Elizabeth Darcy Darcy 1 

205 Scudder Hall, SUNY New Paltz

President Darrell P. Wheeler

1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY 12561

November 22nd, 2023

Dear President Wheeler, 

Understanding and acknowledging manipulation is a very important skill for all people to have. This skill is essential to navigating the workplace and relationships. At SUNY New Paltz, the student body would greatly benefit from hearing from public speaker and author Lilia Tarawa, a survivor of the Gloriavale Christian community in New Zealand. In her extraordinary TEDtalk, she recounts her youth and reveals to her audience that abuse can seep in slowly and gives heartbreaking examples of what happens when corruption takes the lead. Lilia Tarawa would be a beneficial speaker because she is a firsthand survivor of religious abuse and is a very competent advocate.  

The Gloriavale Christian community is a community in New Zealand. In a recent article by ABC Australia, Nick Baker and Sky Kirkham report that “By the 1990s, the community had outgrown its Springbank property so it moved to the Haupiri Valley on the South Island’s West Coast — which Grady describes as “one of the most isolated parts of New Zealand”. This new settlement was called Gloriavale, after the founder’s late wife, Gloria.  But the group’s early utopian vision didn’t last, with ex-members now speaking out about a dark and exploitative existence inside the community, (Baker & Kirkham). Lilia Tarawa grew up in the community 

 

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alongside her entire  family. She recounts in her TEDtalk the beauties of the land, as well as the profound sense of community. She was constantly surrounded by loved ones from the time she was very young. One of the first glimpses she got into the corruption within that community was when she happily shared her first report card with her family and was subsequently shamed by her grandfather and hearing him say “we don’t want women like you,”. That was only the beginning of the brainwashing and manipulation for Lilia. Britannica defines the term ‘brainwashing’ as “systematic effort to persuade nonbelievers to accept a certain allegiance, command, or doctrine. A colloquial term, it is more generally applied to any technique designed to manipulate human thought or action against the desire, will, or knowledge of the individual. By controlling the physical and social environment, an attempt is made to destroy loyalties to any unfavourable groups or individuals, to demonstrate to the individual that his attitudes and patterns of thinking are incorrect and must be changed, and to develop loyalty and unquestioning obedience to the ruling party,” (Britannica Academic). The treatment of women and children within this community is appalling, and in recent years more victims have come forward with horrifying stories of their time in Gloriavale. Julie Fenwick, a writer for Vice, interviewed a former member of the community named Virginia. In the interview for vice, Virginia states that “‘You’re reared in those thoughts where it’s like I owe the system something.‘Actually: I owe them my life’,” she told VICE.’” (Julie Fenwick).

Hearing from this speaker would be illuminating. According to Steve Eichel, an expert on cult behaviors, “Most cults are extremely small and very deliberately try to to stay under the radar,”. In an article for CBS News, he says that “10,000 cults still exist today in the United States,”. Cults still exist and thrive because they know what they are doing. They prey on 

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people who they know are vulnerable and give them false hopes. A very commonly mentioned cult is the cult of Scientology, which is riddled with allegations of sexual abuse and degredation. There is often an air of mystery surrounding cults, which cultivates the belief that the dangers behind them are rare. This is simply not the case, as the church of Scientology has locations worldwide. The reason Lilia Tarawa would be a wonderful guest speaker to have at SUNY New Paltz is that this generation needs to be diligent and know how to tell when they are being brainwashed and abused. Also, this skill transcends cults because it is also imperative for navigating relationships and the workforce. The skills Tarawa would teach are how to recognize, escape from, and heal from abusive situations. Those skills are priceless. 

There are a few aspects of her speech that could potentially cause some discomfort within the New Paltz community. First and foremost, the topics discussed in the TEDtalk are very dark. By no means should any student be obligated to put themselves through a potentially triggering presentation, but the community at SUNY New Paltz is very understanding of this and those who feel comfortable should still listen to what this speaker has to say. This issue can be solved by providing sufficient content warnings and offering resources to those who may be upset by the content of the presentation. Another potential counter argument could be that the speech could be perceived as insensitive to those whose views align with the views of the Gloriavale community. As for this point, I am not positive what the answer is. I do know that it is imperative to listen to other perspectives, and I believe that SUNY New Paltz is an institution that cultivates this idea. The Gloriavale website even states that they do not speak to the media, as seen in their frequently 

 

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asked questions section. They specify by saying that, “We have had many experiences with the media that make us wary of bias and glory seeking that distorts the Word of God and the truth of 

the Church. We have seen very few blessings come from reports in newspapers, radio or television, so we do not seek publicity nor do we believe that the media exists to promote the truth. When people make public accusations about us in the media, we do not answer those accusations when it involves making counter accusations or disclosing the details of a person’s private life. Such matters should be sorted out privately according to the principles of Matthew 18; these are not matters for public debate,” (Gloriavale). This only perpetuates their environment of isolation. When questioned about accusations of abuse, they hide. 

The reason why it is so important to listen to these stories is because abuse hides in the shadows. It hides alongside our loved ones and even within our faith. SUNY New Paltz would greatly benefit from hearing Tarawa speak because she was able to recognize how her community abused its members, and use what she had been through to educate others through her advocacy and writing. I hope you are able to consider her presentation for our next season.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Darcy

     

 

    Works Cited  

“Access Britannica Academic.” Britannica Academic,               academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/brainwashing/16186. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023. 

Baker, Nick. “In This Secretive Christian Community, Women Routinely Have 12 or More Children.” ABC News, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2022, www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-02/new-zealand-secretive-gloriavale-christian-community/101569708. 

Gloriavale Christian Community ” Frequently Asked Questions, gloriavale.org.nz/faqs/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023. 

“How to Identify a Cult: Six Tips from an Expert.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 25 Feb. 2018, www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-identify-a-cult-six-expert-tips/. 

Tarawa, Lilia. “I Grew up in a Cult. It Was Heaven – and Hell.: Lilia Tarawa: TEDxChristchurch.” Lilia Tarawa: I Grew up in a Cult. It Was Heaven – and Hell. | Lilia Tarawa | TEDxChristchurch | TED Talk, www.ted.com/talks/lilia_tarawa_i_grew_up_in_a_cult_it_was_heaven_and_hell?language=en. Accessed 2 Nov. 2023. 

“‘People Being Programmed’: Inside New Zealand’s Gloriavale Religious Cult.”     VICE, 31    Oct. 2022, www.vice.com/en/article/wxnbd9/people-being-programmed-inside-new-zealands-gloriavale-religious-cult.