Leaving Apostasy: An Interview With Steve Montgomery - Our Stories - Podcast Episode 336

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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962
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John and Steve discuss a deeply personal and intense journey through family history, loss, musical achievement, and involvement in a high-control religious group. Steve shares stories of his grandfather’s legacy, tragic family losses, and his musical career performing with notable figures. He then recounts his unexpected entanglement in a non-traditional religious environment, prompted by roommates connected to Word of Faith teachings. This segment transitions into the heart of his experience with psychological influence, isolation, and spiritual manipulation, eventually leading to a forced intervention arranged by his family.

As Steve continues, he reveals the process of recovery and healing after the intervention, which included time at a recovery home and participation in counseling groups. He goes on to assist with other interventions, sharing stories from his involvement with groups of various backgrounds. The narrative explores the moral and legal complexity of such interventions, highlighting moments of danger, emotional trauma, and eventual liberation. Throughout, Steve emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, maintaining relationships, and recognizing the signs of coercive control. The discussion ends with reflections on how isolation and the suspension of rational thought enable group influence, offering cautionary wisdom for others who may find themselves caught in similar situations.

00:00 Introduction
01:02 Family Legacy, Loss, and Musical Success
13:01 Entering the Word of Faith Movement
18:35 Emotional Isolation and Cult Indoctrination
22:13 Intervention and Deprogramming Begins
30:01 Mind Control, Thought Reform, and the Turning Point
38:51 Joining Deprogramming Teams and Global Cases
45:29 Legal Risks and Moral Dilemmas of Cult Extraction
54:09 Advice for Those at Risk of Spiritual Manipulation

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