Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 1988 Page 47
aspect of the data-gathering process that was relatively free from ambiguity since the sect has
much published material on its theology of exclusivism. The primary source for analysis is the
sect‘s magazine, which carries articles on church norms, expectations, and doctrinal statements.
A special double issue (June/July 1985) was devoted entirely to the explanations of church
doctrines on excommunication, shunning, slander, faction, and obedience/loyalty. Other issues as
well as numerous books published by the sect were used to gather definitions and perspectives on
the sect‘s organizational framework, member role expectation, and the primary goals and
purposes of the group. Lectures from the sect's national and regional conferences were also
analyzed, since much of the sect's teaching centers around communicational controls and the
serious nature of certain boundary violations.
Reliable estimates, based upon excommunication letters, as well as witnesses from most of the
sect's churches, place the number of individuals excommunicated from the sect at approximately
five hundred. It has been found, for example, that upwards of twenty members have been
rejected at a single time in several of the sect's local churches -events labeled ―great purges‖ by
ex- members, and ―purification processes‖ by the sect‘s leadership. It also needs to be mentioned
that nearly all of these excommunications came after 1976, or within a ten-year period.
Most of these five hundred targets have been contacted, and these individuals have expressed
great willingness to participate in the research. Verifying their stories was time-consuming, but
relatively simple since, in nearly every case, diaries, logs, letters, and other supplemental sources
were produced with careful attention given to dates, times, locations, and participants. Thus,
cross-checking was easily done. Many of the excommunications are so well-documented that a
reliable history of the events can be recreated in great detail. Such precise documentation is the
result of the sect's own requests that members keep diaries and logs of the daily victories they
experience in their ―work for the Lord.‖
Documents hastily written during the target's confrontations with the sect‘s leadership were also
studied. Some were written on restaurant napkins and placemats, on pages tom off phone books,
and on paper towels when members took notes in the security of the restroom. This collection of
documents is in such an unusual form because the targets were not allowed any witnesses or
tape recorders, or even to take notes on the confrontations as they took place. Without the
faithfulness of these subjects in recording and keeping their evidence, a comprehensive study
such as this would have been nearly impossible.
A high level of suspiciousness was observed among those interviewed. This ―paranoia‖ may have
developed primarily as a result of this sect‘s exclusionary practices. Secret meetings, discussions
of members behind their backs, the spying on members' behaviors and communications, the
recording of conversations, the presence of ―witnesses‖ at meetings, all seem to have contributed
to a general suspicion and fear. Subjects were often reluctant to speak without a witness of their
choice present and/or a tape recorder running. Phone interviews were listened to by third parties.
The sect's targets were particularly suspicious of representatives of religion (clergy or devotees)
and individuals in positions of authority. Many failed in school work, or marriage, and lived in
what appeared to be a nearly immobile psychological state. Throughout the course of the
interviews, it was obvious that the vast majority of subjects were revealing their experiences for
the first time, and only a handful had dared even seek psychological or professional help. As a
result, often a great sense of relief and catharsis occurred as banished members realized that
their experiences were not totally unique.
A Brief History of Oasis 1970-1987
The sect under study grew out of campus churches formed from 1970 through 1981 by a core of
approximately fifty individuals from a variety of religious backgrounds. The denomination most
represented by the innovative band was a small fundamentalist organization called the Plymouth
aspect of the data-gathering process that was relatively free from ambiguity since the sect has
much published material on its theology of exclusivism. The primary source for analysis is the
sect‘s magazine, which carries articles on church norms, expectations, and doctrinal statements.
A special double issue (June/July 1985) was devoted entirely to the explanations of church
doctrines on excommunication, shunning, slander, faction, and obedience/loyalty. Other issues as
well as numerous books published by the sect were used to gather definitions and perspectives on
the sect‘s organizational framework, member role expectation, and the primary goals and
purposes of the group. Lectures from the sect's national and regional conferences were also
analyzed, since much of the sect's teaching centers around communicational controls and the
serious nature of certain boundary violations.
Reliable estimates, based upon excommunication letters, as well as witnesses from most of the
sect's churches, place the number of individuals excommunicated from the sect at approximately
five hundred. It has been found, for example, that upwards of twenty members have been
rejected at a single time in several of the sect's local churches -events labeled ―great purges‖ by
ex- members, and ―purification processes‖ by the sect‘s leadership. It also needs to be mentioned
that nearly all of these excommunications came after 1976, or within a ten-year period.
Most of these five hundred targets have been contacted, and these individuals have expressed
great willingness to participate in the research. Verifying their stories was time-consuming, but
relatively simple since, in nearly every case, diaries, logs, letters, and other supplemental sources
were produced with careful attention given to dates, times, locations, and participants. Thus,
cross-checking was easily done. Many of the excommunications are so well-documented that a
reliable history of the events can be recreated in great detail. Such precise documentation is the
result of the sect's own requests that members keep diaries and logs of the daily victories they
experience in their ―work for the Lord.‖
Documents hastily written during the target's confrontations with the sect‘s leadership were also
studied. Some were written on restaurant napkins and placemats, on pages tom off phone books,
and on paper towels when members took notes in the security of the restroom. This collection of
documents is in such an unusual form because the targets were not allowed any witnesses or
tape recorders, or even to take notes on the confrontations as they took place. Without the
faithfulness of these subjects in recording and keeping their evidence, a comprehensive study
such as this would have been nearly impossible.
A high level of suspiciousness was observed among those interviewed. This ―paranoia‖ may have
developed primarily as a result of this sect‘s exclusionary practices. Secret meetings, discussions
of members behind their backs, the spying on members' behaviors and communications, the
recording of conversations, the presence of ―witnesses‖ at meetings, all seem to have contributed
to a general suspicion and fear. Subjects were often reluctant to speak without a witness of their
choice present and/or a tape recorder running. Phone interviews were listened to by third parties.
The sect's targets were particularly suspicious of representatives of religion (clergy or devotees)
and individuals in positions of authority. Many failed in school work, or marriage, and lived in
what appeared to be a nearly immobile psychological state. Throughout the course of the
interviews, it was obvious that the vast majority of subjects were revealing their experiences for
the first time, and only a handful had dared even seek psychological or professional help. As a
result, often a great sense of relief and catharsis occurred as banished members realized that
their experiences were not totally unique.
A Brief History of Oasis 1970-1987
The sect under study grew out of campus churches formed from 1970 through 1981 by a core of
approximately fifty individuals from a variety of religious backgrounds. The denomination most
represented by the innovative band was a small fundamentalist organization called the Plymouth
