Cultimatum: The Cult & Human Trafficking Podcast22 Sep 2024

Swindled By Faith with Richard Kiers

Ep. #32 Swindled By Faith with Richard Kiers

Please consider buying us a cup of coffee or two by clicking here. Your support helps fund our out of pocket expense

In this episode, we explore the story of Richard Kiers, who grew up in The Move of God, a cult founded by Sam Fife in the 1960s. Seeking spiritual fulfillment, Richard’s father uprooted the family when Richard was just 10 years old, moving them to a remote commune in Canada. Life in The Move was defined by strict control—members cut ties with extended family, followed rigid rules on dress and behavior, and lived in extreme isolation.

The commune operated on a system of self-sufficiency, but this meant enduring harsh conditions without running water, electricity, or proper sanitation. Every resource, including money and transportation, was communal property. Children, including Richard, were put to work on the farm and in building the community, while food was scarce and of poor quality. Despite these hardships, members were expected to demonstrate unwavering faith.

As Richard grew older, he began to question the group, especially when his father fell ill. The cult rejected outside medical care, insisting that faith alone would heal him. Watching his father suffer deeply shook Richard’s belief in The Move, revealing the cracks in the group’s teachings. Years later, he chronicled his experiences in Swindled by Faith, waiting until after his parents' passing to publish the book. He exposes how the cult discarded members once they were no longer financially useful, showing the dark reality behind The Move’s promises of spiritual truth.

Link to Richard's Facebook page

Link to Richard's Book

Link to the Documentary Richard was in

Cultimatum Podcast Contact Info & Links:

Email: cultimatumpodcast@gmail.com

Cultimatum Facebook Group

Cultimatum Instagram Link

Cultimatum TikTok Link

Cult Escape & Recovery Support Group

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(138)

The Cult Leader’s Daughter | Australian Cult Survivor Network

In this episode of the Cultimatum Podcast, host Andrew and co-host Melody welcome Clare Heath MacGyver, a survivor of a Christian Dominionist cult. Clare shares her harrowing journey from being the da...

27 Sep 1h 8min

From Spiritual Community to Doomsday Cult: Lorraine’s Escape

SummaryIn this episode of the Cultimatum Podcast, Lorraine shares her harrowing experience as a survivor of a cult that began as a spiritual community. She discusses the manipulative tactics employed ...

20 Sep 1h 3min

Escaping Scientology: Anne Hill’s Journey From the Sea Org to Freedom

Anne Hill spent years inside Scientology, eventually rising into international management and becoming a member of the Sea Org. In this episode of Cultimatum, Anne takes us inside a world built on con...

13 Sep 1h 14min

When Obedience Becomes Abuse: Laurel Rourick’s Story of Surviving IBLP

SummaryLaurel Rourick shares her story of growing up inside IBLP, the controversial religious movement founded by Bill Gothard. She opens up about authoritarian control, purity culture, childhood abus...

6 Sep 52min

She Escaped a Cult, a Toxic Marriage & the Drug Cartel | Dr. Robyn Lynette

SummaryIn this episode of the Cultimatum podcast, Dr. Robyn Lynette shares her harrowing journey as a cult survivor. Growing up in a strict religious group, she faced immense challenges, including bei...

30 Aug 56min

I Escaped The RAMP: Abuse, Exploitation & Faith After a Christian Cult

SummaryIn this episode of the Cultimatum podcast, hosts Andrew and Melody engage with Rod, a former member of The RAMP, a Christian cult in Alabama. Rod shares his harrowing experiences of abuse, raci...

23 Aug 1h 1min

One of 16: Growing Up in Mormon Polygamy | Kody Brown's Nephew Ben Brown

In this engaging conversation, Ben Brown shares his unique experiences growing up in a polygamous family within a fundamentalist Mormon group. He discusses the historical roots of his family's involve...

16 Aug 1h 8min

When the Shelf Finally Broke: Shedding the Garments and Leaving Mormonism

What happens when the questions you’ve been told to “put on the shelf” become too heavy to ignore? Vanessa shares her journey growing up in the LDS Church and ultimately questioning the beliefs that s...

9 Aug 59min