Category Archives: Books, Resources

Books, Resources for learning about religious cults

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

“Know the Marks of Cults” Part 5

2 Comments

Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese Part 5

    We will return to a few insights from the book:  “Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese, (copyright 1975, SP Publications, ISBN 0-88207-704-x). In the fourth post from this book we reviewed the “Presumptuous Messianic Leadership” as a mark of a cult. Next, Breese writes about “Doctrinal Ambiguity”. Again, let me repeat that I will not be able to cover all the good information given by the author. I encourage readers to obtain their own copy and read this book.

    Breese mentioned several points in this chapter from which I will use a couple to support my opinion about Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) lead by Jane Whaley. I will be cautious not to assess every doctrinal area that is proposed from WOFF. Some of the areas I am still working through myself after having been under Jane Whaley’s teachings for so many years. After I left; there was a time when I put everything I believed about Christianity and the Bible on a figurative shelf. One by one, over time, I have been examining my beliefs and attempting to hold onto to what is true and right. What I have found as questionable or unsupported by Scripture and “good sense”- I have been throwing out. Contrary to the confession of some, I do not believe that the two standards are mutually exclusive.

   The author defines doctrine as the “systematic presentation and understanding of truth”. (page 60) In a previous passage he writes; “Doctrinal ambiguity is a mark of a cult. One of the very fascinating characteristics of the cults is the interesting and sometimes hilarious changes of doctrine through which they pass. Their doctrines are being continually altered in order to adapt themselves to new situations, arguments or the whims of their leaders.” (page 59)

   Continue reading “Know the Marks of Cults” Part 5 →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Know the Marks of Cults” Part 4

2 Comments

“Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese Part 4

    We will continue with insights from the book:  “Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese, (copyright 1975, SP Publications, ISBN 0-88207-704-x). In the third post from this book we reviewed the “False Basis for Salvation” and “Uncertain Hope” as marks of a cult. Next, Breese writes about “Presumptuous Messianic Leadership” in cults. This is the longest chapter in this book, 12 pages, however; the whole book is only 128 pages. I will not be able to cover all the good information given by the author. I encourage readers to obtain their own copy and read it to learn many details that I will not be able to give here.

    Breese starts out this chapter with “Only Jesus Christ deserves disciples!” (page 45, bolding added). That sums up the main point of the chapter very well. He goes on to make several points from which I will only draw a few for support. “One of the marks of a cult is that it elevates the person and the words of a human leader to a messianic level.” (page 48) “All too often converts to a religion stand in inordinate awe of the person who brought them into the faith. Many religious persuaders have been unable to withstand the temptation to personally promote themselves so as to retain their exalted image in the minds of their devoted followers. The temptation to change from a simple servant to an exalted messiah can be very strong in the life of a charismatic leader.” (page 49) Though, I must add that the strength of the temptation is no excuse for the action of receiving the status of “messiah” from your followers.   

   Continue reading “Know the Marks of Cults” Part 4 →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Know the Marks of Cults” Part 3

1 Comment

“Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese Part 3

    We will continue with insights from the book:  “Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese, (copyright 1975, SP Publications, ISBN 0-88207-704-x). In the second post from this book we reviewed the “Extra Biblical Revelation” as a mark of a cult. Next, Breese writes about “A False Basis for Salvation” in cults. Upon reading the title for this chapter, I was remembering all the Scripture references I had learned at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Jane Whaley taught what felt like from dawn to dark and beyond on certain subjects. Several meetings were spent on Scripture references centering on salvation and knowing if one was truly saved. So, I had my ideas about skipping over this chapter.

    However, as I read Breese’s work, I noted several alarming points he makes about cults and their denial of true Biblical salvation. For sure, Scriptures are taught at WOFF. But, to be true to our methodology of assessing WOFF and other groups; what are the practices that go along with the teaching of salvation at WOFF? Members of WOFF are taught chapter and verse. That impression is confirmed by the number of Scripture references on their website. But, what is practiced that either confirms or denies, the Scriptural understanding for salvation?

    Continue reading “Know the Marks of Cults” Part 3 →

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

“Know the Marks of Cults” Part 2

2 Comments

“Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese Part 2

    We will continue with insights from the book:  “Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese, (copyright 1975, SP Publications, ISBN 0-88207-704-x). In the first post from this book, we reviewed the definition of a cult and some of the traits. Breese writes next about the “Extra Biblical Revelation” as a mark of a cult. At first, I was going to move over this point and not comment since there is no written “Extra Biblical Revelation” at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The leader, Jane Whaley has not written a “revelation” that she claims to supersede or be equal to the Bible.

    Breese goes on to explain about this “Extra Biblical Revelation”: “Sometimes this extra-biblical revelation” comes in the form of a “divinely inspired leader”.  Many religions have invested divine authority in the person of a visible individual who speaks infallibly, his words having the same or higher authority than Holy Scripture. Some of these religions have made their leaders equal with God.” (page 26) He goes on to admonish Christians to give themselves to study of the Word of God.

     Continue reading “Know the Marks of Cults” Part 2 →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Know the Marks of Cults” Part 1

3 Comments

    “Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese, (copyright 1975, SP Publications, ISBN 0-88207-704-x) Recently, I found this book online. The author was a speaker and evangelist who passed away in 2002. More can be found about him here… http://christiandestiny.org/publications/newsletter/2002-07/thinking-together.shtml .  From what I can tell, he traveled extensively and had a heart to help people.

    As I began this book, I noted several things that are worth mentioning here. The author writes about his belief that it is a hunger to go “beyond” Christianity that leads people into side paths or error. He likens true Christianity to a mountain top; from there all other revelation leads downward. He warns against the “new” that leads to things untrue. His reference is “traditional” Christianity. Let’s remember he wrote this BEFORE Jim Jones took over 900 people to their death at Jonestown in 1978. This was written during a decade that saw many “new” trends in our culture and our religion. Not all the things coming out of the 70’s were good.

     Breese writes “We must also note that the same characteristics of religions that are out-and-out cults have beginning tendencies within the true Church of Christ.” (page 11) His hope was that in pointing these things out, he could alert people to their cultic nature and thus “prevent future spiritual tragedy.” (page 11) He goes on in the introduction, “The absence of doctrinal correction produces spiritual ruin. How many disillusioned Christians have stood amid the broken pieces of their shattered lives and said, “If only I had known. Why did someone not warn me in time?” (page 12) After reading these words, there was no doubt for me that though this book was written 35 years ago, it will have some keys for those wanting to avoid cults and folks like me who have traveled through a cult experience.

     Continue reading “Know the Marks of Cults” Part 1 →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Peoples Temple vs WOFF, Uncategorized

“Raven” by Tim Reiterman – Voice of a Survivor

4 Comments

    “Raven” by Tim Reiterman with John Jacobs (copyright ©1982 Tim Reiterman, Introduction copyright 2008 by Tim Reiterman, ISBN 978-1-58542-678-2); the authors tell “The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People”. “Tim Reiterman is a prizewinning journalist who extensively covered Jonestown for the San Francisco Examiner. He was wounded in the jungle airstrip attack that killed a U.S. Congressman, plus three reporters, and a Peoples Temple defector.” (from the back cover) This book is over 600 pages. I have just beginning book, however in just reading the Preface and Prologue, I felt compelled to share some insights.

    Honestly, I have had this book for several months. The sheer size of the work has kept me from opening the cover and beginning to read.  After finishing Seductive Poison by Deborah Layton (copyright 1998 – Anchor Books, ISBN 0-385-48984-6, 308 pages) and previous to that “In My Father’s House” by Minn Yee (copyright 1981,Holt, Rinehart and Winston, ISBN 0-425-05387-3, 361 pages), each one about involvement in Peoples Temple and with Jim Jones; it finally was time to tackle this extensive work. One reason I hesitate to open such a large book is that once I begin, reading can consume any time I may have away from work. It is vital to plan the reading.

    Continue reading “Raven” by Tim Reiterman – Voice of a Survivor →

Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Peoples Temple vs WOFF, Uncategorized

“Seductive Poison” by Deborah Layton- Voice of a Survivor

1 Comment

    We will break away from our series about the possible defenses for Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), to consider excerpts from the book, Seductive Poison by Deborah Layton (copyright 1998 – Anchor Books, ISBN 0-385-48984-6)  The author gives a fascinating account of the her seven year involvement and escape from the Peoples Temple. The Peoples Temple was run by Jim Jones. He led church members on a journey from Indiana to California to Guyana, South America. They built a “utopian society” called Jonestown. On November 18, 1978, over 900 people died in Jonestown, almost a third of them were children. Deborah Layton escaped a few months before the tragedy and tried to convince others that circumstances in Jonestown were grave. Some listened and believed her.  

   In future posts, I will quote parts of this book in laying out similarities in the practices of Peoples Temple and WOFF.  In previous posts, I have quoted Deborah Layton from a PBS documentary produced in 2007 called “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple”. She made it clear that no one actually joins a “cult”. People join groups that they think will help them, not hurt them. As I look back over my time at WOFF and the net effects from that experience, I see I was completely unaware that my involvement in that group would affect my life, as it has. What started out as an apparent beneficial membership in a church in Greenville, SC has evolved into a bitter/sweet experience affecting more than just my life. As Deborah Layton explains, “If I, as a young woman had had someone explain to me what cults are and how indoctrination works, my story might not have been the same.” (page 299)

     Layton lays out how a person could become involved in a “cult”, as well as the warning signs from Peoples Temple. These keys are found in the Epilogue of “Seductive Poison”:

Continue reading “Seductive Poison” by Deborah Layton- Voice of a Survivor →