Saturday evening, I was among friends for dinner and an evening of talking and laughter. Most of the people there knew at least part of my story and were not shocked when I would answer; No, I have not seen that movie or No, I have not done that or heard of that — whatever “that” was… There was one person who was new to me and I made mention to them that the reason I had not seen very many movies was because I had spent several years in a religious cult. In that group we did not watch movies or television or do other similar stuff. This person took the answer in stride and we moved on. The cult involvement was the reason I had not done many things that others folks would consider normal or acceptable. A little later, this person asked to go back to my answer and wondered more about the “religious cult” thing.
The question was sincere and I was a little taken aback. It had been several months or more since I had been asked directly- “How did you or why did you join a cult”? Immediately the last fifteen plus months of writing these posts flashed before me and I mentioned my blog. Then I began saying a person doesn’t join a cult. I mentioned Deborah Layton’s statements that people don’t join cults; they join groups of people they like and enjoy. No one wakes up suddenly with a desire to join a religious controlling cult. This person asked another question, “Did you go to church growing up?” I said yes, the local Methodist church. They really were taken back and said or inferred; did you not know the difference? It was at that point, I got off on a tangent and never really got back to answering the question. Growing up in a denominational church does not teach a person how to keep from being lured into a cult. After the evening was over, I remembered how I had dropped the ball and thus we have this post.
In previous posts, I have used the book, “Recovery From Cults” – Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse– Edited by Michael Langone- (copyright © 1993 American Family Foundation – ISBN 0-393-31321-2) as a resource. It is in this book, that the author outlines in a simple format some key points to help readers understand the basics about how one joins a religious cult or some other cultic group. In order to recover, one must learn about the process of how they joined the cult group and consider the dynamics and forces at work in the process. “The process of joining cults can be briefly described by adapting the DDD syndrome (Farber et al., 1956), which was one of the explanations of what is popularly called “brainwashing.” Farber and his colleagues maintained that during the Korean Was the Chinese were able to gain a high degree to control over American POWS through a process of debility, dependency, and dread.” (page 6 emphasis added) He goes on to mention that groups operating in an open society do not have the avenues available to use debilitation on their prospective members. “Instead, they must fool them. They must persuade prospects that the group is beneficial in some way that appeals to the targeted individual. As a result of this deception and the systematic use of highly manipulative techniques of influence, recruits come to commit themselves to the group’s prescribed ways of thinking, feeling, and acting; in other words they become members of converts.”(page 7 emphasis added)
Lagone goes on to outline in an admittedly simplified order the “complex and subtle” process used by controlling religious groups to gain new members. He maintains that in the open society the first “D” is actually Deception. “By gradually isolating members from outside influences, establishing unrealistically high, guilt-inducing expectations, punishing any expressions of “negativity,” and denigrating independent critical thinking, the group causes the members to become extremely dependent on its compliance –oriented expressions of love and support. (page 7)
Did this happen at WOFF? Did new members and/or any member undergo the process of “gradually isolating(those) members from outside influences”? Former members, what do you say to that one? I say- yes. Outside influences were over time labeled as “sin” and if you expressed a desire for these influences, such as any independent access to media or outside group activities or relationships other than WOFF, then that “sin” was in YOU and it needed to come out. It was a “devil” and would eventually take you over and then to an early death and hell. Was that scenario or process one which established “unrealistically high, guilt-inducing expectations”? If you spoke up or expressed a question or doubt, then you could be shunned, publically rebuked or put aside in “church discipline”. Was that “punishing any expressions of “negativity,” and denigrating independent critical thinking”? I say from sixteen years of experience that WOFF “causes the members to become extremely dependent on its compliance –oriented expressions of love and support.” Langone explained the processes at work in WOFF and I would venture to say he has NEVER contacted or been inside of WOFF. What does that tell us? The group may have a different “skin”, but the WOFF processes MATCH the processes found in other dangerous groups. Why would Langone be able to describe WOFF ways if WOFF ways were not COMMON in other dangerous groups?
He goes on, “Once a state of dependency is firmly established, the group’s control over members’ thoughts, feelings, and behavior is strengthened by the members’ growing dread of login the group’s psychological support (physical threat also occurs in some groups), however much support may aim at ensuring their compliance with leadership’s often debilitating demands. Thus the new DDD syndrome is one of deception, dependency, and dread.”(page 7 emphasis added) Prospective new members are deceived. That is true at WOFF. “Those who do make the commitment to join are rarely aware of the subtle techniques of persuasion and control shaping their behavior, thoughts, and feelings. The apparently loving unanimity of the group masks, and in some cases bolsters, strict rules against private as well as public dissent.” (page 7-8) At WOFF, if you asked too many questions or expressed doubts about Jane or what she said you were “up in your head” and/or told “you know the natural mind is an enemy of God.” You could also be told you were “of your father- the devil and the truth was not in you.” Asking questions about Jane or in many cases to Jane appeared to be a threat to Jane and her authority. The scalding many people took in public meetings for asking simple or even searching questions was enough to stifle others from getting inline for their scalding.
As I read and reread this explanation, it was obvious to me that Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) was using this formula for recruitment of new members. I cannot say how much of the process was developed with the deliberate goal of forming a religious cult. But, nonetheless, the process is highly developed. Before I purchased this book, I had outlined in previous posts the DDD syndrome or process as practiced at WOFF. Jane Whaley, whether she knows it or not, has developed in her group a finely tuned and efficient process for bringing in new members. She is good at reading individuals and learning if they have needs she can fill with her resources and faithful members who have already gone through the DDD process.
Here are some previous posts written before I found this resource book that show the DDD process at WOFF:
The Deceptions I Lived Under While at WOFF (1) link- http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3145
The WOFF “Don’t” List – Part 1 link- http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=650 – the deception is you are told the “don’t” list before you join WOFF.
Permanent Dependent Underclass? at WOFF? (1) link- http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1869
Does a “Fear-Based” Message Really Work? link – http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1310
What is “Framing”? How Is It Used at WOFF? (3) link- http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3913
It was good for me to have a new person ask me the questions about joining a cult. It made consider answers to the questions in a new perspective. There is much more from this resource book which will be shared in future posts.
Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. 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 284.