Kitty BITE Back Episode 23: TORTURE-you say. liMes, I hope 1 day the same is done to you (x 1,000)FU

Hey y'all! I'm here and ready this week to bust through the last few components of Behavior Control; as part of the BITE model described by SAH. If you're just now joining us, I recommend you get some lighter reading with the first handful of episodes and work your way up to this; because folx, we are processing component 21: torture. Wow, just wow. I want you to think in your head and ponder what that word means. What things come to mind when you hear the word torture? What are you thinking about? Being trapped in a basement? No food or water? Being beaten or manipulated? Someone trying to control or gain information from you? Yeah, that can be it; but, what is the LEGAL definition of torture? Like what would hold up in a court of law??? Let's see what Google has to say: "Torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment violate human dignity and is the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical pain or suffering." Well there is- the legal definition of torture. Let's look at some examples from my experience being in a destructive religious cult in rural KY and see- does this qualify as torture?

STORY TIME!

• Things happened in this cult that where down right unexplainably inhumane- torturous, even. And so many adults just let things happen. I've already given you examples of things that could quite possibly be considered torture. I was forced to have a belt tightly wrapped around my neck and paraded around the building so each and every person could pray for me. Does this qualify as "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment violate human dignity and is the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical pain or suffering"? I mean, I think so, what about you? I didn't want to have a belt choking me while the cult leader paraded me around like a sickly cow on it's way to the slaughter. I didn't want 25+ people laying their hands on me, hitting me in the back and chest, grabbing my head and shaking it. But is this considered "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment violate human dignity and is the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical pain or suffering"? I struggle sometimes to validate my own experiences and sometimes dismiss them as not as intense as they actually were. Honestly, most of the time I don't realize what happened to me or others was that bad until I talk about it with loved ones and they are so deeply concerned and disturbed by it. Then I'm like "damn, that was intense..." I also feel like with the extreme use of corporal punishment used against specifically the children (starting at infancy) would be considered torture. If a child was giggling or playing or not simply being distracted from the service (yes even as young as infancy)- they would be spanked with a homemade wooden paddle covered in duct tape. I told you all in an earlier episode that I can still hear the screams of those babies as their parents had been instructed (during the service) to go spank them X amount of times using the paddle the cult leader made available for everyone. I wonder if that paddle is still there.... I should go check one day when I'm in Carrollton. Other things would happen too- like when people got baptized. There was a tub in the back of the building; and, the cult leader would baptize people in it. When I was baptized they ran the water hose from the cult leader's neighboring house in through the window of the building to fill up the tub- and lemme tell ya, that water was ICE FUCKING COLD. Once you got into the tub you would get on your knees. The cult leader would give his shpeal about how the cold water would wash your sins clean in the name of Jesus. He would then put his hand on your FACE and shake you violently- praying. The members of the cult who were attending your baptismal would follow suit and begin praying as well. He would say 'I now baptize you in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins." And then dunk you backwards under the water. And lemme tell you- this is not a dunk-and-go situation. This is a he is going to hold you underwater by your FACE while he shakes you violently and all you can hear is the loud roar of people praying through the water above your head situation. You need to take in a big gulp of air before going under (and he doesn't say that- I'm saying that now) because he is going to shake you by your FACE and hold you underwater whilst he and everyone prays until he feels all the sins have rolled off your body. Is this "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment violate human dignity and is the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical pain or suffering"? I think so. I may have consented to being baptized (more like coerced, but tomato/tomato); BUT, I did not consent to being almost drowned while grown adults just stood there and prayed and watched. It was awful- some may even say tortuous...

If you or someone you know is being tortured in any way. You need to alert the authorities immediately. I wish I would have when I was experiencing and witnessing these things; but, I didn't. You however, need to.

Until the tortuous grasp destructive leaders have on people is diminished, I hope your soul is chained to a fiery wall with no water to quench your thirst and no towel to wipe your brow.

-Jezebel Freedom