Member-only story
Cults Aren’t Actually that Bad
On living in the South of France for $250/month
So, I (sort of) joined a cult when I was 19. And it was actually a pretty wonderful experience.
Yes, I’m about to dive deep into the dark, tantalizing details, but before I do- take a moment and forget everything you think you know about cults. The murder, the control, the misogyny, the weird sex rituals, the Netflix documentaries- everything. Because while my 3-year experience wasn’t exactly ‘normal’, it certainly didn’t feel that abnormal.
Most people are obviously far too intelligent and rational to ever willingly join a cult. We share a collective understanding that behind any idyllic out-group, there‘s nothing but a web of lies, deceit, greed, and horror- no matter how perfect it may look from the outside.
So how does this horror story begin? You meet some friendly folks at a coffee shop..they invite you to their off-grid property..you start planting lentils and cherry tomatoes, making yogurt, hugging baby goats, blissfully content with your new simple life. The memories of your 9–5 evaporate into the fresh, manure air as you do cold plunges every morning and meditate with your new besties. But the bliss doesn’t last long, right? Next thing you know, you’re handing your life savings to a man in a purple robe that has you convinced…
