Category Archives: Books, Resources

Books, Resources for learning about religious cults

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Why is WOFF Obsessed with the Holocaust?

2 Comments

    Recently, in a discussion on Facebook®, this question was posed. It is a valid question. For one, is there any other church in North Carolina besides Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) that has been so taken up with this historic event? If there is one, it has not crossed my radar. Also, there were academic areas of emphasis in years past, remember the science conferences or the Thomas Jefferson conference? None of the others have developed into a road show. Road show? Yes, see the article here from an online newspaper in Deming, New Mexico. WOFF is taking it on the road, again. http://www.demingheadlight.com/ci_18082999?IADID=Search-www.demingheadlight.com-www.demingheadlight.com

   Here is an excerpt: “Guests to the Night to Honor Israel will have a chance to see works of art on display, courtesy of the Holocaust Museum in Spindale, North Carolina. The museum was a dream come true for the Word of Faith Fellowship and the Word of Faith Christian School in North Carolina. Students, grades K-12 have their works of art across the nation, and now Deming can tour choice works on display at the DPS auditorium.”   

   Let me say I was there during the gestation period for the budding event. Who could have seen the development of this academic interest into a full blown take it on the road display? Some years later, I took the online Holocaust class through Cleveland Community College taught by Karel Reynolds from WOFF. The class was enjoyable though the irony did not fully hit me until I left the group. We were studying the beginnings of the Third Reich as Hitler came to power as Chancellor. Some of the restrictions he imposed on the Jews, as well as the Germans sounded awfully familiar. Why did I not see them while inside? I believe it was because of the blind zeal for Jane Whaley and the WOFF cause. Regardless if Hitler stole and violated personal freedoms of the Jews and then the Germans, we at WOFF were “learning God’s ways and walking with Jesus”.  It was as if we were thinking, “If we are in a cult, Jane will tell us!” Really?

   “To follow by faith alone is to follow blindly.” Benjamin Franklin

   Continue reading Why is WOFF Obsessed with the Holocaust? →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

This Privilege Has Been Paid For With Blood….

Leave a comment

   As could be expected, freedom of expression does necessarily bring with it a voicing of opinions and with that privilege we then must come face to face with the reality that there are different views and opinions. With the expression of different opinions can come heated discussion and in some minds controversy. For some, this is unacceptable. For some, the world should be a place for peace, peace. Reality tells us that is just not the case. And for that we should all be grateful.

     When researching the concept of “freedom of expression”, we must cite some obvious sources. An obvious choice would be our U.S. Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

   Other sources that would help with the understanding of the idea of freedom of expression or freedom of speech would include some text found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech#cite_note-22

 “A succession of English thinkers developed the idea of a right to freedom of expression, starting with John Milton (1608–74), then John Locke (1632–1704) and culminating in John Stuart Mill (1806–1873). Locke established the individual as the unit of value and the bearer of rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. It was the role of Government to protect these rights and this belief was first enshrined in the US Constitution, with the First Amendment adding the guarantee that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press”. John Stuart Mill argued that human freedom is good and without it there can be no progress in science, law or politics, which according to Mill required free discussion of opinion. Mill’s On Liberty, published in 1859 became a classic defence of the right to freedom of expression.[21] Mill argued that truth drives out falsity, therefore the free expression of ideas, true or false, should not be feared. Truth is not stable or fixed, but evolves with time. Mill argued that much of what we once considered true has turned out false. Therefore views should not be prohibited for their apparent falsity. Mill also argued that free discussion is necessary to prevent the “deep slumber of a decided opinion”. Discussion would drive the onwards march of truth and by considering false views the basis of true views could be re-affirmed.[23]  

    Continue reading This Privilege Has Been Paid For With Blood…. →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Cult Leader News, Uncategorized

Update: Raimund Melz – Mountain Rock Church – Pictures

13 Comments

   In previous posts, we have drawn from the movie “Join Us”. We have provided several posts reviewing material in the movie. 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). The film has a dedicated website with supporting information. The site is www.joinusthemovie.co . One of the posts was titled: Join Us – Reflections and Comparisons (3) link: https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3511

    Toward the end of the movie, I found several points of interest I believed worthy of mention. My point of reference was/is comparing and contrasting the material found in this documentary of members of a religious cult in South Carolina to my time of involvement with Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. We have noted several comparisons in previous posts, but yet I have found more.

   Near the end of the film, Patrick Provost-Smith a Professor of the History of Christianity at Harvard Divinity School was shown saying these words: “Anyone can claim to be a pastor, if they have a following… What one can look at in terms of a warning sign for realizing one is involved in an extreme group is that one can no longer account for one’s self as a human being as a person with thoughts, with ambitions… if only your pastor can tell you who you are to the extent that you have no story left of your own – leave.”  Does this happen at WOFF? Do any of the faithful regular members have their own story or does Jane Whaley tell them who they are – either directly or indirectly through the use of religious mind control? Quite frankly, while I was in the group, I did not have see how much control WOFF/Jane and her leadership had over my life. I was under the illusion until the last few months of my time there that I was in control of my life and “walk with God”. What a joke! That was the major part of the deception.  In my opinion, WOFF members do not see or are even allowed to admit to themselves or others that there is a problem with WOFF-life. WOFF members are required to check their religious freedoms, as well as other freedoms that others in this country enjoy- check them at the door give them up for the faux promise of “fulfilling their call” and making it into heaven. It is no wonder people leave that group in emotional turmoil and upheaval. There is such an adjustment to make when exiting any religious control group. “Join Us” documents some of the struggles.  

Continue reading Update: Raimund Melz – Mountain Rock Church – Pictures →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

After WOFF – Times of Reflection

Leave a comment

    As I start this post, I do not fully know the direction it will take or the content it will have when I finish. Many times, I outline a rough draft of a post at least in my mind before I even begin typing. This time is different. It is my usual time to write, after 1:00AM. This place seems intensely quiet as the rolling menagerie of the day seems to fade in and out. The reflections of the past and the present seem to roll over and over in my heart and mind. The future is a hope and a budding dream that unfolds one day, one week, and one month at a time.

    During these last few days, I must admit an aversion to writing for this blog. That must be obvious as the frequency of the posts has dwindled since the end of April. Those that follow close are not surprised as I am passing through another crossroads in my life. Contrary to the claims of some, my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) has a lot of bearing on this crossroads, this time of reflection and place of decision. Let me explain.

    My first encounter with WOFF and Jane Whaley was the May seminar of 1992. WOFF members have taken the week of Memorial Day to have “seminars” since before I was even a part of the group. As far as I know, this will continue as the reasoning has been “our members are already off work”, it is easier to get together and hear God. This week long “seminar” has traditionally served as the last week of classes for the school children. May has been an exciting month for WOFF members in the past. The first seminar I attended held such a wide range of emotions and feelings. It was my first exposure to such a large group participating in “blasting and deliverance”. Later, the term “loud prayer” would be used to lessen the effects of the term “blasting”. It also was my first experience in seeing who ran WOFF- Jane Whaley. That was obvious from the very first meeting(s).

    Continue reading After WOFF – Times of Reflection →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Prophetic Charisma” by Len Oakes (4)

Leave a comment

    This is the fourth post in a series which will highlight several insights found in the book by Dr. Len Oakes while comparing his observations and conclusions to my personal experience inside Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). This work by Len Oakes titled, “Prophetic Charisma” – The Psychology of Revolutionary Religious Personalities (copyright ©1997 by Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, NY, ISBN 0-8156-2700-9) has captured my attention. We closed the last post in this series by noting that instead of a vision to spread the WOFF gospel “To The Nations” as the lyrics of a WOFF-song of several years ago proclaimed; I suggested that Jane Whaley has become her own vision. From the previous post, “Has her vision turned inward in order to make her comfortable and let her have the good life? Is this a predictable course when “prophets” age and come to the fall or winter of their ministry? When considering all that is WOFF- could there any other strong or noticeable message besides –Jane?” As I reflect on that line of thought, has Jane retired  thereby limiting her vision or outreach and concentrating on her lifestyle here in Rutherford County? She never advocated allowing her members to “retire”, but, we have to assess her actions and not just here words or restrictions on others. Could the many fine clothes and jewelry be what she feels she deserves after all these years of “ministry”? Is that why she passes the offering plates until she gets what she needs?

    Oakes writes that about David “Moses” Berg as an example of other leaders of the type he studied. “Because of his vision, his followers have suffered greatly, yet he retains their loyalty through his inspirational rhetoric” (page 14) He noted that the followers of Berg suffered because of the vision. I suggest that regular WOFF members endure a suffering because of Jane’s vision however that is defined. Their suffering includes lost years, lost relationships with family and friends as well as not knowing a true one on one Christian relationship with God. In the WOFF design for relationships, Jane is between her members and their personal walk with God. In her zeal and dysfunctional control of them, she keeps them from exactly what she claims the Christian walk is- a walk of “holy righteous living in Jesus”.  

  Continue reading “Prophetic Charisma” by Len Oakes (4) →

Books, Resources, Uncategorized

And What Made You Realize You Needed to Get Out?

2 Comments

   This past Saturday evening, I was among friends. We were eating, talking and laughing a lot. One person was new to the group and had some questions for me. The questions took the conversation in a totally different direction as they asked about my involvement in the “religious cult”. The previous post explained my answer which was brief. In another venue, I will explain in more detail how I became involved in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). My time either directly to indirectly affected by the teachings the leader of WOFF, Jane Whaley, totaled 16 years.  Later in the same conversation, this question came up, “And what made you realize you needed to get out?” I began be telling about certain events that happened April 9, 2008 and the meeting at the church in RF’s office. The pivotal understanding came to me when I saw that the others in the meeting considered what was happening as totally NORMAL. The events of the meeting and the display of Jane coming in a screaming at me and pointing her finger in my face were totally acceptable to the others in the room. They seemed to think the gesture was normal and in this case-needed. That one meeting was a catalyst that allowed me to consider that my time at WOFF was coming to close. It was not the total answer, but it did push me forward into unchartered waters of considering that WOFF was “un-normal”. While you are in WOFF, the thinking when a person considers WOFF as NOT God’s will is explained as they “want to keep their devils”. The exit from WOFF is explained in more detail in this post from April 20, 2010 – What Thoughts Helped Me Leave WOFF?? Part 1 – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1396  

   In previous posts, I have used 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) as a resource. The author explains in the Introduction some of the findings about those who leave cults. “Obviously, the control cult leaders achieve is not absolute because ultimately most people leave cultic groups (Barker 1984), although a sizeable number remain for many years. In one of the few studies that investigated why people leave cults, in structured interviews of 90 subjects, Wright (1983a, 1983b) identified four main reasons for defection. The first reason is a break with the cult’s social insulation. Only 4 of 12 persons separated from the group for three or more weeks (for example, on an extended visit to family) returned to the group.” (page 9) This makes sense, right? From 1992 until I left in 2008, I never spent time away from the Greenville church or WOFF – with family or any other reason for more than a long weekend. IF I missed a Sunday service, it was a big deal. In WOFF, they don’t use the term vacation. “Who would take a “vacation” from God, God’s will or God’s people?” The term is “time away” to rest or be with family; family in WOFF or who sympathize with WOFF. If there is a way to make the trip seem more spiritual, then that layer was added to excuse Jane and her crew to take a week away to the beach in the house they owned near Charleston, SC. Breaking from the “cult social insulation” was not acceptable at WOFF- for obvious reasons.

    Continue reading And What Made You Realize You Needed to Get Out? →

Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Uncategorized

How Did You? Why Did You Join a Cult?

Leave a comment

   Saturday evening, I was among friends for dinner and an evening of talking and laughter. Most of the people there knew at least part of my story and were not shocked when I would answer; No, I have not seen that movie or No, I have not done that or heard  of that — whatever “that” was… There was one person who was new to me and I made mention to them that the reason I had not seen very many movies was because I had spent several years in a religious cult. In that group we did not watch movies or television or do other similar stuff. This person took the answer in stride and we moved on. The cult involvement was the reason I had not done many things that others folks would consider normal or acceptable. A little later, this person asked to go back to my answer and wondered more about the “religious cult” thing.

    The question was sincere and I was a little taken aback. It had been several months or more since I had been asked directly- “How did you or why did you join a cult”? Immediately the last fifteen plus months of writing these posts flashed before me and I mentioned my blog. Then I began saying a person doesn’t join a cult. I mentioned Deborah Layton’s statements that people don’t join cults; they join groups of people they like and enjoy. No one wakes up suddenly with a desire to join a religious controlling cult. This person asked another question, “Did you go to church growing up?” I said yes, the local Methodist church. They really were taken back and said or inferred; did you not know the difference? It was at that point, I got off on a tangent and never really got back to answering the question. Growing up in a denominational church does not teach a person how to keep from being lured into a cult. After the evening was over, I remembered how I had dropped the ball and thus we have this post.

   Continue reading How Did You? Why Did You Join a Cult? →