Abstract
Religious cults are widespread phenomena that have been around for decades. The prevalence of religious cults has also been noted in South Africa. The extent of control and influence religious cults exert and the negative consequence on their members varies. Limited studies have been conducted on the lived experiences of former cult members. This study explores the lived experiences of former religious cult members by asking how former members of the Seven Angels Ministry experienced life in the religious group and their subsequent readjustment to mainstream society after leaving the church.
A qualitative research methodology informed by phenomenology was adopted. This study employed a purposive sampling method where in-depth interviews were conducted with three participants who are former members of the disbanded Seven Angels Ministry. The narratives of the participants were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as proposed by Smith, Flowers, and Larkin. The data analysis revealed seven main themes: a) The leader-follower relationship, b) The ideology of the church, c) Mechanisms of control, d) Systems of social influence, e) Closedmindedness, f) The experience of exiting the group and, g) Adjusting and reintegrating to mainstream society. The participants further reported experiencing a myriad of emotional reactions after exiting the religious group, including shock, denial, anger, fear, distrust, shame, depression and empathy for the leaders. Lastly, participants described an enormously challenging process of readjustment and reintegration into society involving difficulties accepting their reality of having been deeply immersed in a religious cult, rebuilding their social and familial relationships, and restoring their vocations. The lived experiences of the participants highlight the importance of familial support and psychoeducation in enabling post-cult recovery. This study has the potential to enrich mental health practice in South Africa.
Keywords: Religious Cult, Lived Experiences, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), Phenomenology