Category Archives: Books, Resources

Books, Resources for learning about religious cults

Books, Resources, Uncategorized

“One Last Kiss” by Michael Cuneo – Part 1 (Video)

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Recently, while ordering books from Amazon.com, I chose “One Last Kiss” written by Michael Cuneo. (Copyright©2012 by Michael Cuneo, St. Martin’s Press, ISBN 978-0-312053972-6) The subtitle reads “The True-Story of a Minister’s Bodyguard, His Beautiful Mistress, and a Brutal Triple Homicide.” Admittedly, my interest was piqued by two things. First, the minster’s body guard worked for Joyce Meyer Ministries. Second, I had read a previous book by Michael Cuneo which he included a chapter about this visit to Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. In that book, he retold his observations during his visit to WOFF and conversations with Jane Whaley. Previously on this blog, we reviewed parts of his book, “American Exorcism” –Expelling Demons in the Land of Plenty (Copyright©2001 by Michael Cuneo, published by Doubleday, ISBN- 0-385-50176-5)

Not every time do I write a post immediately after reading a book which contains material pertinent to this blog. That was the case here. It has been several weeks since I finished reading the book.  Recent events have prompted me to take time to share some quotes and observations from Cuneo’s work. I never expected to find the analogies and references to “authoritarian cult” while reading this book. However, you read the quoted passages; it will become obvious why I could not let this post go unwritten. Before we proceed, let me say that my purpose here is not to impugn Joyce Meyer Ministries in anyway. Any reference to Joyce Meyer or Joyce Meyer Ministries is solely to give context to the true story of this tragic event.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Chasing the Devil” by Sheriff David Reichert

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Sunday night, I finished reading the book, “Chasing the Devil” by Sheriff David Reichert, subtitled- “My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer”, (Copyright©2004 by David Reichert, Little, Brown and Company, ISBN 0-316-15632-9 ). In a previous post, I have made comparisons between the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway, and Jane Whaley. The post is titled – Does the Green River Run Through Spindale?  Click here to read – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=5227 . The main comparison in that post was not that Jane Whaley of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) had physically killed people as Ridgeway confessed to doing. My comparison referenced Jane as a “serial relationship killer” and included these questions:

So, does the Green River run through Spindale? Where then does Jane dump her memories of those who did not “walk in God’s ways”, follow her dictates and believe her calling was true? Does she cast those people aside as Ridgeway cast his victims considering them worthless trash? Are the banks of this river littered with the lost years, lost family relationships, hurts, emotions and the anguish of those who have passed through WOFF’s doors? Can she even remember all those who have been vexed by her “religion?” Does she even care that so many have been traumatized by her demands for allegiance resulting in damage to their souls?

That is where I planned to leave the comparison– until I read this book. As I neared the end of the narrative, Sheriff Reichert began to share his thoughts and insight on how a person could become the “machine” that Ridgeway had become — a killing machine, as it were. I will quote the passages which include these insights and then share my thoughts on how they apply to Jane Whaley.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Thought Reform, Uncategorized

Do You Have the WOFF-Virus? (Video- Warning: Graphic Images)

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During my research on the Moonies, I came across a survivor of that group who explained her understanding of how people think inside a cult. Her name is Diane Benscoter. The adventure she describes started in 1974 and she joined a peace walk- not knowing that the majority of the others in the group were Moonies. Within a week inside that group, she had come to believe that the second coming of Christ had occurred and that person was Sun Myong Moon. In her thinking, she had been specially chosen by God to be a disciple of Moon who claimed to be the Christ.

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Books, Resources, Uncategorized

Does the Green River Run Through Spindale? (Videos)

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Yesterday, I was attempting to work from home and was very distracted. On a lark, I had turned on the television and stumbled upon a movie about the Green River Killer. My knowledge of this case had been very limited as I had only heard of it in passing as a reference on Criminal Minds®. So, I ventured a few minutes and became captivated at the struggles of the detectives to catch the individual who would later confess to murdering 71 women. The majority murders were between 1982 and 1984 and took place in the Seattle and Tacoma area. The murderer was given the title of “Green River Killer” because many of the bodies were dumped in the wooded areas along the Green River. The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway, was eventually apprehended on November 30, 2001 after a nineteen year search.  (see this link for an overview-  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Ridgway#Murders )

To consider the magnitude of the grief and loss for the victims, their family and friends was daunting. The community was gripped with fear for many years. I felt certain no movie could fully capture the horror and intensity of the citizens living the area during those years. After the capture of Gary Ridgeway, the authorities struck a deal to not seek the death penalty and allow him to disclose additional dump sites. The purpose was to give the families of victims’ closure from the horror of not knowing the fate of their daughters. Ridgeway was able to lead authorities to additional bodies but, admitted there were so many he had lost count.

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Books, Resources, Cult Leader News, Uncategorized

Sun Myong Moon Dies at 92 (Videos)

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On Sunday, I received a text message from CNN® saying: The Rev. Sun Myung Moon — founder of the church colloquially known as the Moonies — died early Monday in South Korea, according to the Washington Times, a newspaper that he founded, citing Unification Church leaders.

This is part one of a video of a mass wedding officiated by Moon in 1992

Admittedly, I do not have expert knowledge of Moon, but, even with what I do know; I found it hard to mourn his passing. I would venture that many of the readers of this blog may be as unlearned about Moon and his organization as I have been. This post will share some sources that will reveal things about Moon, his “religious beliefs”, his MASSIVE organization and his political power.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Information control, Uncategorized

Why Do Members Stay? (video)

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Over the last few years since leaving Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), several folks at different times have asked this question or one similar. Why do people stay inside WOFF? For many, the idea behind the question is: John, if things are as bad as you say, why don’t folks just leave? For those being more inquisitive, they are asking me: John, if it was that bad, why did you stay for so long? These are very fair questions. In this post, I will share an answer from a cult expert and add my reflections to help complete the answer for my situation.

During my research, I came across a video put out by Steven Hassan. This video is an informal conversation filmed in a hotel room about 2 years ago. The participants were Steven Hassan a leading cult expert, Attorney Paul Grosswald, ex-Scientologist, and Karen Pressley also a former high ranking ex-Scientologist. Much of the content does center on Karen’s experiences and her successes since leaving the group. During the discourse, there are several notable quotes which include answers to why folks stay in controlling groups, as well as other points of interests for those trying to understand the cult experience.

Before we begin, let me explain that I have no experience with Scientology or the Moonies. The purpose of this video is only as an aide to help answer the question: Why do members stay? The video is over fifty (50) minutes long and there is no way I can review the full content here. For this post, we will just hit on some major keys for understanding given by the participants. Some of the terms describing the rules or actions within Scientology were foreign to me and can only be explained by context.

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

Is “Surfing” Allowed Inside of WOFF?

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What triggers memories for you? Do you remember things best from sights or sounds? When you come across a particular aroma, does that aroma trigger memories? Tonight, for me it was a particular sound. The sound was the plethora of often indistinguishable noises that come out of an AM radio at night time. Let me explain the path of memories this “noise” took me on this evening.

Many years ago as a child, I was given a small handheld AM radio. Maybe there was an FM band, but, I doubt it. This would have been in the mid 1960’s. As far as I remember, my grandfather gave me this electronic treasure. It was probably a Christmas present purchased from Sears and Roebuck. The radio was battery powered and one that could be easily held while drifting off to sleep. That is what I remember doing for some years as a young boy. Music, sports and news filled the airwaves then. Talk radio as we know it today was non-existent. I would slowly push the tuner to catch the next strong station from states far away… It was a fascinating hobby for me at that age.

Tonight, as I drove home from work, I continued this habit begun many years ago. I turned the car radio to the AM band and began to surf the stronger stations that my car antenna would receive. To my dismay, I could not find a particular sporting event which I knew would be broadcast from somewhere… it just happened not anywhere I could hear. But, that did not stop me, as I still found it a challenge to listen to a radio show and try to figure out what state the radio station was broadcasting from. Now, for those fellow radio surfers, you know some of the larger AM stations. There is 1510 WLAC out of Nashville, 660 WFAN out of New York, 1120 KMOX out of St. Louis, 720 WGN which transmits out of Chicago and WSB 750 out of Atlanta. When it comes to talk show or interview show, not every time to I agree with the point of view being put forth; but, it is still fun to listen.

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