This is LEGAL? The SHOCKING Loopholes Cults Exploit to Evade Prosecution with Carol Merchasin

Описание: In this episode of The Influence Continuum podcast, Dr. Steven Hassan sits down with Carol Merchasin, a powerhouse attorney dedicated to fighting for survivors of cults and high-control groups. With years of experience uncovering abuse in spiritual communities, Carol shares her journey and exposes the shocking tactics used by manipulative leaders to exploit and silence their followers.

Discover:
🔹 How cult leaders use psychological coercion, authoritarian control, and manipulation to trap victims.
🔹 The hidden legal hurdles survivors face when seeking justice for sexual violence and financial exploitation.
🔹 Why current laws fail to protect victims—and what must change to combat undue influence.
🔹 The role of neuroscience, media, and advocacy in redefining consent and exposing cultic abuse.
🔹 Powerful insights from real cases, including survivors reclaiming their voices and fighting back.

Carol and Dr. Hassan dive deep into the realities of coercion, the illusion of consent, and the urgent need to hold abusive systems accountable. Whether you’re a survivor, an advocate, or simply curious about the hidden mechanics of influence, this conversation sheds light on critical issues affecting countless lives.

🎧 Don’t Miss This Episode
Subscribe to The Influence Continuum for expert insights into cult psychology, authoritarianism, and the fight for justice.

🌟 Learn More & Get Involved

Dr. Steven Hassan’s work on mind control and recovery: [link]
Carol Merchasin’s legal advocacy for survivors: [link]
💬 Share Your Thoughts
Have you experienced coercion or seen someone manipulated by undue influence? Comment below to join the conversation and help raise awareness.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
Dr. Steven Hassan introduces attorney and cult expert Carol Merchasin, highlighting her work in defending survivors of coercion and abuse in high-control groups.
2:20 From Retirement to Advocacy
Carol shares her journey from corporate law to uncovering sexual violence in a Buddhist community, sparking her mission to fight for survivors.
5:10 Inside the Buddhist Cult Scandal
Carol reveals shocking findings from her investigation into sexual assault within a prominent Buddhist community in Canada.
8:45 Coercion and the Illusion of Consent
How survivors face profound risks—physical, psychological, and social—when challenging cult leaders.
12:30 Manipulation Across Faiths
Exploring abuse and authoritarian control in Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and Hindu cults, as well as yoga and spiritual communities.
17:00 India Oxenberg and NXIVM
Dr. Hassan recounts India Oxenberg's chilling experience in NXIVM’s DOS subgroup, where branding and psychological manipulation were routine.
22:15 Gaslighting Survivors in Cults
Carol shares the story of a woman manipulated by spiritual leaders to suppress her accusations in the name of "peace."
28:00 Exploitation Beyond Sexual Abuse
The devastating impact of financial coercion, including a survivor who unknowingly donated tens of thousands to a cult.
31:45 Legal Loopholes Cults Exploit
How cults misuse religious freedom, NDAs, and tax-exempt status to evade accountability for crimes like labor trafficking, fraud, and abuse.
39:00 The Law’s Struggle With Consent and Coercion
Carol and Dr. Hassan discuss why current laws fail to recognize coercion and the urgent need for reform.
46:30 Hope for Survivors
How survivors use litigation to reclaim their voices and challenge abusive systems, despite the trauma of legal battles.
54:15 The Role of Media, Science, and Law in Reform
The importance of collaboration between lawyers, psychologists, and neuroscientists in pushing the law forward.
1:02:00 Call to Action: Fighting Coercion Together
Carol and Dr. Hassan discuss the next steps in creating legal and societal accountability for cults and high-control groups.

#CultSurvivorStories #CoercionAwareness #RedefiningConsent #LegalAdvocacy #SurvivorsSpeakOut #MindControl #SpiritualAbuse #HighControlGroups #StevenHassan #CarolMerchasin #UndueInfluence #drstevenhassan #stevenhassan #cults #mindcontrol #brainwashing #BITEmodel #influencecontinuum

********************************************
Learn more at: https://freedomofmind.com/

Subscribe to The Influence Continuum podcast: https://freedomofmind.com/podcast-3/

Enroll in our courses -
https://courses.freedomofmind.com/col...

Download a .pdf of the BITE model here!
https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-c...

Subscribe to the Freedom of Mind newsletter: https://freedomofmind.com/subscribe/

Read or listen to Dr. Hassan's books: https://freedomofmind.com/books/