Category Archives: Books, Resources

Books, Resources for learning about religious cults

Books, Resources, Uncategorized

“How I got sucked into a cult…” from the UK

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    A few days ago, Google Alerts® provided a link to an article about Nick Skinner. I did not know who Nick Skinner was but, the title of the article caught my attention. The subtitle told me a little more: “Nick Skinner, husband of Savannah Miller, talks for the first time about life inside a Costa Rican cult.” I continued reading this article written by Lynne Wallis and knew it had many points that could prove helpful to our readers.

  According to Steven Hassan, a leading cult expert, there are four main types of cults. We have reviewed mostly religious cults on this blog. Other that religious cults, there are political groups, therapy/large group awareness training groups and commercial groups. Source: “Releasing the Bonds” (Copyright© by Steven Hassan 2000, A Freedom of Mind Press Book, ISBN: 0-9670688-0-0) It helped me to review this article and see the common techniques used in the group Nick Skinner became a part of and the practices of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The link to view the entire article is here – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9061694/How-Igot-sucked-into-a-cult.html . We will only review certain parts that coincide or appear similar to the practices of WOFF we have discussed here on this blog.

  Skinner begins, “People don’t tend to go looking to join a cult,” he says. “Instead, curious and often idealistic people are led into recruitment and their lives are then ruined. That is certainly what happened to me.”  Well, that seems to fit the WOFF experience. How many WOFF members, present and pervious were drawn into Jane Whaley’s group by their desire to “know God”, have a family living in God’s ways… I can say for myself that there was certainly the curious idealism that led me to be a part of WOFF. Oh, it was disguised as “seeking the call of God” or “wanting to know more of God’s ways”. In reality, I look back and remember the curiosity and desire to live the life God had for me and yet I did not use any discernment or verify anything about WOFF. It was so easy to believe what was going on at WOFF as being the “move of God”… because I wanted to believe it.  I have done more research about a car I wanted to buy than performing any research or verifying the past of Sam and Jane Whaley. That was sad to realize.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The “It Hurts” Post by Jan Groenveld

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 The following post came to my attention recently. I may have read it before, but was not ready to admit how much truth was in it. Today, I read it and instantly knew it had to be shared here. First, let’s review a little background about the author. “Jan Groenveld (1945 to October 22, 2002) was a former member of the LDS Church and the Jehovah’s Witness.[1] She spent a total of fifteen years in these organizations before leaving them in 1975.[1][2] After her negative experiences in these organizations, she resolved to make more information about what she saw as “cults” available to the general public.”

 

 

Jan Groenveld
Jan Groenveld

“The most dangerous lie is that which most closely resembles the truth.”Jan Groenveld

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Books, Resources, Information control, Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

More Conflictions, Conundrums and Confusion… VIDEOS!

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Not all posts end when I finish writing them. Many times I keep learning even after I have written about a subject here on this blog. This subject of conflictions, conundrums and confusion is one of the areas of new learning. I continue to see areas that confuse me about Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and its members. The confusion is especially evident in the advertising that the WOFF member-owned businesses are doing! These things just did not occur when I was in WOFF. This all makes me wonder if members are allowed to skip free through Youtube®?  Or can they now ride the wild Internet any time they chose? Somehow I doubt that …. But, here is some new information to consider.

As mentioned in the previous post, Rutherford County is starving for jobs. The new Facebook® hub will help. Still many leave the county for work every day. When I was inside WOFF,  I worked outside the county most of the time. Some days I drove up to an hour or more one way to work. Several others inside WOFF do the same or more. During one stretch while working for Two Mile Properties; I traveled to North Augusta to work. Our first stop in reviewing the confusions will be Two Mile Properties (TMP). My unique experiences will be saved for another post. Today, we will let others talk about TMP. First off, property management was a difficult business. It was so tough to make everyone happy all the time. That being said; I did a simple search and found these reviews….

What do you want to know?

Do not live on any of their properties they are cult owned, by word of Faith Fellowship…..bad news – By rucrazy on October 02, 2009 at 09:54 AM

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Best of” WOFF Conflictions, Conundrums and Confusion…

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  As I was traveling in my car last Wednesday, my radio was tuned to a local station in Rutherfordton, NC. As happens many times, one can be listening and not really hearing what is being said or the music being played. Actually, I was half listening- that is until a commercial played for a company I was very familiar with: Carlson-Farmer Construction Company. Last I knew this company was owned by Kris Carlson and Ray Farmer. Both of these men and all of their employees attend Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Many of them I had known very well over the years I attended WOFF. Why bring this up? The irony of a WOFF-member owned company using the radio to advertise for business struck me as odd and full of hypocrisy! WOFF members are NOT allowed to even LISTEN to the radio! Ask RL! He was “corrected” several times in front of us all for listening to the radio and reading the newspaper! Any member of WOFF who has been there for any length of time has already met with “the authority of God” in this area. Her name is Jane Whaley.

   The thought of using the exact thing that Jane Whaley said could take you out of the move of God and into hell, to solicit business seemed wrong! But, that thought reminded me of years ago when I was working for Two Mile Properties in Gaffney, SC and then in Spartanburg, SC. I was the manager of two different apartment complexes over a period from January 2003 until August of 2005. During that time, it was approved to use the newspaper to advertise for renters for the apartments. Naturally, I had to verify the ads were running. So, I had to buy a paper and at least look at the classifieds. At first, I was hesitant because reading the newspaper was billed as something to take you out of the move of God and into hell. Wow! What a conundrum! Required to read it and told not to read it! That was pretty indicative of several things while being a part of WOFF! 

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“But, that is no excuse for us to tolerate it here…”

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   There are times when watching a movie that you get caught up in the plot and seemingly forget your own life and struggles. Maybe that is the attraction to so many folks watching movies in this country. Recently, I watched “Gods and Generals” (Warner Home Video and AOL Warner Company presenting a Ted Turner Film, Antietam Filmworks Production, a Ron Maxwell Film, Copyright©2002 Ted Turner Film Properties, LLC) From the back cover- “Based on Jeffrey M. Shaara’s bestseller, Gods and Generals recounts the fierce allegiances and combat of the early Civil War. Ronald F. Maxwell directs the prequel to his Gettysburg, framing the story with three bold men and three fateful battles. The men: Joshua Chamberlin (Jeff Daniels), “Stonewall” Jackson (Stephen Lang), Robert E. Leee (Robert Duvall). The battles: Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville. Through these combatants and conflicts we witness bravery and strife of a nation at war with itself.”

  During my viewing of this film, I must admit, at least for a few minutes, forgetting about my life and the present events unfolding. Yes, this film is a representation of what happened and can only in a very small way capture the depth of the struggles, emotions and turmoil of the times. I knew this going in. But, during this film there was a scene that woke me up and captivated me in a very intriguing way. It was during a monologue by Joshua Chamberlin. This scene takes place as Chamberlin leads his brother, Tom to a view point over a river. I will paraphrase the introduction as Chamberlin points out to his brother that each person in the army of thousands is loved by someone, a whole person loved or cherished in a home far away. “Many of them will never return.”

   Next, he describes armies as tools of power meant to coerce others. He goes on to recognize that they have seen more suffering than any man should ever see. And if there is going to be an end to it, then it must “be an end that justifies the cause.”  Then he swings his arm out over the valley below and says, “Somewhere out there is the Confederate Army. They claim they are fighting for their independence, their freedom. Now, I cannot question their integrity. I believe they are wrong, but, I cannot question it. But, I do question the system that defends its own freedom while it denies it to others, to an entire race of men. I will admit it Tom; war is a scourge, but, so is slavery. It is the systematic coercion of one group of men over another. It has been around since the book of Genesis. It exists in every corner of the world. But, that is no excuse for us to tolerate it here, when we find it right before our very eyes, in our own country. As God is my witness, there is no one I hold in my heart dearer than you. But, if your life or mine is part of the price to end this curse and free the Negro, then let God’s will be done.”  

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, FLDS, FLDS vs WOFF, Uncategorized

“Sons of Perdition” from OWN Documentary Club (2)

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    A few weeks ago, I received the “Sons of Perdition- The Story of Polygamy’s Exiled Youth” documentary in the mail. This film is from the OWN Network. We have previously mentioned this film on this blog. The credits are many, so here is the list from the back cover- IMPACT PARTNERS and BBC STORYVILLE present a LEFT RUN FILMS production in association with MOTTO PICTURES and CACTUS THREE. Editor – Jenny Golden, executive producers- Diana Barrett, Abigail Disney, Caroline Stevens, Krysanne Katsoolis. Copyright©2010 Virgil Films and Entertainment, LLC.  There is a website for the film- “sonsofperditionthemovie.com”. The film is rated “R”. The film contains “street talk” as well as some scenes of alcohol and drug use. It is all a part of the true story. On the DVD there is also an option for a “family friendly language track”.

   Honestly, I put off watching this film after I came home from work for several hours. I knew it would be remind me of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). However, it was so timely considering the exit drama which has unfolded over the past few weeks concerning a young man who has come out of WOFF. As I reviewed this film, I will compare and contrast to my experience at WOFF and my understanding since I left in July 2008. We have compared the practices of the Fundamental Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) to WOFF in previous posts. There are many of the same practices in both groups and there are also several practices which are not shared.

  We pick up our review at the beginning of chapter two of the documentary. There you meet Kevin Black. He is working in a garage. He says he has been out of Colorado City for eleven years. Kevin gives a short history of the FLDS and says several statements of note. Those in the group “believe polygamy was never supposed to be outlawed and they live it no matter the cost.” In this country, we are allowed by our “religious freedom”, to pursue lifestyles and certain choices- “no matter the cost.” This goes on even to the destruction or denial of certain other God-given freedoms outlined and protected in our Constitution. As in WOFF, in FLDS there was the pursuit of certain lifestyle choices at the denial and refusal to exercise and live certain other accepted social freedoms that many consider basic. Is this direction for a group or individuals prudent? For adults, it may be accepted, but, when children are involved and their choices of limiting their freedoms are made for them and their reality does not include certain freedoms, I consider that detrimental and destructive. We can presume that obviously, Kevin Black did also, or he would still be in the group.  

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Books, Resources, Uncategorized

..Children are the most venerable to cults…

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    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…”

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