Elizabeth Hunter shares her experience of growing up in a cult, specifically the Institute in Basic Life Principles, founded by Bill Gothard. She recounts the strict rules she and her family had to follow, including no TV, movies, or contemporary music, and limited freedom to make choices. Her parents controlled every aspect of her life, from what she wore to what she ate, and even chose her future husband. Elizabeth shares how she was tied to her sister with a rope to ensure she obeyed the rules, and how her therapist later told her this was child abuse. She realizes that her parents' religious beliefs were actually a cult and that she is a cult survivor. Elizabeth now uses her platform to educate people about the dangers of fundamentalist religion and to help others who have gone through similar experiences.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker, Faith Elizabeth Hunter, grew up in a cult.
2. The cult was part of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, founded by Bill Gothard.
3. The speaker's family followed a homeschool program called the Advanced Training Institute.
4. The speaker was not allowed to watch TV, movies, or listen to non-Christian music.
5. The speaker was not allowed to cut their hair, wear makeup, or wear high heels.
6. The speaker's education was centered around the Bible.
7. The speaker was expected to marry and have children, and was taught life skills to prepare for this role.
8. The speaker's parents chose their clothes, food, and books.
9. The speaker was not allowed to stay up past 8:30 PM.
10. The speaker was not allowed to eat non-kosher food.
11. The speaker's parents believed that if they disobeyed, God would punish them.
12. The speaker's therapist told them that their childhood was a form of child abuse.
13. The speaker's parents were part of a cult that controlled every aspect of their lives.
14. The speaker now identifies as a cult survivor.
15. The speaker is sharing their story to educate people about cults and to help others who have gone through similar experiences.
16. The speaker's therapist helped them realize that their childhood experiences were a form of child abuse.
17. The speaker's parents tied them to their sister with a rope to ensure they were always together.
18. The speaker was not allowed to read books that were not approved by their parents.
19. The speaker got in trouble for reading "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank.
20. The speaker's parents believed that if they got sick, it was because they had done something wrong and God was punishing them.