The Movie The Wave And Spiritual Abuse

In October I posted a video of a made-for-TV movie based on the book, The Wave. In more recent years, it was made into a feature length film in Germany. It is based on an incident that happened in the 1960s in a school in California. People who have been in unhealthy churches should be able to relate and maybe learn something from it.

I was able to watch the re-make. They updated the story, having it take place in modern times and the ending was changed. The endings in each version are moving.

In doing some research afterward, though not in depth, I found that the made-for-TV version is closest to what actually happened. I also found that a documentary was put together about it, including interviews with some participants and the teacher. The name of that is Lesson Plan. In fact, the teacher has a bit part in the German remake and there is a brief interview with him in the bonus section.

As previously mentioned, the movies are based on an actual event from 1967 at a high school in California. It was a class experiment that got out of hand. It was the first year of teaching for Ron Jones, who three years later lost his fight for tenure (it appears to do with political activism).

There is a short story that Ron Jones wrote about the incident. See if you notice anything similar with what happens in unhealthy churches. I encourage you to watch either the 2008 film or the 1981 TV version that is found on YouTube.

Here is a quote from Ron Jones from the interview on the re-make DVD: “…you’re looking at ‘The Wave,’ trying to understand why do we give up our freedom for the thought of being better than everyone else. And it’s a lesson that we all need to see and hear and talk about.”

Another quote from the DVD, in speaking about one of the students crossing over an invisible line that was a simulation and became something real: “And I realized that I was crossing over that same line. I was no longer just teaching about this thing called fascism, I was enjoying- enjoying- being a leader and that was frightening.”

Some of the similarities from this incident and being in an unhealthy church are:

  • Blind obedience to authority
  • A gradual process of influence and indoctrination
  • Rigid rules
  • Conformity
  • Peer pressure
  • Giving up yourself to be part of something great
  • Tattling on the disobedient

In further research on the incident, there are some who do not believe the events happened quite as Mr. Jones states. It is not my desire to get into all of that as it does appear that there was a class experiment. Regardless of what is accurate or not, the movies are thought provoking and a possible way to help people since the subject matter is not spiritual abuse, yet people caught up in unhealthy churches can relate to it. It is similar to having them watch The Village.

Book Giveaway #11

We have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry and this will be our eighth one via this new blog area. This is your chance to receive one or more free books on various issues.

The first people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive their choice of books at no charge to them. (Unfortunately, it is cost prohibitive to mail these books outside of the USA. Canadians with a USA mailing address are welcome to request books.) To respond, just leave a comment for this post. If you are unsure what any book is about, the links will take you to Amazon where you may read their description and reviews.

Up for grabs are several used books and DVDs.

  1. One paperback copy of Brotherhood of Betrayal by Randall Arthur. TAKEN
  2. One paperback copy of Changes That Heal by Henry Cloud. TAKEN
  3. One paperback copy of Codependent No More by Melody Beattie. Has some highlighting.
  4. One paperback copy of Love Is A Choice: Recovery for Codependent Relationships by Hemfelt, Minirth & Meier. Has some underlining. TAKEN
  5. One hardback copy of How People Grow by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. It has a little highlighting. TAKEN
  6. One paperback copy of Safe People by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. TAKEN
  7. One hardback copy of Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. Has a little highlighting. TAKEN
  8. One hardback copy of Secret Ceremonies by Deborah Laake (Mormon). TAKEN
  9. One hardback copy of End of the Spear by Steve Saint. (Missionary story) TAKEN
  10. Two paperback copies of Angels Can Fall by Sandra Anderson. (First hand account of a Oneness Pentecostal church that became very unhealthy. One copy is autographed.) TAKEN
  11. One paperback copy of Cults In Our Midst by Margaret Singer. Has highlighting and in a little rough condition.
  12. One paperback copy of Tired of Trying To Measure Up by Jeff VanVonderen. Some underlining. TAKEN
  13. Three paperback copies of Oneness Pentecostals & The Trinity by Gregory Boyd. One has some underlining. TAKEN
  14. One paperback copy of The Shunning by Beverly Lewis. TAKEN
  15. One paperback copy of The Co-Dependent Parent by Barbara Becnel.
  16. One hardback copy of An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W.E. Vine TAKEN
  17. One hardback copy of What Good Is God?: In Search of Faith That Matters by Philip Yancey.  Some highlighting. TAKEN
  18. One hardback copy of I Am Malala by Malala YousafzaiTAKEN
  19. One hardback copy of When God Becomes A Drug by Leo Booth. TAKEN
  20. One paperback copy of Grace: An Invitation To A Way Of Life by multiple authors. TAKEN
  21. One paperback copy of The Search For Freedom by Robert S. McGee.
  22. One hardback copy & one paperback copy of Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall. (polygamy) ONE TAKEN
  23. One paperback copy of How Good Is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley. TAKEN
  24. One hardback copy of Who’s Pushing Your Buttons: Handling the Difficult People in Your Life by John Townsend.
  25. One DVD of Holy Bible KJV Complete by Alexander Scourby.
  26. One CD MP3 NIV Audio New Testament Dramatized by Faith Comes By Hearing.
  27. One DVD The Story of Two Kings (plus two on the Bible) by Day of Discovery. TAKEN
  28. One paperback copy of New Testament Amplified Bible Pocket Thin.
  29. One hardback copy of What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey. TAKEN
  30. One hardback copy of The AMG Concise Bible Commentary by Don Fleming. TAKEN
  31. One hardback copy of The Church Awakening by Charles Swindoll.
  32. Two hardback and one paperback copy of The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. ONE TAKEN
  33. One bonded leather copy of The NIV Study Bible by Zondervan. (The cover is in poor condition and there is some writing/underlining, but the inside is mostly good.)
  34. One paperback copy of Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody.
  35. One hardback copy of Does This Church Make Me Look Fat by Rhoda Janzen. (Mennonite related)
  36. One paperback copy of Under The Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. (Mormon related) TAKEN
  37. One hardback copy of My Utmost for His Highest Daily Devotional Journal by Oswald Chambers. TAKEN
  38. One paperback copy of Healing of Memories by David Seamands. TAKEN
  39. One paperback copy of What The Bible Is All About by Henrietta C. Mears. TAKEN
  40. One hardback and one paperback copy of Jesus Land: A Memoir by Julia Sheeres. ONE TAKEN
  41. One paperback copy of The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. TAKEN
  42. One hardback copy of The Year of Living Like Jesus by Ed Dobson.
  43. One bonded leather copy of Nelson’s NJKV Bible with Concordance. (pocket size- cover is in poor condition)
  44. One new DVD of Paradise Recovered. (spiritual abuse related) TAKEN
  45. Three paperback copies of The Shack by Wm. Paul Young.

The first people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive their choice of book(s) at no charge to them. To respond, just leave a comment for this post. Please understand that comments require approval unless you have previously commented. So while it may look like you are first or second, etc. there may be someone ahead of you whose comment is pending. Be sure to use your actual email address when setting up to comment as I will be contacting you through it. Check your spam folder as email sometimes goes there. (For your privacy, do not put the email or address in your actual comment.)

Be sure to mention in your comment which book(s) you would like and you may refer to them by number. There is no limit on how many you may request, though you may only have one copy of any title.

Book Giveaway #10 – In Jesus’ Name: The History and Beliefs of Oneness Pentecostals

We have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry and this will be our tenth one via this new blog area. This is your chance to receive a new copy of In Jesus’ Name: The History and Beliefs of Oneness Pentecostals by David A. Reed. (Don’t let the current prices on Amazon startle you- a new copy sells for around $35, not almost $500.) The link will take you to Amazon where you may read more information about it.

This is only open to those with a USA mailing address. (Unfortunately, it is cost prohibitive to mail books outside of the USA. Canadians with a USA mailing address are welcome to enter.) This one is a little different as it is a drawing and not a first come, first served giveaway. To enter, just leave a comment on this post to show you wish to be included. The drawing will close on December 17 at noon (eastern time), after which I will draw one winner. You will then need to email me your mailing address. There is absolutely no cost to enter.

Don’t be alarmed if your comment does not immediately show as comments require approval when you are commenting for the first time.

Watch for a future multi-book giveaway that will be on a first come, first served basis and not a drawing.

Book Giveaway #9 – Christianity Without The Cross

We have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry and this will be our ninth one via this new blog area. This is your chance to receive a used copy of Christianity Without the Cross by Thomas Fudge. This book covers Oneness Pentecostal history, and highlights the United Pentecostal Church, of which Mr. Fudge was once a member. You will discover things that most ministers in the group do not openly share and some do not know. The link will take you to Amazon where you may read more information about it.

This is only open to those with a USA mailing address. (Unfortunately, it is cost prohibitive to mail books outside of the USA. Canadians with a USA mailing address are welcome to enter.) This one is a little different as it is a drawing and not a first come, first served giveaway. To enter, just leave a comment on this post to show you wish to be included. The drawing will close on December 15 at noon (eastern time), after which I will draw one winner. You will then need to email me your mailing address. There is absolutely no cost to enter.

Don’t be alarmed if your comment does not immediately show as comments require approval when you are commenting for the first time.

Watch for a future giveaway for a new copy of In Jesus’ Name: The History and Beliefs of Oneness Pentecostals by David A. Reed. (Don’t let the current prices on Amazon startle you- a new copy sells for around $35, not almost $500.)

Click to access the login or register cheese
YouTube
YouTube
Set Youtube Channel ID
x  Powerful Protection for WordPress, from Shield Security
This Site Is Protected By
ShieldPRO