Honestly, I have started writing this post many times over the last few weeks. After all, to me the reason for caring is obvious. But to many others without friends or relatives involved at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), there may be some times when it becomes difficult to pay attention to the goings and doings of Jane Whaley, Sam Whaley and the members of their church. I have written a post titled, “Why Many Locals Do Not See the Mind Control at WOFF…” found here.. http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1394 That post did not fully cover the answer to the question mentioned today.
Previously, I would start a post on why others should care and as I wrote it all sounded whiny and selfish. “You should care because I and many others have been affected by Jane and WOFF.” I would write about the many families who have been torn apart and “it just was not right!” But, I never published those drafts and I was just resolved to keep mulling the subject. Then I found a book at the library that helped put things in focus.
“The Five Thousand Year Leap” by W. Cleon Skousen (copyright 1981, 2009 C&J Investments, ISBN 0-9815596-6-2) with a forward by Glenn Beck; has helped focus perspective on the answer to the question in the title of this post. The book gathers the.. “28 great ideas that helped change our world, and the funny thing is, the American Founding Fathers hardly invented a single one of them. But they did find them, and brought them all together in a single document that has blessed this great nation and the entire world.” This book was published after I graduated high school and was not in the curriculum of any of my college classes. However, it is a must read for anyone, either inside or outside of a religious controlling group, who has a heart and passion to see this nation regain its footing and take the strong path to leadership once again in this world. The resources alone contained in the last third of the book are enough to lead one into an in depth study of American government.
W. Cleon Skousen (1913-2006) was a world renowned teacher, lecturer and scholar for more than 16 years. He attended San Bernardino Junior College and later law school at George Washington University in Washington, DC, where he earned his Juris Doctorate and was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia. Dr. Skousen served the FBI for 16 years as well as authored many books and pamphlets. In 1972, he organized what would later be called “The National Center for Constitutional Studies”. (page 253-254)
It would not be practical in this forum to review the entire book chapter by chapter in detail. In light of that, I will review and comment on the parts of the book that speak to the questions around the issues I see at WOFF and ultimately show why others, not involved in the drama of WOFF, should care and pay attention. For the sake of continuity, I will list the Parts of the book as they pertain and selected ones of the 28 principles, in order, as we review them in relation to the subject. Part I, “The Founder’s Monumental Task” explains the struggle of forming a government that would best serve the needs of the people being governed. Safe to say, a strict pyramid structure was not adopted, but a government with three branches, thus intended to use checks and balances to prohibit the concentration of power within one part or one leader. (Where is the power concentrated at WOFF?) Today, we see a violation of this original intention being exercised, as the Executive Branch gathers powers which were not originally intended to be in their sphere of control. (Example: the Census and “health care disputes”, directing compensation of private individuals, and Federal ownership of auto companies, banks and the list goes on.…)
Part II deals with “The Founders’ Basic Principles”. The first principle speaks about our government being found on “Natural Law” and all that entails. (page 33) The second principle says “a free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.” (page 41) The third principle speaks to the need of electing virtuous leaders. (page 47) First printing for this book was in 1981, however these principles are timeless.
It with the fourth principle we shall look into a little further. “Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained”. Our Founding Fathers knew very well the necessity of teaching religious principles in the schools. In 1787, they passed the “Northwest Ordinance” which allowed for the teaching of “Religion, Morality and Knowledge” in schools. These five principles were to be taught in schools:
- There exists a Creator who made all things and mankind should worship him.
- The Creator has revealed a moral code of behavior for happy living which distinguishes right from wrong.
- The Creator holds mankind responsible for the way they treat each other.
- All mankind live beyond this life.
- In the next life, all mankind are judged for their conduct in this one. (page 61)
From my time at WOFF and since my departure, I find numbers 3 and 5 to be noted in this list. It should be evident to the readers, as it is in the neighborhoods around former members, that most every former member has been treated horribly by WOFF. The principle of “loving your neighbor as yourself” should not stop when a member of WOFF ceases to be a member. The “love of God” is not conditional on your choice of which church you attend or if you choose to not attend any church. However, it is evident that WOFF teaches by example to members, whether child or adult, that former members are not “deserving” of God’s love and kindness.
Continuing with the text surrounding the fourth principle, Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers saw the importance of not establishing a state mandated religion and leaving the matters pertaining to religions- to the jurisdiction of the different states. “Jefferson’s resolution for disestablishing the Church of England in Virginia was not to set up a wall between the state and the church but simply, as he explained it, for the purpose of taking away the privilege and preeminence of one religious sect over another, and thereby [establishing] … equal rights among them all.” Julian P. Boyd, ed., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 19 vols. by 1974, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.,1950, 1:531, note; emphasis added.)(page 70) Jefferson sought to take away religious privileges under the law. He wanted all religious groups to be equal under the law. It should follow, that in their practices, it would be presumed there would be then no airs of superiority in that religion when comparing themsleves to other religions or sects. In my reading and from my experience inside WOFF, this speaks volumes to the issue of the elitism shown and taught by Jane Whaley, her leadership and members of WOFF. They are taught that WOFF is special – like none other.
Also in this chapter, the author quotes for the words of Alexis De Tocqueville.. “ The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other…” (page 65, emphasis added) However, it is safe to mention that De Tocqueville never attended WOFF; where one’s liberties and personal freedoms are checked at the sanctuary door. That is the topic of our next post. We will further answer the question “Why Should Others Care?” We have just begun to form and discuss the answer, which lies in the very foundations of our nation. In the next post, we will examine the list of “unalienable rights” that regular members of WOFF give up in order to continue in that group. In my opinion, many are unaware of just which “rights” have been surrendered and when and how that “right” was given up.
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 138.