Sex Cult Nun

Breaking Away from the Children of God, a Wild, Radical Religious Cult

By: Faith Jones

Narrated by: Jaime Lamchick

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Educated meets The Vow in this story of liberation and self-empowerment - an inspiring and stranger-than-fiction memoir of growing up in and breaking free from the Children of God, an oppressive, extremist religious cult.

Faith Jones was raised to be part of a religious army preparing for the End Times. Growing up on an isolated farm in Macau, she prayed for hours every day and read letters of prophecy written by her grandfather, the founder of the Children of God. Tens of thousands of members strong, the cult followers looked to Faith’s grandfather as their guiding light. As such, Faith was celebrated as special and then punished doubly to remind her that she was not. 

Over decades, the Children of God grew into an international organization that became notorious for its alarming sex practices and allegations of abuse and exploitation. But with indomitable grit, Faith survived, creating a world of her own - pilfering books and teaching herself high school curriculum. Finally, at age 23, thirsting for knowledge and freedom, she broke away, leaving behind everything she knew to forge her own path in America. 

A complicated family story mixed with a hauntingly intimate coming-of-age narrative, Faith Jones’ extraordinary memoir reflects our societal norms of oppression and abuse while providing a unique lens to explore spiritual manipulation and our rights in our bodies. Honest, eye-opening, uplifting, and intensely affecting, Sex Cult Nun brings to life a hidden world that’s hypnotically alien yet unexpectedly relatable. 

©2021 Faith Jones (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

An absolute page-turner

As someone who previously worked for a cult-like company and was with an abusive, narcissistic partner prior, the blatant brainwashing and manipulation Faith tells about in the book sounded so familiar.

Faith is a master storyteller and writes with such clarity and detail that it felt as if I was in her shoes, as she recalls her life experiences in the Children of God.

It takes such a strong person to be able to heal from such childhood. It felt like a horror story was unfolding before me as I listened. And it's heartbreaking that this reality exists.

Faith has done a phenomenal job shedding light on what goes on in cults, and why it's tough to get people out once they're in. There is such a complex, twisted dynamic that keep these structures in place, and managing to get out is half the battle. Between leaving a cult and rebuilding one's own identity, there's this chasm that you have to cross — the loneliness of leaving loved ones and parts of yourself behind, the questioning of truth, the anger, the limbo, the grief, and then finally, if and when it comes, the healing and rebuilding.

Shocked things like this occur in our world

Heard Faith’s interview on NPR and couldn’t wait to read this book. It did not disappoint!

So interesting

Really enjoyed this book. Very interesting and educational. What a sad, scary life and I’m glad she was able to get out of The Family.

Wow!

I couldn't stop listening to this. The things some people put themselves and their family through is ridiculous. Praying for all that has gone through this and are still going through this.

I DIDNT WANT THE BOOK TO END!!

Wow what a great story, towards the end I wanted to cry because I compared what she went through to what she accomplished!!
ahhh I just got goosebumps

the book was too long.

I think the book was way too long. a lot of the stuff was too repetitive. the story would have been better shorter. one thought I had about Grandpa was that he was dead a long time ago. that when things started to change it is because there was a power struggle going on. I wish that was explained in the book but I guess the author did not know.

the reader was tiresome to listen to. but it was an ok story.

Snuck up on me as a favorite!

I chose this book based off the title expecting and interesting story not even reading the description, I got more than that. I wouldn't even know where to begin in describing what I found. The shocking entertainment & knowledge in this story. Definitely recommended.

Good book, but the title doesn’t fit the story

This cult is so extreme. Their practices are so damaging to children. The author deserves accolades for navigating her way to a better life.
Not sure the title encapsulates the story at all.

Not great!

The performance and reading were great! However, the content too graphic for someone affected by sexual abuse. Didnt finish.

Terrible

There’s nothing here. The story is over by chapter two and you get corny, cutesie recollections of childhood for what seems like an eternity. I couldn’t get any farther. I assume she leaves the cult, lol.