After watching the TED Talk “Why I Left an Evangelical Cult,” I have learned that being raised in a cult is one of the most horrifying experiences. It is horrible not only because of the constant abuse and lies but because it is very difficult to escape. In a cult, your entire world is limited by the rules and directives of the only people you know. They have power and authority over you, with which they strictly control not only the freedom of your movements but of your thoughts and opinions. Besides, the scariest thing is the realization of how false this tiny world is. Not everyone can find the motivation and strength to escape, leaving family and friends behind. Being forced to stay out of fear and powerlessness yet still comprehend the awfulness of the situation is truly horrifying.
Dawn Smith’s TED Talk is written in such a way that the story of her childhood from the beginning is repeated in the end. Smith concludes the story as she meets a child raised in a cult similar to her and evokes a whole range of emotions. By reciting the phrase, she heard as a child, she gives the girl hope and strength, empowering her to one day leave the cult. It is undoubtedly an excellent way to finish her speech about the life in a cult, recalling her own horrifying experience and conveying aspiration.
The main takeaway that can be derived from this TED Talk is the awfulness and danger of religious cults. The Talk covers how such cults operate, targeting lonely, uncertain youths, trapping them, and covering them in delusion and abuse. Hardly anyone is as lucky enough as the author of the TED Talk to be able to escape from a cult and tell the world about it.