Esther's Presentation at the ICSA Annual Conference

Esther is on her way to Montréal for the ICSA - International Cultic Studies Association Annual Conference taking place July 2-5.

Esther along w/ Gerette Buglion Author and Carrie Buddington will be presenting on Saturday, July 5th, 2:45-4:10 (See description below).

For more information on the conference and to attend in-person or remotely, visit: icsahome.com/events/conferenceannual

Do all cult leaders go to the same “How to Start Your Own Successful Cult” summer camp? Former members, Esther Friedman, Gerette Buglion, and Carrie Buddington explore this question by comparing and contrasting their experiences through dramatic spoken word and song, followed by Q&A and discussion. They will demonstrate three different cults–a philosophy group, a dream-work therapy practice, and a Bible-based church–using the same manipulation, and exploitation tactics outlined by Robert J. Lifton’s groundbreaking research on thought reform. More importantly, the presenters will demonstrate how they reclaimed their lives through psycho-education, writing and artistic expression—offering a recovery template that reverse engineers the cultic indoctrination.