I commented on another thread that you might want to go in person to the US Embassy there and ask for help for you and your siblings. You are very strong and an admirable person! ✌️♥️
Amazing job telling your story! I'm stunned at home well put together you are considering what you've endured and how short of a time it is since you've escaped. You'd be considered a gifted speaker even if you weren't traumatized! I had a couple ah ha moments listening to you talk from memories of my born again/Pentecostal Grandmother. The mark of the beast, being made to watch videos that are Not child appropriate, and the speaking in tongues. It was stressful and scary as a child and now as an adult it's flat out "what in the actual feck?" haha.
Thank you for sharing your story! My partner's family is from Ecuador, so my impression of the country is much different from yours, though I'm always glad to be reminded that there are dangers everywhere. You are brave, intelligent, and oh-so- strong.
To Ella Sister in Christ. Hugs across the miles 🤗 Iam so proud of you 👏 Keep trusting in Jesus to guide you and heal you. 🙏 Lots of prayers 🙏 from Saskatchwan 🇨🇦
I can’t believe how brave she is. I’ve been out of a cult for 25 almost 26 years & I STILL don’t think I could delve in to it like this even now & she’s just… speaking her truth. Incredible. Love & solidarity to Ella, I hope she’s got a strong trauma informed support system, nobody should have to endure the pain & healing alone.
Yes, it's lovely. It also reminded me more generally of what a major good influence on a child it can be to have another adult helping them - for many people that will be a very good teacher at school who encourages them. As a mother who has always worked full time I have always thought it was great my children have 2 parents, someone who looked after them whilst I worked, people they knew other than knowing me, school etc as it has given them the chance to hear other ideas than just mine, have critical thinking skills etc.
Whenever my children bit me whilst nursing, I just took them off and waited a minute before trying again. Yeah. They stopped real quick. No pain involved. Redirecting works.
Ella, you are a brave strong woman! Thank you for coming forward. You’ve really done a lot of work on yourself. You speak so well, perhaps go into something where you speak for others! Good luck in your future, you’re inspiring 😘
I lived off grid for several years and had to get back on. A big hurdle I had was establishing my address. Which confused me greatly. It's like you guys know who I am? Why is it so important to know WHERE I AM?? anyway. One suggestion I have for her is to get to any US government office and have them send her any thing. Even pack of stamps she bought herself. That's what I had to do. Trust me, the postal workers were completely understanding. I don't know if this will help but I hope it does. Fly free baby sister
Thank you for sharing! I am excited about the journey ahead for Ella. I would love to hear from her in a year or so and see how she is doing. I think it will be a good way for her to see the beauty of her progress, too. From now to then. She may feel at times that her wheels are spinning. I think it will be really helpful to have this tangible proof of progress and growth.Best of all things to Ella!!
My ex husband was similar to this. He wouldn't allow our kids to get birth certificates and social security numbers. Although they have gotten delayed registration of birth certificates they still don't have social security numbers because they refuse to give them to them. I've been trying for 4 years. And they are special needs.
This shows the vast array of radical religious beliefs that are cults with even individual families. There can be huge groups or small pockets with even an individual family. God bless Ella on her journey of healing. A lovely grounded young woman with a curious mind, excellent sense of humor and an intact belief system that will provide peace friendship and support. Great spirit!
I had a friend who was paranoid and did not give her children social security numbers. All 5 were born at home. The children all got S.S. numbers by using the witnesses to the births in Atlanta Ga. DFCS took her children and the dad got custody. They started going to school and turned out. The eldest daughter is starting Law School at UGA.
Vi La Bianca who is a host on Skeptic Generation with their partner also grew up in an at home church cult like this one. Their dad was a lot like this from what I have heard Vi talk about.
You’re very strong, not easily. However, you’re moving forward WOW! I lived a very different way. I’m proud of you, I also fight depression, when I’m working out of the dark place I workout out! I enjoy exercising, I recently found some exercise by monks! I find the easy ones & do them, it’s not religious just to help my body relax also to think clearly. There is several videos I watch, find one I can do by myself oh! I find them on You tube. If you don’t have a tablet to watch. Library’s have computers to use. I hope this helps you, just believe you know how to survive! God bless 😇😇😇😀
That father was clearly mentally ill, and still no one stopped him from suppressing his whole family. So sad. She is such a strong girl, good on her to make her way out..
The type of OCD she’s talking about is called “religious scrupulosity,” which John Dehlin speaks at length about, since that was his doctoral dissertation focus.
its very clear that Ella has only just escaped. This poor young woman is still experiencing the most intense part of healing from trauma, I can't imagine how difficult it must be to speak out like this. Love and light, Ella
I am so proud of her, being strong, speaking her mind, even when she was in the middle of it all. You can hear in her story she was trying to use her critical thinking even then, but was being beat down for it over and over. I'm also so proud that she is able to separate her religious beliefs from the trauma that was inflicted with using religion as an excuse against her. She has such a sharp, powerful mind, and I genuinely feel she's really going to go far now that she is out, and able to get all the help and love she needs and deserves. You are amazing, Ella, and so incredibly brilliant and strong!
As a prosecutor, I’ve actually dealt with Sovereign Citizens before. It’s a nightmare and is so completely devoid of any logic or common sense. I can’t imagine what it was like going through this.
My best friends husband is a prosecutor and had to deal with one as well and it is madness. You can't even call it mental gymnastics because of the nonsense that is said and believed.
My husband is a prosecutor as well, and has so many stories about these people. They cause a lot of problems around here because they really think they are above the law.
My brother slipped into that a little bit some years ago. It was wild hearing him speak. He fired his public defender and tried to represent himself, they considered him incompetent to stand trial and put him in a psych ward till he could be found competent again.
Just wanna give Ella a big old internet hug. It was painful to hear the same words spoken that I said when I left my childhood home behind...thank goodness she did it at 18. I didn't cut ties with my abusers until I was nearly 40. Ella love everything you feel is fine. You have the right to feel your anger and that well of rage you think will burn the world will not. You can let it go without physical injury and don't be afraid to ask for help.
Wow, I can’t believe we are finally hearing from someone that was so close to and persecuted by the Sovereign citizens. Thank you Ella for speaking out. groups like these, the brotherhood, and others, continue to hide in plain sight in our country. You are not alone! Be well ❤
Ella, you are so brave for speaking out so quickly after escaping! Please know that a diagnosis of bad experiences in your past does not mean your entire future is effed up too ❤ 10 years past leaving my own crazy parents and I'm living the life I always dreamed of. You're not alone and you are certainly not doomed!
It's weird isn't it? I've seen trauma like that, abuse physical and mental, utterly destroy and turn people into shells of their former selves as they turn to just about anything in order to escape the demons that haunt them. I also know people who have gone through unbelievably f*kd up shit, my Uncle physically had to beat his own abusive father out of their house when he was 12, who then go on to be some of the kindest, strongest, and most patient people I've ever known. There are still scars, triggers, and idiosyncrasies that stay with them their entire life, but there's a hardness and resiliency there I rarely see in people that haven't gone through that. It's a flip of the coin as to which way it will go, and no one can predict what they'll do or how they'll respond unless they're physically forced into that position. It's a thing that no one should be forced to go through.
I work at the Dutch tax authority and the sovereign thought conspiracy has landed here as well these past years. We get people claiming not to have to pay taxes because of it. It's impossible to even have a semi-normal conversation with those people. Absolutely, bat shit crazy. I feel so angry for her that she grew up in this insanity. I hope she will do well in the future and get the help she needs and will need in the future. Such a strong person.
I'm lithuanian and we also had a story with sovereign citizens like a year ago - our local CPS was trying to take the citizens' kids away due to abuse and they just up and left the country, never to be seen again. It's been a year and they have not been seen once since then
Claiming to be sovereign has absolutely not a direct connection to being abusive. Come on..... What makes you different just because you believe in the state?!
@@CMR308 preventing your child from socializing with the other kids (by homeschooling them when it's not medically necessary), not giving them medical care (because no birth certificate so can't register to a doctor) and not giving your child a proper highschool education all make a parent abusive. One can't be a sovereign citizen with kids without doing all of these things to their children. And also chosen poverty because you can't get a job without a passport
@miglek9613 you think homeschooling your children when it's not medically necessary is abusive? You do realize that homeschooling is LEGAL and children don't need to have medical issues to be hineschooled! Homeschoolers aren't socially neglected and often meet with other kids in their age group to do activities. Some even still participate in public school sports and extracurricular activities. They also score higher and get into colleges at earlier ages. You CLEARLY have no idea what you're talking about.
Absolutely!!! I'm pretty sure she doesn't know yet how incredible she is. Shelise, please we need to watch more of her incredible journey. Her story would be an amazing book!!
You are not eternally messed up, Ella. You are 18 and already in therapy. You have already done so much, even though the process feels so huge. When I moved out of an abusive family at 18 I didn't even realize I needed therapy. I thought I was fine (not addicted to anything, etc). Fine was a really low bar for me, I guess. We're all really proud of you. The fact that you always had insight that things were not right tells me that you are not messed up! You were hurt and now you are healing.
I totally agree with this. I didn’t grow up in a family cult, but I had a really controlling father who would emotionally, verbally, spiritually and every once in a while physically abuse me. Even now, it’s hard to call it that, and I’ve been out of my dad’s house since 18 myself and am 24 now. I used to think I was messed up, and often still struggle to not think that about myself, Ella. I have really low self esteem because of what my parents told me and said to me. I was afraid to cry because I also was taught (through actions more than through literal words) that crying was a sign of my weakness. My dad didn’t have any crazy conspiracy theories, but he had some interesting theories of how to parent none-the-less, and I remember telling my mom on more than one occasion (starting as young as the age of 7) that I thought their marriage was unhealthy and often asked her why she loved my dad enough to marry him. Kids understand things that adults don’t realize they actually understand! I can relate to several aspects of your story Ella! Thanks for sharing! It helps me be able to deconstruct aspects of my own childhood trauma.
I've never thought of Sovereign Citizens as a cult before, but now I see it. From videos of their interactions with the police and courts, they are some of the most intractable people I've ever seen. Full of narcissistic entitlement mixed with a persecution complex that is off the charts. I can't imagine being a child in that environment. So glad you could see that what you were dealing with wasn't normal or healthy, Ella. Your journey is just starting, but you seem to know who you are, and you clearly have a good support system. ♥♥♥
Indeed. Actually under English law here in the UK we DO have some people who have specific rights from very ancient days under current English law such as to drive your sheep once a year across a London bridge and one my ancestors was a yeoman in the 1700s which means he owned some property although not that much else but the concept of freeman has been abused by these groups in the US and UK. Most humans want more freedom than they have and there is nothing wrong with that but we live where we do and will be subject to the laws of that place. If we don't like those laws we can always move to more lawless places or live permanently at sea etc. @@nickywal
That’s a lie qanon was based off questions and answers by the public trying to expose elite pedo rings like the Epstein island you all wanted to pretend wasn’t happening. Please shut tf up
Ugh, we have a band of these "sovereign citizens" around the countryside where I live. They are SO ANNOYING. They will get arrested and have to go to court and stand there and be like, "You have no jurisdiction over me blah blah blah." The judge will be like, "Well, you can think that all you want, but I do. Here's your punishment." I commend Ella for going on your podcast and telling her story. I hope she is able to find strength and happiness in life. Much support to her.
Darrel Brooks is a sovereign citizen who represented himself in his own murder trial. (he was the guy who drove his car into a crowd of people at a christmas parade a few years ago.) his trial is on youtube and many law youtubers have covered it. its absolutely insane, and would be funny if this guy hadn't murdered people and children.
Yes@@bernjobi I was really interested in that! I hope the judge took a VERY nice vacation after the trial, because Oh My God. We had one recently that one of our judges put on a similar "you're not allowed to speak" rule. They really believe that the US government has no right to rule over them and it is actually quite frightening because they think they can do whatever they want and get away with it. They are completely delusional and they cause a bunch of problems.
I was raised in a family cult similar to this. Ella, I think you are way ahead of the game, being aware and leaving at such a young age. I'm 61 and my mother (the ringleader of the craziness in my family) passed away in 2000, and I feel I'm just getting a handle on all of this. It took raising a family of my own to see how insanely I was raised. Good for you to get out so young; you can heal and build a life for yourself. All I can say in the way of advice is don't hate your parents. Hate is the most corrosive emotion and hurts you 100% and the guilty party 0%. Get some therapy and get some distance and some perspective and you WILL heal. Hugs to you.
It is amazing that she was aware of the abnormality of the situation, and was able to leave at such a young age, after being raised by them in that cult her whole life. She was never taught anything different, but she was still aware that it wasn't the right way for her to live. It was very brave of her to leave like that.
People always assume that it's a patriarchal nightmare - but not always. My mother was also the problem within my family. She passed on her arrogance, strange thinking and flat out destructive ideals to my siblings. It's all a bunch of craziness. Unfortunately she's not passed yet, so every once in awhile dealing with her aged issues does pop up. But most of the time she's, ironically, spending her days in an upscale old folks facility playing Bingo. LOL That's one of those "sins" she used to rail on about. It's wild and crazy how these people are. 🙃
@@bathemeinchampagne You need to get over yourself. I'm just giving some advice that I have experienced in my much longer lifetime than some people here as a victim of abuse as well. I'm not telling anybody what to do or what to feel and certainly not enabling anything or anyone. I'm just suggesting that perhaps some emotions might be destructive. That doesn't mean you shouldn't feel them but awareness is a wonderful thing.
In a sense that was because the parents "failed" to keep her isolated in the way some other groups manage in a much more controlling way - they allowed internet access, the Christian friend outside the family, the job outside the home etc @@NikkiC777
It's possible, but hard to say. The only thing that makes me lean in that direction is the incident of him praying in some unintelligible language, but she doesn't specifically mention hallucinations. Could be a paranoid personality disorder. It's confusing because we have SO many paranoid, delusional conspiracy zealots now.
My poor dad had paranoic schizophrenia and would have massive delusions and talk in completely confused ways. Scary and we had to leave him when I was 10 for our own sanity
Holy paranoid personality disorder. My mother has so many of these thoughts like her dad. I’m pretty glad she never found the sovereign citizen movement. Woah. Thank you for sharing Ella you have so much ahead of you! And I am So excited for you to experience the world on your own terms
I hope there is a legal person watching this who can volunteer to help her with passport and birth certificate etc. hope she can help her siblings to escape too. God bless her she is amazing how she has survived.
For her to get back to the US, she should try reaching out to ex amish/menonite people who also had no birth certificate or documentation with the US government and see how they were able to obtain their documentation! I think I remember Eli Yoder on your channel said something about having the same issue. I dont know if it will be more difficult with her currently living in another country vs living in an Amish community, but I wonder if she would be able to with her parents' names and documentation if either of them have US identification. I knkw she mentioned her mother having a social security number. Perhaps if her mom is willing to do a DNA test or provide a written letter that she is her mother and gave birth in the US, she may be able to get her citizenship that way.
Probably a visit to the US Embassy. I’m sure there is a way-she might need a citizen here to sponsor her temporarily. I would go to the embassy and tell them about this.✌️♥️
I was going to post this anyway but this post already has some traction so I’m commenting it here: definitely try contacting the US embassy and consulate in Quito directly.
What a dear, kind, sensitive soul Ella has! I relate SO much to the “triggering thoughts” caused by being sensitive which TOTALLY exacerbates “spiritual” struggles! I’m glad she made it out as early as she did… I hope she has the resources and time to heal and continue her deconstruction.
Me too! When I was a child I was taught God hears your thoughts and the devil is always around. So any bad thought, I thought was the devil. And my parents weren't like over the top religious. So my thoughts were spiral to worse things just bc I was scared and thought I had no control. By this mindset you givebup your power, so that every bad thing is of the devil. So you feel like you don't have the power to change it otherwise.. if that makes sense. Ella was not alone in her experiences! And she's taking her power back. ❤
I was third generation Mormon. Before I left I had no idea it was an accult. Looking back now I see that it was. The change I went through after leaving was difficult but worth it.
Shout out to Carry-Anne! Not many people would stick around for all of that. That's a ride or die kind of pal! A sister! I am so happy you had a great friend in your corner, Ella!
@@CultstoConsciousnessMormons are not Real Christians to begin with they are actually Fake Christians and they add stuff that is not in The Bible too. Because the Bible says not to add to The Bible and yet they have did just that.
Thank you for sharing Ella's story! It's refreshing to see someone like me- sitting in the middle of the beginning of my deconstruction, feeling overwhelmed with all the connections I've been making and it's refreshing to see someone in the middle of this first stage.. Please bring her back to check in on her progress!
I love this, and just the concept of an affirmation book in general. I’ll have to start one too since that seems really beneficial and like something I need right now. Thank you for commenting this!
@@lindseyhendrix2405 I keep one because I started making affirmations for a friend who finds it easier to just listen or follow along. I have a playlist of long and short ones.
Ella you are truly amazing!! Another tip that I learned about dealing with anger is thinking of anger as hiding a true feeling. My therapist taught me that it’s usually masking a deeper feeling(disappointment, grief, confusion etc) It really helped me work through the anger and help make sense of my anger and being self aware of my true feelings. Thought it could help! Go Ella go!!!
This is a story everyone should hear. I commend her for sharing this with us, so we are more aware of the horrific capabilities of certain beliefs. How much of the residue remains from living in it up to adult life.
Not Jilly Juice! Omg! I’ve heard of that “protocol” and the woman who made that is NUTS. She was on Dr. Phil and so were her “adherents”. I’m so sorry that that poor baby had to go through the diet. 🤢
Let's be clear: even a single "swat" is abuse. Corporal punishment is abuse. It may be legal, but it is abusive, and there's a mountain of science proving it is harmful, traumatizing, and doesn't do any good. A "spanking" is using violence to control another human being, whether it be one hit or one hundred. I'm so sorry these poor children were forced to endure this abuse.
57:27 that’s the hardest thing to learn. I used to say my mother and I went through the wars together until a therapist made me look at it differently. Mind blown.
Shelise, you continue to do such important work. I am totally blown away at the way you conduct your interviews in such a sensitive, supportive manner. You must feel so good about how your channel is doing and how much you are impacting the life of so many people. I can't say enough good things about you. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot! ♥️ I truly don’t think I can comprehend the effects of the channel but comments like yours help 🥰
I think that if I were Ella I would contact an organization like the Institute For Justice, or ACLU for legal representation. Her civil rights are being withheld because of bureaucratic policies. Some agencies not knowing how to satisfy their verification requirements in issuing documents shouldn't be allowed to remove fundamental rights. I do think that there should be a verification process, but it shouldn't be so short sited that missing one document overrides all other evidence.
Wow, Ella, you are so reflectted and well-spoken. I am glad, you escaped and that you can now start to heal and decide what you are going to do with your life. I hope, now there will be many amazing experiences for you. I didn't know "sovereign citizens" also existed in the US. I know they exist in Germnany where I live and in my former home country Austria.
My family and I got out of the IBLP when I was eight. But my friend and her family remained in it. SUPER strict family that fits most of what the video talked about. She has been having a hard time since leaving her parents and trying to live on her own and work. It sucks. @@denize7139
Am I the only one who needs to know how they got from country to Country without birth certificates? I wish you all the happiness life has to offer, I am so sorry you have had to go through all of this
OMG, I have heard about Jilly Juice, that stuff is downright dangerous. I am so glad you was able to excape. I am still coming to terms in realising some of the things in my childhood were wrong, as I thought it was normal, and that my dad is emotionally abusive, watching my mum, she is just so worn down, she knows he's bad for her but she just can't escape. Its conflicting because I know she is a victim too, but she also was abusive in her own ways.
I am always dumbfounded that people can convince themselves to use religion to skirt the law, avoid paying taxes, abuse their children, neglect their children and generally try to take financial advantage of the country. My heart goes out to you and no matter how tough it is I certainly hope you are able to find peace.
Thank you Ella for sharing your story. I am in awe of your strength at just 18, and I cannot wait to see what amazing things you are going to do with the rest of your life. I know you are going to help so many people. So many. And you already are. Keep channeling your anger into doing good and making change, you are gonna change the world girl ❤
Stoked to catch a video this early and I’m commenting before watching to help boost the algorithm, but I’m already impressed with this girl just by the title! Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you, Shelise for bringing it to us with such grace and care! Edit: wow, I’m honestly surprised this is the first time (that I know of) sovereign citizens have entered the conversation on the channel! And I’m shocked that I’ve never thought of how easy the crossover of the Sov Cit realm & the Christian belief of being a citizen of heaven, the kingdom, etc. could collide! Yeeeeesh.
It’s been said a bit already, but definitely seeking the help of a lawyer seems best for the birth certificate challenge. I’m not one, but would imagine someone or more than one lawyer, maybe, familiar with areas such as the Social Security Administration, Immigration, Naturalization, and other similar areas of law. It’s unfortunate you’re stuck in a legal limbo. However, it’s great to see you’re in a much better and more loving familial environment. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you so go after your dreams. It’s never too late!
This has such a different feel than most interviews, so much more raw because Ella so recently got out! It's gonna be amazing for her to rewatch this in a year or so and see how far she'll have come by then ❤ I'd love to see you back as your journey into healing progresses, Ella, I'm sure it'll help others who are going through the same process! Also my best friend lives in Ecuador, she's the most lovely person, so if you ever get lonely while still down there, feel free to reach out 🤗
Oh NO as soon as I heard "Jilly juice" my jaw dropped. That is an ENTIRE rabbit hole, awful awful awful. She sells her salty cabbage water as a cure for everything and "waterfalls" being a positive thing and it's just terrible diarrhea
Ok, hooray for Ella! Watching the intro, but well done! ❤ Welcome to the world baby girl. It's a really big place, but there are a lot of wonderful people out here. Sending you calm, inner peace, and good things for the future. It's awesome that you have a safe place to land. Speak loud and proud and heal your trauma wounds. You aren't alone. We're all effed in our own ways 😊
Thanks for this great interview. I think more families are like cults than we can imagine. Individuation is a challenge for many of us who grew uplike this. So proud of Ella. Great interview.
Anyone who's interested in Sov.Cits, Natalie Lawyer Chick does amazing reaction videos to so many different things! I haven't seen many that had a religious aspect to them, but the overall Sov.Cit "movement" is insane and fascinating to watch them get pulled over by a cop for not having proper tags on their cars, no insurance, no license, etc; they all spout the same foolishness.
Ella, thank you for using your F.U. energy for positive . You are one brave lady. Just make sure you look after yourself. There is nothing selfish about looking after number 1. If you're not in a good place then you can't help others anyway. Thank you❤, and thanks again Shalise Ann - do you go by both names? I've always called you Shalise!
Wishing Ella all the best on her recovery journey! For all the messed up things done to her, and for all harm this has clearly caused her, it's also clear from this video that's she's a strong young woman now headed in the right direction. And a shout out and thanks to the family helping her through this journey. I hope her siblings are able to make their own similar journeys, especially her middle brother who it sounds like was the one furthest down the rabbit hole of her father's extremely harmful teachings and beliefs. Also hope her mother is able to make her own journey of sorts, especially in being a better parent to the children still (I assume) living with her. And yeah even hoping against hope that somehow her father will come to realise how wrong he is and how bad he's been and start his own journey. Perhaps Ella and his other children will still want nothing to do with him, very understandable, but he's still a fellow human no matter all the wrong he's done.
Well done, her journey is wild and I feel elements of this. She’s so awesome. You should try and get Steven Hassan on! I’d love to hear more about Christian fundamentalist cults in the US. It’s been helping me in my own journey of walking back from fundamentalism and purity culture.
I have experienced the fundamentalist baptist/Christian life … and every time I watch these episodes about cults I realize they are their own form of cult as well although people don’t really talk about it in those terms - so many similarities with other cult groups … just a different name sadly.
@@mlc74Baptists in general are pretty extreme but not every baptist church is a cult. Far too many are though, but I don't think a lot of Christians like the idea of calling a denomination a cult unless its one of the "wrong type". A lot of Protestants would happily call trad caths a cult yet ignore or even participate in a lot of the same behaviours in their own church
Ella, I just want to say that you have done an extremely hard thing. It takes a lot of guts to speak about it and even to begin to process it so soon after leaving. Remember, healing isn't linear, so be patient with yourself. ❤
Hey Ella lots of people are commending you, and rightly so, for your strength, resiliency, and intelligence. I just wanted to also tell you that it’s also ok to be weak and sad and angry and to ask for help. [ope- looks like Shelise beat me to it 😊] Above all none of this was your fault, at all, in any way. Probably you know that, but it bears repeating. You deserved and still deserve much, much better.
When I was young and dumb, I dated a sov civ. They use the 1920 Black's Law I believe. There's very little about motor vehicles, it speaks more about 'traveling', so they use that to say they don't need drivers' licenses, registration, etc. They believe the all caps version of your name on your social security card is your corporate name, not your natural human name, they believe the United States is a corporate entity now so there's a lot about natural citizens and not having corporate contact with the federal government. It was hell, I finally came to my senses and broke it off. Along with the legal stuff there's a lot of traditional gender roles and such that comes along with it.
Good lord, where to begin. This is the most relatable story I've heard so far on this channel. My parents were conspiracy theorists as well, although a little less so, but in my family my mom was the prophet. She claimed to hear from God, and God always seemed to take her side in everything. Thankfully my parents actually did educate us, but as homeschoolers we were extremely isolated. I rarely got to interact with kids outside my family, and never in a long term friendship. I definitely relate to the isolation. Corporal punishment was way overboard in my family too. I don't really agree with its usage at all, but Ella's description of it sounds similar to what I went through. Usually a wooden paddle was involved, and if you've never been hit with a wooden paddle, you can't imagine the pain. When Ella said that even the subject of moving out was taboo, that hit a nerve. It was totally taboo in my family too. When I finally moved out at the age of 29, that's what got me ostracized. It wasn't my reasons for moving out that was the problem (I mainly moved out because courtship wasn't working for me), just the mere act of moving out was an unforgivable sin that got me cut off. And the paranoia, the fear of CPS, the demonization of public schools, that was so integrated into my childhood. I deeply relate to Ella and so very much appreciate her sharing her story. As a side note, she mentioned that her parents let her run around and play as a child without much clothing, and that her friends said this was abnormal. I can understand why people think so, but it's actually quite normal in a lot of cultures, and even in the US it's not too rare, especially in rural areas. Nor is it harmful at all, unless there is some type of sexual abuse. It's definitely better than the opposite extreme of making kids feel ashamed of their bodies and telling them that they have to cover up even at a young age (which was more like my family). That said, it's critically important that parents provide their kids with the clothes that they want and need, and not skimp just to save money. Again, thank you for this episode and thank you Ella, if you are reading this, for sharing your story with me. It was encouraging, and I feel like you and I have some shared trauma.
Wow. I'm so glad you were able to leave. It's unfortunate that this was our start in life but now that we know what the truth is we can make the best of our hand.
Ella, if you got this far on two years of multiplication tables and a hodgepodge of homeschooling resources IN A CULT, imagine how much farther you'll go now that you're OUT!! Best of luck getting your US citizenship 💕
I am always amazed when children with parents who weaponize and used religion and God can end up having a health relationship with God and religion. I don’t have the 1/16th of the trauma with God than she does and I just can’t with religion.
