I grew up in a cult. It was heaven -- and hell. | Lilia Tarawa | TEDxChristchurch
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Published 2017-11-16
Lilia Tarawa is a New Zealand writer, speaker, holistic health consultant and business coach. She is a member of the Māori Ngāi Tahu tribe. Lilia was born into New Zealand's infamous religious cult, Gloriavale, and fled with her eleven family members at eighteen years of age. Her extraordinary life experience compelled her to pursue a career promoting human rights, welfare and empowerment.
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This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
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Imagine getting bullied by your pops because you have leadership skills
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Someone pls tell the lady with the tissue that WE APPRECIATE THAT
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This was what your grandfather was afraid of And he was damn right to be scared of the immense power you carry You're a damn real leader, yes ma'am
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wow, the way she flips between the worst trauma and best memories just represents how after anything horrible happened they would bring good things back in to immediately brainwash the children into thinking they were in a nice place, and that it was normal to be manipulated constantly
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The way that she goes from things like "lollipop planes" for "we don't want woman like you" is chilling
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My own stomach dropped the second she said that her grandfather said "We don't want women like you."
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I left a cult 3 years ago. Not the same kind but I have some similarities. I’m so proud of her for leaving. She’s so powerful and radiant.
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It took me a second to realize what her grandfather ment when he said “we don’t want women like you”and then it hit me and my own stomach twisted and turned.
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Is no one gonna talk about how her teacher predicted she would be a great leader in the future Edit: Guys ik the teacher didn't actually predict that but I thought it'd be fun to point out
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14:21 - To the woman in the bottom right corner offering a tissue. You're what's right with the world. One small act of compassion.
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how can anyone say she's faking her tears? how about y'all try retelling the most horrifying things you've seen in your lifetime without breaking down in tears and feeling how you felt the day you saw those thing happen.
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i grew up with a cult like religion. my mom married a “pastor” and the level of abuse i suffered at his hands, has forever scarred me. when that girl was talking about being isolated and no one talking to her, it resonated with me because i went through something very similar. i was not allowed to speak to anyone in the family, and no one was allowed to speak to me. it’s a weird kind of punishment. there was so much more.
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She's crying because of the emotional abuse she's gone through, not because she's whiny.
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"We don't want women like you." I died inside
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“Love for others broke the chains that shackled me” that is so beautiful 😭 17:30
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I feel so bad for her. You can just hear the emotional and mental trauma from her voice and it gives me shivers.
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It makes me violently sick and angry to know that people treat children this way.
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She has the brightest smile, but also has the saddest eyes
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her skin is so beautiful
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So sad to grow up thinking ur only purpose is to get married and reproduce.
