Swartzentruber AMISH: The Unknown SINISTER Side of the Strictist Settlement Artwork

Cults to Consciousness

Stories of claiming independence after leaving high-control groups.

Hi! I’m Shelise Ann Sola— former devout Mormon. On C2C, my husband Jonathan and I dive deep into the nuance of culty organizations. From Extreme Christian Fundamentalism, FLDS Polygamy, Amish, Mennonite, Mormonism, Scientology, Ultra Orthodox, and Jehovah's Witnesses, to cults featured in popular docu-series, we interview cult experts, survivors, advocates, therapists, way-showers, authors, and more, to uncover how they find independence and healing through awareness and true individual sovereignty.

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Cults to Consciousness

Swartzentruber AMISH: The Unknown SINISTER Side of the Strictist Settlement

October 11, 2023 • Shelise Ann Sola/ Lizzie Hershberger • Season 1 • Episode 92

An expert witness for Amish and Mennonite court cases, Lizzie explains the rules of her intense settlement before taking us through her unbelievable story of disaster, lethal betrayal, tragedy, abandonment and perseverance. She even gives us a glimpse of the strange dating practice which takes place in the woman’s bedroom.

Resources: https://www.theplainpeoplespodcast.com/resources
Website: https://www.lizziehershberger.com/
Her book: “Behind Blue Curtains: A True Crime Memoir of an Amish Woman’s Survival, Escape, and Pursuit of Justice”

Lizzie as an expert on the Amish for court cases
Understanding the Swartzentruber Amish
Dress & modesty requirements for her community
The world's false perception of the Amish
Her whole household was poisoned by her husband's family
When tragedy is "God punishing someone"
What Lizzie's Amish school was like
The lack of s*x education even with anatomy and female cycles
TW: CA- forced into submission
She was blamed at 14 for her SA by the community
Her mother kicked her out for being a "problem"
TW: She was almost s*x trafficked
Her Aunt also kicked her out and she went to a new non-amish family
She willingly went back to the Amish community
The odd dating practice called Snitz and inappropriate youth "games"
Lizzie ended up reporting her SA over 20 years later to raise awareness for kids still in
Lizzie was an expert Amish witness to help another survivor of SA get justice!
Lizzie reads part of her V Impact statement from her SA court hearing
How Lizzie is doing now

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Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**