When Control Turns Criminal: Understanding Abuse & Exploitation in Cults
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lWhat happens when cultic control crosses the line into abuse, exploitation—and sometimes criminal activity?
Behind the beliefs, charismatic leadership, promises of community, and demands for loyalty, some cults and high-control groups create environments where harmful and even criminal behavior can flourish while being hidden, justified, or protected.
During this support group, we can explore different forms of abuse and exploitation that can occur within cultic environments, including:
- Financial exploitation and fraud
- Sexual abuse and exploitation
- Labor exploitation
- Trafficking and other forms of exploitation
- Physical and emotional abuse
- Abuse of children and vulnerable members
- Leaders using power and authority for personal gain
- Secrecy, intimidation, and silencing survivors
- How communities may protect leaders and institutions rather than those who were harmed
We'll also examine an important question:
What kind of crimes do cults commit? As well as, How does the cultic environment become structured so that harmful behavior can be normalized, concealed, rationalized, or protected?
For Black survivors, these experiences may carry additional layers involving race, community loyalty, religious authority, protecting Black institutions, distrust of outside systems, and pressure not to expose harm within the community.
This will be a survivor-centered conversation about power, control, exploitation, secrecy, accountability, and the systems that allow abuse to continue.
As always, you are welcome to share, listen, reflect, ask questions, or simply be present. You are never required to share your story.
Content Note: This discussion will address sensitive topics involving abuse and exploitation. Participants are encouraged to care for themselves in whatever way they need throughout the conversation.
*This support group is exclusively for Black survivors of religious trauma, spiritual abuse, cults, and high-control religious or spiritual environments.
With Care,
Black Religious Trauma Recovery Network