Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Sex Cult Nun: Breaking Away from the Children of God, a Wild, Radical Religious Cult by Faith Jones

10 reviews

erebus53's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This is not a book you want to start into without first being in a good place. It tells the personal story of a child born to a family pivotal to the Children of God, or "The Family"; a cult organisation based on some twisted interpretations of Christian gospel.

There is overt sexual content in the book, and descriptions of children brought up in a sexualised environment, with authoritarian discipline and privations of scarcity and poverty.

I think I would have not understood this quite so well if I had not already read about various social controls and the nature of Domestic Abuse and trauma healing. The descriptions clearly outline the methods that were used to create submissiveness, dependence, and unquestioning loyalty in people whose fundamental rights were being violated regularly.

Honestly the whole concept in such an extreme social context just makes me consider the societal norms and methods of oppression that we have in our daily lives and just normalise.. "that's just how things are".

It's a powerful account, but not really a fun read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Sexual content, Incest, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Misogyny

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Violence, Cancer, and Deadnaming

sapphisms's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Incest, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

growintogardens's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

3.25

I've read a lot about cults and personal memoirs from people in cults, but this one didn't really help me understand the cult itself. The descriptions of sexual abuse are so graphic, it's very difficult to get through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Addiction, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

The descriptions of assault are really graphic. Also, rape/assult continues throughout the book.

jillcalvinandhobbs's review

dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Child abuse

smilagros's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

I feel very odd rating someone’s story. This is not fiction. This actually happened. I think that is what is so terrifying. I do want to acknowledge the bravery it must have taken to write this book. The story telling made me forget at times that this is someone’s life. Cults fascinate me but I also think it’s important to acknowledge that even though they fascinate me, it still is someone’s life. As someone who works with children, I flinched and semi yelled whenever an abuse was about to occur. I wanted to protect Faith and her siblings. I truly believe that everyone should read this because it gives a bigger perspective on the meaning of religion, power and the need to abuse people.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Incest, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Classism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking

meghan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Gaslighting

faeriekit's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I think the main difference between this book and Jesus Freaks (a book on the same cult) is that this book was written with the empathy and honesty of someone still somewhat recovering from their traumatizing upbringing as opposed to sensationalizing the abuses of a cult they had never experienced. This book is very honest as to the perspectives of the author at every age she engages the reader with. The facts are panned out for us. It would be a stretch to say that I "enjoyed" the scenes of abuse and horror throughout the book, but I appreciated the voice of the author and her perspectives on what the world had looked like to her. If you're looking for your next tell-all-cult book, well, this one's a doozy, but it's definitely a well-written and comprehensive read. I'll be adding the triggers I remember below. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

thehermit's review

dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

a moving, intimate memoir about a young woman who seized opportunities and pursued education, despite the odds.

faith jones was raised by the Family, a sexually liberated religious cult that used physical, sexual, and emotional abuse to control its members. she and her family were missionaries across asia, attempting to spread the word of god while maintaining a strict household that shunned wordly ("Systemite") ways. this lifestyle included numerous devotionals, strict hierarchy, rigid gender roles, and harsh discipline, isolating rebellious teens and submitting children to months-long silence. the sexual abuse is absolutely abhorrent, and jones recounts the way adults--specifically adult men--betrayed her over and over and over.

this isn't an easy read but recounts the story of a formidable survivor. i appreciate jones's honesty: she paints a true picture of herself and her loved ones, sparing very few details, and giving herself up for judgement. i find myself unable to judge her, even when she makes decisions i don't agree with, because i can't imagine the kind of betrayal and insecurity she's felt; the very people she needed most failed her--not only failed but abused her--and she was still able to rise up, brush herself off, and pursue a life outside of the rigid Family.

i found this to be a riveting read and very engaging, though it occasionally struggles with repetition and clunky writing. there are a few situations that are glazed over

particularly the situation with her ex, Chris

but overall, this was a moving memoir. jones's story of survival and the pursuit of her dreams is worth the read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Child abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

mondovertigo's review

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Gaslighting, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Colonisation

Minor: Bullying, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Abortion, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Blood, and Body shaming

rhidingrainbow's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Trafficking

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage