Cult Expert Dr Steven Hassan
@drstevenhassan·58.1K subscribers·897 videos
A Survivor's SHOCKING Story: Conversion Therapy and Religious Abuse
Posted
January 13, 2025
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2,783
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January 13, 2025
2,783
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59:51Now PlayingIn this powerful episode of Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum, Dr. Steven Hassan sits down with scholar and survivor Lucas Wilson to uncover the disturbing realities of conversion therapy and its devastating impact on LGBTQ+ individuals. Lucas courageously shares his personal experience enduring four years of so-called "pastoral counseling" at Liberty University, a hub of religious indoctrination and high-control practices.
As the editor of Shame, Sex, Attraction: Survivor Stories of Conversion Therapy, Lucas offers unique insights into the lived experiences of survivors from diverse backgrounds. This episode unpacks the abusive tactics used to coerce individuals into denying their true selves, examining the intersection of religious ideology, psychological manipulation, and systemic power.
Dr. Hassan and Lucas draw striking parallels between the dynamics of conversion therapy and the broader framework of religious abuse—from fostering shame and self-hatred to enforcing black-and-white thinking that undermines personal autonomy. They also address how these harmful practices mirror authoritarian control in politics, offering a timely lens on how undue influence shapes both personal and societal landscapes.
💡 Key Themes:
The pseudoscience behind conversion therapy and its debunked claims.
Stories of survival and resilience from Lucas’s groundbreaking book.
How religious abuse uses fear and shame to strip individuals of their freedom.
Steps toward healing, including trauma-informed therapy and the power of affirming communities.
Whether you're familiar with conversion therapy or just beginning to understand its scope, this episode is an unflinching look at the harmful realities of religious abuse and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
📕 Check out Shame, Sex, AttractionSurvivors of Conversion Therapy here
🔗 Subscribe to explore cult dynamics, undue influence, and healing from high-control environments.
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