Blogs About All Things Cultish And Coercive Control

In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, Australia has been sitting in shock. Grief like this doesn’t move in a straight line. It fractures. It disorients. It overwhelms our sense of safety and order. And in that psychological chaos, people reach for explanations that make the world feel less frightening — even if those explanations aren’t true.

High-control groups and conspiracy ecosystems are often discussed as separate phenomena. One is framed as cultic or extremist. The other as political, cultural, or “just opinions.” But when you look closely, they frequently rely on the same psychological architecture. That doesn’t mean everyone who believes a conspiracy theory is in a cult. It means that similar methods of influence can produce similar outcomes — especially under conditions of fear, uncertainty, and grief.

Survivors repeatedly describe how these groups initially present as welcoming, supportive, or even beneficial. They speak about positive experiences that drew them in—friendly peers, shared interests, or community support. What distinguishes high-control groups is what happens next: the coercion escalates. Gradually, members experience manipulation, pressure to conform, isolation from family, and exploitation.

If any group objects to the Victorian Inquiry into cults and fringe groups by crying “freedom of religion,” I’d honestly bet money that whoever is saying it is either a cult leader or a member of a high-control group.

Recently, The Catholic Weekly published an article claiming that the Victorian Inquiry into Cult Recruitment might threaten religious freedom. Their framing of issues immediately raised red flags — because when someone starts arguing about definitions instead of behaviours, it’s usually a sign they’re trying to divert attention from accountability.

When practiced safely and voluntarily, fasting can indeed offer spiritual and even physical benefits. Short-term fasting can improve insulin sensitivity, support cellular repair processes, and heighten self-awareness. Many people find it brings calm, focus, and a deeper connection to their values. But context is everything. When fasting is done freely, it’s a spiritual or health practice. When it’s used as leverage, it becomes psychological warfare.

The NSW Government’s is in the process of reviewing it's Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. It's a well overdue spring cleaning of half century old legislation that is as out of date as wearing floral printed flairs. For decades, Australia’s legal framework has protected recognised religions from discrimination—but in doing so, it has left glaring loopholes that allow high-control groups (cults), to weaponise “freedom of religion” as a shield for abusive behaviour.

When Noble Values turn into Cultic Control PART 3 OF 4 Every tree is known by its own fruit. – Luke 6:44 Judaism, Christianity, and...

From ISIS to Christian nationalists to hardline Israeli settlers, extremist movements across the three Abrahamic faiths share something disturbingly familiar: A belief that they alone are chosen by God, and that this divine status grants them the right—sometimes even the duty—to dominate others. This isn’t just religious conviction. It’s totalistic thinking, weaponised. And when you peel back the sacred vocabulary, what’s left looks an awful lot like a cult. The Core Claim: “

In truth, what cults call freedom is just a carefully rebranded system of its own—with its own hierarchies, unspoken rules, and consequences for disobedience. You’re not escaping control; you’re trading one structure for another. Only this new one doesn’t come with legal protections, social safety nets, or the option to question authority without punishment. It’s not freedom from the system—it’s just entry into a new one, cloaked in spiritual language and enforced through emo

If you’ve ever come out of a relationship with a narcissist — whether a parent, partner, boss, or cult leader — you may find yourself...

When people see my cult ranking system, they sometimes assume it’s a trauma scale. It’s not. My rubric doesn’t measure the emotional pain a group causes—though many do cause immense suffering. Instead, it measures coercive control: the tactics groups use to limit a person’s agency, autonomy, and freedom.

So, I’ve been stepping into the spotlight lately, sharing what it’s like to be a parent who has watched their child get pulled into a...

Struggles of Parents of Cult Victims often goes unrecognised. We watch powerless to help those we love be whisked away in a smoke storm of coercion & exploitation.

Explore the chilling parallels between onions, the Borg, and Cults and Coercive Control. Uncover how Cults and Coercive Control threaten freedom.

Explore why spiritual spaces need the same standards as workplaces and homes for a truly healthy community. Join the healthy community conversation.

This parliamentary inquiry into coercive control in religious groups, follows years of advocacy by victim-survivors and researchers, and will have a particular focus on recruitment and retention. At the heart of the investigation lies the troubling reality that not all spiritual communities are safe havens; some are meticulously orchestrated systems of psychological domination and oppressive manipulation that masquerades as faith.

Explore the intriguing history of Christianity in this blog post. Discover its early roots & debates around whether it was a cult religion.

Uncover the chilling reality of email surveillance as a tool of control in cults. Discover how it stifles freedom of thought and isolates.

Standing up against coercive control in cults mirrors the suffragist struggle for equality. Learn how challenging power structures is a time