LADbible TV interviews Faith Elizabeth Hunter, who also goes by Liz. Liz grew up in a religious cult and was not even aware of it until she spent some time in therapy later in life.
Liz grew up in Texas in a family that belonged to the Institute in Basic Life Principles, which is a strict conservative Christian sect that was founded in 1961 by Bill Gothard.
“There was no TV in our house,” Liz says of her extremely sheltered young life. “We weren’t allowed to watch movies or television shows. We weren’t allowed to listen to any contemporary non-Christian music.”
Liz remembers that she was always told that she couldn’t cut her hair or use makeup or even wear specific clothing items. She also recalls that there was an extensive rulebook for members with a large homeschooling component called the Advanced Training Institute (ATI) for children members that revolved around the Bible.
“We read the Bible every day,” Liz explains. “And then our education was all driven around the Bible. We had Bible lessons throughout the day.”
From a young age, she was aware that all of the life skills she was being taught revolved around being a good wife to a husband that her father would eventually pick out for her in her late teens. She recalls that obeying what her father said and decided for her was a huge part of the cult.
“The biggest idea I remember is that everything in life is determined by your dad,” Liz breaks down. “If you do anything that’s outside of your dad’s instructions, then God will no longer protect you and you could be open to all sorts of danger.”
To learn even more about Liz’s experience with this religious cult and how she came to fully understand the abuse she endured throughout her childhood, check out the video.
