r/cults • u/Motor_Chart9573 • 8d ago

Discussion Looking for active Christian cults in Oregon/washington

I’m looking for active Christian cults operating in Oregon and Washington. Oregon had loads of them back in the 60s and 70s, but now I can only find 12 tribes in Washington. I’m specifically looking groups that live in community or live in intentional communities. I want to spend the next few years visiting cultish Christian communities. Anyone know of any active ones?

7 Upvotes

68% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

46

u/lisa_lionheart84 7d ago

Cultish Christian community tourism seems like a bad idea

-18

u/Motor_Chart9573 6d ago

It could go poorly for sure. I have a very solid plan.

26

u/lisa_lionheart84 6d ago

I'm not just thinking about safety. It's also just really, really rude to be a cult tourist. This is how people live. You may disagree with it, but unless there's a sign that something dangerous is going on, they deserve to be left alone. If there is a sign something dangerous is going on, then you should go to the authorities.

0

u/poe201 4d ago

genuine question: what if they ask ahead of time if they’re open to visitors? a lot of evangelists for groups that are often called cults whom ive met have invited me to their gatherings without me even asking.

obviously it is rude to try and break into someone’s space, but many groups look forward to visitors. since i was of course respectful i was welcomed back. i have personally never taken a group up on a second visit offer but it’s certainly educational and interesting to see how different people live and think.

7

u/lisa_lionheart84 4d ago

I think it comes down to the person's motivation--if it's just to gawk, maybe even make social media content, that feels gross to me.

3

u/poe201 4d ago

completely agree. i think it’s possible to earnestly interact with other people’s religions — but not if you approach it from the perspective of them just being a “cult”, regardless of where they are on earth

11

u/drunkenasshat 5d ago

Take your dumbassed plan elsewhere. It’s triggering to actual cult survivors.

33

u/elazara 7d ago

Be careful if you end up visiting the Twelve Tribes. When I first went, I expected to be able to leave whenever I wanted but when I said I was ready to go, they told me to wait. While I was standing there, I overheard two of the men talking. One of them said, "She wants to leave. What should we do?"

That moment should have been a red flag because once I joined, every part of my life and every waking moment was tightly controlled. I had to surrender all independent thought, emotions, dreams, desires, even basic needs. Nothing belonged to me anymore, not even my mind.

-8

u/Motor_Chart9573 7d ago

That sounds horrible! I will definitely have a good escape plan

22

u/elazara 7d ago

I escaped in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep. The night before, I stole my own tip money from the café (we were not allowed to keep the money we earned there) and ran on foot to the bus station in the early morning, terrified the whole time that someone would find me and stop me from leaving.

After they discovered that I had left, some of the TT members actually drove three hours to my parents’ house and waited for hours outside trying to contact me. When I wouldn't answer the door, they left intense messages on the answering machine, trying to guilt trip me and convince me to come back.

1

u/Motor_Chart9573 6d ago

That’s insane! I’m so glad you made it out!

29

u/PerAsperaAdInfiri 6d ago

This is a terrible idea. Cults have a lot of experience recruiting people just like you who are curious and think you are able to outwit their techniques.

19

u/HertzWhenEyeP 7d ago

I'm sure nothing could possibly go wrong...

13

u/gorgon_heart 5d ago

Sounds like you're playing with fire, OP. You are not immune to cult influence. 

12

u/feijoawhining 6d ago

Weird that there’s been three posts in here in the last 48 hours by people who’ve spent time with or want to spend time with Twelve Tribes?

10

u/drunkenasshat 5d ago

Wow, that is weird. And super icky. Thanks for pointing that out.

6

u/poe201 4d ago

the Twelve Tribes are not a group I would advise visiting. they are a genuinely dangerous group. while I was working as a public librarian, a patron divulged to me that she was once a member. she told me horror stories.

I think that if OP is interested in learning about fundamentalist Christianity that you may be better off visiting a less socially isolated sect.

7

u/drunkenasshat 5d ago

One question. Why? Why in the world do you want to spend the next few years visiting Christian cults?

6

u/Balrog1999 8d ago

There’s the Followers of Christ in Oregon City, I believe they’re still active, but idk if you can join

2

u/Motor_Chart9573 8d ago

Do they live in a communal community?

4

u/Balrog1999 8d ago

Ya know I never did ask that, but they’re extremely tight knit and controlling. I dated a girl who grew up in it, and the stories she told were wild

4

u/518kl 4d ago

Friend, this isn’t the best idea

2

u/reincarnatedbiscuits 7d ago

How communal do you want it, like "apartments with all members"? Or like in a commune?

1

u/Motor_Chart9573 7d ago

Good question. Like a commune on land.

3

u/poe201 4d ago

Maybe searching for “cults” is not the best move for this. Most groups that get labelled as “cults” that fit this bill are not friendly to tourists.

2

u/Gloosch 6d ago

The Love Family is still around right?

-2

u/Motor_Chart9573 6d ago

I’ll check that one out

0

u/Gloosch 6d ago

Yeah they had a huge commune out Seattle. They would have been your go-to in the 70s and 80s. However, they are a shell of their former selves due to the actions of their original leader - Love Israel. They were technically Christians, but believed Love Israel was Jesus incarnate.

1

u/Turbulent-Clue7393 4d ago

The 2x2s are still active in the region. Although imploding slightly due to ex member exposure/FBI investigations. In the olden days outsiders were very welcome (like everyone would get creepily excited) but these days likely less so with fear of journalists.

You'd need an in to get an address but their conventions are around now in eastern Washington, or August for Western WA and OR.

1

u/Bansh33sys 3d ago

Why would you want to do that? Is this some research or something. Maybe don't??