The Congregation

43 Replies
unamed-from-ted-strutz

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

The photos filled the news.  The “cherubs” in their white robes, smiling in front of major tourist destinations.  Social media spread the comparisons of the two little girls in bright white to photos of the 17 “kids”, the two oldest girls in their 20s, wearing dirty robes with nothing underneath.

One image was shown over and over, the eldest daughter with her extended belly clearly visible.

That was, of course, how they were caught.  It is thought the youngest three are hers.

James said he was inspired, but had no followers.  Nobody knew the lengths he’d go to create some.

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Word count = 100

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Ted Strutz.  Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“

43 thoughts on “The Congregation”

    1. trentpmcd Post author

      There is something about cults… I’m not sure where the cut of line is between an “out there” new religion and a cult, but this falls into an “evil” cult…

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I think you are talking about the one in Cleveland. Yeah, pretty awful, but great that the woman had the inner strength to do force her way out of the house.. Last year there was one about a family with like a dozen kids that posted photos on Instagram from around the country. It later came out that they were all illiterate and lived in cages. Some nasty stories out there about what demented people do…

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  4. Brenda's Thoughts

    A terribly sad story. I shudder at the truth of it and the real-life cases where lives are destroyed. It’s all made worse by the fact that in many cases these situations come about in the name of one religion or another. Just another way of gaining power and control. Great job, Trent!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It is awful that the idea behind this is based in fact. Being done in the name of some religion does make it worse. For whatever sick reason, these people think the deserve the power and control… Thanks.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It is sad that I based this at least in part on reality – these “families” make the news every couple of years or so. And sad that, as you say, more may be hidden from prying eyes. Thanks.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. Unfortunately it does happen.

      It is an interesting photo and you were right, it has generated some good stories. I only took a quick look at Ulrika’s blog, but the photos I saw are great.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I think you are right. It is very sad when these cases come up and are all over the news. It is sadder to know that there are still others out there that haven’t been caught and may never be caught….

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      1. Na'ama Yehuda

        Yes, most of the cult-like-homes remain undiscovered because it is inherent to their way of functioning that there be no disclosure. Those who manage to find a way out are the exception, in my view, rather than the rule. And with a society that still tends to favor the perpetrator’ word over the victims’ words, the dogma of silencing is reinforced by the society at large. We can change it, but it will take more of us speaking against any kind of silencing by the powerful.

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          1. Na'ama Yehuda

            Perpetrators do not stay in charge forever. It takes a long time to clean up their messes, but they do not ‘rule’ forever … and not everyone remains under the yoke. Some shake it off and find purchase in a better life and stop the legacy, basically proving their perpetrators wrong in every day they live free of their tyrant’s rules.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. Unfortunately there are many people who seem to disregard those teachings and still claim to be doing things in Jesus’ name, or in the name of whatever religion they are misinterpreting. And then we have people like the guy in this story who we can only guess is very mentally disturbed, with delusions of grandeur, etc. and want to create a religion around themselves – it rarely ends well :(

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I do wonder about the real story here… Unfortunately I have read about a few real stories like the one I wrote. Were the kids in the picture part of one? Yuck, hate to think about it, but I did think about it and came up with this story ;)

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Agreed on both counts – some people are pure evil and religion seems to bring out that evil even more, instead of the good the all of the religions teach…

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