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Podcast: Cults to Consciousness
Episode: Twelve Tribes: My Arranged Wedding at 16 Re-enacted Becoming the Christbride
Description: Drawn to the Twelve Tribes in the 1970s by its promise of spiritual purity, communal support, and moral family values, Rebecca’s parents became deeply embedded in a system that demanded complete obedience and surrender of autonomy. Rebecca was one of the oldest of the second generation in the cult, which meant a lot of experimentation was done to determine the fate of other children. At 15 years old—a highly devout member— she was chosen to marry one of the leader’s sons, to attempt to shackle him to the group. Her wedding included group reenactments complete with demons, running f...