u/GingersaurusRex

I keep seeing the same discussions on this forum questioning why Gilead does the things it does. Why not marry young women off to young men if you care about fertility? Why are so many of the commanders pedophiles? Why doesn't Agnes tell anyone about the dentist?

Gilead is a cult, and The Testaments is largely inspired by various fundamentalist cults in America that are still operating and gaining more followers to this day. Listen to the stories of cult survivors, and what Gilead is doing will suddenly make more sense.

Shiny Happy People- Series about Bill Gothard and the teachings of the IBLP, the Quiverfull Movement, and how the Duggar family from 19 Kids and Counting followed these practices (Content Warning: Child abuse, Child sexual abuse, Incest, Religious abuse, rape.) Available on Amazon Prime

Keep Sweet, Pray, and Obey- Docuseries about the FLDS and Warren Jeffs. (Content Warning: Religious Abuse, Sexual assault, Child Sexual Abuse, Child Marriage, Polygamy) Available on Netflix

Trust Me: False Prophet- Docuseries about Samual Bateman, the self proclaimed successor the FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs. (Content warning: Child abuse, Child sexual assault, high control religions, Polygamy, Child Marriage.) Available on Netflix

Prophet's Prey- Another documentary about FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. (Content Warning: Religious Abuse, Sexual assault, Child Sexual Abuse, Child Marriage, Polygamy) Available on Paramount+ and Apple TV

The Cult Next Door- Short Film about Bill Gothard and the IBLP. (Content warning: discussions of child sexual abuse, high control religion) Available on Vimeo and Apple TV

Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals- Docuseries focusing on women who survived abuse as children in the IFB, and how the IFB conceals predators (Content warning- emotional, physical, and sexual abuse) Available on Discovery+ and Apple TV

Podcasts:

Leaving Eden Podcast- Hosted by IFB Cult survivor, Sadie Carpenter. Search for the "True Crime: First Family of Fundamentalism" to hear the history of Jack Hyles and the abuses he committed in the church. They have other "True Crime" series diving into other cult leaders.

Kitchen Table Cult- Survivors of fundamentalist home school education programs speak out against how much educational, physical, and mental abuse in the home school world, and how easy it is to conceal the abuse when kids don't have teachers as mandatory reporters

Fundie Fridays- Youtube Channel which discusses aspects of American Fundamentalism, and snarks on some of the bizarre customs of these cults