transatlantic Slave trade if they really believed in compassion they the Church would never have stood for it and could have put a end to it, the Catholic Church had that much power and influence to even sway who could be a monarch or king.

[@lranieri1]

Lauren, thanks for sharing your story! I was trapped inside a cult from age 21-36, and it was hell! I hope you continue to speak out and that you are enjoying your new freedoms!

[@OurLove4Dance]

Which cult?

[@CHAWCLATE]

You inspire me SOO much! I'm ordering your book on Amazon.

[@CissyMoon]

She is so intelligent and mature.

[@CareBlair222]

I love her. Just finished her book. It was compelling and very sad. I could not put the book down.

[@JuliaPerron]

what's her book called?

[@CareBlair222]

+Julia Perron banished. read it. Excellent book.

[@ryuoh6928]

She has my entire support too. I think the fact she was indoctrinated into their crap since childhood, but was then conscious and capable enough to get out of it by herself is tremendously admirable and says a lot about her. I wish her well. :)

[@CareBlair222]

+Pere Parellada Gràcia amen to that.

[@ryuoh6928]

A-freaking-men.

[@likicav]

Hey Lauren, congrats on your strength.I can just imagine how hard it was all on your own, to do the right thing, speak up and stay positive. You're amazing.

[@lindsay6171]

Sad situation 😓 But WOW you're a strong woman to say the least! You took that negative & turned it into a postive in a huge way 🙌 Respect to you & God bless! I hope that one day your estranged family will see the light too ❤

[@deserteagle511]

Westboro Baptist Church=Master trolls.

[@tedmosby4877]

They can't compete with the mayans and zubat

[@exodore2000]

@@tedmosby4877 Ok come on how bad could a pokemon be?

[@ianrust3785]

I love what she is saying, it's dead on with how I feel about this church.

[@beanz991]

Just ordered the book and looking forward to reading it.

[@dandelionjones7]

love this, your such an inspiration to me and everyone :)

[@kristianbrandt3012]

I love how she didn't just come a little bit out, she went the whole way XD

[@brittanymarie5645]

I am so proud of Lauren! :)

[@MistyxHeart]

Lauren you're awesome. Your family has no idea what they have lost. I give you all of my hopes and prayers

[@thudor1]

I read Eboo's book. Couldn't put it down, it was THAT good!

[@GetToDaChoppa-k5r]

I think this lady is very strong for leaving that horrible church, and it's amazing that she has got a new life. Her dad should be deeply ashamed of himself for destroying his family. Of course he won't be because he is fucking nuts!

[@pumpkinslice1811]

Poor Lauren. :(

[@SpiderLace028]

Wow. So glad you got out safely & have been able to build a nice life for yourself. You go girl!

[@SweenusSwinginHisDingus]

*relieved sigh* Thank you.

[@erikramos6074]

So proud of Lauren for finding the true Christ. She is an amazing woman. No matter what she did or didn't do to get out, she had to forgive herself, her family, her friends, and know that everything she was taught was a literal lie. She found God and is now truly saved. wow. props.

[@stevenmarandola8013]

true Christ? she is now known as sexy Lauren and posts provocative photos of herself on it..that is Christ-like?

[@stevenmarandola8013]

steven marandola she left to pursue a life of fornication?

[@MaddieB]

She is living proof of the insanity that it WBC, she's seen it for herself.

[@NuttyNaythan1]

Definitely buying her book!!

[@televisiontrekkie3802]

I'm so happy for her. Been watching them since she was in.

[@changuage]

She went from WBC to Crossfit? She's going cult to cult!

[@lranieri1]

***** Wow thats ignorant

[@MrSouthernlord]

***** LOL. Hope she doesn't lose faith and start searching again. It would be terrible to see her in the clutches of Zumba!

[@VasselofGod2]

lol, so many atheists in the comments who keep trying to make it seem as though the Westboro baptist church is the fruit of "true" Christianity

[@lonewolf604]

Please explain to me what "true" christianity is. 200 years ago, everybody was like the WBC. The only reason why religious people are "nice" are because they hijacked the ideologies of secular philosophy. Before that, there was no such thing as reason, or thinking for yourself.

[@VasselofGod2]

lonewolf604 "Please explain to me what "true" christianity is. 200 years ago, everybody was like the WBC." I need more details then that to engage

[@lonewolf604]

***** Click read more

[@lonewolf604]

***** So all that stuff about human sacfrices, slavery, god approved warfare, you're just going to ignore? And you didn't need to type that out. I was raised a christian, I know exactly what it "is". And all you did was give me a narrative. And if God is omnipotent, he already knew that they were going to disobey him (Adam and Eve), so that throws away the whole "free will" argument.

[@VasselofGod2]

lonewolf604 "So all that stuff about human sacfrices, slavery, god approved warfare, you're just going to ignore?" you mean the ones that God forbid the Israelites to do? those human sacrifices? you mean the ones which the Israelites were attacking the Canaanites for performing? slavery for the Israelites was something completely different from slavery in the 1800s have you ever heard of a just war? And if God is omnipotent, he already knew that they were going to disobey him (Adam and Eve), so that throws away the whole "free will" argument." how? how does God knowing what's going to happen determine it happening? say I knew a guy over in China was going to do something, does my knowledge of it happening determine the fact that it will happen?

[@carleyking6320]

I watched the Louis Theroux documentary about this Church, and I just want to tell you that I am SO SO happy that you got out. The Bible prevents truths, you were able to contemplate its words with wisdom and revelation. God Bless!

[@Poisonedmashy]

I am so proud of you lauren! good work!

[@ILoveActresses]

She went from one cult to another.

[@arquettelr1981]

She is really pretty and seems to have a kind soul.

[@sgleosma]

I am a firefighter from Norther MI, I am also a member at Northern Baptist Church and i that God that you was able to get out! Good luck with your new life!

[@megaboy56565]

You are an inspiration to many people including me ...Stay strong :) take care

[@richardmunday2608]

Fifteen is old enough to realise that those signs are incredibly offensive

[@paulineduthoit620]

richard munday maybe not if your parents teach you from a young age certain standards

[@davedvdy4946]

Pauline Duthoit Absolutely, correct. Many elderly influences telling them that this "offensiveness" is the world's rebellion against holiness.

[@Cole444Train]

she looks like mariah carey xD

[@RobbieYarr]

i thought that! for the actress playing her in the movie

[@hadassahlevi114]

Thanks for sharing. I know how you feel. Yes, they all are crazy. Keep your head up.

[@eico542]

I wish you all the best and genuinely appreciate your decision to question the beliefs that you were brought into.

[@sarahLambert100]

Sounds like the jehovahs witnesses!!!!!!

[@georgeporgy7568]

Yea I am a physically in mentally out Jehovah's Witness and yes Westboro Baptist Church is a louder more abrasive version of the same ideology. Same ideas JW hate gay people all military and tell people if they don't believe like them they will die (they don't believe in hell). They just don't go around telling people this to there face or carry signs saying it and singing songs about it.

[@CommanderDragonLily]

Where do these lunatics get all their crazy ideas??? Oh yeah, the Bible.

[@CommanderDragonLily]

I have read most of it but I'm afraid they're not making up anything about what the Bible says. I know the Bible has good messages as well. But it has some pretty nasty and hateful things too. The WBC quotes real bible verses.

[@Edoric85]

They would probably just get their ideas from something else then, tbh.

[@CommanderDragonLily]

It just sucks that people can interpret the Bible in so many ways. It just isn't clear enough

[@CommanderDragonLily]

If Jesus existed I have no doubt he was a wise and good man. The problem is he didn't write any of it himself. The actual book was written by highly imperfect highly prejudiced individuals over 2000 years ago. And I don't trust anyone to have a "correct" interpretation of what it all means.

[@CommanderDragonLily]

Indeed, man has not improved much in terms of primal fears and illusions in our mind. There are many ways to find the truth. As long as you are an open minded person and kind then there really isn't an issue.

[@Mrplurk2you]

I'm proud of you Lauren. May love and positive energy find you.

[@mdfilmguy]

Lauren, thank you for your courageous decision to leave the church. I know it must be hard to be separated from your family. I wish you and your husband a long and happy life, and hope you find peace.

[@Mortison77577]

she would look so much better without that lip piercing

[@slayforbatman6193]

+Ester Samuels I'm sure a small piece of metal isn't going to throw off her whole face

[@Mortison77577]

Slay for Batman BUT IT DOES!!!!!!!!!!!

[@malaquiasalfaro81]

+Slay for Batman Not like it matters but I wouldn't date a girl if they had any piercing on her nose, lip or face. Even the minor ones are unattractive

[@raminnazari9811]

+Ester Samuels Thank you for your contribution

[@brennafarrell1609]

+Ester Samuels Hopefully her lip piercing is not the only thing you retained from the video

[@valorrepublic8059]

People like them give God a bad name.

[@rocknrollcola]

I need to check this book out.

[@NuttyNaythan1]

So much love for this beautiful woman!!

[@KeyLimeLemon4U]

Very powerful Lauren. Wish you the best.

[@faeleia]

I'm waiting for your book, Lauren!

[@jkbenedict]

Despite my own views or opinions of WBC, best wishes to you and kudos for surviving/moving on beyond a life experience I can relate to, but could NEVER fathom.

[@tomelew8465]

God Bless you Lauren. I am so happy for you.

[@vinyltone4970]

Having been raised by a control freak father (nothing like as far gone as Steve Drain) I can confirm that Lauren's insights into her own father's need for control are spot on. Lauren, I am full of admiration for your strength and wisdom. You deserve the best of what life has to offer.

[@MadamKitt]

God bless you girl. The truth is written and the spirit will guide you

[@nathanowen4226]

Hi Lauren, hope u doing good and i been praying for you

[@impulse871]

lauren is so beautiful im glad she found her way

[@fozzybear8878]

Good work, Lauren. You are clearly smart, and are doing a good thing in speaking out about this cult. Hope your book is going well, too. Thee must be very few people left in the WBC now. They will rely on having more and more children to keep the cult going, but if most leave as young adults, the cult is finished.

[@DavidMartinWalker]

God bless you, keep the faith!

[@TheVideoCat]

"when you're in it, you're best buddies, when you're out of it, they will kill you". Megan and Grace have left the group and lots of people don't believe their sincerity. But when your whole family is lost to a cult and you grow up in it, that family is all you have, you need them even if you don't agree with them. And this is a very manipulative cult. I can see how hard it must be to break out from their grip. And how embarassing those pickets must be for most of those kids.

[@NJSMKMMS]

So glad you got out Lauren, it must have been infinitely difficult, especially at first. Imagine how much harder it would be for the other kids that had been in it from birth, too hard I would think. When I first saw the phelps family being interviewed I felt so sad for all the kids. I think it was

[@NJSMKMMS]

Shirley's son, Noah, a little blond curly headed little guy, was out protesting and someone drove by in a car and hit him with a take away cup of some sort of liquid, the cup hurt his face when it hit him. I felt so bad for him, how could a mother let that happen to her child. Then when they showed

[@NJSMKMMS]

the kids going off to school. They were not allowed to mix with other kids or have friends they could bring home with them. Isn't public school hard enough with out any of that. These were little kids under 8 I would say. The older girls saying they never expected to have relationships because

[@NJSMKMMS]

they had too much work to do before the end times came. What a life, nothing to look forward to, except spreading more and getting more hate in return. I suppose thats why they had to believe in heaven. Any way I wish you all the best in your life going forward Lauren. Be happy OK.

[@circlesky73]

I'm looking forward to your book, Lauren. :-) Have you spoken to Grace and/or Megan as of yet?

Wow within three days I've found how to heal from my religious cult experiences. God bless you Lauren. So Nice to see you are still a sister in christ and left that horrible place.

[@speckitis]

You’re doing great Lauren!

[@michellehope126]

Go Lauren! You are amazing!

[@aleenanicole9192]

Poor Lauren I am praying for her.

[@joshjorba5987]

Wait, did ANYONE in the entire world see that?

[@MrRyste85]

Lauren, I admire your courage and I think you're so beautiful and charismatic. Look forward to Banished hitting the shelves! -Ryland

[@amelian9677]

I’m glad you’re out 💜

[@iluvcoldplay1]

I have been doing massive research on WBC, and I am a Christian in Indiana, I am a lesbian, No my church doesn't accept that. But they also treat me like a human being, and I love my church for not judging me for what I am, and who I am. I'm sorry that you even had to go to this church, and I'm super proud that you and others like Megan and Grace Phelps are out. I'm sorry you don't get to see your siblings and such. I'm sorry, god bless.

[@analicarter2940]

She's so brilliant and definitely has a powerful mind.

[@perskarva123]

Much love for Lauren Drain!

[@TheMatthess]

She was able to see through the hate an lies that the WBC was spreading. You did a brave an rightous thing by following a path of love and peace. Blessed Be )O(

[@Breckmin]

Where do the Westboro people post? Does anyone know of a place where they write in a forum?

[@amieparkhill7696]

I am a solitary High Priestess and I am really glad you left that cult! I am proud of you for standing up for yours!

[@lranieri1]

Amie Parkhill-Stofer what is a solitary High Priestess? just curious :)

[@OFFICIAL863JLS]

+lranieri1 deez nuts

[@amieparkhill7696]

A Wiccan that practices her craft without a coven.

[@amieparkhill7696]

Sorry for the late reply I have been in the hospital!

[@TheVideoCat]

I wanna read Lauren's book

[@Slimer2x3]

Hey Lauren, while I can't say that I came from a church as off-base as you, I can say that I came from a church that had made me question my Faith because of the harsh treatment of people within that church, and the inaccurate teachings in that church as well...I didn't even want to call myself a Child of God until I started listening to what that Bible says, instead of my former Pastor. I'm glad that your faith in God hasn't been diminished, and that you're continuing in your faith. :)

[@BON3SHAK3R]

Hi Lauren, did Louis Theroux's documentaries have much impact or were they a deciding factor upon you or the family members deciding to leave/being kicked out? Best wishes to you x

[@HadleyStreet]

I have a lot of admiration for her

[@johnwilburn]

Lauren, it looks like you are deleting your father's comments. Good for you. I got into it with him on a thread last week. He's a real piece of work! I'm really happy for you getting away from that awful cult. Have a hug :) Here's to your bright future!

[@loriepostlewaite162]

Her book, memoir is very interesting to read “banished” is the name of it

[@robo3142]

What a lovely person I truly love her and her god

[@scottdevlin1491]

Adventure racing? I never would have guessed. Super happy for you though!

[@gbfowler55]

I just "discovered" Lauren on a TV special I watched last night. God bless her!!! God does not hate anyone. I think he hates certain actions certain sins, but I am certain he does not hate his children. Phelps has no biblical justifications for his onerous statements. The worst part is people see him and think that's how Christians are. Westboro is not even a tiny fraction of members of the Christian faith, and yet they get this loud voice. Christians are the first responders to disasters like Katrina. Let's hear about things like that in the press.

[@billandben0000]

13:40 - what an excellent question!

[@onebuffchick]

I pray that Lauren's siblings (Taylor, Boaz and Faith) watch these videos of Lauren's interviews and even read her book, and get the heck outta that cult. I wish for Lauren's sake her parents would too, but I sadly don't ever see that happening. But I at least pray her siblings do so she can have some of her family back, poor girl. But I applaud her bravery. Speaking of, I am shocked but totally relieved to learn that two more have gotten out: Megan and Grace Phelps-Roper. Kudos, girlfriends!