11 | Christianity and Covert Cults--They're Everywhere - with Christiana Herbert
Blinded by the Light
In this interview with Christiana Herbert, we discuss detoxing from evangelical Christianity and other cults. We also uncover other places in society where cult mentalities exist.
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Family, Fathers, and Forgiveness
Blinded by the Light
In this conversation Justice and I explore how we can navigate forgiveness, boundaries, and holding people accountable to foster better relationships. We also discuss how our childhood experiences and parents (especially our dads) contributed to who we are today. Justice's website, Show website:
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CUT in Los Angeles with Matt and Andy Lewis
Blinded by the Light
What did growing up in Church Universal and Triumphant look like in the late 70's in Los Angeles (before the church relocated to southwest Montana)? In this interview, Matt and Andy Lewis, two uncles of the co-host, describe what the church high school experience was like and how it affected their upbringing. We also explore why they left CUT and what remnants of the church's impression on their young minds still exist today.
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Sex and the Spirit World
Blinded by the Light
In this mini episode we explore several aspects of sex. How do connective or poor sexual relationships affect our lives and our expression of wholeness? How is sex multi-dimensional? Fundamentalist religion represses sexuality to an unhealthy extent. We look at how breaking free of sexual dogma can release shame surrounding healthy sexuality, and how embracing our full sexual selves can be life changing. Good sexual relationships can provide a platform to learn more about needs, express vulnerability, grow deeper with our partners, and access parts of ourselves that are otherwise shamed,...
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Parenting and Marriage After CUT with Joe Meyers
Blinded by the Light
How does “ascension culture” potentially create stumbling blocks for marriage? We explore how one young parent saw multiple divorces while growing up in Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT) and how he’s used his experiences to become a better parent and spouse.
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Spiritual Materialism
Blinded by the Light
In this “mini” episode we discuss how Spiritual Materialism affected the outlook, behavior, and overarching beliefs of CUT church members and our parents. Topics include: -- Defining Spiritual Materialism -- How CUT has their own version of the Law of Attraction and why this is problematic -- Magical thinking and its influence / an infantile view of the world and how things are affecting you -- How Purism is linked to our topic -- How only putting out positive intentions and doing rhythmic chanting (decrees) has limited effects -- How the Hindu caste system is reflected in CUT hierarchy...
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Forging a New Philosophy with Leif Christian
Blinded by the Light
Our guest Leif Christian has experienced the world of two fringe religions, Church Universal and Triumphant, and an offshoot organization, the Hearts Center.
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A Crisis of Health with Violet Corpron
Blinded by the Light
Our guest is Violet Corpron, a young woman with a Masters Degree in Community Health who has experienced the worlds of two fringe religions, Church Universal and Triumphant, and an offshoot group called The Hearts Center, both of which are headquartered in southwest Montana.
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Leaving Harmful Religion with Sean Prophet & Christophe Difo
Blinded by the Light
Our guests Sean Prophet and Christophe Difo of the Radical Secular discuss the process of leaving cults and harmful religions. We dive into their personal stories of leaving Church Universal and Triumphant and how they came to terms with embracing a more healthy worldview.
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Education and Isolation with Annie Newhouse - Part 2
Blinded by the Light
In part 2 of our interview with Annie, we chat about food choices within Church Universal and Triumphant, boundary issues with parents, why it's hard and painful to leave a cult or religion, why people get sucked in QAnon, narcissistic parents, and how talking about our traumas can help foster healing and community.
info_outlineOur guest Leif Christian has experienced the world of two fringe religions, Church Universal and Triumphant, and an offshoot organization, the Hearts Center.
We discuss psychological impacts of church exposure, what "decrees" were, guilt and judgement, the impact of being "special", personal responsibility, some reasons why members lean right wing, political obsession in the Hearts Center, the "Golden Age" implications, and how people can decide a way forward in their lives.
Leif was six years old during the bomb shelter cycle in 1990.