prophecy from Cindy Jacobs (p. 207), a
particularly controversial individual who is
noted for the spiritual “deliverance”/exorcisms
she conducts (Cindy Jacobs, 2003). The author
describes her further investment in WoF in the
early 1990s through her development of
coursework in the theology of the Pentecostal
movement, spiritual gifts, and healing
ministry—principles that she advances in the
church for which she now serves as pastor. From
a thought-reform perspective, the author has
unfortunately escaped a very devastating cult to
heavily invest herself in a different belief system
that is considered within Christian, countercult
apologetics circles to be theologically aberrant,
albeit less destructive (McConnell, 1988
Positive Confession, 2012 Tillin, 1999).
Although she cites ideologues from the E. W.
Kenyon school of WoF, the author does not
acknowledge the influence of theosophy and
New Thought Christianity on the movement
(McConnell, 1988). Most Pentecostals and
Charismatics know nothing of Phineas P.
Quimby, a late-19th-century philosopher trained
in the European-style of mesmerism, who
explored medical applications of hypnosis as a
modality for healing (Quimby, 2008). Quimby’s
notable student, Mary Baker Eddy, sought his
help for a host of somatic illnesses. Eddy
adopted many of his ideas and incorporated
them into her tradition of Christian Science—a
charge she staunchly denied, despite the
concurrence of her work with Quimby’s writings
published posthumously (Eddy, 1912, Quimby
2008). E. W. Kenyon found much merit in
Eddy’s Science and Health With Key to the
Scriptures, and then essentially sanitized and
supplemented it to conform to Evangelical
Fundamentalist doctrinal standards (Barron,
1987 Kenyon, 1969 McConnell, 1988).
Summary
Although I find so many elements of this
memoir to be an inspiring and insightful
chronicle of recruitment into, devoted service
within, and exit from a high-demand group, I
attribute it as an unfinished saga. The author’s
detailed and sometimes tedious account of
personal recovery demonstrates well the stages
of recovery from cultic involvement, but her
embrace of WoF theology suggests that she has
not yet fully stepped into true freedom from
thought reform and the magical thinking of the
Kenyon school of faith healing. Although I don’t
believe that her experience can be recommended
to Evangelicals who are emerging from thought-
reform programs, it unfortunately is not at all
uncommon within Evangelical circles. It serves
as an account of cult-hopping into a less
damaging but familiar theological system.
Perhaps the author, who overcame so much
adversity, cultivated a meaningful life, and
forged so many opportunities to help others, will
one day tire of the demands of WoF. I hope to
one day review another book by her that
documents the completion of her saga and
reflects full liberation from high-demand
systems.
Bibliography
A century of Christian Science healing. (1966). Boston, MA:
Christian Science Publishing Society.
Barron, B. (1987). The health and wealth gospel: What’s going on
today in a movement that has shaped the faith of millions?
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Cindy Jacobs. (2003, October 1). Retrieved from http://
www.apologeticsindex.org/j19.html
Davis, D., &Davis, B. (1984). The Children of God: The inside
story. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Eddy, M. (1912). Science and health. with key to the scriptures.
Boston, MA: Allison V. Stewart.
Enroth, R., &Melton, J. (1985). Why cults succeed where the
church fails. Elgin, IL: Brethren Press.
Kenyon, E. (1969). The two kinds of faith: Faith's secret revealed.
(9th ed.). Lynnwood, WA: Kenyon’s Gospel Publishing Society.
McConnell, D. (1988). A different gospel: A historical and biblical
analysis of the modern faith movement. Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson.
Positive Confession. (2012, February 1). Retrieved from
http://www.watchman.org/articles/other-religious-topics/
positive-confession/
Quimby, P. (2008). The complete collected works of Dr. Phineas
Parkhurst Quimby: In order of subject matter. Manchester, CT:
Seed of Life Publishing.
Sargant, W. (1957). Battle for the mind: A physiology of
conversion and brain-washing. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Tillin, T. (1999). Ten Reasons to Reject Word-of-Faith Teachings.
Retrieved from http://www.banner.org.uk/wof/tract3.html
International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 6, 2015 105
particularly controversial individual who is
noted for the spiritual “deliverance”/exorcisms
she conducts (Cindy Jacobs, 2003). The author
describes her further investment in WoF in the
early 1990s through her development of
coursework in the theology of the Pentecostal
movement, spiritual gifts, and healing
ministry—principles that she advances in the
church for which she now serves as pastor. From
a thought-reform perspective, the author has
unfortunately escaped a very devastating cult to
heavily invest herself in a different belief system
that is considered within Christian, countercult
apologetics circles to be theologically aberrant,
albeit less destructive (McConnell, 1988
Positive Confession, 2012 Tillin, 1999).
Although she cites ideologues from the E. W.
Kenyon school of WoF, the author does not
acknowledge the influence of theosophy and
New Thought Christianity on the movement
(McConnell, 1988). Most Pentecostals and
Charismatics know nothing of Phineas P.
Quimby, a late-19th-century philosopher trained
in the European-style of mesmerism, who
explored medical applications of hypnosis as a
modality for healing (Quimby, 2008). Quimby’s
notable student, Mary Baker Eddy, sought his
help for a host of somatic illnesses. Eddy
adopted many of his ideas and incorporated
them into her tradition of Christian Science—a
charge she staunchly denied, despite the
concurrence of her work with Quimby’s writings
published posthumously (Eddy, 1912, Quimby
2008). E. W. Kenyon found much merit in
Eddy’s Science and Health With Key to the
Scriptures, and then essentially sanitized and
supplemented it to conform to Evangelical
Fundamentalist doctrinal standards (Barron,
1987 Kenyon, 1969 McConnell, 1988).
Summary
Although I find so many elements of this
memoir to be an inspiring and insightful
chronicle of recruitment into, devoted service
within, and exit from a high-demand group, I
attribute it as an unfinished saga. The author’s
detailed and sometimes tedious account of
personal recovery demonstrates well the stages
of recovery from cultic involvement, but her
embrace of WoF theology suggests that she has
not yet fully stepped into true freedom from
thought reform and the magical thinking of the
Kenyon school of faith healing. Although I don’t
believe that her experience can be recommended
to Evangelicals who are emerging from thought-
reform programs, it unfortunately is not at all
uncommon within Evangelical circles. It serves
as an account of cult-hopping into a less
damaging but familiar theological system.
Perhaps the author, who overcame so much
adversity, cultivated a meaningful life, and
forged so many opportunities to help others, will
one day tire of the demands of WoF. I hope to
one day review another book by her that
documents the completion of her saga and
reflects full liberation from high-demand
systems.
Bibliography
A century of Christian Science healing. (1966). Boston, MA:
Christian Science Publishing Society.
Barron, B. (1987). The health and wealth gospel: What’s going on
today in a movement that has shaped the faith of millions?
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Cindy Jacobs. (2003, October 1). Retrieved from http://
www.apologeticsindex.org/j19.html
Davis, D., &Davis, B. (1984). The Children of God: The inside
story. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Eddy, M. (1912). Science and health. with key to the scriptures.
Boston, MA: Allison V. Stewart.
Enroth, R., &Melton, J. (1985). Why cults succeed where the
church fails. Elgin, IL: Brethren Press.
Kenyon, E. (1969). The two kinds of faith: Faith's secret revealed.
(9th ed.). Lynnwood, WA: Kenyon’s Gospel Publishing Society.
McConnell, D. (1988). A different gospel: A historical and biblical
analysis of the modern faith movement. Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson.
Positive Confession. (2012, February 1). Retrieved from
http://www.watchman.org/articles/other-religious-topics/
positive-confession/
Quimby, P. (2008). The complete collected works of Dr. Phineas
Parkhurst Quimby: In order of subject matter. Manchester, CT:
Seed of Life Publishing.
Sargant, W. (1957). Battle for the mind: A physiology of
conversion and brain-washing. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Tillin, T. (1999). Ten Reasons to Reject Word-of-Faith Teachings.
Retrieved from http://www.banner.org.uk/wof/tract3.html
International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 6, 2015 105
