Sex Cult Nun audiobook

Yoooooooooo. The magic trick? I was screaming. Gasping. Dialing 911.

this book was fucking amazing, i was scared to read this book because i saw some reviews saying that the abuse made them uncomfortable. growing up in a black community, the kind of spankings they get are also pretty normal, im not saying it’s okay i’m just saying that type of abusive is normalized and this book helped me come to terms with the fact that i was abused. this book was interesting because it kind of touches on how when you’re a kid you admire men in your family and your community and then you grow up and realize they’re fucking creepy. i have always been uncomfortable around men since i hit puberty and it was just interesting seeing that touched on in the book. i thought the sex cult was really interesting because to me it shows if you let men completely control something how misogynistic it can be and the fact that men hate women and love children in a way that they shouldn’t. if you let some men (and women) have the chance to be with children in the way that is disgusting, they will take it. how men view women as sex objects and how much they want to control us and how much they will if you let them. i’m fascinated with cults so i’ve read and watched a bit about them and one thing i learned is that they will always try to go back to the time before feminism was popular. they’ll make woman bear children, take care of them etc. etc. maybe i got more out of this book than most people did because i think people read this book and probably is just like “haha silly little cult” but i got so much out of this.Faith Jones is so strong and i’m so happy that she got out and got to live the amazing life she did.

A fascinating but disturbing memoir about the life of a woman raised in the Children of God cult. Not always easy to read but very compelling.

TW TW TW TRIGGER WARNING. Seriously. This broke my heart and pissed me off. I can't even. The courage it takes to tell your story...so others can stand up and feel less alone. It is so hard to read. For anyone who is an abuse survivor please be in a good place when before reading this because it can be extremely triggering. On the other hand I can see it being healing to others. Either way it is an unbelievable story that deserves to be heard.

I don’t even know where to begin with reviewing this book, it’s been days since I’ve finished it and I still can’t stop thinking about it. It is by far the best nonfiction book I have ever laid my hands on and no other will ever be as good. It was an extra special read for me because it hit close to home, when I studied religious cults and sects in college we actually had a class session with 3 members of Children of God and got to pick their brains for a couple of hours and debate with them. They seemed so innocent and loving and genuinely happy and like such kind people. Little did we know the despicable truth that would come to light in the years to follow and what happened behind the happy front. Seeing the other, much darker and horrifying side of the story from one of the founding fathers grandchildren was just mind blowing. I felt sick to my stomach at some points, it’s unbelievable the lows that humanity will sink to in the name of faith and religion and the sexual abuse and harm they will inflict on each other and children. Hearing Jones’ story was just heartbreaking and shocking and my mind is still reeling, I will never get over this story and everything the Children of God did. While it is an extremely difficult read it’s also incredibly inspiring because through all the abuse and heartache Faith Jones survived, she never gave up and turned the darkest time in her life into her strength and is now able to share her story with the world.

Five star book! Faith Jones is a survivor of a cult called, The Children of God or The Family Inernational. Her story is an important document and testimony of what she experienced growing up in a cult that was wanted for questioning by the FBI for rape, incest, incarceration, and kidnapping. I remember back in the 1980s and the 1990s hearing on the news that the FBI was looking for David Berg, Moses or “Mo”, the founder of The Children of God or The Family Inernational. I remember David Berg being on the run, and how he predicted the great apocalypse would end the world in 1989 and 1993. I also remember the news media calling this group a cult. I had always wondered what made this religious group a cult. I wondered why the people in the cult stayed and how they were convinced to stay on their own free will. I wondered how the people could become so brain-washed to think that their behavior was ok to sexually abuse minors. Then, I saw this book, Sex, Cult, Nun, a memoir by Faith Jones. Faith grew up in the Children of God cult and she was David Berg’s granddaughter. I knew I had to read the book to find out what Faith had to say as a cult victim. All of my questions were answered in Faith Jone’s memoir. I felt a sense of closure for myself to finally know the inside story behind the cult that I heard about in the news many years ago.When I first started reading the book, I agree with other reviewers that the writing seemed less polished than what I was accustomed to. As I read more into the book, the writing became less of an issue for me. I was used to Faith’s writing style and engaged in the story.The first part of the book starts with the history of the cult family members, titled “A Not So Brief History of My Family and The Children of God,” which kind of threw me off. I wasn’t quite understanding the history and I felt a little bored. I did go back and reread the history again after I had finished reading the entire book; and the history made a lot more sense the second time around.Chapter one was a little rough getting into. I was still trying to understand the characters and I was still getting used to Faith’s writing style. I was also trying to make sense of what I was reading and at that point I felt like the book was going to be 3.5 stars. Well, I kept reading the book anyways, and once I got further along into the book, I change my mind to 5 stars.Faith Jones really shared some horrific moments of her life. Adults were abusing the children, including her. I felt her pain and I was really disgusted with the idea of adults sharing sex with minors. I cringed at the corporal punishment that was used to discipline the children. It was a harsh sterile environment.Some reviewers on Good Reads thought the sexual abuse Faith wrote about was too much to entail. Sexual abuse is a part of the story, but it is sprinkled throughout some of the chapters. There are chapters where there is no mention of sexual abuse at all.Many forms of abuse took place in this cult, not just through sex. Faith writes about other unfair and cruel experiences that were also abusive. Faith allows readers to see what her daily routines were like, how they lived, her fears, frustrations, successes and how she eventually escapes the cult. Her belief in God is very strong. She knows Biblical verses well enough to quote scripture. Unfortunately, the cult used the Biblical scriptures to support their radical behavior. I didn’t think Faith Jones was bragging or haughty through writing her story. I felt she was crying out, telling the world what happened through many years of the cult’s abusive history. There’s very little to brag about with a life of hiding and being abused, until she escapes. Once she escapes, she finds out how dysfunctional her life really was, and then she lives with the mental torment about how she was was lied to by her parents, her grandpa David Berg, and the cult leaders that brain-washed her to believe the cult’s distorted abusive lives were justified. Even though Faith has never seen her Grandpa David Berg or “Mo,” his rules and his way of life were written in “Mo” letters and sent to all of the Family members. Family members followed these rules, so the abuse continued even after David died in 1994. Davidito, David Berg’s son, was to be the successor of the organization. Davidito was mentally ill due to the many years of sexual abuse, beginning as a baby. He committed suicide in 2005. His story will never be fully told; but Faith Jones has survived to tell her story. Her book “Sex, Cult, Nun” describes what it was like living in a religious cult that made national and world news over the course of many years. Her book may even answer questions or bring closure due to what was going on back then. This book is worth reading and it provides readers with an inside knowledge of what life was like growing up as a child in the religious cult, The Children of God or The Family International.https://timeline.com/children-of-god

Incredible book and such an incredible person. This isn’t always easy reading, sometimes it’s so brutal I was cringing, but she writes so brilliantly and eloquently about her experiences and how they shaped and then reshaped her that it’s well worth it. It’s beautifully written too.And no, she’s not a literal nun, but yes, the word nun does appear in the book - quite early on, actually - and she clearly explains (and shows, in my opinion) why that applies to her time and experience in the Family, considering how she was expected to live and what she had to sacrifice under which terms, while at the same time, being in a sex cult. I found it a pretty apt title and label for such a shocking juxtaposition, actually. You just have to consider more of the common parlance of how “nun” is used - for example it’s used quite often to describe certain life phases or conditions, like when someone isn’t dating or having sex, etc., and as shorthand for ideas around deprivation and sacrifice. And of course her experience is even more than that - she even says something at one point about feeling as if she was married in some way to her belief system, I think it was, and the way it was phrased was reminiscent of the nuns as brides of Christ bit. So as long as you’re not wildly offended at the use of the word nun in the title and the publisher deviously using it because surely it’ll make this book fly off the shelves since anything nun-related makes for the hottest bestsellers (🙄) there’s so much to appreciate here. I’m sure it’ll draw inevitable comparisons to Educated although I didn’t particularly like that one and I really loved this. It’s the best breakdown I’ve read of how the Children of God operated too. Insanity all around. It makes her accomplishments all the more impressive.

I am blown away by this book. I picked this up because I am intrigued by Cults and two of my favorite book tubers read this and rated it highly. First please know this is not an easy read. The abuse and trauma exposed and endured is disturbing and heart breaking. I can understand why this would not be for everyone. I am amazed by the authors determination. Her courage in leaving everything she knew to pursue a new life that was her choice. I loved her love of books and the freedom she found in the written word. Something I take for granted was so precious to her and it moved me. Her mantra at one point was "fear is the mind killer" which is from Dune is a mantra I tell myself as well. I don't know this book resonated with me. To escape and make a life for herself all while coming to terms with the trauma she experienced is so inspiring. I am so glad I read this book. One of my favorites this year for sure.

I have no clue what to say. Like at all. It's shocking, mortifying, insane, heartbreaking... all you wanna do is ask why? And how?But these children didn't choose this life. Faith didn't choose this life. So my why's and how's are directed to the adults who either intentionally or via manipulation from others brought these innocent kids into this mix and exposed them to so much turmoil and abuse. I just can't even imagine. Like it pained me SO much to witness it third-hand via this book. Faith's epilogue is one of the most profound, strong, and passionate pieces of text I have read in a LONG time. It made me want to act. To learn. To take a stand! I am so proud of Faith. I am so happy she chose herself.

This book was honestly wild. It was so heartbreaking to read about all the abuse Faith and the other women and children went through in the name of religion. As a Christian myself it’s disgusting to see men and women use the Bible as an excuse to get away with their perversion. This book was so inspiring because even with no formal education or school experiences, Faith was able to go to a super prestigious college all on her own. The children of god cult is truly horrific and I feel very sorry for anyone that has to suffer sexual abuse or rape of any kind.

WOW. You want an extremely disturbing cult book? This is the one for you, but don't say I didn't warn you. Some of the things I read in this book were things I never thought people would do. I think I listened to this book with my mouth hanging open the whole time. Do not attempt to read this if you are triggered by any underage sexual assault - its pretty much what the whole book is about.

I don’t even know what to say other than holy shit. This was a lot!

4.5 stars.Wow, this book is not for the faint of heart. Be aware going in that this book contains graphic depictions of sexual assault and child abuse, which is made all the more chilling by the fact that this is a true story. I do think that the title of this memoir is not entirely accurate, because there's nothing about nuns in this story. However, this book is an absolutely engrossing, horrifying, yet ultimately hopeful, tale about a woman who managed to break away from the extremist religious cult, The Family International, which became infamous for its harrowing practices of sexual abuse, particularly of minors.This book is marketed to appeal to fans of Educated by Tara Westover. Given that I just read Educated last month, I think that the parallels are definitely appropriate. Both Faith Jones and Tara Westover possessed the mental fortitude and courage to leave behind abusive systems of exploitation and gain an education that they could not have received in the religious systems of their upbringing. Whereas Educated focused more on the dysfunction of her highly extremist, survivalist family, Faith Jones focused more on the religion side of it. I was absolutely fascinated by the way that religion, specifically Christianity, was used to justify such bizarre and, at times, horrific sexual practices. It simply reveals how the Bible can be used to justify absolutely anything and everything. In the wrong hands, the Bible can be used to justify countless incidences of abuse. I was also screaming the entire time because literally this "law of love" is exactly what Paul condemns in the Corinthian church in the 1st century when people are sleeping with their stepmoms and engaging in highly libertine sexual practices. The more things change, the more things stay the same.In particular, this book exposes how influential men can weaponize religion and sex in order to get what they want, everyone else be damned. Entire cults can be formed around the lusts of men, and people fall into line because it offers a sense of security and stability. And once you've been indoctrinated into the system, it is so hard to extricate yourself. After all, how can you leave when you have no source of income? No education? Nothing to your name? It's a miracle anyone manages to leave under those conditions. I thought this memoir did an excellent job exposing the horrors of this religious cult but also pinpointing how and why it got to this place. It was also a great examination of Faith Jones' journey.There were moments in this book that were only there for the shock value (magic trick, anyone?). I also thought the epilogue got a bit too preach-y and self-help-esque at the end. Regardless, if you are interested in religious extremism and you can handle the graphic nature of some of Faith Jones' descriptions of the (sexual) abuse in the family, then this book would be a good one to pick up. Now I just want to read more books about religious extremism, it's so endlessly fascinating to me because of my seminary background. I sense a new theme for my nonfiction reading emerging for the rest of the year.

5 Stars See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram 🤍”Thank God we are in the Family, safe from such things.” - Sex Cult Nun.🤍Faith Jones was raised to be part an elite army preparing for the End Times. Growing up on an isolated farm in Macau, she prayed for hours every day and read letters of prophecy written by her grandfather, the founder of the Children of God. Tens of thousands of members strong, the cult followers looked to Faith’s grandfather as their guiding light. As such, Faith was celebrated as special and then punished doubly to remind her that she was not. Over decades, the Children of God grew into an international organization that became notorious for its alarming sex practices and allegations of abuse and exploitation. But with indomitable grit, Faith survived, creating a world of her own—pilfering books and teaching herself high school curriculum. Finally, at age twenty-three, thirsting for knowledge and freedom, she broke away, leaving behind everything she knew to forge her own path in America.I have been so curious about The Family of God cult for years, so when I saw this book I had to grab it. This is Faith Jones’ memoir about her life growing up in the cult, the cults history, and goes into complete detail about its practices. This was truly a heartbreaking and fascinating memoir that was well written and captivating. After reading, I felt that I had such a better understanding of the cult after and thought it was valuable coming from someone’s lived experiences. I especially liked that Faith included some photos of her childhood in the book, so we can put some of the names to places and faces. If you like reading/ learning about cults definitely pick this one up.

I'm always fascinated to hear about cults. This was a memoir about the author's experience with being raised in a religious cult.