In review of the material which so accurately describes the environment of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), I have been rereading the work by Robert Jay Lifton- “Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism- A Study of “Brainwashing” in China” (Copyright©1961 originally by W.W.Norton and Co., first published by the University of North Carolina Press in 1989- ISBN 0-8078-4253-2) From time to time over the last few years, I have been magnetized in reading the accounts of Lifton though he does not directly describe WOFF, he does not mention Jane Whaley by name. Yet he describes the dynamics inside that place in great detail. He does this by sharing his observations from his studies and “… analysis of the experience of fifteen Chinese citizens and twenty-five Westerners who underwent “brainwashing” by the Communist Chinese government.” (from the back cover)

Today, I was particularly interested in the section of his text in which he describes – “The Demand for Purity”. Without sharing the entire passage and numerous details, I will summarize and get right to the point of this post. He writes that in totalistic environments where thought reform is practiced, the daily world for its participants, or in this case its members, is “sharply divided into the pure and the impure, into the absolutely good and the absolutely evil. The good and the pure are of course those ideas feelings and actions which are consistent with the totalist ideology and policy; anything else is apt to be relegated to the bad and the impure.” (page 423)

During my time at WOFF this was so true. Life was sharply divided into good and evil, black and white, God’s ways and the devil’s ways. Things done inside WOFF with Jane’s approval were definitely all good and pure. Things done, attitudes and words spoken by outsiders or former members were automatically evil and to be avoided at all cost.

The problem came when you were confronted with a situation that had not been ruled on or was slightly different from the most recent edict from Jane. Even if Jane was not present or reachable by phone, you still were aware that each event or decision or circumstance was subject to review by Jane. You may be required to act without her direct counsel, but you knew your decision was subject to review and your life was continually subject to the situation wherein Lifton later describes as you were “expected to expect” punishment– if ever you were found out to have “missed God” according to Jane. We begin to understand why this expectation for punishment is a vital part of WOFF-life as we continue.

Lifton writes that the demand for absolute purity inside a thought reform environment has an underlying philosophical assumption that it is attainable. “In actual practice however, no one… is really expected to achieve such perfection.” (page 423-424)

As the same at WOFF, we were encouraged to hear God and walk with Him and be ministers. However, no one except Jane could hear God at such a high level. We were seeking that which in that environment — was NEVER attainable. You may have a brief shining moment of approval from Jane that you had heard God about a particular matter. But, over time anyone, leadership or regular member was subject to being put out of the church and cast as full of rebellion and a liar and never knew God to start with. Lifton goes on to explain how this affects those under thought reform.

(Leaders of a totalistic environment)… “: for by defining and manipulating the criteria for purity, and then conducting an all-out war on impurity, the ideological totalists create a narrow world of guilt and shame.” (page 424)

This one statement can answer a lot of questions concerning life in WOFF. Jane Whaley, under the guise of her ability to “hear from God” for all her members, continually defines and redefines that which is acceptable and not acceptable inside WOFF. She tells her members what is sin and what is not sin. Members are in constant fear of being found in sin and when that happens, their guilt is a platform on which they are expected to expect the punishment and shame for missing God. A faithfully indoctrinated member of WOFF lives constantly in the wash of the fear of the next guilt session which leads them into being shamed as unfit for service, full of rebellion, full of sin and subject to whatever punishment Jane thinks they deserve. My friends, this is not a healthy place to live.

One more quote from Lifton’s text, “Similarly, when he fails to meet the prevailing standards in casting out such impurities, (sin) he is expected to expect humiliation and ostracism— thus establishing a relationship of shame with his milieu.” (surroundings) (page 424- ( ) added)

On more than one occasion, the penalty for missing God was the shunning or ostracism mentioned above. This one threat will motivate many a WOFF member to conform and bow and submit to the mores and norms of expected behavior inside that group. Yes, through a highly developed guilt and shame system, Jane controls her people down to the very personal and intimate details of their life. And that my friend, is what WOFF members are “expected to expect.”

“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.” Aldous Huxley

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. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

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 478.