Let's Talk About Sects

16/09/2025

The Victorian Parliament has published ‘Lived experiences of cults and high‑control groups: Insights from the anonymous questionnaire’ as part of the current inquiry, and it’s worth a read.

“Most people reported a combination of psychological coercion, emotional abuse, and social isolation. They reported that their involvement in a cult or high‑control group completely changed their beliefs and behaviours.”

As part of our inquiry into how cults and high‑control groups are using harmful tactics to recruit and control their members, the Legislative Assembly’s Legal and Social Issues Committee asked people to share their lived experiences through an online questionnaire. Recognising the sensitivity of...

14/09/2025

Very proud to share that Sarah has received a Freedom Express Award from The Freedom Train Project Incorporated for Ethical Media coverage of cults and coercive control. It's a big honour to be recognised by a survivor-led organisation, huge thanks for the nomination and the award – a three-way tie with Anke Richter Writer and Summer Cooke. Wonderful to be in the company of another LTAS friend, Maria Esguerra, who took out the Inspirational Survivor Award, and the Decult Conference which deservedly received the Champion of Change Advocate Award. Big congratulations to all of the winners and nominees!

13/09/2025

Upsetting though the content is, it’s good to see the Brethren political ties getting more coverage (outside of the always great work of Michael Bachelard too).

The Sydney-based church has been described by former members and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a "cult".

08/09/2025

Had a chat to the lovely guys at I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. An Exvangelical podcast about some of the overlaps between their work and mine. – Sarah

New episode out now in the usual places.
Let's Talk About Sects

03/09/2025

Danny Rensch grew up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness, a cult he usually refers to as ‘the Collective’. The group was led by Steven and Trina Kamp, and Trina would share the teachings via trance of a Dr Pahlvon Duran, whose spirit first visited her when she was 9.

The Collective’s Shelby School became renowned for the performance of its chess team, and Danny Rensch was its star. By 14 he was a US Chess Federation national master, which was an Arizona state record at that age, and at 19 he was ranked first in the United States for his age, when he also achieved his first international master norm. Today he is the Chief Chess Officer and co-founder of Chess.com. His memoir, 'Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life', is out on 6 September and available for pre-order now.

14/08/2025

The whole story.

14/08/2025

Spotted by a friend at the lovely Marrickville Library, just a couple of books over from the Bible itself!

04/08/2025

“In 2023, the CRL Rights Commission published a report on the KwaSizabantu Mission, despite overwhelming evidence of decades-long spiritual, psychological, and physical abuse. The report failed survivors. It downplayed the harm. And it allowed those responsible to walk away without consequence.”

Survivors are appealing a court decision against allowing a case for judicial review, and they need help to cover the legal costs. If you have the means, please consider supporting this cause.

02/08/2025

“For the first nine months of her involvement with Shincheonji, [Gloria], like other new recruits, did not know the name of the group she was being groomed into.”

Shincheonji is expected to be one of the groups in the spotlight as part of Victoria's inquiry into the recruitment tactics and methods of control used by cults and fringe groups.

01/08/2025

The Logos Foundation became a part of the religious right that published full page newspaper advertisements encouraging the electorate to vote on ‘moral’ issues at Queensland state elections in the late 1980s. LTAS looked into the organisation in Season 5. Fynn was born into the Logos Foundation, and in this interview episode shares the extent to which a childhood in a group like this impacted their family and their life, even many decades later.

30/07/2025

Fynn (not their real name) was born into the Logos Foundation in regional New South Wales in 1981. Their family later spent some time with the group at Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains, before moving to Tasmania. Their childhood experiences with this sect left a lasting impact, resulting in addiction and homelessness, and they spoke with LTAS hoping to help others going through similar things realise that they are not alone and can get through it.

27/07/2025

A survivor-led submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry on cults and coercive groups is closing soon. People impacted and their allies are invited to support. Please consider signing and sharing.
https://forms.gle/TFb64u37X1YMCqq19

We have prepared a submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Cults and Fringe Groups, developed with input from 64 survivors, family members, and advocates. It is submitted on behalf of survivor networks representing over 800 people with lived experience of cults and high-control groups...