We are continuing on the subject of thought reform. This post is the sixth in a series which will tell what thought reform is and what behavior is evidence of a thought reform environment. Our reference book is “Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism” by Robert Jay Lifton (original copyright 1961, later published again in 1989, ISBN 0-8078-4253-2 [alk. Paper]). This work has been from Chapter 22 titled “Ideological Totalism”. The fifth post explained the “Cult of Confession” and how that affected members within WOFF. Next, we will review another characteristic of thought reform- The “Sacred Science”. Did I see this characteristic of thought reform during my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF)? WOFF is run by Jane Whaley. As a review, I spent 16 years being involved in WOFF. My experience within the group is a “normal” one as far as I can tell.
When I first read this part of the author’s work, it was hard to adjust to the term “science”. While at WOFF, there were conferences dealing with history and science. However, it was clear that at WOFF the main source of “truth” was not science or balanced reasoning with evidence, but, it was the Scriptures as interrupted by Jane Whaley. It would be difficult to understand this enigma and its resulting characteristics unless you have been in WOFF or another religious controlling group. Outsiders are accustomed to several sources of information, opinions and viewpoints. These are ideally used for an individual to review and assess, then form their individual views and opinions. This process is totally foreign to the environment inside of WOFF. Jane Whaley interprets the limited information that is given to the members. She uses her self-proclaimed authority as the basis for these actions. As a WOFF member, if you dare form your own opinion which may run contrary to Jane, you would learn not to express it. Expressing opinions different from Jane was not a common occurrence at WOFF. That of course does not mean that individual opinions do not exist. In order to stay in the group, there has to be a level of denial of your own opinions and views and a level of pretending that Jane is always right and is the only source of “Truth”. As I reread Lifton’s work, this is exactly the scenario he was explaining.
The author begins, “The totalist milieu maintains an aura of sacredness around its basic dogma, holding it out as an ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence. The sacredness is evident in the prohibition (whether or not explicit) against the QUESTIONING of basic assumptions, and in the reverence which is demanded for the originators of the Word, the present bearers of the Word, and the Word itself.” (page 427 emphasis added) I can say with a firm confidence that this phenomenon is present at WOFF. At first glance, the basic dogma at WOFF appears to be based on Scriptures as read from the Amplified version of the Bible. The Scripture references are more than plentiful on their website and serve at least in their minds as a total and perfect justification for their beliefs and practices. I know because the references were put forth as the justification for any decision from Jane while I was there. In WOFF-land once a verse was quoted, it was understood you were then supposed to reverence and agree with the application of that “meaning” of the Scripture no matter how convoluted, incomplete or off base it seemed to you. So, in practice it is not the Scriptures that are the foundation for how their basic dogma is lived out, but how the Scriptures (or Word as WOFF members call it….) are interpreted and applied to everyday situations by Jane Whaley. That serves as the key focus of life at WOFF.
Lifton has additional key ideas to explain how this “sacred science” translates into a basic thought reform technique. “The assumption here is not that man can be God, but rather that man’s ideas can be God….that this science can be combined with an equally absolute body of moral principles; and that the resulting doctrine is true for all men at all times. Although, no ideology goes quite this far in overt statement, such assumptions are implicit in totalist practice.”(page 428 emphasis added) From this passage, it appeared that the basic dogma and its defense through Scripture application to daily life by Jane became the “sacred science” in WOFF. The “science” was the application of the “Word” as revealed by Jane in defense of her justification of life inside WOFF. Certainly, this whole process was sacred to WOFF members as well as Jane. Jane’s ideas about God and how they molded the life of members were one of the foundations of her power.
“Lifton goes on to say, “At the level of the individual, the totalist sacred science (Jane’s applied view of Scriptures) can offer much comfort and security.” (page 428 emphasis and insert added) This observation was true at WOFF as it allowed the perception of more agreement between “the mystical and logical modes of experience.” At first blush, Jane’s words gave some sense of shelter from the storms of life and dealing with certain questions and choices. Though it is observed that within this environment there are “sweeping, non-rational “insights”. Regardless, this “comfort and security” observation speaks to analogy of “sacred canopy” made by Janis Hutchinson from Peter Berger’s work, first mentioned in this post from July 2010- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2811 We will expand on the “sacred canopy” concept in a future post.
This comfort and security first held by unquestioning faith in the present bearers of the Word, begins to crumble as time passes, “..especially if one discovers that the world of experience is not nearly as absolute as the sacred science claims it to be.” (page 428 emphasis added) How can this be? What happens to folks who begin to contemplate certain reality check questions such as: “Are we the only ones who will make it to heaven?” Is Jane the only one on earth who can hear God for me, all other WOFF members and/or anyone on the planet? Why is wearing blue jeans a sin? Why can Jane and certain other leadership at WOFF do certain things that I am not allowed to do like own houseboats and jet skis? Why is Jane the only one whose view on Scriptures matters? How much money does WOFF take in? How are the tithes and offerings spent? Does Jane really make only $600 a month as she says or does the church pay for her lifestyle choices in other ways that I don’t know about-yet? Why would Jane have “clothes that cover two city blocks” and yet need more? How many shoes for a woman minister are too many? Why do Jane and Sam have televisions and I cannot? Why must the news be filtered through certain folks back to the church? What are they hiding? Why am I not able to decide for myself where I live, work or go to school? Why do I have to ask Jane if I am making the right decision? Does she really always hear God perfectly? Why do I need to ask Jane before I can be friends with certain folks inside or outside the church? Why do I have to go to Sam to get him to buy a car for me? Why do I have to check it out with Jane before I buy a house and then use WOFF realtors and the WOFF insurance lady? If I do not do this will I be put in discipleship or just called out in a meeting like others have been? Why is reading a newspaper a sin when I have seen Jane with newspapers and certain folks read newspaper articles to us in church services? Why can’t I wear a dress shirt other than blue or white during church services? Is facial hair for a man sin? Why do representations of Jesus show him with a beard if facial hair is a sin?
When I was in WOFF, there were only certain times when I would even allow myself to consider any of these questions and others. Usually that was when I had from my perspective been wronged or ignored. Many times, I would just accept the “answers” or “excuses” preached from the pulpit without further questions. There would still be the struggle to fit these “answers” inside my version of WOFF-life and the realm where I lived. However, I never had all my questions answered. Daring to ask these questions within your self was dangerous and risky. Lifton explains it like this… “Yet so strong a hold can the sacred science achieve over his (cult member’s) mental process that if one begins to feel himself attracted to ideas which either contradict or ignore it (that sacred dogma), he may become guilty and afraid.” (page 428 emphasis and (…) added) Do other former members of WOFF remember any of those feelings of uneasiness when you first started doubting Jane’s authority? (If indeed you ever were totally convinced of it?) The first thoughts of leaving were very traumatic for me. It was plain my family would not go and I could not stay. Emails saved from June of 2008 include many expressions of the serious fear and torment over just thinking about leaving WOFF.
Lifton closes this section by adding a few more thoughts. I have selected the following ones to close this post. No matter the stance that cult member or person under some other form of thought reform may take, whether it be one of “continued adherence, inner resistance, or compromise co-existence…it represents another continuous pressure toward… avoiding rather than grappling with, the kinds of knowledge and experience necessary for genuine self-expression and for creative development.” The key concept here is the word pressure. Life in WOFF was filled with continuous pressures and stress. During my WOFF days some of these pressures were recognized and rationalized as normal for those that walk with Jesus. Additionally, during WOFF days other pressures were totally ignored and yet only grew stronger. The pressure to accept the sacred science of WOFF as gospel and absolute undeniable truths was very real and apparently affected some folks more than others. Some appeared to have decided that it was not worth it to fight for honest answers, but to just compromise and co-exist in order to stay in the group. This reality to me is so sad.
We will share more on thought reform at WOFF. The next post will deal with Lifton’s observations from studying the “loaded language” which was used in Chinese thought reform. We will answer questions about loaded language at WOFF, and the use of WOFF-speak. While looking at certain WOFF-terms, we will look at how these affected the behavior of WOFF members.
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 198.