22 22 ICSA TODAY
About the Author
Carrie Buddington is a former
member of The Community of
Jesus, Inc., a Bible-based Christian
community. She joined in 1970 when
she was a newly converted Christian,
and she raised her three children
at the Community. She worked in
many of their offices and became a
Senior Sister in the Convent. One by one her children
left, and finally in 2010 she was also able to leave. Having
been denied requests to pursue education while at the
Community, she is currently attending Boston College
for a bachelor’s degree in psychology while working full
time as a career development counselor. She plans to
work toward a master’s degree in social work. She is a
member of the International Cultic Studies Association
and looks forward to being able to assist others who have
left cultic groups to start a new life. As part of processing
what she has lived with for 40 years, she is writing a
blog: mylifecoj@wordpress.com Her story appears in
ICSA Today, Vol. 6, No. 3. She is a frequent contributor
to the Phoenix Project at ICSA conferences these works
appeared in the exhibition at ICSA’s 2016 conference in
Dallas. n
False Allure: The poison ivy symbolizes for me how lush and
promising the message of the group seemed to be. It appeared to
be full of vibrant life, but this is true only if you do not know the real
nature of the plant/life. Poison ivy causes extreme discomfort and
aggravation, and the life in the cult caused extreme confusion, pain,
dissonance, and stress in spite of how good it looked.
Roots: The roots symbolize the convoluted message, and the
confusion of trying to live up to the demands.
Peeling: The peeling paint is what was going on inside of me as I lost
more and more any sense of self.
About the Author
Carrie Buddington is a former
member of The Community of
Jesus, Inc., a Bible-based Christian
community. She joined in 1970 when
she was a newly converted Christian,
and she raised her three children
at the Community. She worked in
many of their offices and became a
Senior Sister in the Convent. One by one her children
left, and finally in 2010 she was also able to leave. Having
been denied requests to pursue education while at the
Community, she is currently attending Boston College
for a bachelor’s degree in psychology while working full
time as a career development counselor. She plans to
work toward a master’s degree in social work. She is a
member of the International Cultic Studies Association
and looks forward to being able to assist others who have
left cultic groups to start a new life. As part of processing
what she has lived with for 40 years, she is writing a
blog: mylifecoj@wordpress.com Her story appears in
ICSA Today, Vol. 6, No. 3. She is a frequent contributor
to the Phoenix Project at ICSA conferences these works
appeared in the exhibition at ICSA’s 2016 conference in
Dallas. n
False Allure: The poison ivy symbolizes for me how lush and
promising the message of the group seemed to be. It appeared to
be full of vibrant life, but this is true only if you do not know the real
nature of the plant/life. Poison ivy causes extreme discomfort and
aggravation, and the life in the cult caused extreme confusion, pain,
dissonance, and stress in spite of how good it looked.
Roots: The roots symbolize the convoluted message, and the
confusion of trying to live up to the demands.
Peeling: The peeling paint is what was going on inside of me as I lost
more and more any sense of self.
