You've probably been reading about this cult bust up over at Eldorado... the polygamist Fundamental Church of latter Day Saints (FLDS) and followers of Warren Jeffs. It's not, by Texas standards, that far from here so I was curious about the exact location. Found this page from Google 3D Warehouse which pinpoints it if you are curious too. The local newspub called the Eldorado Success has quite a few archived stories on the complex, but it seems to be simply because there's not much other news coming from tiny Eldorado.
The count of the number of people who have been brought out of this complex has gone from 50 yesterday to over 500 today, and although it is so far without bloodshed, there is plenty of damage that's already been done to these people by this cult of fear.
It will not be easy for the people taken out of there to adjust to a new life. worth it, of course, but not easy. There is great fear to overcome -- fear of going to Hell for even being tempted to believe anything but the given doctrine, fear of punishment (even torture), fear of God and Prophet, fear of betraying , disappointing or leaving family, love and fear being to intermingled as to be the same emotion. It's the ultimate abusive situation: children forced into marriages with close relatives -- 14 year old girls unwillingly paired with 50 year old men, plus the polygamy.
I have nothing against polygamy as a concept. If all parties are adults and all are of sound mind and wanting to marry more than one person, and all those persons want to be married to all parties concerned, then let it be arranged. To me, polygamy is not really the issue.
There should be freedom of religion. The problem comes in when your religion takes away the freedom of others, and in this case involves imprisonment and torture -- both physical and psychological.
Here are some more links for this story (maybe off the mainstream news):
Aerial photos (medium-high resolution, including the one above), various links, non-affiliated with the church.
Help the Child Brides (lots of stories there)
Eldorado-based Texas Polygamy blog (just FYI, not endorsing it)
Tags: FLDS - polygamy - Jeffs - Texas
8 comments:
It is the children that bothers me...and the ones that are married at such young ages....the mind control part.....and that young girls are basically raped....you mention they are afraid of torture ? is that what these "abuse " claims really are ? so serious and so sad......
I too blogged on it...so disturbing ...
I will now check out your links...can't help it- as a mom and a nurse it just really bothers me.....
thank you for blogging and giving more info.....
the aerial photos are so amazing....but perplexing.....NO Boys in Any of the photos- and no sheep- where are the boys that have to be there somewhere? Or signs of children, toys, bikes etc....for that many children..... and where are the sheep that susposedly are part of their fundraising....
really sad...
Polygamy DOES bother me. If you want to commit to a partner for life, do it. If you want multiple partners, stay single. As Enigma said, these sort of things almost always lead to kids being involved and/or victimized.
torture: I watched a video of someone who got out of there, and she spoke of them doing a kind of "water torture" on young children who misbehaved. Also, violent discipline. I think the link was on ABC-news. It might be on Youtube by now.
John: I agree on the polygamy if it's going to involve children. Since we're childfree, the idea of marriage and children doesn't automatically go together, but I know that for most people it does. When you have children it's a new issue -- you involve someone else in your chosen lifestyle, so it gets touchy.
Blue:
I am just amazed that they will do all of this plus mind control- I just read alot of your links....they must be pretty scared, since they have been told the "Gentiles" are evil.....I am still boggled- where are the boys??no little boys in the photos...
I think the idea of being 12 and being married off to a relative - so scary....children being married off or forced to have sexual relations...I mean at 12 - that is not really a marriage? And then that they have to worship their husband BEFORE God.....unreal...God will only accept them if he lifts them to heaven....
where do they have their children ? aren't their birth records somewhere?
too many questions....not enough answers....
e4e: I have been wondering about the boys too. This is all still unfolding rapidly, so maybe there will be more information in the next day or so.
I know it is still unfolding...but I looked through alot of aerials and photos tonight...and the girls seem to birth alot of babies- and they are certainly not all girls.....
It is really bugging me...I just have a bad feeling about it.....I know that I watched a Lost Boys special about a year ago- and they talked about how when they turn 12 or 13 they are discarded....but there should be little boys, toddlers....
and that there are no signs of children activity- no toys etc....so so sad.....Susposedly according to those blogs it has been growing alot since last summer- 5 new houses and water and sewage system....and my son 6-6 asked WHO is the labor ? ( could it be Immigrant ?, that would be interesting...)
I started reading the news on this last night and it's really beyond comprehension, isn't it? FOUR HUNDRED KIDS. There ain't enough families in Eldorado to even take them in, so these poor kids, who've been through hell, are probably going to be further traumatized by being split up and sent to be cared for, and then temporarily.
I haven't seen any boy children, but I know they must be in there somewhere. In addition to everything else that worries me that's already been said here, whatever the hell it is those boys are learning may worry me most. They'll presumably grow up someday.
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