Escape

by Rachel Martin Dugger

The story of one young women's orientation into a religious cult and the efforts and success of her family in getting her out.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Nancy Ovchinnikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

My notes:
Ages: 16+
Content considerations: cults, mature themes, trauma, etc.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape is a book about my backdoor neighbor, Rachel. She joined a cult when she was 20 years old. She had come from a loving Christian family. She herself was a Christian but the world and its ways, had crept into her life, making her vulnerable to what the cult had to offer.
While in the cult Rachel traveled widely, ate from dumpsters and garbage cans. All the women in the group wore the same clothes, a long skirt, long sleeved top that they made. They carried a backpack. The men worn robes making them look like the disciples. They were indoctrinated in the cult’s beliefs and lifestyle; they were brainwashed and lost the ability to think for themselves. All decisions were made by the governing brothers who ruled over the single women, married couples and children.
At times life was good, there was plenty to eat and they were warm. Other times things were not good. Their life was fearful, difficult and unhealthy. They were taught not to give into the flesh. Consequently, they had to ask permission to bath, often with their clothes on. As a result of unsanitary conditions, Rachel suffered physically. They often slept in sleeping bags on the ground.
Rachel was in the cult, lead by “Brother Evangelist” Jim Roberts, for 19 months before her relatives kidnapped her from the group. As result, two of these men/relatives were charged with kidnapping, malicious destruction of property, trespassing and disturbing the peace. Later, the destruction of property was paid for and the charges were drop.
At the end of the book, Rachel’s father Ken writes about what cults were like at the time the book was written. (1979) How many people were attracted to cults is an amazing. At the time, there were an estimated 650,000 people in 5,000 different cults. Ken also gives information for parents to arm their children with so that they would not fall prey to a cult.

[E Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a condensed version of this book, but it was still a good story.
Can not fathom how someone can go off with strange men, pack up and leave
your apartment just because they say they know the true path for Christians.
Brainwashing is a very scary thing. The author did not want her "flesh" family
to find her and try to deprogram her. Luckily the police had mug shots of
various members of the cult, and her family was able to find her.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t hear about small cults much anymore - it seems like all I hear about that worries me is sex trafficking. But this book was so illuminating of the pull of cults and then what can happen.