Finding Lilia I Sunday I TVNZ
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- čas přidán 19. 11. 2017
- When SUNDAY first met Lilia Tarawa, she'd been brainwashed. Born in the isolated religious sect Gloriavale, the 16 year old had been raised to believe everyone in the outside world was destined to burn in hell. Her life was one of obedience and submission. A decade on Lilia is a sassy, young woman who embraces her body, her voice, and her freedom. She finally has a mind of her own. It's been a painful journey, facing her own demons, leaving behind the family members she loves, and finding out… who Lilia really is.
Its disturbing me that there are a lot of people commenting about her leaving her christianity. "Youlll regret it on judgement day?" If that's all you've taken from this video, you've invalidated her horrible experiences at this church. That shouldn't be what you get out of this video...
If there is a God who will judge all of us one day, he might not act kindly to people who used his teachings to control and manipulate children.
Well I’m christian and all I can say is I see how she left the church but did she have to leave Christianity it’s self the Bible states “it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.”
Mango Mint yes there was so much more to take from this video but it’s soo sad that those people of the cult made god bad for her. It’s so sad how She’s now mocking god:/
@@gomezv8944
she didn't get a chance to know Christ from this man's teaching.
you don't know her future, yet
Mango Mint - oh, thanks for TELLING us what we should get out of this video. You’d fit in perfectly at Gloriavale.
Her makeup is on fleek
I took many many many CZcams tutorial to learn that! and for the interview I had the bestest make up artist... Chloe Black - highly recommend
Lilia your a beautiful girl so happy you now have the life you deserve. Your makeup is awesome too though your pretty with or without it . Isn't it fun being a girl??? lol...
It is i really hope more people found there way
She is beautiful and smart
your mother is Maori?
@@LiliaTarawa As I mentioned to someone who commented on this chat, you are glowing with the joyfulness and hopes that your new found freedom in life provided you with. I'm sure that you're looking good even in the morning when you start giggling with joy at what every new day of freedom have in hopes for you. I really like the way you're smiling, it really does come from the inside of you. That's how I perceive it anyway. Keep going and get the best from your new thriving life. Peace and love to you and to the rest of humanity. We all need it.
I'm so proud of how strong you are. As a cult survivor who also grew up in a fundamentalist compound environment, I understand and relate to everything you say. You are amazing! It is our time, girl. We are adults now, free and hopefully paving away for the others to be able to leave these controlled lives. Happy to have met you and know your story.
Would you be interested in sharing more about your situation?
absolutely, Laura. you can contact me via my website: VennieKocsis.com - look forward to speaking with you.
Laura, I'm a total fan of Vennie. She is a strong and beautiful lady. Totally recommend getting in touch with her x
Lilia Tarawa hi Lilia! This is amazing! Thanks for sharing this! I'm a Christian and I just want to say you live a heroic life. The Gloria vale version of Christianity is a nauseating and oppressive system, does not reflect Jesus's heart. Your'e a beautiful, strong and courageous woman! And I'm glad this experience, despite heartbreaking and horrible, has made you even stronger! You're gorgeous!
Lilia Tarawa good on you getting out, it takes a strong person to do so, I'm in touch with someone from the flds group in colorado city Utah, USA there are so many similarities.
when you're told you'll go to hell for wearing mascara, but you're already in hell
Mascara is not important. Surprised?
Hell is what she left the cult for.
If u really want to rebel, cut all your hair off😉 u won't🤣
@@amandamazibuko2687 So what you are saying is that by living a life of submission and repressing her personnality and talents, she was in heaven on Earth and that by becoming true to herself and living a fulfilling life, she's now in hell on Earth... Good God! You are much more than just dumb! You are deceptive and prejudicial, which are significant facts about the evilness that you are evidently spreading around you. Your comment is the living proof of that. And if, by denying your own freedom to thrive and to fulfill yourself in this world and denying others the freedom to do the same, is the way that you have chosen to live your life, you are really willfully living in your own hell on Earth, rotting from the inside out. I'm thankful to not be you.
Andrea lol when girl defined tells you to wear mascara to honor the lord lol
I have no problem believing in God. I have every problem imaginable believing any one human has enough insight to tell me how to act or what to believe.
Exactly. Judging others and acting as if you are God are sins
@Jenny Lee Damn right I wear a mask. Because I know what is happening and I have enough medical background to know how this works. Not wearing a mask undermines the economy, the military, the first responders, Dr's and nurses and their families.
Just an FYI - I also recommend you wash your hands after pooping or do you consider that an assault on your freedoms too?
Very well said! Couldn't agree more!
I'm from Auckland. Gloriavale as always intrigued me. Good on Lilia for leaving and taking charge of her life! She's absolutely stunning and is going to go places
I have watched this numerous times and also read the book. I think that Lilia has come a long way from the six year old girl who was publicly shamed by her grandfather for the school report. Way to go Lilia.
As a former comparative religions scholar, it's mind-blowing to me to hear someone say regarding women with careers that "It's not what the Bible says;" there's *myriad* passages in Hebrew scripture that don't just mention women with careers...but women with careers are actually lauded as "Women of Valor!"
Deborah was a prophet and a judge in the Beth Din, (Hebrew court) Miriam was a leader and an advisor to Moses, Hannah was a diplomat, Judith was a warrior, and the oft-mentioned ideal wife (whose worth is "above rubies") is described as a career woman who buys & sells land, manages her vineyards and workers and sells wool, cloth, produce, etc. Esther was a noted stateswoman and negotiator...In fact, there are countless examples of women who not only had callings and careers, but were praised for their skills and capabilities! The story of Tamar even praises her for taking her life into her own hands and outsmarting her father-in-law!
Anyhow, it just leaves me gobsmacked that *anyone* could read the Bible and get the idea that women shouldn't have careers or make use of their own individual God-given talents. I have to wonder if the people of Gloriavale even actually read the Bible themselves, or simply listen to what their leaders *Claim* that the Bible says! Because scripture is filled with brave, independent, savvy, smart women who are praised for their skills, scholarship and business acumen.
SMDH. But I'm SO happy that Lilia has found herself and is building a fulfilling life!
It is so impressive she has remained so strong & capable considering everything she went through & how her Grandfather tried to wear her down. I am glad she is speaking out & wish her & everyone else who escapes the best of luck in the future.
I just finished reading your book. It was quite a nice read. I liked how it opened my eyes to how others grew up and how being a part of a community like that can have long lasting effects on you and your life. Your story is inspiring.
I’d love to meet her one day and have a real thorough chat about everything that she’s been through
I had the pleasure chatting it up with her yesterday on fb facetime. She is amazing after what she went through. I reached out to her after seeing her on Ted talk because I can relate to her quite a bit after I myself was in a religious cult for 7 years
Happy to talk to you too! You can send me any questions through facebook.com/liliatarawa : )
me too, hopefully I will!
imagine being gay in there
Chris TheMetalUnicorn
You wouldn't even admit to it, nor believe that you were gay.
Emerald Apple I know, I was raised in a similar situation and spent 15 years in denial..
Her uncle I think his name name is mark cooper is GAY
catalina moscoso literally
One of the leaders sons was gay he lives in the U.K. Now
I love her honesty , admire it
Beautiful hun! I admire your strength and hope your journey here in the outside world treats you well xx
How sad she had to give up so much in order to have the life she needed. She has a lot of wisdom for someone so young who has been through so much.
Read her book, could NOT put it down, very easy & fast read - read it in about 1/2 day. So insightful & story stayed in order, not all over the place. I give it 10 ⭐️!!!
I just finished the book today it was great! 100% agree
@@Marx9728 I read her book after I saw a documentary on CZcams hold Gloriavale which showed her as a young girl promoting the colony and then another CZcams video where she’s leaving it and I have had the pleasure of corresponding with her for a while in the very beginning of that book and she and her mother actually became Facebook friends with me but I don’t claim them to be my friends like some CZcams creators do, but they are humble and the book was definitely an eye-opener. Cannot imagine living like that.
She is so so so strong ❤ you go girl!
Thaaaanks ! :*
Beautiful, undeniably fantastic great person. Respect x. A thousand fold.
Lillia, you are a beautiful, powerful, fabulous woman with so much to offer the world. You deserve all the kudos for leaving that horrible place and making a life of your own. You are an inspiration - no matter what poison your grandfather spreads, we need leaders like you. Live your truth, and live it boldly. Kia kaha, wahine toa.
Im so sorry you have been through so much. Thank you for sharing your experience 🙏
Lilia is amazing. What a hero
What a beautiful & brave girl. She has big wings to fly with, she is an inspiration. The psychological strength she has ... go her! I wish her all the very best of many good things 🍀
She is my hero!!!! She's amazing and has been through so much!
Naw. I'm flattered. Thank you!
Ashyblubear rather.... do you forgive your Grandfather?
@@LiliaTarawa may I ask, are you still a Christian, and if so, how did you come to terms with the fact that Gloriavale was not the will of God, and that 'Hopeful Christian' was committing many sins, acting like that?
i 👏🏻 love 👏🏻 this 👏🏻 woman
WOW.. the difference is, to say the least, night and day. What an absolutely stunning, courageous young woman!
I've never seen a picture of her father until now. I had been wondering why she looked so samoan/polynesian and now after seeing him I know i wasnt crazy to think so
Well, it's new Zealand. Her surname is Tarawa. Her dad is Maori.
Everyone who calls themselves Christian are not Christians. Hope this young lady someday meets the real Jesus.
It looks like she wants to base her life on things that are actually True and on things that can be proven to actually exist. She got out of a cult and gained her freedom to live her life based on reality, evidence and facts not superstition and false man made ideas. A Cult is just a meaner, more controlling version of Religion. The two are just mind control based on fantasy- no proof, no evidence, no supernatural being that ever shows up and makes itself known.
Religions are stories that are made up in the minds of illogical thinkers or by people who want excessive and pathological control over other people. Why would she trade one version of mind control and indoctrination for another. She's free to be her real authentic self! She's a very bright young woman. I congratulate her and wish her well. She can now truly enjoy her life!
@@paddlefar9175 Strong but incorrect. God is real and he loves us and you too! He has been faithful to me even healing me from a terminal generic disease that I had that killed my sister.
ChrisXn777 I am glad that you are okay. Was there any Science involved in your medical care?
You were saved by god? Then on the flip side, you’d have to also say that god killed your sister or allowed her to die.
as the bible says not everyone who says lord lord is of Him
have a fkn bong cuzzy and shut up
OG MY GOD !!!. I LOVE THIS GIRL ... GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER...... AMEN
I THANKS GOD FOR HER LIBERATION
Thank you for telling, LiLia!
good for her getting out of it, but hard not seeing all of them too. better being out and doing what you love, she is beautiful and so intelligent
What an amazing young lady, well done girl, you go for it!
Hope you will find the Light again, you are a lovely person. You remind me of me... our past are very similar. After 5 years of leaving Christianity I came to realize..yes people in the church will dissapoint you, they are human. Only look at God as an example ...never people.
Heidi van Staden that’s horrible advice.
@@beefykeith48 nah screw god I’m living my life to the fullest before it ends
She is sooo beautiful! My gosh😍
I don't think people quite understand why she's not a Christian, it's not because she feels that is rebelling and that it makes her feel free (actually it might well be that but it's probably not the only reason.) it's because after being trapped for eighteen years in a traumatic place where they told her repeatedly "This is what God wants, this is what the bible says." the thought of being in any kind of Religion doesn't seem right anymore. It's like pushing someone who's had a car accident to start driving again. Right now she feels free and she doesn't want to be tied down or to believe in a religion, she might choose later in life to but it's no use saying it to her now and also how on earth is she supposed to believe what someone says about God after being told something different all her life- don't you think that would be just a little bit confusing?
I wish I could email her privately but, Lilia, you are amazing. So strong. And beautiful, in body and in mind. I'm so very glad to have heard your story and read your novel. Best wishes for future endeavours 💕
Great journalism! People don’t realize the work it takes to put this together.
We take things that seem so trivial such as hairstyle, makeup, clothing, tattoos, jewelry etc for granted but we use these tools to express ourselves. Our personality, interests, sense of pride & more can be expressed in our appearance & that’s why so many cults take all those tools away from members. They strip you of any individuality so that you’ll adopt the group mindset & forget yourself.
She is amazing
Lovley amazing strong brave woman, love it
Good for you my Darling , you are amazing!!!!
She is adorable. Good for her!
I LOVE her
God bless her
You are the best Lilia - you are my hero!
Beautiful young woman. God does exist and it's disgusting how SO MANY religions twist things so much it screws people's minds to the point of not believing in him. My Orthodox Christianity HONORS women. Women of Ancient times we're acknowledged as leaders and considered just as important as man. St Lydia owned her own business & brought the Gospel into Greece....she is acknowledged as Equal to the Apostles. St Pariskivi - powerful woman. St Zoë incredibly brave and LEAD her family in the ultimate sacrifice of love for Christ. Lilia was religiously abused by her grandfather and he WILL have to stand before God for her completely throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I understand why she has, but it makes me so sad for her as she was robbed of what TRUE Christianity is.
I just love you and you are a remarkable lady !!!!
So happy for her.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I hope she reads the bible for herself and finds the real truth
Good on ya Lilia, you have done absolutely nothing wrong, you live your life for YOU and not for anyone else!
I'm pretty sure she did a Ted Talk
she did!
She is gorgeous, rebellious and very strong.
she’s beautiful omg
Places like Gloriavale disgust me. They claim to do all they do in God’s name but in reality they are doing the complete opposite of what God has asked of us. The leaders of such cults are usually some of the biggest sinners. They don’t truly care about God, they care about power. I am so glad Lilia escaped and hope the others can release the truth and follow someday too. They may physically be allowed to leave but they are manipulated to the point that they don’t even feel like leaving is an option. They are held prisoner by lies. The children born into such cults don’t know any different, they can’t make an informed decision because the cult and their lies is all they know.
It makes me sad that they warp God’s words for their own gain. There have been many selfish men like this throughout time but it’s heartbreaking it is still allowed to happen in the modern times. Adults have the right to choose to live in a place like Gloriavale if they so choose but they should be required to properly inform their children with information so their child can make an informed decision if they want to stay. I hate how they make God seem evil by using God’s name for their own selfishness which makes people lose trust in God. I don’t blame Lilia for thinking God is not real when the leaders lied about so much. I would probably do the same in that situation but it’s sad that it’s also meant she has lost any faith in Christianity due to the acts of the leaders of Gloriavale. I respect her choice to not believe in God, I just hope she can live a happy life now that she is free because that’s what’s most important. She seems like a good person and I wish her the best.
What a powerful woman is Lilia.
This has nothing to do with the real God or true Christianity, I am a Christian and live a very happy life.
what a tough Journey, she has come through and now shines past all the lies she was told
Thank " god" , she woke up! What a strong, beautiful woman. Christians please refrain from comments!
Well done Lilia . Courage ++++
Because she left Gloriavale, and now she’s left her faith makes one wonder if she ever really had an experience with god. You can leave the prison of false religion. But we can nor should ever leave god.
Liliaaaaa you're so strong! come be my friend!
Beautiful lady, far more than a baby machine
She epitomizes the famous passage from Hebrew scripture about the "Woman of Valor" SO much more than the meek, controlled women of Gloriavale!
her laugh is adorable
She is so beautiful!!😘😍😍😍
As a Catholic, I couldn't be more disturbed with this cult.
Yes my mind is 🤯... because my God is loving , forgiving and i cannot wrap my mind around this way of thinking.
i completely agree. this is very sad.
as long as that was faux fur, gurl is living her lifeeeeeee
Good on her! I feel I have the kind of brain that would question the bullshit fed to me at a place like that too but making the move would be such a hard thing
Smart lady
omg she was singing Faithfull
Girl she free , she pretty , she strong , bless you baby
I wonder where her brothers are now?
The sad thing is that being FORCED to be MODEST, chased etc, often pushes young women to not think about doing things for the love of God. She's free. But she sounds completely selfish and self centred. I think/hope she'll find a more healthy balance.
Jesus showed women how treasured they were without completely controlling and dominating them. These cults give people a false idea of God 😑🙏🙏🙏
Liberalism is shit
10 years ooooffff
Christianity is not bad...it is the leader of the religion who give bad reputation to Christianity...
It's heartbreaking that cult ruined her belief in Christ! That she didn't learn Christ was not who her grandfather said he was.
hum hum
How is abandonning false beliefs created by bigotted men living thousands of years ago and who didn't know better than the goats that they were herding can be heartbreaking? Awakening to reality is an enlightment, nothing heartbreaking about that. This young woman is glowing with the joyfulness and hopes that her new found freedom in life provided her with. Jesus was certainly a good guy but organised religions, all of them including christianity, are the worst plagues that have ever infected humanity.
couldn't agree more like actually couldn't
I'd say that religion isn't objectively bad--like fruit, too much of it (extremism, like Gloriavale) is a bad thing. Some of my friends (okay a lot) are Christian--and none of them are extremist. In fact, for some of my friends, it gave them the drive to go farther than they ever thought they could, and used it to give them hope. But my dad was born into a very high dosage (for a major lack of a better word) of religion--they also said those that weren't Catholic (though I think Gloriavale is Amish) would go to hell. So I grew up not believing in any religion, and being nervous about some of my friends that go to church since I worry that something like that'll happen to them--though, my cousin, who goes to a Christian school, is doing extremely well! So it's like fruit. It can be a good thing, but too much/extremism is a very bad thing.
Maybe Christ shld do smthing abt it 🧐
Power to ya sister
I have been trough the same in the sense of what was told to me is not the truth... Would love to be her friend xxx
RED IS YOUR COLOR!! GOOD LUCK YOUR BEAUTIFUL
Where's the original documentary?
I hope you choose to learn what true Christianity is about. God didn't make us robots to obey Him. He gave us freedom to think for ourselves. I wish I could meet you.
People people leave religion all the time and a lot of the time pendulum swings extremely the other way. But I believe she'll come back to a new and balanced spirituality, I wonder if she's ever read the Bible? I know I'm going to pray for her...
Wrong lol
Read the Bible and see how much Christ loves you...
Is so sad one day you chose ,,your home and family or freedom ,happened for me and destroyed me 😢😢
So sorry :(
It's how they are contrasting her belief in Christianity then, to the absolute contradiction that you see now. It almost makes a mockery of it all. But this is when you put your faith in people and you allow them to take up too much of the space God should have had in your life. I would know, the same happened to me. I allowed a close relative of mine who was constantly professing Christianity and treating me badly, to turn me away from a life that was centered on God. I still have not been able to find my way back, slipping further and further and it's been about ten years now.
Christianity isn't what's shown in this video that was a cult not the real loving religion
The saddest thing is that to me is that leaving Christianity is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Authentic Christianity is not what this cult was.
Now this just made me think, is the movie Moana inspired by her? :O
Oh my goodness... I LOVE that movie so much. I feel like Moana in so many areas of my life and I cried during the movie. I've watched it a lot and find it therapeutic
OMG aw! I find that you share the same story somehow (an excess of getting out from a specific tribe and seeing how far you will go, haha!) and her character surely intertwines with yours! ❤ You surely define freedom, what a bold and strong lady you are :'p I pray you keep them waves ~
You always have to believe that what you are doing is worth the consequences, good or bad. I believe a bad place and a good place exist but I also believe you create your own hell or heaven...if you end up some place bad, was whatever you did worth it? Anyhoo, the part where she said "I might just like to dress like that" (like a man) kinda struck me. I dress like a man and act more masculine because the work I do and the hobbies I have....all that free will I was given, says that wearing dresses is extremely impracticable. I can still cook, clean, and have kids but dresses will hinder me from doing the dirtier work that I like and that needs to be done in the absence of a man or if the man just needs some help!
Beautiful without makeup.
Miriam Lancewood Miriam Lancewood Miriam Lancewood, everywhere you look Miriam Lancewood. Damn a Miriam Lancewood . If I hear her name one more time, I'll go outta my mind !
Yes I found myself after I left my cult
This cult has created broken families on the outside, broken adults, my god. Learn ur whakapapa girl.. Thats the real way forward
I LOVE the new Lilia
She's a beautiful wahine for sure
Heroine.
What a shame of this kind of church! I am so sorry she didn't know the true christianity!
It is so sad that a person lose the faith in God because of this sect lies. I myself found who I am and the meaning of life because of Jesus Christ.
To each her own. If you like that life, go for it. The place has definite good points, but the control stuff and isolation from the rest of humanity is not good. Not being able to come and go, to make an informed choice is brainwashing.
Her testimony about not believing anything anymore is some proof of the cult effect. The Word was twisted. They listened to that man, not the Word. It is unfortunate that she has gone completely left! But this is the journey she is on. Having said all this...none of us are perfect and fall short of the glory of God. I pray that she finds Christ, the real Christ.
I live around west coast fox glacier now and then I go to greymouth to get food and that places just feels shit seen a few members of the cult too
Do what you need to do, but don't you ever quote that Ambulance chasing Shyster Gloria Alred, and don't ever use her to get your life together
New Zealand's version of the Yearning for Zion and Warren Jeffs teaching that by the taking of many wives and the fathering of many children they gain a higher exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Praise Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, not Jesus.
I GUARANTEE you that this young lady will come back to God and church as she gets older.....not the cult she came from, but a normal balanced church that teaches the Bible in love. As she matures that belief and love for God will rise up out of her. It's always been there, but wild oats needed to be sown. Nobody wants to be on their death bed denying God.
You have to remember that her traumatic upbringing is linked with her belief in god. You have no idea what struggles she went through. Many don’t believe in god, and that’s up to them. You have your beliefs and I’m happy for you, but not everyone shares those beliefs.
@@bep5999 God desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
@@estherlewis7458 great, I’m glad you have found your truth. I have found a very different truth that someone wanted me to find.
@@bep5999 There is no such thing as my truth and your truth. For one thing truth does not contradict itself. More importantly The Truth is Jesus Christ.
@@estherlewis7458 again, go you, I’m glad you have your truth. My truth is based in science, but alas, I am not trying to change your viewpoint, so leave mine alone also.
Does she still love her grandfather?
I have mixed feeling about him. Ultimately I have love for everyone in the world. Everyone deserves love and needs it no matter what they have or have not done. I'm going to talk more about my relationship with him in the next book I write.
@@LiliaTarawa Hello, Lilia, I truly wish you the best. Do you know that if you start reading the Bible on your own the Lord will reveal himself to you in the manner in which he wants you to know him. Not in the crazy way that you were taught, my dear. You are such a beautiful human being. I truly wish you the best. Greetings from the island of Puerto Rico.
@@LiliaTarawa good on you girl, stay strong and be you, proud of you 😆
Lazdinger rather....Do you forgive your Grandfather?