There is probably no religious group New Zealanders have seen more of over the past decade than Gloriavale.
The West Coast Christian community has been featured in a series of documentaries and many news reports.
The allegations made against the community by former members have been
well covered - the forced marriages, the sexual and physical abuse, the
shunning of anyone who leaves, and the complete financial domination of
all members.
The trust owns land worth about $10 million along with buildings, vehicles and equipment worth about $20 million.
Gloriavale
members live within the confines of the West Coast base, sign over all
their assets to the trust when they join, and work unpaid for the
community.
Any income that community members earn is donated to
the trust to cover food, medical costs, clothing and laundry costs for
the community.
Gloriavale founder Hopeful Christian dies | Stuff.co.nz
Showing posts with label Hopeful Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hopeful Christian. Show all posts
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Thursday, August 31, 2017
My life in a religious cult: 'The most dangerous place in the world is the womb of an ungodly woman' | Books | The Guardian
On the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand, a religious cult named Gloriavale Christian Community closed itself off from the rest of the world in 1969.
Founded by the self-styled and self-named Australian religious leader Hopeful Christian – who was convicted and jailed on three charges of indecent sexual assault of a young woman in 1995 – the 500-strong community was run according to a strict and oppressive interpretation of fundamental Christianity.
Women had to cover their heads, show no flesh so as not to tempt sin from the menfolk, do all the domestic work, submit to their husbands and birth as many babies as they could.
Eight years ago, Lilia Tarawa – granddaughter of Hopeful Christian – escaped with her family into what she had always believed to be the evil, wicked world. This is an extract from her memoir about her life in the cult.
My life in a religious cult: 'The most dangerous place in the world is the womb of an ungodly woman' | Books | The Guardian
Founded by the self-styled and self-named Australian religious leader Hopeful Christian – who was convicted and jailed on three charges of indecent sexual assault of a young woman in 1995 – the 500-strong community was run according to a strict and oppressive interpretation of fundamental Christianity.
Women had to cover their heads, show no flesh so as not to tempt sin from the menfolk, do all the domestic work, submit to their husbands and birth as many babies as they could.
Eight years ago, Lilia Tarawa – granddaughter of Hopeful Christian – escaped with her family into what she had always believed to be the evil, wicked world. This is an extract from her memoir about her life in the cult.
My life in a religious cult: 'The most dangerous place in the world is the womb of an ungodly woman' | Books | The Guardian
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