Tag Archives: Dr. Margaret Singer

Post- Cult Questions and Struggles (Video)

When I first began this blog, it was so important to me to tell what had happened to me and my thoughts about those events. I started recording my memories as early as October of 2008. From those writings, my desire to start this blog was born. As I first started, it was such a relief to put into words my questions, emotions, feelings and concerns. Starting in January of 2010, I began on a regular basis to tell what had up until that point had only been shared in forums by other ex-members.  Eventually, I began to compare my experiences to insights and material in books written about other groups. Along the way, we have compared Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) to other groups and found WOFF to not be so unique. Jane Whaley may seemingly have a unique “gift”. But, in reality, her methods and means are not new, but are found in many other religious cults. She may have used different shellac on the outside, but what goes on behind the closed doors is as predictable as any other religious cult. The longer I am out, the more certain this observation becomes.

Previously, we have used this book, “Recovery From Cults” – Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse– Edited by Michael Langone- (copyright © 1993 American Family Foundation – ISBN 0-393-31321-2) as a resource. In previous posts; we have reviewed material written about and by Dr. Margaret Singer. Here is one of them:

Dr. Margaret Singer–Voice for the Cult Survivorhttps://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3789

Today, I will quote more from this resource and share some questions. In the last week of so, I have been talking to other survivors and reading this book. There are some insights which are found in the book that go right along with our discussions. Even though this book was published almost twenty years ago and uses some sources from the 1970’s; there is some important background information about cults as well as other material which is still valid.

Continue reading Post- Cult Questions and Struggles (Video)

Thoughts on Thought Reform – From Another Source

    The resource text for a previous post titled-  “Dr. Margaret Singer – Voice for the Cult Survivor”  found here: https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3789  was taken from this book:  “Recovery From Cults” – Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse– Edited by Michael Langone- (copyright © 1993 American Family Foundation – ISBN 0-393-31321-2). As I have continued reading this work, I found another reference that I viewed as worth sharing. There are so many resources mentioned in this book, I can see several posts reviewing the material found inside this book.

    In the “Introduction”, Langone outlines the purpose of this book. He mentions that it “does not aim to be an overview of the cult phenomenon… Instead, the book tries to illuminate general principles pertinent to understanding conversion, post-cult problems, and post-cult recovery. It also describes practical techniques for facilitating recovery from cultic involvements.”(page 1) I see this book taking a while to read and digest. 

    In this post, I will take definitions for “a thought reform program” found in this resource text and compare my experience from my time in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Jane Whaley is the leader of WOFF. I spent sixteen years either directly or indirectly under her teachings. My time in that group came to a close in July 2008. Since that time, I have been searching for answers to many questions about my time there, my reasons for being involved in that group and the lasting effects of being a part of  WOFF.  So far, questions have been more numerous than the answers. We move forward.

Continue reading Thoughts on Thought Reform – From Another Source

Dr. Margaret Singer – Voice for the Cult Survivor

   Several of the books I have recently purchased and will be reading deal with recovering from cults and the effects of cults. One such book is “Recovery from Cults” – Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse– Edited by Michael Langone- (copyright © 1993 American Family Foundation – ISBN 0-393-31321-2). The preface is written by Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph. D. (1921-2003). Her biography in this book contains these statements about her work. She served as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at University of California, Berkley. …Dr. Singer has been a contributor to many edited volumes on cults and related subjects, including The Family Therapist as Systems Consultant (Guilford Press) (page xiii) A brief review of additional information about Dr. Singer found here… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Singer reveals her work against cults. “She developed theories about how cults recruit and retain members (such as her Theory of Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence) and was on the board of the American Family Foundation, the major anti-cult group in the United States.”

     In the preface, she outlines her pathway into research and study of cults, their techniques and the results upon members, ex-members and families of cult members. Toward the beginning of her research she “concluded that cultic groups were not using mysterious, esoteric methods, but they had refined the “folk art of human manipulation and influence”… The cults created programs of social and psychological influence that were effective for their goals.” (page xvii)  She goes on to describe “pioneer families” of the 1960’s who were seeing their children enter cults and the subsequent search for answers. “The parents’ concerns were not that their young-adult children had taken up a new religion, nor were they concerned that their loved ones had left school and home or had completely redirected the course of their lives to help mankind by joining altruistic groups. They were concerned that these young adults were doing none of the above but seemed to have closed their minds to the past, their families and friends and were simply helping a band of itinerant gurus, pied pipers, self-proclaimed messiahs become wealthy and powerful.” (page xviii emphasis added)

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