I just saw an article on Dateline about Davidito/Ricky Rodriguez who was born into the “Children of God” cult. He was sexually abused and brain-washed along with the other children and members. Of course they did not call it sexual abuse, they called it free love for all, including children—as young as three. Eventually he rebelled and was sent to “teen training” which involved hard labor and more abuse. Later, he left the church and tried to forget. He could not. He made a film where he poured out his heart and his hatred for the church—now called “The Family”—and his plan to track down his mother as well as the lengths he would go to to do so, including torture. He ended up murdering a friend of his mother’s after which—unable to live with what he had done—he shot himself.
I am incredibly impressed with this guy. Not because of his inability to put the past behind him and killing Angela Smith, but for his ability to tell right from wrong despite being brain-washed.
He grew up in a cult surrounded by hundreds, even thousands of crazy people who believed and taught that what they were doing is good and correct. Despite this he was able to realize that no, this is not good, this is not correct, in fact it is very wrong. I am impressed that he was able to say no, I don’t agree with all of you and I am leaving.
It is too bad that he could not get over the pain and that he had to die. I am sure that if someone could have encouraged him in time he would still be alive and helping others like himeself today.