Reclaiming
Life Stories
After
Cult Immersion
By Greg Jemsek
ICSA TODAY 6
The role of stories in bringing meaning to a person’s life is a powerful force, whether or not a person is in a cult. In this paper, I explore how stories
continue to impact a person after he has left a cult. I examine ways leave-takers can reclaim authorship of their life stories. I undertake this
exploration from the viewpoint of narrative therapy, a postmodern approach to story that emphasizes how the interpretations a person gives to his
life stories involve choice and cocreation. Which life stories are emphasized and which are neglected should ultimately be up to the storyteller. A
leave-taker’s neglected life stories have usually been overpowered by dominant cult stories, and reclaiming these less dominant stories—especially
ones that emphasize his initiative—is an essential aspect to his being able to successfully live his life after cult immersion. This success will also
depend on the listening skills of the audience, and the creation of safe environments in which the individual’s reauthoring can be done free of
manipulation. If such environments can be created, a person can begin the process of rebuilding his identity separate from the one he was required
to adopt when he was in a cult. Rebuilding identity, however, requires him to understand that identity must be discovered rather than adopted.
Life Stories
After
Cult Immersion
By Greg Jemsek
ICSA TODAY 6
The role of stories in bringing meaning to a person’s life is a powerful force, whether or not a person is in a cult. In this paper, I explore how stories
continue to impact a person after he has left a cult. I examine ways leave-takers can reclaim authorship of their life stories. I undertake this
exploration from the viewpoint of narrative therapy, a postmodern approach to story that emphasizes how the interpretations a person gives to his
life stories involve choice and cocreation. Which life stories are emphasized and which are neglected should ultimately be up to the storyteller. A
leave-taker’s neglected life stories have usually been overpowered by dominant cult stories, and reclaiming these less dominant stories—especially
ones that emphasize his initiative—is an essential aspect to his being able to successfully live his life after cult immersion. This success will also
depend on the listening skills of the audience, and the creation of safe environments in which the individual’s reauthoring can be done free of
manipulation. If such environments can be created, a person can begin the process of rebuilding his identity separate from the one he was required
to adopt when he was in a cult. Rebuilding identity, however, requires him to understand that identity must be discovered rather than adopted.
