Surviving Faith: Rachael Reign on Cultic Abuse & Conversion Practices

In the final episode of 1946: The Culture Shift Tour – UK, we sit down with Rachael Reign, Founder and CEO of Surviving Universal UK.

Rachael is a leading voice in raising awareness around cultic and spiritual abuse, particularly within high-control religious environments. Her work centers on survivor support, safeguarding reform, and culturally competent advocacy.

After experiencing harm herself, Rachael recognised a gap in both language and support systems for survivors. Through her organisation, she now works to ensure others are seen, heard, and protected.

In this conversation, we explore what spiritual abuse looks like, how it overlaps with conversion practices, and why these issues remain so under-recognized.

This episode is a powerful close to the season and a reminder that faith, when misused, can harm — but truth, language, and community can begin to heal.

In this Episode:

What Is Spiritual & Cultic Abuse? Understanding coercive control inside religious environments.

High-Control Faith Spaces How manipulation, fear, and power operate within certain religious systems.

The Impact on Survivors Why spiritual abuse is often invisible and misunderstood.

Safeguarding Gaps Where systems fail survivors and why reform is urgently needed.

Conversion Practices & Overlap How spiritual abuse and conversion practices intersect.

Cultural & Racial Context Why culturally competent safeguarding is critical, especially in marginalized communities.