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Sex Cult Nun: Breaking Away from the Children of God, a Wild, Radical Religious Cult
Named a Most Anticipated book by People, TIME, USA Today, Newsweek, Real Simple, Glamour, Nylon, Bustle, Purewow, Shondaland, and more!
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 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 twenty-three, 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.
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 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 twenty-three, 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.
Editorial Reviews
"The no-holds-barred story of growing up in an extremist religious cult preparing for the end of days is hard to put down from its very first sentence. Jones brings us along as she tries to navigate a world few of us can imagine while contending with the conflicts of love, loyalty and growing up." -- Newsweek
"In this outstanding debut, Jones recounts her upbringing in and escape from the infamous cult, the Children of God… As Jones transports readers from Macau to Kazakhstan to the United States, Jones skillfully provides the mental framework to understand her past as an indoctrinated individual in hopes of helping others ‘stand up for themselves.' This remarkable account of self-liberation is not to be missed." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Both inspiring and disturbing, Sex Cult Nun unravels Jones' complicated upbringing, the trauma she endured as a result and her eventual path to liberation." -- Time
"Jones...tells her harrowing story in a brisk present-tense voice, lending her recollections a sense of disturbing immediacy...in this powerful book." -- San Francisco Chronicle
"Jones bridges entertainment and empathy by penning a page-turning memoir that is not just a fascinating and heartbreaking look at life inside a cult, but ultimately an empowering story of resilience." -- USA Today (four stars)
"[Jones's] gripping memoir-like Educated-takes you inside a disturbing childhood and leaves you marveling at the resilience of the human spirit." -- People
"[A]n exceptional debut… A must-read memoir of self-discovery and reinvention that readers will find impossible to put down. Pass along to fans of Tara Westover's Educated." -- Library Journal (starred review)
"Jones not only shined a marvelous light on the criminally destructive nature of religious cults but how the effects of abuse and mind control permeated every aspect of the followers' lives. Sex Cult Nun also provides a narrative of triumph that one could escape an egregious cult and create an authentic life free from abuse. As Faith Jones has done for herself, may her life story be a testament to the power of determination and the quest for freedom at all costs." -- San Francisco Book Review
"[A]n absolute must-read." -- Bitch Magazine
"Faith Jones's memoir of growing up in the Children of God religious cult is shocking and, ultimately, life-affirming…. An eye-opening account sure to please those who love a good cult book or just a good memoir." -- Booklist
"In this outstanding debut, Jones recounts her upbringing in and escape from the infamous cult, the Children of God… As Jones transports readers from Macau to Kazakhstan to the United States, Jones skillfully provides the mental framework to understand her past as an indoctrinated individual in hopes of helping others ‘stand up for themselves.' This remarkable account of self-liberation is not to be missed." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Both inspiring and disturbing, Sex Cult Nun unravels Jones' complicated upbringing, the trauma she endured as a result and her eventual path to liberation." -- Time
"Jones...tells her harrowing story in a brisk present-tense voice, lending her recollections a sense of disturbing immediacy...in this powerful book." -- San Francisco Chronicle
"Jones bridges entertainment and empathy by penning a page-turning memoir that is not just a fascinating and heartbreaking look at life inside a cult, but ultimately an empowering story of resilience." -- USA Today (four stars)
"[Jones's] gripping memoir-like Educated-takes you inside a disturbing childhood and leaves you marveling at the resilience of the human spirit." -- People
"[A]n exceptional debut… A must-read memoir of self-discovery and reinvention that readers will find impossible to put down. Pass along to fans of Tara Westover's Educated." -- Library Journal (starred review)
"Jones not only shined a marvelous light on the criminally destructive nature of religious cults but how the effects of abuse and mind control permeated every aspect of the followers' lives. Sex Cult Nun also provides a narrative of triumph that one could escape an egregious cult and create an authentic life free from abuse. As Faith Jones has done for herself, may her life story be a testament to the power of determination and the quest for freedom at all costs." -- San Francisco Book Review
"[A]n absolute must-read." -- Bitch Magazine
"Faith Jones's memoir of growing up in the Children of God religious cult is shocking and, ultimately, life-affirming…. An eye-opening account sure to please those who love a good cult book or just a good memoir." -- Booklist
Readers Top Reviews
Chris Schembra
Literally just read it in one sitting. I just can’t imagine what it was like for her to go through those times. But it’s powerful to hear her story of forgiveness and gratitude, and to hear the success she’s become today. Bravo.
Nilka
A Powerful book to read. The first time I read a real-life story. As I was reading the book, I was feeling the author. Sometimes we do not realize what is going around us, but after reading this book, I realized that things happen to other people, and you are unaware of them. I recommend this book to everyone. To the author, thank you for this book.
Sagar Dhingra
This is the most powerful and real story I have come across in a long time! The author has done a great job in telling her honest story, thank you for bringing this out to the world. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
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