Customer Reviews

Torn From The Arms of Satan: A True Story of Seduction and Escape from A Contemporary New Age Cult

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The author shows how cultists' entire lives, prior to falling victim to charismatic cult tactics, sensitizes them, almost as a form of preparatory indoctrination. The reader will find a clear explanation as to why a cult member becomes so extremely gullible and so submissive to a single authority, while resistant to other seemingly more reasonable ways of thinking. After all the preparation and indoctrination, the surprising part of this tale is that the author could be de-programmed and by a dedicated single individual at that. The grit, patience and determination displayed by Judith Carlone (the "de-programmer") had me mixing metaphors by describing her in conversation as "an avatar of St. Michael". In the end, "Torn From the Arms of Satan" teaches three lessons; the elements which draw a person toward a life draining cult; the extreme and insideous durability of cult "membership"; and a tribute to the equally persistent efforts and steadfast people needed to bring about the successful escape, that produced this story.

Many personal experiences told by former cult members are written in a simplistic fashion. They describe their life in the cult as a living Hell and express gratitude that they are out, but they do not describe their struggles, their ambivalences and their confusion. Their stories are interesting from the point of view of learning about the beliefs of the cult, but they do not offer insight into the human condition. This book does offer those insights. Most of the narrative is written by Ms. Burchard, who was innocently unwary of a manipulative sociopathic cult leader who could seduce people, exploit them, and discard them with no sense of the fact that he was destroying people's lives. Ms. Burchard's explanation of her entry into the cult, her life within it, and her subsequent leave taking is honest, self-revealing and complex. Outsiders can easily see that the group members' beliefs are bizarre and absurd. Ms. Burchard helps us to comprehend how an intelligent, insightful and well read individual could be manipulated into accepting those beliefs. Her long struggle to leave and her initial reluctance to give up those beliefs, even after she knew they were false, help us to understand the complexity of mind control and manipulation. Ms. Carlone's struggle was not to come to grips with the truth or falsity of the leader's claims. She was not caught up in the cult leader's web and could clearly see the absurdity of the group's beliefs. Her problem was how to convey that insight to Ms. Burchard without alienating her. Ms. Carlone's dilemma is that which is faced every day by family members and friends of cult members. Her consistent, loving approach to helping her friend realize that she was in a destructive situation is a blueprint that others can learn from and emulate. This book is not about dangerous minds still in dark places. It is about normal human beings caught up in a hurricane of manipulation and exploitation. Any of us, under the proper set of circumstances, could get caught in a cult. This book helps us to understand how that could happen. It is insightful and thought-provoking. The fact that it is also fascinating is a tribute to the story-telling skills of the authors.

This is a story of tragic introduction to a new age guru through the victim's mother and of a friendship that prevailed to enable leaving the cult. Her friend, who coauthored this work, was a constant source of support. She provided observations, rarely noted, of a victim while under the confines of cult influence. It is excitingly written. The reader wonders why didn't she get rid of this guru much sooner then she did. We learn again and again how difficult it is for any victim to disentangle themselves of the cult burden. We see clearly the intimidation and self justification of the guru. His actions are decidedly that of a sociopath. He exploited her almost to the point of financial ruin. She is faced with many unresolved issues in her contacts with this "wisdom" filled rogue, but our writer manages to lay aside the scars of her brutal treatment and salvages a life of her own. I consider the care and direction given by her friend as close to miraculous. Judith Carlone prodded with sensitivity, and considered her actions humbly as no more than a duty to a friend. I thank the authors for providing us with the subtleties of cult involvement along with the agonizing decisions to break the spell. An incredible story.

An intriguing true story with many facets. This book shows how individuals with a con artist mind set can take advantage of good people in a week moment. In this particular case the con artist guru claims to be an authority in stress management. The bulk of the story that follows, portrays how this devious individual uses and manipulates the innocent people that he has been able to lure into his control. The good ending exudes the goodness and perseverence of a wonderful woman whose insight was able to help one more victim escape from the mental manipulation of a morbid maniac! Bottom line, a book everyone should read.

Burchard & Carlone in the revelatory "Torn From the Arms of Satan", have rendered an invaluable service to everyone on this planet. All of us need to be alerted to the inherent danger of evil predators whose sole purpose is to control and enslave others. No one is immune to their wiles, to the tantalizing prospect of having one's uncertainties fulfilled and all questions answered. Wake up America! Be prepared to reject these monsters and to help and understand those tragic unfortunates who have fallen prey to them. Read this book!

This book exemplifies the power of love in a way that proves that there are still some people in this world who can love there fellow man or woman, and find the compassion, courage, and intellegence to do something about abuse in it's most horrible form.It steals your heart, it stimulates your mind, it demonstrates how anyone can be decieved regardless of the intellectual capacity of a individual given certain circumstances and conditions. The book is a visual journey through the experiences of a life that challanges your imagination and proves that survivial is beyond the realm of the natural.The book is mindboggling, and deserves to be among the top in it's field. The writing was passionate,intense, riveting,and honest. It deserves to be read for all that seek to find a great and unbelivable true story!

This book is *not* about satanism. It is a well-written journal describing a hellish, suburban cult experience.

The authors have chronicled Ms. Burchard's nineteen-year involvement with a group of dependent, weak-willed individuals dominated by a greedy and manipulative leader. The leader used verbal intimidation, physical threats, and social isolation to erode members' self-confidence. Ms. Burchard stagnated and lost over $165,000 during her nineteen-year cult experience. She was able to leave the cult only after Ms. Carlone met and befriended her. Ms. Carlone and her husband provided the insight, objectivity, and emotional support that Ms. Burchard needed to grow and to break with the cult.

The authors' writing style conveys emotion without being sensational. Their description of their experience effectively and believably portrays the power of cultish mind control.

This book is fascinating! I couldn't put it down. Elizabeth enlightens the reader with her courage to escape the clutches of a malevolent genius. She digs herself out in the midst of incredible opposition. Burchard and Carlone are astounding and brilliant at exposing the faulty logic and psychological master minding of the cult leader. I found myself rising from my seat to cheer for her victories and her escape. Elizabeth you are a wonderful person

This book reveals the floor plan of spiritual and psychological entrapment. Riveting and impressively well written, captivating and emotionally wrenching. Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone have described the essence of evil. This book is a must read. It is stimulating and brutally honest. I applaud the Authors for their courage and their eloquence in delivering such an informative piece of literature.

After reading many books about cults and how people can be brought into one, i finally found a real story which vividly explains how a normal person could become a cult member, and how a it takes a very strong person, and in this case, two very strong people, to be torn away. how scary that this could happen right in our neighborhood. anyone who is sending their child to therapy, actually, anyone with a child, should read this. great title. great book.