Jackie, a high-school junior...
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Jackie, a high-school junior, began to be friends with a young man who seemed to have no connection with his own family. Jackie often invited his new friend to his home after school, but he always refused. Instead, he asked Jackie to visit with his "family." He explained that his was no ordinary family. "We are closer than blood relatives. We love our leader and our leader loves us," he offered. Curious, Jackie went and was pleasantly surprised at how eagerly everyone accepted him. More and more often, Jackie visited the "farm," as it was called. He joined in the work that was required by everyone. He learned to bow to their leader when they all met together and bow again when they were dismissed from his "sermons."
Eventually, Jackie left his own home, parents, brothers and sisters to live with his new "family." When he did see his parents, he was withdrawn, always in a hurry to get back to his new family. Following the cult leader's advice, Jackie and his friend quit school and took on new responsibilities in the organization.
His parents intervened. When they went to visit him, they were treated as strangers. Jackie told them not to interfere with this new life. "I'm now following another leader," he explained. His parents contacted an expert through their own pastor. This cult expert was a deprogrammer who advised them to "kidnap" their son and hold him until his mind could overcome the brainwashing that had stolen his identity as a son and brother. It took a year to get their son to realize what had happened. Later, he said he simply had followed the wrong leader, but now he was back in the right "fold."
Eventually, Jackie left his own home, parents, brothers and sisters to live with his new "family." When he did see his parents, he was withdrawn, always in a hurry to get back to his new family. Following the cult leader's advice, Jackie and his friend quit school and took on new responsibilities in the organization.
His parents intervened. When they went to visit him, they were treated as strangers. Jackie told them not to interfere with this new life. "I'm now following another leader," he explained. His parents contacted an expert through their own pastor. This cult expert was a deprogrammer who advised them to "kidnap" their son and hold him until his mind could overcome the brainwashing that had stolen his identity as a son and brother. It took a year to get their son to realize what had happened. Later, he said he simply had followed the wrong leader, but now he was back in the right "fold."
