On Trust me: The False Prophet
Well, Netflix heard my inner thoughts because this new documentary, (Trust me: The False Prophet) is kind of a follow up. So because Warren Jeffs wasn't getting any action in prison, dude legit banned his followers from procreating. Yes, even married folks. This was someone who had earlier dictated that every year, there should be a new child in each family.
And no surprises, another man who thinks himself God assistant took on the community to continue the nuisance. Why? Oh because he couldn't keep it in his pants with the ridiculous edicts. So he branched off his new group called Samuelite. And I'm trying, really trying hard to have empathy for the older adults in the room but it's hard cos wow, this brain? This brain is a really fascinating organ. I'm thrown aback hearing grown people saying you're lost because this so-called prophet is no longer there to provide guidance to daily lives.
You see grown ass men, people who have businesses and they're succumbing to the whims of the new so-called prophet because they think he has embodied the spirit of the imprisoned prophet. They admit they don't know what to do without the guidance of the prophet.
And no shade, no shade really but I'm always struck at how plebian these so called prophets sound. Call me elitist, classist, etc, but if you're going to be a cult leader, Speak Well. Have charisma. I'm digressing a bit, but stay with me. I'd wholly have more empathy for the male followers if someone who is Patrick Jane personified is the cult leader.
The same goes for scammers. Yes, I've agreed that I am biased to lookism. I accept it (in Vee's voice). But if you're going to have me feel sorry for you for being scammed, let the man be a Wattpad Novel character personified. I mean if they look like Theo James, I'd see why the braincells stalled for sometime.
But back to this documentary because I realize I'm being quite shallow, and coming from a place of bias and privilege. The younger girl victims do not know better and have been conditioned right from birth. Same goes for their parents. As Nomz rightfully said, she can't even feel angry at her mother because she herself is a victim of the indoctrination.
I mean I was once very into religion and considering my person, if I wasn't more open to reading varying views, I'd still probably be very very staunch in my fundamentalist views of Christianity. So in the case of these young girls, who have been isolated from the rest of the world, literally the only thing they know about are what they've been taught since birth. Obedience, Obedience, Obedience to this person. Your entire life goal is to please and they want to be in the favour of this person you perceive as God representative.
It also brings me back to the question around this paradise after death. I've had a few thoughts on how this constrains living and being a sort of tether for people to remain loyal to religion.
I haven't even delved into the young children being entangled in this terrible situation. Taken from their families and foisted into the immoral marriage with this terrible person, forced to be voyeurs and even sexually assaulted themselves by the hideous looking leprechaun. Nuance. It is important to divulge the nuance here and my earlier position on lookism. Any adult who conducts these pedophilic acts on kids should be executed, whether they're beauty standard material or not. It is very necessary that this nuance is indicated, my previous bias has been for adults with developed brains. And I also am aware that could be me trivialising the victims and their conditioning.
Again, I'm not exactly politically correct. Also, Julia (the brave parent) did say something to her husband which stands out on how they're committing crimes against their kids. I'm not a psychologist, neurologist or even an expert, but no matter the brainwashing, parents are meant to be innately protective of their kids. And no sane person would think that being in the custody of Sam Bateman is the right choice for the kids.
I've digressed quite a bit so a bit of a recall. If you've ever doubted whether religious psychosis is a thing, just watch the new documentary. I kid you not, you'd either be feeling heart-broken or banging your head against the wall. If you're like me and you're more or less dissociated with the church, you'd be on the latter side.
But I can help but be humbled by the empathy and bravery of Christina Marie, the lady who went undercover for this. As a former Mormon victim herself, no one is in a better position to have done what she did. Same with one of the mother's in the documentary. They're incredibly brave, in ways I know I can never be.
The good news is that Sam Bateman was sentenced to 50 years in jail. His male accomplices who gave their young children to him also got 25 years in prison as well. Some of his adult wives got jail sentences as well. But as with every brainwashed situation, even with the damning evidence, many of Sam Bateman's adult wives still believe him to be the prophet. And akin to Warren Jeffs situation, they think he's being persecuted.
See, you can't save everyone. Impossible, so just love how Christina Marie led what caused some of them to break free.
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