Elizabeth Esther is the author of Girl at the End of the World and Spiritual Sobriety. You can find her online at www.elizabethesther.com.

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How the 2016 Election Reminded Me of Growing Up in a Cult

Image via RNS/Reuters/Nancy Wiechec

In the aftermath of this presidential election, I can’t help but see striking similarities between what happened inside the religious cult of my childhood and what played out for us, in the political cult of personality.

Here was the larger-than-life leader drawing followers to himself, despite the facts of his poor character, lack of experience, and even despite the fact that media, pundits, and pollsters claimed he wouldn’t — couldn’t — win.