Category Archives: Criteria for Cults

What critieria should one use to determine if a group is a cult?

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

What is WOFFness? (1)

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    In several posts, we have looked at terms used by Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). One of those posts is found here…. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=101 .  We have discussed the purpose and the effects of these terms. Jane Whaley is the leader and she took time to define the use and meaning of many different terms. In most cases thsee terms were defined to mean what she wanted. During the development of this blog, I have created several terms to describe what I experienced during my time at WOFF. For this post we will discuss the term “WOFFness”. What does it mean? What does it include? Are WOFF members aware of the effects of the term? Could they not even be aware that they live in WOFFness? What do others outside of WOFF see and know about WOFFness? Do outsiders appreciate WOFFness in every situation?  

    First, let’s discuss the feeling and thoughts of being a WOFF member that are directly included in the meaning of the term. As a reminder, I was under the influence of the teachings of Jane Whaley either directly or indirectly for 16 years. Does that qualify me to give meaning to the term WOFFness? In my opinion, yes, the time inside gives me the experience needed to shape and define the term. While inside WOFF, there were many emotions, thoughts and experiences that were noteworthy. The attitude of WOFF members was one that no one else in Christianity had the revelation, the understanding, and the holiness that was conveyed on those living at WOFF. Conveyed? Yes, conveyed by listening to, obeying and living around Jane Whaley. Key to living at WOFF was the belief that Jane Whaley was the key to living for God, knowing God, understanding God and ultimately making it to heaven. If you were out of favor with Jane, you were out of favor with God. If you were in favor with Jane, you were tight with God.

   It sounds absurd when put in those terms, But, I challenge any one inside or outside to dispute those statements. Why is this crucial to WOFFness? Because, if you are to understand WOFFness, you must first understand where WOFFness originates and that is with Jane. Jane originates shapes and moderates the attitudes that are crucial for those inside WOFF. The first attitude and belief is fear of Jane. WOFFness is built on that. Jane promotes fear of her power as the foundation and undisputable requirement for all members in order to remain at WOFF. That fear of a person replaces the fear of God. In many ways, the fear of Jane is disguised as the fear of God. But, who on the outside is really fooled?

   Continue reading What is WOFFness? (1) →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

No Outward Symptoms – Sorta

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     Over the last couple of years, I have heard several stories of individuals who have had illnesses and not known their condition. The condition, usually cancer, would progress until they had a very nominal pain and went for an examination. At that point, the doctor would tell them they had more than a backache, more than a stomach ache or headache- they had cancer. One fellow went in because he was bothered by his back. He was diagnosed with stage four cancer and was dead in two weeks. Another lady, I heard about was in her early 30’s. She had never been in to doctor other than for check-ups. Her stomach ache revealed cancer all through her body. She has been taking treatments and is working as much as she can. Still another man I heard about had a headache for several days; he was diagnosed with brain cancer and had never missed a day’s work in his life.  He is trying to work while he takes treatments.

   As the stories kept coming to my attention, I could readily see that as humans, we know very little about our own bodies. In certain cases, we could have a deformity or malady and not know it. We usually have to have someone point it out after they have examined us beyond what can be seen on the outside. In the theme of questions, I began to consider my life at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The group, led by Jane Whaley, has been hard for some folks to figure out or diagnose. Certainly on the outside, many do not see the symptoms. Many see the fine cars, big house and nice clothes and do not see the symptoms of an illness that go deeper than the surface. It is easy to miss the illness when you look at the outside trappings of an apparently “healthy” looking group of folks such as WOFF. When a person sees the “happy” expressions and the courteous mannerisms of the youth, they become oblivious to the other symptoms that definitely exist.

  Continue reading No Outward Symptoms – Sorta →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Do Christians Suffer Illnesses?

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     Do Christians suffer illnesses? Yes, Christians get sick from sometimes very hard to detect diseases. Some even die in what some may regard as “strange circumstances” or “before their time”. Recently, I purchased a book written by Renee Coates Scheidt, titled- “Songs of the Night — Singing Sorrow’s Songs Through the Darkness of Grief”. (Copyright ©1995 by Renee Coates Scheidt –ISBN 1-888237-34-1) When I picked up the book, I had no idea about the subject of the book except what could be gleaned from the title. While reading this book, I have found several things that reminded me of my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Before I share those thoughts, let’s review some of the events in the book.

   The author tells in very frank terms, her life experiences during the time she was married to her husband. She reviews meeting and beginning her relationship with him. He got “cold feet” before their wedding and would later recover from that and they would eventually marry. Recounting the beginning years, she tells of their struggles to diagnose the reason for his mood swings and sometimes very destructive behaviors. She writes, “When you are a dedicated Christian, the humiliation of being depressed can be so overwhelming! Very few people in our world understood us… Couldn’t we speak the truth in Jesus’ name command the depression to leave? No matter how many Bible verses we quoted on the victory we have in Christ or how hard Chuck (her husband) worked to apply them, the depression never left for long.” (page 28)

    Can anyone else relate? Has there ever been a mountain of circumstances or even an illness that was in your life and no matter the prescribed steps you took – the situation became no better or even got worse? Has anyone else ever been in the confess your healing mode? After all, it seems so logical on one hand. Yet, after a while, when the answers don’t come, the questions go deeper. Is this the time when real relationship with God starts? When we come to the end of our formulas?

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

What Are The Questions? (2)

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    In the last post, we stated questions that have been asked about Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Some questions were about Jane Whaley, the leader. Some were about daily life at WOFF. “Why” was/is a common question and well as “how”? We shared some questions that new members have to face. Those answers would be very interesting as each new member would face them first in the church and then in their private lives. The main point being that their private life morphs/merges into their life at church. For sure, new members learn that there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed – to Jane. When a new member joins WOFF, at whatever degree or stage that is or becomes, he or she will face the realization at some point that privacy is a dwindling commodity. All facets of life merge into the realm of the church’s/Jane’s purview.

     Life at WOFF becomes all consuming- why? Why did/does membership at WOFF require ALL of a member? What other churches which claim to be “Protestant, non-denominational church…( as defined by classical Christianity) with traditional, evangelical doctrines” require so much of their members? I am not saying there are no others; I just want to know who they are… We shared about this type of group in a post from August 1, 2010- “Know the Marks of Cults” Part 6 found here: https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2896 .

    Continue reading What Are The Questions? (2) →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, FLDS vs WOFF, Uncategorized

What Are The Questions? (1)

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     Several times on this blog I have mentioned my “search for answers”. However, I have not shared all the questions or gathered them into one place. In this post and possibly one more, I will gather as many of the questions as I can remember and share some of the answers I have at this point. During the 16 years of being under the teachings and influence of Jane Whaley, there have been many questions. Life at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) was not centered on asking questions or getting answers; it was centered on obedience to Jane. All of this was disguised as “obedience to God” or “the call of God”. However, how did you know you were obeying God? Jane would confirm it or voice her doubt and/or disapproval.

    One reason I believe that WOFF is subject to being called a “cult” – the members show more fear of Jane than God. This I realized in May of 2008. It helped me along in my exit. ( see related post here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1396 )   Some would doubt the question and some may doubt the answer. However, if they do, you must ask – are they in WOFF or out? How long were they in (if, so) and what level of faithfulness to Jane did they “enjoy”? Certain members were VERY faithful to Jane and Sam. As with any group, you have different levels of commitment and in WOFF, different degrees of adherence to WOFF-isms.  So, for now, the first question- Why is WOFF subject to being called a “cult”?

   Other questions include- What is life like inside of WOFF? In a previous post, I answer some of that question. (see link here… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2440 ) However, life for different ages or groups of folks could look different in some ways. Those who work during the week would have a different schedule than those who do not work and are involved in activities at the church every day. There were always places to “be a help” or errands to run or tasks to do for those that did not have a regular job. Life at WOFF was not sedentary. Life in WOFF is highly regulated, to say the least. Refer back to the previous paragraph/question.

    Continue reading What Are The Questions? (1) →

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

Frederick Douglass- The Nature of Slavery (2)

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Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass 1852
    In the previous post, we began the review of a speech, “The Nature of Slavery”, by Frederick Douglass. He delivered the speech December 1, 1850. The resource text for this speech is from “Classic Speeches” (Copyright 1965, Philosophical Library Inc.) We have reviewed the beginnings of the speech and made a few conclusions to help answer the question- “Is membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) a type of slavery?”  After 16 years of being under the indirect and direct influence of Jane Whaley, leader of WOFF, my search for answers continues. In this post, we will continue the review of a speech by a man who escaped slavery and sought to educate others as to its evils.

       Continue reading Frederick Douglass- The Nature of Slavery (2) →

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

Frederick Douglass- The Nature of Slavery (1)

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     In the previous post, we reviewed a speech by Henry Ward Beecher. The speech was presented in 1859, titled “The Nation’s Duty to Slavery”. The resource text for this speech is from “Classic Speeches” (Copyright 1965, Philosophical Library Inc.) We reviewed the speech and made a few conclusions to help answer the question- “Is membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) a type of slavery?”.  After 16 years of being under the indirect and direct influence of Jane Whaley, leader of WOFF, my search for answers continues. In this post, we will review a speech from the same resource text, by a man who escaped slavery and sought to educate others as to its evils.  

    “Fredrick Douglass was born a slave in Tuckahoe, Maryland in 1817, presumably in February, and died, a figure of national importance, at Anacostia, D.C., on February 20, 1895… He was self-educated…. His intelligence, his greatness of spirit, and his determination to become free—a determination conceived when he was nine years old—made him a difficult slave and he was sent for a time to a notorious slave-breaker. .. but he would not be broken.” (page 181) Later, Douglass would escape slavery in a sailor’s suit. He began to tell his story and even lectured abroad in England and Ireland. “From 1871 to 1891, Douglass held various appointive offices, among them the post of counsel-general to Haiti.” (page 181) 

      Continue reading Frederick Douglass- The Nature of Slavery (1) →