Tag Archives: Cult Criteria

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Thought Reform, Uncategorized

How Unique is Jane Whaley?

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    Today, we will consider the question, “How Unique is Jane Whaley?” My first thought would be that it depends on who you ask. If you ask her family – she is one of a kind. For sure we are all unique in that regard. Biologically, Jane is unique and has her own qualities as none other. She is wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and “Mom” to her immediate relatives. Certainly, there is none other in that regard. With those relationships, she carries out her duties and no one can replace her or should they try.

    What if you ask the members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF)? How would they respond? Since I have been a member of that group in years past, I can offer insight. While I was in WOFF, I would have said there was no one quite like Jane. No one commanded the authority or the presence that she did when she entered a room. Why? Well, as a member of WOFF my association with her affected several areas of my life. Over the years, the areas affected where many and varied. Twice, she had direct input as to the job I worked. She had a say so in where I lived, she had a say in where my wife worked in the school or if she worked in the school. She determined how many times I was required to attend services. She openly rebuked my wife and me for our choice of toys for our son on one occasion. She had/has input into which dress my wife could wear for a special meeting or service. She determined what color of shirts I could wear in a church service. For that matter, she even determined what was appropriate to wear at work. Yes, no doubt, her decisions affected me and my family on several levels and in several areas.

    Was my experience different from other WOFF members? Not really. Jane expressed herself in everyone’s life in many ways. Faithful WOFF members would have to say that they were under Jane’s “absolute direction” in many areas of their life. So, to them was/is Jane unique? I would say certainly so. How many directors could one person have in their life? There is only room for one. So, Jane is unique to her family and to faithful WOFF members.

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

Balanced Respect, Inordinate Admiration or Worship?

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     Lately, I have been reading “Breaking the Chains”- Overcoming the Spiritual Abuse of a False Gospel (Copyright © 2009 by Shari Howerton, ISBN- 978-0-9713499-4-0). There is so much that her church; Christian Gospel Temple (CGT) had/has in common with Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Though there were some differences, many of the similarities are very important and I feel worth noting on this blog. This book is written in a very honest and forth right manner. I do not assume I can do it complete justice by posting certain quotes and drawing the conclusions that show the similarities. I recommend you visit the website –  http://www.sharihowerton.com/ and consider purchasing your own copy. The author’s quest for personal growth and Truth is inspiring in many ways.

    Howerton writes, “What I remember most about the ministry was how the ministers and their families were treated like royalty. It was as though they were the dignitaries and we were the common folk. … At some point, I realized that for all the talk of being like Jesus this behavior was very unlike Him. … I never thought of the ministers as servants. They were more like kings to me.” (page 107-108) Here I will just mention that during my time at WOFF Jane Whaley was treated as royalty in many ways. Not only was there the extensive wardrobe and obvious unchecked spending privileges; there was the heir of superiority that she carried which reinforced the self–acclaimed notion of her perfection. The notion of royalty carried over to her family and her extended family as certain allowances were made for them that were not afforded others. Do I need to elaborate? I certainly can for those who do not remember.

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Books, Resources, Uncategorized

Striving For Perfection and The True Gospel – C.A.R.M.

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    Recently I was researching the teaching on perfection and its origins. I came across a source which included a post with the above title… “Striving for perfection and the true gospel”. The post can be found here… http://carm.org/striving-for-perfection . The site is run by the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. First, let me say I have not read everything on this site, everyone should proceed with caution and decide on their own about the material located there. However, the first article I found gave some very good points explaining the trap involved with the teaching on perfection in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Here are a few quotes…

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that its members are to strive to be perfect.  This perfection, hopefully, results in exaltation, in becoming a god.”

“As you can see, the Mormon is taught that he must triumph over sin, that he is saved by grace after all he can do, and that he must be perfect.  In fact, many Mormons have told me that the gospel is the Law and Ordinances of the Mormon Church, further verifying that forgiveness of sins in the LDS church is dependent upon the persistent and necessary effort of the Mormon to keep the Laws of God.” (emphasis added)

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

“Jesus Camp” – Kids on Fire

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   “Jesus Camp” is a documentary produced by Loki Films for A&E Indie Films Copyright © 2006 A&E Television Networks. (www.jesuscampthemovie.com) The film presents a close –up look at Becky Fisher, a children’s minister. Her website is  https://kidsinministry.org/ . The film crew is allowed to document a week of summer camp, “Kids on Fire”, led by Becky Fisher and her team. The camp is located at Lakewood Park Bible Camp near Devil’s Lake, ND. The camp includes certain normal summer camp activities plus intense teaching sessions led by Ms. Fisher as she presents a Pentecostal, Evangelical message. She includes teaching sessions using props along with teaching about sin, living for God and praying for the government and specifically the President.

    It is my understanding, the directors; Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady do not claim to be Christian. This would explain the composition of the film. Many political references are made as the radio talk show host, Mike Papantonio, of the Ring of Fire (http://www.ringoffireradio.com/ ) is allowed several minutes to express his views. This show is the voice of the Progressive Movement which constantly takes aim at Evangelical Christians in this nation.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Rules, Rules, Rules – The Results?

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     We have posted several times on blog about the rules or “don’ts” put upon members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). It is understood that in a group like WOFF, the rule count may ebb and flow, but the general direction of the number is up. Until I was out of that group, I did not stop to count or consider the effects of the large number of behaviors regulated from the pulpit in spoken rules on among the members in unspoken rules. Many rules were so ingrained, that you don’t know of them until you leave and see others who do not follow the rules or adhere to the “don’ts”. Then you begin to examine your reason for doing or not doing something. It is then you begin to see the massive number of detailed regulations that were imposed on you as a member of WOFF. The details of the rules can be debated or argued as to when and why and who made the rule. Today, we will look at the effects of the rules other than the obvious behavior modification. What mindset evolves after being under so many rules? Here is the list I posted earlier. No, the rules were not written at WOFF, therefore it was easier to manipulate and deny the existence of so many restraints that were issued. (WOFF Don’t List WOFF Don’t list from 03 10 ) This list spans the 16 years of my involvement in that group. I feel VERY sure some have changed and new ones have been added.

    These next quotes are from the documentary- “Join Us”. 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). Here is the link to the second post for that film…https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3464   Kristy Sullivan is describing her time and her thinking while in the cult called Mountain Rock Church in Anderson, SC. She and her husband have since left the group and received counseling at Wellspring Retreat. I use this quote as it typifies the result of living under the control of a cult leader. From what I can see and determine, Mountain Rock Church has LESS number of rules than WOFF. Their dress was less monitored and they were able to celebrate some holidays. So, the comparison would not be absolute, but it does give a great indication of the emotional state of being in such a controlling environment.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Could You Be a Cult Member?

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    The question is not for the present, but for looking into future. Could you be involved at some point in the future, in a controlling religious cult? Could you be considered as a “regular member”? I am not asking if you could be a cult leader. That question is for another post. Could you tell when the people around you that you love and trust are beginning to take your freedoms away? At what point would you know that what started out as benign and maybe even beneficial had morphed into a controlling environment? Are you so sure?

     My experience is one that has taken me to, into and through years of a group that began as what I considered as beneficial and by no means harmful. Did I miss the changes and the signs of control? Apparently, I did. Was I susceptible before I even came into the church in Greenville, SC known first as Grace and Truth Fellowship and then Word of Life Church? That is not a question I am able to answer here, but possibly in another post. For this post, we will review several statements from those involved with cult groups on some level. After all, cult survivors should be able to give at least some insight into how they were taken into a cult group, right?

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Breaking the Chains”- by Shari Howerton- Introduction

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    In an earlier post titled “The Church at Rock Hill” found here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/2010/06/the-church-at-rock-hill/  we began reviewing the movement started by William Sowders. It was a brief review and only served as an introduction. The post included a couple of links for information on Sowders and a summary of a testimony from a former member of one church in this group in California. I listed aspects of that testimony that contained similarities to ones I had seen in my years in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The movement was brought to my attention through the free service from Google® called Google Alerts®.

    This was my introduction to a movement begun in around 1914 and at its peak had about “75,000 believers in 300 congregations in 31 states.” (Source here– http://www.dmgac.org/about/leaders/ a church within group)  The leader, William Sowders died in 1952. Recently, a book written by a survivor of this group, Shari Howerton, came to my attention- again through Google Alerts®. “Breaking the Chains” Overcoming the Spiritual Abuse of a False Gospel (Copyright © 2009 by Shari Howerton, ISBN- 978-0-9713499-4-0) –The author was born to a family in a church in that movement. She stayed in that group under the pastor, Cornelius Mears, for 43 years. Near the beginning of the book, she provides more background that helps understand the impact of the doctrines and practices on the lives of its members.

    As I have been reading this book, I have seen several things to note. First there are some differences in the leadership of the church Howerton was a part of and WOFF. The leader(s) in the Sowder movement were men and at WOFF, the leader is a woman- Jane Whaley. There are some similarities on many levels between to the two groups. We will mention one likeness here and we will note more of both, in future of posts.  

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