Category Archives: Books, Resources

Books, Resources for learning about religious cults

Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Bullying in the Name of Jesus…

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This evening after work, I watched an episode of “Without a Trace”. The story line was about a young boy who was harassed, physically pushed, mocked and jeered by his classmates because he appeared weak and not cool. The episode was originally aired in 2004 on CBS and was titled- “Wannabe”. Here is a plot summary:

The FBI investigates the disappearance of Eric Miller, a middle school student who disappeared during a bathroom break. He was only away for about ten minutes, so either he or his suspected kidnappers may have known what would happen. The investigators learn that Eric had low self-esteem and saw himself as part of the loser crowd at school. When his friend tells Agent Johnson about a bullying incident and they also locate a surveillance video from a local arcade showing an older boy pushing him, they realize they may have something other than a kidnapping.

A second plot summary reads as follows:

The “Without a Trace” team is called to a school after the sudden and unexplained disappearance of a pupil during a bathroom break in class. What at first seems like a sinister kidnapping soon leads the team into high school culture and on a trail of bullying and violence.(emphasis added)

 (source link- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0749727/plotsummary )

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Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Did You Win a Medal? (Videos)

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As a beginning, let me thank all the faithful supporters and blog readers who have contacted me over these last few weeks to check on me. Yes, it has been over five weeks since I have written a post. What would explain the absence? In part, I will share that I have been recounting the losses and assessing the aftermath of my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). At times, I have ignored or denied that the losses were as devastating as they actually turned out to be. During these last few weeks, life events have occurred for the family that remains inside WOFF. I was not invited, asked to participate or briefed on the outcome.  There has been no contact in reference to these events or others that are yet to come. Admittedly, it would have been awkward to revisit WOFF, as I am told that I am forbidden to step foot on their property. Shocked?  All that being said, it is still regrettable beyond words, and more accurately, a severe life-changing emotional tragedy to realize the outcome for once being a part of Jane Whaley’s kingdom. Words are often shallow and do not come with enough color or accuracy to describe to others the pain of losing the family you had been with for over twenty years- all in the name of a religious cult.

But, where will I go from here? That is still to be determined. For certain, I don’t plan to stay in the gully of despair or in the ditch of rejection and pass the days away lamenting what could have been. No. In conjunction with recounting the losses, I have been setting my sights on the future. As other survivors learn, I have also found to be true; the road to a positive future can sometimes be elusive and hard to navigate. What do the next few years hold? None of us knows for sure. But, I am determined to find a more rewarding life-path than these last four years have been.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The Wave – 1981 (Video)

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Recently, a very good friend sent me a copy of the movie “The Wave”. This movie was made in 1981 and is a dramatic presentation of a sequence of events which took place in Palo Alto, CA in 1967. In a high school class in April of that year, a history teacher led his class in an experiment after their lesson on Hitler’s Germany, the Holocaust, and the tragedy surrounding those years. The class experiment was prompted after a student asked the teacher – How could the German people sit back while the Nazis slaughtered people all around them and claim to not know anything about it? How could they do that, how could they say that? (paraphrased)

As I watched the beginning of this obviously dated film, I was instantly drawn in by the questions and thus followed closely for the answer. Why? This line of questioning is only slightly different from the questions I receive from people asking- How could anyone get caught up in a cult? How could intelligent people be swept up in a religious cult or any other cult, for that matter? John, how did you get into Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Why does this matter and how does this movie answer these questions? We shall see if it does. Also, in the last few weeks, I have met several new folks that have no knowledge of WOFF, Jane Whaley or that religious cults even exist in America. Eventually, questions come as to my back ground and how I ended up where I am today. I continually search for more accurate and helpful ways to explain the cult phenomena in America as I have experienced it.

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Books, Resources, Uncategorized

“I didn’t want her screaming at me….”

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In the previous post, we used as a resource 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). Today, we will return to this resource for the material in Chapter 2. The title of the chapter is “A Little Carrot And A Lot of Stick- A Case Example” by Janja Lalich. The author outlines the formation, operations and eventual implosion of a political cult in which she was a part of that lasted from 1974 until 1985. I have been amazed at the similarities between many of the inner workings and dynamics between this group and Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). For now, I have not done the research to find out the name of group or its leader, which the author covers with pseudonyms. Let’s go directly to the comparisons which caught my attention.

When describing the ages of the founding members of the WDU, Lalich writes, “ Baxter was 39 years old, while most of the others were in there mid 20s, which meant that they (with one exception) were 7 to 20 years younger than Baxter.” (page 54) It was similar with WOFF at the beginning- if you just look at Jane’s age compared to her main leadership. I suspect Jane is mid 70s (WOFF stopped celebrating birthdays – so who is counting?) and the rest of her main leadership early to mid 50s. There is another layer of leadership around Robin’s age that is even younger than the main leadership. What does this matter? Well, certainly Jane could/would use the reasoning that she had been walking with God longer than anyone- who is to doubt her? Right.

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Books, Resources, Uncategorized

My Passion- My Weakness?

In previous posts, we have used as a resource 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). Today, we will return to this resource for the material in Chapter 2. The title of the chapter is “A Little Carrot And A Lot of Stick- A Case Example” by Janja Lalich. The author outlines the formation, operations and eventual implosion of a political cult in which she was a part of that lasted from 1974 until 1985. Why should I even cover this chapter on this blog? I was amazed at the similarities between many of the inner workings and dynamics between this group and Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). There were obviously different terms and “reasons” to submit to the group leader- but, as we review this chapter, notice the similar control dynamics and the results on the members.

As an introduction and a way to answer some obvious questions, the author writes, “This chapter outlines the makings, workings and eventual demise of the “Workers Democratic Union.” I use pseudonyms for the name of the group, the leader, and all former members; also I use the terms organization, group and party interchangeably throughout. Since the group was leftist in orientation, I wish to make it clear that this is not a critique of political ideologies, nor an attempt to conclude that the organizational methodology of Marxism-Leninism necessarily leads to cultic formation. The Workers Democratic Union (WDU) was unique in many ways, but nonetheless a cult  like so many others in the techniques used to dominate and control its members.” (page 52)

This paragraph contains a great point. As Marxism-Leninism may not necessarily lead to the formation of a cult neither does the organization of an Evangelical, Protestant church with Charismatic beliefs and practices. The direction of any group is greatly, if not totally, affected by the leader, their desires, their weaknesses and strengths. As with this group and their leader- Doreen Baxter, so with WOFF; Jane Whaley is the hub of the wheel, the engine that makes WOFF what it is and why it is.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Where is Your Happy Face?

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In the last post, we used this 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. Today, we will continue in this resource and compare more material to my experience in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). I experience a gamut of emotions when I discover results from studies used in a resource book that coincide or mirror what I experienced at WOFF. It brings me joy and sadness at the same time to identify with material that researchers have discovered about cult groups- religious or otherwise.  The years within the group can’t be changed, but, by sharing my thoughts on this blog, I hope to help others who have been in such groups find resources that will help. There is sadness in knowing that those I love and cherish are still a part of WOFF.

Where is your happy face? How many times did we hear that, say that, think that, while inside WOFF? Now, don’t get me wrong, every group that asks that question of their children or even the adults is not automatically a cult. But, as we review the following excerpt, just remember what it felt like when you were asked that question or witnessed others being prodded and pushed to smile- no matter how ugly or emotional the scene had become. Remember the consequences for those children who would not submit to the prod and crack even a little smile. For sure, the use of this saying would ebb and flow over the years. But, no one can deny that “Where is your happy face?” was a favorite for years at WOFF.

In our resource text, the editor reviews different research studies along with clinical observations which tell when people are most likely to join a cult as well as the circumstances around a person leaving a cult.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Post- Cult Questions and Struggles (Video)

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When I first began this blog, it was so important to me to tell what had happened to me and my thoughts about those events. I started recording my memories as early as October of 2008. From those writings, my desire to start this blog was born. As I first started, it was such a relief to put into words my questions, emotions, feelings and concerns. Starting in January of 2010, I began on a regular basis to tell what had up until that point had only been shared in forums by other ex-members.  Eventually, I began to compare my experiences to insights and material in books written about other groups. Along the way, we have compared Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) to other groups and found WOFF to not be so unique. Jane Whaley may seemingly have a unique “gift”. But, in reality, her methods and means are not new, but are found in many other religious cults. She may have used different shellac on the outside, but what goes on behind the closed doors is as predictable as any other religious cult. The longer I am out, the more certain this observation becomes.

Previously, we have used this 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. In previous posts; we have reviewed material written about and by Dr. Margaret Singer. Here is one of them:

Dr. Margaret Singer–Voice for the Cult Survivor – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3789

Today, I will quote more from this resource and share some questions. In the last week of so, I have been talking to other survivors and reading this book. There are some insights which are found in the book that go right along with our discussions. Even though this book was published almost twenty years ago and uses some sources from the 1970’s; there is some important background information about cults as well as other material which is still valid.

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