Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army

Watched> On the BBC, UK (Sunday, 27th July) Rated 3.5 * * * stars - Good to Very Good - Noel Stanton (1926 - 2009), the preacher/pastor and his elders, who allegedly preyed on vulnerable young women, men and children, in around 24 congregations in various cities and towns in the UK (approximately 3,500 members by 2007). Thirty three allegations have been made against Stanton, which includes the sexual abuse of children. This powerful documentary follows a group of young people, who were part of this cult over a number of years, as they now come forward years later to tell their story, and how it as effected them, as they struggle to come to terms with their past. (It as come to light, that 539 alleged perpetrators of physical, sexual and emotional abuse) This is an emotional, hard hitting documentary, about what goes on behind closed doors, in the name of God. RECOMMENDED. (ps)

You watch a documentary about a cult and its almost inevitable that, among all sorts of other abuses, the story will end up with sexual abuse. Such is that case of the 'Jesus Army'; but the sobering thing here is that this isn't a story that occurred in a wild and semi-lawless place, a long time ago, but in densely populated suburban England within the last few decades. Perhaps the price for living in a "free" society is that those who would control others have a certain ability to do so (otherwise, the state has a mononpoly on that!) - but it's a high price. It would seem that the human desire to belong makes us very vulnerable to those who would take advantage.