Support the show:<br />https://www.patreon.com/branham <br /><br />Available on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts:<br />https://william-branham.org/podcast <br /><br />Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:<br />Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962<br />Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K<br /><br />John invites Stephanie to share her journey of growing up in a religious group in New Zealand that followed the teachings of William Branham. They begin by discussing Stephanie’s family history—her grandparents helped establish a Branham-affiliated church, giving her a kind of spiritual “royalty” status in the local community. She recounts the strict lifestyle they followed: homeschooling, long skirts, message books everywhere, and frequent services. The conversation highlights the cultural isolation felt by children growing up in these churches, including comparisons to exclusive groups like the Exclusive Brethren.<br /><br />As the discussion continues, John and Stephanie delve into the contradictions and double standards within the movement. They talk about how church leaders and inner-circle families often lived differently from the strict standards they imposed on others—owning TVs, celebrating holidays, and permitting dress and grooming choices that were preached against. Stephanie shares her own story of being subtly targeted in sermons after cutting her hair at age 12 and her growing realization, especially during high school, that she was part of a group that she no longer believed in. The conversation ends with practical advice for others trying to rebuild their lives after leaving, emphasizing the importance of meeting new people, discovering personal interests, and building a life outside the constraints of controlling belief systems.<br /><br />00:00 Introduction<br />02:11 Growing Up as Message Royalty in New Zealand<br />06:12 Cultural Isolation and Message Traditions<br />09:00 Christmas, Double Standards, and Cult Elites<br />13:17 The Cloud Controversy and Doctrinal Collapse<br />17:02 Favoritism, Shunning, and Emotional Control<br />20:04 Sunday School, Jezebel Sermon, and Appearance Policing<br />24:18 Photographs Reveal Cult Hypocrisy<br />27:05 Marriage, Divorce, and Message Misogyny<br />30:57 Billy Paul’s Divorce and the Origin of the Doctrine<br />34:42 Global Spread of Message Polygamy<br />39:01 Stephanie’s Journey Out of the Message<br />44:46 The Changing Culture of Her Former Church<br />49:42 Advice for Survivors Leaving the Message<br /><br />______________________<br />– Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham<br />– Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSpezVG15TVG-lOYMRXuyQ<br />– Visit the website: https://william-branham.org<br />– Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilliamBranhamOrg <br />– Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@william.m.branham<br />– Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wmbhr<br />– Buy the books: https://william-branham.org/site/books
