Pope Francis to the victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests: “I hold the stories and sufferings and sorrow of these children deep in my heart. I remain overwhelmed with shame that men entrusted with the tender care of children violated these little ones and caused grievous harm. I am profoundly sorry. God weeps.”

Multiple UBF leaders and there response told me and the victims: “You will say it never happened and we will never speak of this matter again. Besides it was your own fault for putting yourself in that situation…”
“Don’t bring the church down because of your sins. If you were writting testimonies maybe this wouldn’t have happened to you. You should carry this experience as part of your cross.”
“Look, we’ve forgotten about it so why can’t you just get over it?”

Most of these responses were from the parents of children who were molested… these parents are current leaders in the UBF cult.

Homosect is an appropriate term for a community that has turned inward upon itself (incurvatus in se). The group shows love toward people who appear be just like them, who have the same values and lifestyle. It may also show love toward nonmembers who are moving toward fully committed membership. Anyone who criticizes or rejects the group’s ideals is treated like a tax collector or sinner.

Some are fond of proclaiming, “Homosex is sin!”

Let me suggest that “Homosect is sin.”

Some people were born into a homosect. Others willfully chose a homosectual lifestyle. If you have been deeply involved in homosect for many years, it will be very hard to change. But you can change if you really want to. Jesus can heal you of homosectuality. But you have to acknowledge your sin, repent, and abstain from homosectual behavior. You will have to stop attending homosect gatherings and stay away from homosectual friends, because they can be a source of temptation.

You can see it here:

Amazon review of Identity Snatchers by Steven Hassan

The 4 stars show up though!

Do you know why Hassan’s review did not appear on Amazon. Did he post it anywhere?

I really hope and pray more of us can face reality:

“This facing the facts of reality is not a loss of faith. It is rather, the first step on the path of redemption. The Biblical example is Abraham himself. The book of Romans in the Bible, chapter 4, tells this story. For example: “He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.” Romans 4:19 ESV. Considering the reality of our lives is an important part of Christian faith.”
–Identity Snatchers, pg. 118

I hope ubfers will process my new book. Maybe I’ll share the Forewords (from Ben and Joe) in an article.

The cult label was earned by ubf leaders practicing UBFism. This is not so bad– the bad thing is not addressing the label.

“Brian left the Univeristy Bible Fellowship after 24 years of deep and passionate membership to wake up and discover that in fact it is a mind control cult. His book is a must read for anyone who is currently involved with UBF and also for former members, friends and any others who are interested in the cult phenomenon. There is a healing path out of a group that one was involved with for decades, but it takes research, good counseling, honesty and time. A good support system too!

As a former member of Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church, I welcome more accounts like Brian’s to shed a light on the many cult groups who misuse the Bible and human authority to control people and make them into slaves.”
—Steven Hassan, author of Combating Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guidebook​ to Protection, Rescue and Recovery from Destructive Cults

“To current UBF leaders and members, I say this: The cult label is not something that Brian drummed up. It’s something that you earned by decades of boorish behavior. When any organization does the things that you do, the outside world will call it a cult. Instead of complaining, I suggest you deal with it.”
–Joe Schafer, Identity Snatchers – Foreword, pg.11

Identity Snatchers – FREE Kindle for a limited time

Thanks for your honesty, openness and transparency in sharing this! I believe that your sharing is liberating for you and edifying to those who read it.

Only by God’s grace alone, when WL started in 2008 we had about 7 original families. My first word to everyone was “This is NOT my chapter, but YOURS.” Still, with our ubf background and ideas, people inclined toward leaning on me and waiting for my lead, since I am the oldest and have been around the longest. I did so for over a quarter of a century. But I decided it had to end.

But the old culture of a top down paradigm with one person calling the shots takes time to dissipate.

So I resisted garnering the authority to myself and did my best to cut the cord of dependency. Now I have a sense that the ministry and chapter is no longer mine, but that everyone has a voice. In fact, it often seems that when I’m not around for a month or so, the ministry seems to be better!

Also, anyone can critique me (and they do, and sometimes not so nicely!). Anyone can openly disagree with me, and everyone is encouraged to take the initiative regarding any venture.

It’s like the old saying goes, if you want to be truly fruitful, in the religious sense, then have lots of sects…

Yes. I quote Hassan in 2 of my books. His BITE model has in fact shaped almost all of my actions thus far.

But I cannot analyze his work or do justice to it yet, as I don’t have the capacity. I am still reconnecting with my own identity and shedding the trap of UBFism/anti-UBFism.

I will be sharing a review of Hassan’s latest book here soon. It is so eerie how much the Moonies and UBFism have in common. Hopefully I can also share my interview at some point.

My book is experience based, from the insider view of a practitioner. Even Steve mentioned to me that we need more former member stories. We have much analysis from the likes of the late Dr. Singer and from Hassan himself.

What we don’t have are personal stories that confirm cults still are thriving in the year 2015 in the West. Many people don’t even know the Moonies existed and have already forgotten about Jonestown. They think cults don’t exist on American campuses. So we need more witnesses!

Much of the OT consist of prophets pronouncing judgment on the sins of their own people.

Virtually all of the epistles of the NT addresses some problem IN the church.

But seemingly, today the church seems to be primarily focused on denouncing the countless ills and sins of society at large, as though the church is comprised of holy saints who sin “very little.”

More books like mine.

– See more at: http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/10/05/four-signs-of-healthy-community/#comment-19658

But Brian, have you read Steve Hassan’s book? I’m not sure why you would fail to mention his seeing as how seminal and highly regarded it is. You should really mention his book every single time you speak of yours. Just saying… Lol, just kidding. Couldn’t resist. Looking forward to reading your book. Thanks!

Ben, I don’t think such humbling will ever occur. And if it does occur, I seriously doubt that such humbling would bring about the freedom and respect ubfers are seeking. Such humbling will only be for the sake of more glory to UBF leaders and to the promoting of UBFism.

What will bring about freedom?

More books like mine. To coincide with the special week that this is, the one week that ubfers love to celebrate UBFism, that holy of holy founder’s day weeks, I am going to be offering my new book for FREE.

Identity Snatchers: Exposing a Korean Campus Bible Cult (Kindle Edition)

He calls them sects. And he says that sects are often religious in nature, but not always.

I know there’s a time for real criticism . . . but that gets stale on people with calloused hearts.

Vanier is a person who really has set the world an example. Amazing (and is it really surprising?) that he would learn what he learned through people with special needs.

There was *always* a part of me that felt concerned when my bible teacher talked about “Shepherd Heart”. There was something inside me that said, “Yeah, but . . . ” and I think what I see here of Vanier’s words really resonate with that part inside me.

It’s a shame that to advocate for this kind of healthy community in UBF in an open way results in such shame and bitterness.

I would be curious to know what we call such a group? What identity does Vanier give to such controlling groups? Are they simply “unhealthy”? And what solutions and ways forward to change from dying to living does he give?

“When a community is closed and fearful of true dialogue where each person is respected, it is a sign of death not of life.”

Should we just say the groups are ok and not so dangerous? I think we need some concrete terms if the groups are ever to change.

As I have often said, any view, opinion or perspective that does not line up with the so-called “core values” of UBF is more or less disparaged, despised and maligned. This is truly very sad, unfortunate and un-Christ-like.

The inability or refusal of the senior UBF leader to even just listen to or consider the opposing opinion of a junior person has led to tremendous amount of conflict, angst and frustration.

My hope and prayer is that this begins to change when older senior leaders seriously learn to humble themselves (which they love preach to others!), and not think of themselves as though they are the indispensable members of UBF who know what is best for everyone else.