December 17, 2021 ▸ Places, Religion

Episode 625: Gloriavale: Untamed West Coast Bush

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at living cult, the New Zealand community of Gloriavale. It was founded by Neville Cooper. He learned his preaching craft in America, choosing the speaking-in-tongues, faith-healing variety. When he brought it back to New Zealand, he was a hit. He started a small agriculture community tied to his church. He survived a plane crash, renaming himself Hopeful Christian, and the rest is history. And by history, I mean a cult. You know the drill, nobody can leave, brainwashing, sexual abuse, all the money goes the founder, dairy cows, crazy names, stupid outfits. The works.

Visit Our Sources:

https://www.ted.com/talks/lilia_tarawa_i_grew_up_in_a_cult_it_was_heaven_and_hell/transcript?language=en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloriavale_Christian_Community

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/91034991/reid-going-undercover-in-gloriavale-still-haunts-me

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/aug/30/my-life-in-a-religious-cult-the-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world-is-the-womb-of-an-ungodly-woman

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300241979/gloriavale-the-daily-life-the-dark-side-and-uncertain-future-explained

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7089287/Former-Gloriavale-member-tells-desperate-quest-free-wife-children-cult.html

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/anna-murray-why-going-back-to-gloriavale-was-a-bad-idea/EW2KDNN7JRHSIEPD3DQQ2OY3RE/

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6298385/gloriavale-religious-cult-leader-dead-cancer-new-zealand/