Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 47
Bible reference be repeated. Often I would sit there listening, frantically writing down Bible
references, only to get them confused. After every lecture, there was a time for
―responding,‖ but not for disagreeing with any of the ideas put forth, or for raising
questions. Rather, it was a chance to affirm what had been said and confess the truth that
had been revealed. Any idea that had been presented in the lecture was reemphasized as
truth before I had a chance to sit down and think about it. Peer pressure was effectively
used in these sessions. If I questioned the material and disagreed, then it appeared as
though I was not being open to the Holy Spirit‘s leading because everyone else was being
made aware by the Spirit that what we had heard was Truth.
One staff person defended the DTS method in this way: ―I‘ll agree,‖ he said, ―that you‘re
exposed to a lot of teaching in a short time, but so is the student who takes four hours of
advanced physics in summer school -lecture every morning, lab every afternoon, and
studying every night.‖ I believe, however, that there is a difference between college and
YWAM material and how each is presented. What one learns in physics will not have a
significant effect on one‘s lifestyle, as YWAM study does. Indeed the YWAM methods, like
the Moonie workshop, used special, highly personal methods to inculcate ideas.
The family members in the Moonie workshop aim directly at your most vulnerable
points: the need to belong, to feel useful and to feel loved. Throughout the workshop
you are flooded with affection--hugs, pats, handholding, and smiles…your intellectual
objection is being undercut by means of emotional seduction...you also note that the
lectures are becoming more emotional and that you am being infected by them.19
Conversely, a college Bible professor has observed.
In the tradition of the liberal arts, there is free inquiry -no questions barred, no
knowledge forbidden. We are free, even are required, to ‗test everything.‘ The search
for yet more light continues unendingly, but this is Christian education.20
Perhaps I should have questioned the lecture material more carefully and taken more
responsibility for checking out all of the Bible verses quoted, especially at the beginning, but
after spending the morning listening to lectures, and anticipating the evening session, there
was little incentive or time to look up every verse and see that it was quoted and
interpreted correctly.
Another reason that I accepted YWAM ideas so easily was because two friends I greatly
respected had just attended DTS and recommended it highly. I guess I just assumed that
they would have checked things out -especially something as important as Intercession.
Similarly, the seeming spirituality of the lecturers, and the fact that everyone at DTS was so
loving, left me no reason to believe that verses would be taken out of context. I had come
to the school expecting to learn new ideas. I also knew that I would be in the group for six
months. And in the past I have had conflicts with leaders and supervisors. AU this led me to
feel that I did not want to create problems in the first few weeks of DTS later, I did not
want to cause what they called ―disunity.‖
YWAM shared another similarity with the Moonie workshop that had an effect on me.
When you refrain from sharing or resist in any way, you are met with benevolent
concern...There comes a point when [your] negative reaction to the regimented control
gives way to their [the leaders‘] automatic reaction. You then try to please, but the only
way is to conform...You succumb many times to small acts of conformity without
realizing it. You feel guilty when you hold back… 21
There comes a point when you react negatively not only to the regimented control but to
some of the ideas being introduced, and to avoid the leaders‘ hostile reaction to your
reaction, one conforms in little ways. Unless you really believe in something strongly, and
Bible reference be repeated. Often I would sit there listening, frantically writing down Bible
references, only to get them confused. After every lecture, there was a time for
―responding,‖ but not for disagreeing with any of the ideas put forth, or for raising
questions. Rather, it was a chance to affirm what had been said and confess the truth that
had been revealed. Any idea that had been presented in the lecture was reemphasized as
truth before I had a chance to sit down and think about it. Peer pressure was effectively
used in these sessions. If I questioned the material and disagreed, then it appeared as
though I was not being open to the Holy Spirit‘s leading because everyone else was being
made aware by the Spirit that what we had heard was Truth.
One staff person defended the DTS method in this way: ―I‘ll agree,‖ he said, ―that you‘re
exposed to a lot of teaching in a short time, but so is the student who takes four hours of
advanced physics in summer school -lecture every morning, lab every afternoon, and
studying every night.‖ I believe, however, that there is a difference between college and
YWAM material and how each is presented. What one learns in physics will not have a
significant effect on one‘s lifestyle, as YWAM study does. Indeed the YWAM methods, like
the Moonie workshop, used special, highly personal methods to inculcate ideas.
The family members in the Moonie workshop aim directly at your most vulnerable
points: the need to belong, to feel useful and to feel loved. Throughout the workshop
you are flooded with affection--hugs, pats, handholding, and smiles…your intellectual
objection is being undercut by means of emotional seduction...you also note that the
lectures are becoming more emotional and that you am being infected by them.19
Conversely, a college Bible professor has observed.
In the tradition of the liberal arts, there is free inquiry -no questions barred, no
knowledge forbidden. We are free, even are required, to ‗test everything.‘ The search
for yet more light continues unendingly, but this is Christian education.20
Perhaps I should have questioned the lecture material more carefully and taken more
responsibility for checking out all of the Bible verses quoted, especially at the beginning, but
after spending the morning listening to lectures, and anticipating the evening session, there
was little incentive or time to look up every verse and see that it was quoted and
interpreted correctly.
Another reason that I accepted YWAM ideas so easily was because two friends I greatly
respected had just attended DTS and recommended it highly. I guess I just assumed that
they would have checked things out -especially something as important as Intercession.
Similarly, the seeming spirituality of the lecturers, and the fact that everyone at DTS was so
loving, left me no reason to believe that verses would be taken out of context. I had come
to the school expecting to learn new ideas. I also knew that I would be in the group for six
months. And in the past I have had conflicts with leaders and supervisors. AU this led me to
feel that I did not want to create problems in the first few weeks of DTS later, I did not
want to cause what they called ―disunity.‖
YWAM shared another similarity with the Moonie workshop that had an effect on me.
When you refrain from sharing or resist in any way, you are met with benevolent
concern...There comes a point when [your] negative reaction to the regimented control
gives way to their [the leaders‘] automatic reaction. You then try to please, but the only
way is to conform...You succumb many times to small acts of conformity without
realizing it. You feel guilty when you hold back… 21
There comes a point when you react negatively not only to the regimented control but to
some of the ideas being introduced, and to avoid the leaders‘ hostile reaction to your
reaction, one conforms in little ways. Unless you really believe in something strongly, and
