Another article with the same point but slightly different information
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/53969...ildren-california-christian-sect-cult-leader/
Note that all the discussion of the family being a mini-cult pretty much dried up by early February. This doesn’t mean that there is no validity to the theory, only that nothing has come out about it.
IMHO, there is not enough information to say that this was a “cult” where David was worshipped. The experts are speculating based on similarities that they see, but “cult like” manipulation may have happened without David being “worshipped.”
All that we know for sure about “apocalyptic” is that there were pamphlets with apocalyptic messages found in the Texas house.
All that we know for sure that
may suggest a cult is that business about the kids not being allowed to tell ther names and needing to have permission to sit down, speak to outsiders, etc. (Pathologically paranoid parents who don’t have a “cult” could make the same rules, though.)
The systematic starving may have been a sort of cleansing ritual, or it may have been punishment, or it may have been a crazy attempt to save money.
The same goes for the beatings and bondage (except for the saving money part.)
Until we hear that the Turpins claimed that they were doing these things for spiritual/religious reasons, and/or the kids report that they had to “worship” one or both parents (or, for that matter the great god Thor), we have no evidence of a cult.
I am new here and haven’t fully learned the rules, but I trust that my comments will not be construed as a discussion of the religiousity and/or cultiness of the Turpin family. My argument is that there isn’t enough information.
Presumably we will know more after the case is either brought to trial or pleaded out.
