Tag Archives: Cult Criteria

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Those Who Do This … Are Deceivers

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Those Who Do This … Are Deceivers

     The book “Out of the Cults and Into the Church” (copyright 1994 Kregel Resources) by Janis Hutchinson has provided us with many insights and direction in previous posts. This book was recommended to me from a couple that had spent many years in the “Worldwide Church of God”. That group was reported as a cult and at the minimum had unusual behavior control practices that permeated their doctrines and everyday life. The first post on this group stemming from a lunch meeting with the husband can be found here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=903 It was a fun meeting to say the least.  Later, the wife referred me to this book. It had helped her in years past.

   The most recent post about the insight in this book can be found here: WOFF Contradictions – Part 4: https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2533 .  In that post, we looked at the net effect of many scriptures quoted at WOFF. “In my opinion, the net effect negated true relationship with God and furthered a subservient relationship to Jane Whaley and the leadership at WOFF. Scriptures were not intended to be tools to make one person a servant to another.” Please read the entire post in order to obtain the context for the quote…

   Today, the subject at hand comes from chapter 8 of this book. “Deadly Doctrines Tough to Divorce” The author uses her experience from Mormonism to explain her views since she was in that group for over 30 years. Hutchinson explains that as members leave religious cults, they have a tough time separating themselves from the doctrines that enslaved them while in the group. It is not obvious to many that observe a person’s exit from such a group, why the struggle would exist. Can’t you just lay down the sacred stories and start believing the truth? From the author’s experience, she relates that the Mormon’s sacred stories were taken from orthodox Christianity. The Book of Mormon “borrows from Matthew, Mark and Paul’s writings, and parallels New Testament stories.2” (page 154) This would have drawn folks in to believing and also can keep the exit process slowed as an ex-cultist struggles to replace the Mormon stories with Christian scriptural truths.

    Continue reading Those Who Do This … Are Deceivers →

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

“Raven” by Tim Reiterman – Voice of a Survivor

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    “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, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

A New Term- “Antinomianism” A New Perspective…

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Recently, a local college professor answered my email inquiry. This person has studied “new religious movements” as well as other groups for years. Their work includes a recently published book dealing with a certain aspect of these groups.

This professor acknowledged in the reply that they had read my blog and other resources on Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). My email was this person’s first exposure to WOFF or Jane Whaley. The reply contains this assessment, “From my reading, it seems to be a Pentecostal “prosperity gospel” group with some rather extreme practices and beliefs. Scholars would call what they do “antinomianism,” meaning that WOFF’s leaders (and presumably, some members too) believe that their special spiritual state allows them to transcend the laws and morals of mainstream society and other forms of Christianity. It certainly wouldn’t be the first such group to take this approach.”

The term “antinomianism” was new to me. I did some further reading about the term. In a source found here: http://www.theopedia.com/Antinomianism . The definition mentions that “antinomianism” is the opposite of legalism. So in order to apply the professor’s assessment within this definition, it warrants mentioning that Jane Whaley and the LEADERS exhibit “antinomianism”, but they apply a heavy dose of the extreme opposite, legalism, to the regular members. It is definite continuum according to the situation at hand. For instance, WOFF members are denied the rights of “mainstream society” when it comes to freedom of press or access to media and freedom of speech. (Dissent is squashed!) That is the application of “legalism” on the regular members is at the behest of Jane Whaley and leadership. They apply this from the standpoint of antinomianism. Jane Whaley acts as if she is above common morals and accepted religious mores in this country and applies legalism evidenced by the numerous and ever growing list of rules, restrictions and “don’ts” that are required of the regular members.

Continue reading A New Term- “Antinomianism” A New Perspective… →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Peoples Temple vs WOFF

What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 4

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Possible WOFF Defenses- Part 4- The Children

    We continue our list of possible Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) defenses for their practices and lifestyles. One spring evening in 2008, in a parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Shelby, NC; I was talking on my cell phone to a WOFF member who was in “leadership”. She was doing her best to answer my growing list of objections by attempting to point out the good points of life at WOFF. I had not yet voiced my true concerns, just my sadness and dismay at how I was being treated in my household. The shunning was taking its toll on me.

   This person said many things, one of which; what about the children. See how well behaved and mannerly they are? Everyone does so well in school. They “take hold” for the most part. Honestly, I cannot remember the exact words. But, it was one of the often repeated excuses used by Jane Whaley and WOFF members. There seemed to be some desire to overlook certain things, if only outsiders would see how the children behaved, obeyed and could carry on a good conversation. After all, remember the DSS case which was settled on appeal. WOFF “won” that case- right? So, how could there be anything wrong at WOFF? (I have already mentioned my take on the DSS case and its outcome here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2267 )

    First, over the years there have been several meetings and conferences showcasing the school projects of the students at WOFF. There was a routine before every such meeting. Scrubbed clean and repainted- every area that would be open to the public. From the top, cleaning the light fixtures and also return vents in the ceiling, all the way down to scrubbing the grout in the bathroom floors. (I know; I had that job at least twice.) The clothes to be worn were reviewed and everything approved before these meetings. Sometimes several folks would work late into the night, finishing projects and setting up the displays. Making sure everything was just right. Why mention this? Because what visitors saw at these meetings was a well orchestrated veneer.

Continue reading What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 4 →

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

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

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    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 →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 3

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Possible WOFF Defenses- Part 3 “Freedom of Religion”

    For the last few days, I have considered the content of this post and how to present it in the most accurate way. My concern has been that in the current political climate, there are those who wish to update or rewrite the U.S. Constitution, as they feel it was written in times wheen the Founding Fathers could not have fathomed the issues facing the country today. I do not agree and proceed with caution. My purpose is not to undermine or hinder in any way the intent of the Founders for the First Amendment and its construction.  

Obama rips U.S. Constitution- Faults Supreme Court for not mandating ‘redistribution of wealth’

Posted: October 27, 2008- 1:46 pm Eastern © 2010 WorldNetDaily Here is a small clip…

“In a newly unearthed tape, Obama is heard telling Chicago’s public station WBEZ-FM in 2001 that “redistributive change” is needed, pointing to what he regarded as a failure of the U.S. Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren in its rulings on civil rights issues in the 1960s.”

(see more here.. http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=79225 )

    In order to make my point, let’s consider the US Constitution and the Amendments as a fortress. This fortress is to protect legal citizens from the oppression and tyranny of a Government, out of control and bent on controlling the citizens for the support of a rogue agenda. Inside the fortress, in a perfect world, all citizens would understand the necessity of respecting each other’s freedoms and unalienable rights. There is in a “perfect” state, mutual respect and honor given to each other for the edification of all citizens. Citizens from this fortress would be elected to take positions on the walls and govern others. Certainly, this is a simplistic model for sure.

Continue reading What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 3 →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 2

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      Possible WOFF Defenses- Part 2 – Jane Whaley Thinks She is Right!

      Recently, I heard someone commenting on the delusion of a famous person. He said that this person did not live in or see the reality of their actions. This famous person thought that they were actually helping folks! When in reality, the long term effects if not changed, will affect millions of folks negatively, for years to come.

    Then it suddenly dawned on me…. Jane Whaley thinks she is helping folks! She must believe she is fulfilling God’s work regardless evidence of the destroyed lives. She must think she is helping improve the lives of members by controlling them and not allowing them to experience freedoms that she and her leadership enjoy every day!

     Jane Whaley thinks she is right!  She believes she does no wrong. Jane must feel TOTALLY justified in living her life, as she does. She must have no qualms about keeping ministry spending secretive. She must have no objections to publically berating members and embarrassing by telling them they will not make it with God and will go to hell. From my perspective, she had no conviction about telling a class of high school girls that they were “homely” looking. (see post here https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=918 ..) She expressed some surface concern about having “enough clothes to cover two city blocks”. (I am not sure if that included her shoes…) This confession did not seem to change her shopping habits. She felt completely justified in acting as a third party medical debt collector. There were no regrets expressed in the meeting described here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=235

     Jane Whaley does not see her ministry as destroying individuals or families. How would I know? How likely is it that Jane could continue with the charade knowing her whims, edicts, antics and “words from God” were responsible for tearing families apart? Would it not follow that Jane believes she is helping people? She believes she is helping others to hear Jesus and fulfill the call of God. For the spouse, family or individual that leaves Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF)- they “just did not want to give up their sin”… After all, what good reason would there be to leave the safest, most holy place on earth? There was/is some strong rationalization going on to cover up or spin the reasons that people have left or will leave WOFF.

   Continue reading What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 2 →