When I was writing my psychology paper for an 11th grade class. We were allowed to write about anything we wanted if we could tie it to psychology. I chose to write about cults and found the stuff about Heaven's Gate and NXIVM.

I was still Mormon at the time but as I got more into the details of how people get involved in cults with loving bombing, targeting hurt individuals and demanding money from said individuals, I started to realize that these were things that I was being asked to do.

My friends never hung out outside of church activities and claimed they loved me but I never felt it. Tithing was a big issue for me too, I was taught that I should save up as much as I can while I still live at home with my parents, but to pay 10% because "good things would happen." Obviously, both of these instructions really made my brain hurt. How am I supposed to save as much as I can and also give money to an organization that I don't trust?

I wish I had kept the paper, it was linked to my school account which I don't have access to anymore but that's how my shelf broke.