We have written about the documentary- “Join Us” in previous posts. (The film is presented by Interloper Films along with Lusitan and was produced by Ondi Timoner and Vasco Lucas Nunes. (copyright© Third Floor Productions, LLC 2007) This is a movie which includes the stories of several families making their way out of a religious cult in Anderson, SC. The families travel to Wellspring Retreat and participate in counseling sessions meant to help them learn about the systems of control they had been under. I recommend this documentary for anyone seeking a more clear understanding about cults and their effects on the members. Recently, I watched the documentary again.

     I was struck by two comments by two experts in the film. These comments were about children. They helped answer for the questions I have had as well as ones I get from others, as to why Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) sought/seeks to control the children to such a high degree. We will look at the comments and explain how these insights help understand WOFF and other religious cults.

   Both comments come in chapter 5 about the thirty minute mark. The first is from Robert Lifton-Psychiatrist and Author of Mind Control Model: “Children become symbols of the future. It is as if you can create ideal children according to your cultic standards, then you are realizing immortality.”

   The next comment is from Jorge Elderly- Academic Director for the Center of Investigation of Christian Institutions-“It must be said that children are the most venerable to cults. They are defenseless, they are voiceless. They are at the mercy of whatever mad instruction someone got from supposedly heaven and lead the kids to a very big hell…”

  

   So, for cult leaders it can be said that by influencing the children, they can then take some comfort or satisfaction in knowing that their lifestyle, doctrines and practices will be carried on. That seems plausible. Add this to Elderly’s comment, as we can safely say that for some children- they have no choice. They are either born into or brought into the cult environment and used as tools for the leader(s) to realize immortality. This is sad, but certainly the reality many face.

   Somewhere over these last two years, I heard another phrase that has sparked my interest. Steven Hassan, either in a video or in one of his books, said, that when he was a part of the Moonies, the locus of control moved from inside him to the group leaders. I had not heard that term before, but recently did some light reading on the concept. (find overview here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_of_control#cite_note-10 ) This reading does not make me an expert; it only allows me to associate the concept with some other observations and ideas from my time in WOFF. Allow me to explain.

   From the link listed above: “The locus of control concept is a theory of personality psychology referring to the extent to which individuals believe that they can control events that affect them… One’s “locus” (Latin for “place” or “location”) can either be internal (meaning the person believes that they control their life) or external (meaning they believe that their environment, some higher power, or other people control their decisions and their life).”  

   One could deduce that Steven Hassan was saying the belief that he could control his life moved from within himself to the belief that his life was being controlled by the leaders of his group under the direction of “God”. Naturally, the belief would generate the corresponding actions. In a religious cult, this could be labeled: obedience to authority. Good faithful cult members practice this obedience- would you agree? At some point, the locus of control for cult members moves from within them to the leaders. This was true at WOFF. For those under Jane’s authority, their life was controlled not by their choices, but, by hers.  

   Let’s go back to Join Us. The families in the group came to Pastor Melz for help in many areas. It may have started out as financial help for some. As the weeks and months passed, the families allowed Pastor Melz and his wife to instruct them on disciplining their children. Much of the documentary deals with the consequences of the techniques of abuse passed onto to the parents from Pastor Melz and his wife. Overall, the families believed at least for a time that they were receiving “godly instruction”. The final results do not affirm that. My opinion confirmed by my experiences is that many young parents look for sources of help in rearing their children, some in religious settings such as a church. Does this seem plausible?

   So, in Mountain Rock Church, parents come in and over time, the locus of control in their life shifts from within themselves and their families to the Pastor and his wife. It happened individually and as couples. The counsel coming for their lives was at first seen as “godly counsel”. At 23 minutes in the film, it is said that the (good) behavior of the children endeared the parents to the Pastor. (at first) I can say at WOFF and even Word of Life in Greenville, SC- it was the same. The children seemed to respond and adhere to the discipline we were taught. We had “obedient children”.  Jane and Sam Whaley would often comment how others in the community would complement the children of WOFF as being mannerly and respectful. And they were.

    So John, where is the problem? Here is where I see the problems in religious groups such as WOFF. In a “normal family” scenario, the process of shifting the locus of control to the children is gradual and not exactly in the same time frame in every case. But, generally, by the time a child reaches 18 or 19 they are probably in control of their “locus of control”. Over time, they have been given more and more responsibility to make decisions and taught to live with the consequences. After they take full responsibility, they can still accept advice and help from time to time, but, for sure they have grown into an adult and can function independently in society.  

   This cannot happen and does not happen in groups like Mountain Rock or WOFF. Why? First, if the parents have been in the group for any length of time, they do not have control of their own lives. They live in obedience to the leader and to the dictates, rules and pressures of the group. In groups such as this, a faithful member must surrender the locust of control, or center of the “decisioning power” in their life to the leader. This process is all the more deceptive in religious cults. It is all excused or justified by the twisted presentation of Scriptures. The process can be very elusive to detect, especially by someone who “wants to serve God with their whole heart”. Leaders, who take advantage of the sincerity and believing nature of members, can do great damage. Cult leaders in one sense collect loci of control from their members. Is this to feed some need for power and adulation? Who would not have a sense of awe for the one who in reality controls you life?   

   Second, as the child grows up in the group, the normal process of allowing the child to take more as more responsibility for their life does not happen. Why? Because, the “decisioning power” for that child’s life does not reside with the parents. The parents cannot give what they do not have. Actually, the parents may be unaware that they do not have what the child needs! In the dynamics of the group, the center of control resides with the leader, not the parents. How do we know? We can observe all of the rules which are made by Jane. They may seem “good”, but in reality steal freedoms and decisions from parents and children.  Which parents make decisions out from under Jane’s authority and never feel the consequences of Jane exercising her external controls on the family, both the parents and the child? Staying faithful at WOFF equals staying submitted to authority- of Jane. That means allowing the rules and decisions made by Jane to fashion your life. Faithful members of WOFF have surrendered the control of their life and they do so under the guise of Jane’s religion. They do this to “fulfill the call of God”, make it to heaven and/or just be “godly parents”…

  All of these considerations seem to crystallize for me the inherent danger in being a member of a religious cult. It is harmful and emotionally damaging for adults to be members of mind control groups – cults. However, for certain – ..Children are the most venerable to cults… and now I see why. Please, God help us.

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, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his 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 368.