Losing the Way: A Memoir of Spiritual Longing, Manipulation, Abuse, and Escape [Paperback]

Kristen Skedgell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 18, 2008

A riveting and finely crafted true story, Losing the Way recounts how the daughter of East Coast intellectuals was recruited into a well-known rightwing Bible cult, The Way International, where she was manipulated, betrayed, and abused, before being rescued by the worldly mother she rejected. Skedgell shows how easily an idealistic young person can be swept away by a spiritual quest and the quiet malevolence lurking beneath the religious exterior of a false leader.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bay Tree Publishing (June 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972002197
• ISBN-13: 978-0972002196
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,248,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A look in a foggy mirror...., June 29, 2008

By 

Robert W. Lunsford (Indiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Losing the Way: A Memoir of Spiritual Longing, Manipulation, Abuse, and Escape (Paperback)

As a long time follower of The Way, Way Corps grad, and Wow ambassador during the same period the author was involved, this was a difficult read for me. The Way was responsible in part for my divorce, financial issues, and a mistrust of religious organizations that exists to this day. At first skeptical of the style and personal perspective the book is written from, I began slowly experiencing my own deja vu, as I was present at many of the locations, meetings, classes, even conversations, and knew many of the people who's names have been changed to protect the guilty. While I understand the logic behind the deletion of real names, I would posture, hasn't enough been hidden from view? Kristen puts many pieces together and helps by personal experience rather than preaching, dissecting, or explaining, the long lasting effects The Way has had on so many. It brings a degree of sorrow and regret for my time defending such blatant evil on the part of Wierwille, who used me for his own purposes that had little to do with God, reality, honesty, or healing. Perhaps acceptance and closure is the authors greatest gift to those still realing after 30 years of unanswered questions. How could a God who loves me allow so many to be so hurt? The greatest contribution of her efforts may be closure, and enabling others to trust again. Thank you Kristen, for your courage.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, August 4, 2008

By 

doc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Losing the Way: A Memoir of Spiritual Longing, Manipulation, Abuse, and Escape (Paperback)

I could not put the book down once I started it. I've passed it on to a few friends and they are equally blown away with the quality of the writing and experiencing the first person account as if they were there with Kris. This is a very moving book.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Reading, July 1, 2008

By 

Constance Harrison (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Losing the Way: A Memoir of Spiritual Longing, Manipulation, Abuse, and Escape (Paperback)

Kristen Skedgell begins her work with a caution from the New Testament Gospel of John, "Little, children keep yourselves from idols, Amen" and then provides a demonstration of the wisdom of such an admonishment through her own personal and perplexing story.

It's a difficult story that she tells. The book provides an alarming example of the attraction and danger of cults and cult leaders. It is also a poignant narration of the insecurities and rebellion of adolescence, family alcoholism, the human need for inclusion, as well as a telling example of objectification of women. She writes in the present tense and in that voice she engages the reader each step of a painful and evocative journey. This is an amazing book.