The word cult is used in many ways in our culture today. When my tenure ended at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and I began to experience different areas of media, I was surprised to hear and see the word “cult” used in many other ways besides “religious cult”. Terms such as “Personality cult” or “cult of personality” and “cult like following” were some odd examples that I can remember.
A “cult of personality” in its origin has referred to certain government leaders in totalitarian regimes or dictatorships placing their image or likeness at the forefront of their country. Examples cited here … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_personality include Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Mao Zedong and more. The modern use has used the term to describe less about governments and more about individuals in the public eye that have a large following that seems to adore them incessantly.
The term “cult like following” refers to “to a small or large group of fans that are either somewhat or highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to “have a cult following” when it has a small but very passionate fan-base.” Defined here… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_following
Well, that makes sense; I had been out of regular touch with “pop culture” and had not been exposed to movies, bands, books or video games. I had no idea or memory about these emotional groups or intense followings. Honestly, when I first left WOFF, there was so much that has occurred in the areas or entertainment, news, sports and the like, while I was inside WOFF, that it was impossible catch-up. Many times, friends would ask me if I had seen a certain movie or read a certain book, I would say “no”. Then the person would have the light come on and say, oh, yea, I forgot. The terms to describe my time in WOFF vary. Some say that I had been “in a box”. Others say – oh, you were “out of town”. Whatever fits, I can’t change my past, I can only move on with this day and the time I have going forward.
It is worth repeating a quote from the previous post, citing the work of Steven Hassan in “Releasing the Bonds..” (copyright 2000 Freedom of Mind Press); he writes, “A group should not be considered a “cult” merely because of its unorthodox beliefs or practices. Instead, destructive cults are distinguished by their use of deception and mind control techniques to undermine a person’s free will and make him dependent on the group’s leader.” (page 3) Does this definition surprise anyone as it mentions the undermining of a person’s free will and making that person dependent on the group leader? That definition rightly describes the events surrounding the totalitarian leaders and their regimes mentioned above. Entire nations were ruled with fear and terror, while becoming dependent on the supreme leader.
It would not be a stretch to say that people are controlled in a large degree, by their fears. In nations ruled by totalitarian governments, fear plays a major part in the behavior modification of the people. As mentioned in previous posts, Jane Whaley and her “leadership” control the regular members and even each other, with a fear based message. ( see previous post here http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1310 ) So what were the key parts of that message that was used to control members? Fear of dying, fear of going to hell, fear of not making it financially, fear of losing your family, fear of losing your job or place to live; all of these and more were employed during my time at WOFF. There were used against me and/or I saw them used against others.
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you. Eric Hoffer
(Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) was self-educated. As an author, he wrote more than ten books, including The Passionate State of Mind, The Ordeal of Change, and The Temper of Our Time. Eric Hoffer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor in 1983.)
IF there is any truth in what Hoffer says; then would it also be true to say that Jane Whaley voices to others, the fears that plague her heart and mind? Does she have a fear of losing someone in her family; a fear that someone close to her would turn away for the daily “fear-fest” known as WOFF and “go into the world”? Is Jane Whaley afraid of not making into heaven? (see post here http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1718 ) From what I saw while at WOFF, I ask myself, could it be true that Jane Whaley is afraid of losing her “job” and her “place to live”? After all, those are some of the main fears used against the members of WOFF in order to keep them in line and walking and talking as they should. As in other religious controlling groups’ methods; Jane uses fear(s) to keep people from leaving. Is that use of fear by Jane a reflection of the fear(s) that badger her? Is she afraid of being put out of WOFF? At least in my opinion, I would have to say there is evidence that the fear mongering she uses on others was/ is an internal factor in her life. She fears losing control, over the control she uses on others to keep the whole fear machine going, “growing” and the money flowing.
If I am wrong, then explain the foundational methods of fear used at WOFF from another angle. Go ahead, please comment and share another perspective. If I am right, then we all should shudder and grieve over the number of lives that have been, are now, and will be in the future – crushed, altered and mangled from the fear machine known as WOFF.
Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.
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(Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 136.