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IndoctriNation

Weaponizing Religion with John Collins

IndoctriNation

IndoctriNation

Religion & Spirituality

4.8566 Ratings

🗓️ 18 February 2026

⏱️ 66 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, John Collins, founder of the William Branham Historical Research and the 'Leaving the Message' YouTube channel, shares his personal journey of escaping the cult of William Branham. Raised within the cult, where his grandfather was a leading figure, John dives into his awakening from deep-seated indoctrination that began due to a series of personal traumas. He details his extensive research on the origins of the group, its ties to weaponized religion, and the profound influences on modern charismatic movements. John highlights the challenges of re-entering the 'real world' after years of indoctrination, the disturbing discoveries about the cult's connections to historical and political movements, and the ongoing efforts to bring these truths to light. His story is a compelling exploration of faith, manipulation, and the quest for truth.


Collins’ Links

Website: https://william-branham.org/site/john_collins

Books: https://william-branham.org/site/books

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeavingtheMessage


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Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation: 

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You are not alone. And now there are two resources that I've put together specifically for your journey.

0:16.0

This is your host, Rachel Bernstein. I am an educator and a therapist and a cult specialist, and I am very excited to announce

0:27.2

restart and restore a journal for survivors of manipulation and a companion notebook that I've put together to go with it,

0:39.3

that has people's stories that they've shared with me,

0:44.4

that they wanted to share with you,

0:46.4

and some wonderful quotes from people whose thoughts I truly admire,

0:52.2

and more pages and writing prompts for you to continue with the writing

0:59.0

that can help you along your healing journey.

1:03.5

This isn't just another blank journal.

1:07.1

It's a trauma-informed recovery companion, and it offers psychoeducation on the mechanics of manipulation and control and therapeutic writing prompts to explore your history and your strengths, practical exercises that transform insights into some actionable steps, and the freedom to heal at your own pace.

1:31.8

You can do it in the time frame that works for you without any judgment or pressure.

1:39.7

Whether you joined the organization or the relationship that was controlling as a teen or as an adult,

1:46.7

restart and restore provides the structure and I think validation needed to process your

1:53.5

experiences safely. I'm also excited to share beyond the journal and its companion notebook

2:00.5

that I'm currently working on a second journal

2:03.3

specifically for those born and raised in high control groups or high control family units,

2:09.6

as their healing journey often involves different and specialized challenges. Restart and Restore and its companion notebook are available now,

2:20.7

and you can find the link in the show notes.

2:23.9

Thank you very much.

2:25.4

I hope it's helpful to you or to someone you love. Welcome to Indoconation, a weekly conversation series about protecting yourself from systems of control.

2:55.3

I'm your host, Rachel Bernstein.

2:58.0

Today on the show, we have John Collins, and John Collins is the author and webmaster of William Branham, historical research.

...

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