Jonathan Hirsch

By then, Terry had asked Janine to join a circle of teachers, an exclusive group within CDBMS, tasked with being sort of ministers of Terry's message.

By then, Terry had asked Janine to join a circle of teachers, an exclusive group within CDBMS, tasked with being sort of ministers of Terry's message.

$25,000 is a lot of jewelry today. Honey.

$25,000 is a lot of jewelry today. Honey.

$25,000 is a lot of jewelry today. Honey.

So in addition to the lectures, Terri sold this jewelry, which was supposed to give you spiritual protection. She made these recordings of her lectures and did private, paid consultations. She was carving out a nice little New Age niche for herself. Terri told followers like Janine that she was a living master from humble beginnings, who'd picked cotton in the West Texas sun.

So in addition to the lectures, Terri sold this jewelry, which was supposed to give you spiritual protection. She made these recordings of her lectures and did private, paid consultations. She was carving out a nice little New Age niche for herself. Terri told followers like Janine that she was a living master from humble beginnings, who'd picked cotton in the West Texas sun.

So in addition to the lectures, Terri sold this jewelry, which was supposed to give you spiritual protection. She made these recordings of her lectures and did private, paid consultations. She was carving out a nice little New Age niche for herself. Terri told followers like Janine that she was a living master from humble beginnings, who'd picked cotton in the West Texas sun.

The orphan who saw the light through the wisdom of a Lutheran nun. The nine-year-old who was adopted by a Dallas family who'd lost their child to tuberculosis. The Benson family.

The orphan who saw the light through the wisdom of a Lutheran nun. The nine-year-old who was adopted by a Dallas family who'd lost their child to tuberculosis. The Benson family.

The orphan who saw the light through the wisdom of a Lutheran nun. The nine-year-old who was adopted by a Dallas family who'd lost their child to tuberculosis. The Benson family.

Her first husband, he was a trucker. She married him at age 15 in Oklahoma, where that was still legal. That part was true, or at least the public records support it, but the rest of it, highly unlikely. I pulled the vital statistics from Pecos County, where Fort Stockton is located. She was born to the Bensons, a musician and a housewife from Dallas.

Her first husband, he was a trucker. She married him at age 15 in Oklahoma, where that was still legal. That part was true, or at least the public records support it, but the rest of it, highly unlikely. I pulled the vital statistics from Pecos County, where Fort Stockton is located. She was born to the Bensons, a musician and a housewife from Dallas.

Her first husband, he was a trucker. She married him at age 15 in Oklahoma, where that was still legal. That part was true, or at least the public records support it, but the rest of it, highly unlikely. I pulled the vital statistics from Pecos County, where Fort Stockton is located. She was born to the Bensons, a musician and a housewife from Dallas.

Terry Lee Benson was not who she said she was. By the mid-70s, Terry's influence in the Dallas area was growing. The people who came to her lectures, who paid for her consultations, they were from all walks of life. Students, professionals, you name it. Some accounts had as many as 300 people attending lectures of Terry's at Southern Methodist University.

Terry Lee Benson was not who she said she was. By the mid-70s, Terry's influence in the Dallas area was growing. The people who came to her lectures, who paid for her consultations, they were from all walks of life. Students, professionals, you name it. Some accounts had as many as 300 people attending lectures of Terry's at Southern Methodist University.

Terry Lee Benson was not who she said she was. By the mid-70s, Terry's influence in the Dallas area was growing. The people who came to her lectures, who paid for her consultations, they were from all walks of life. Students, professionals, you name it. Some accounts had as many as 300 people attending lectures of Terry's at Southern Methodist University.

Now, I've covered cults, new religious movements, for a long time now. I was actually raised in one. Turns out, long story for another time. But I can tell you with confidence that I have familiarity with the New Age movement and the mystical ideas that informed Terry's philosophy.

Now, I've covered cults, new religious movements, for a long time now. I was actually raised in one. Turns out, long story for another time. But I can tell you with confidence that I have familiarity with the New Age movement and the mystical ideas that informed Terry's philosophy.

Now, I've covered cults, new religious movements, for a long time now. I was actually raised in one. Turns out, long story for another time. But I can tell you with confidence that I have familiarity with the New Age movement and the mystical ideas that informed Terry's philosophy.