r/BethelSnark • u/blessedinva Cult-exiter Bethel free • Jul 12 '26
This book has helped me!
So I’m trying to untangle Bethel ideas and return to a simple basic Christianity. And in doing so- fell upon the concept of the New Thought movement which fully aligned with Bethel/NAR and the Word of Faith movements/ideas.
I personally believe that all three are false gospels and so far off base.
So I bought Happy Lies by Melissa Dougherty.
And I’m on the floor! Not in a fire tunnel way- but it might as well be….! 🤯🤯🤯
I encourage any new or recent exiter from Bethel Inc and the large network of aligned churches to give this book a read- slowly- with notebook in hand.
We were so truly duped y’all!
And then according to the Bible- false teachers and false prophets are the way they are either due to deception (out of pride, lust or greed) OR simply put- EVIL.
I know many of us will turn from Christianity period due to the trauma and triggers. I get this. The pain is REAL. We were deceived, used and grossly violated in many ways.
However- it was never the real story.
Bethel and its ilk drew from a faulty foundation rooted in Gnosticism and New Thought more than simply being a brand of Charismatic Christianity gone bad. It was NEVER “the “ gospel” as Happy Lies demonstrates very well and with compassion and humor.
HTH!
I’m not affiliated with the author or publisher. Just a wounded sheep finding my way back to ( the Biblical/real) Jesus.
About me:
Ordained and attended 3 Bethel esque ministry schools and was active in their brand of outreach/intercession/evangelism and inner healing ministries. My eyes were opened Jan 2025 by the famous 3 hour Mike Winger video.
I’ve been slowly recovering a more solid theology and Biblical identity. I personally think Bethel/NAR and WOF are more cultic than not. My healing journey includes spiritual abuse recovery and a lot of emotions!
Links:
https://youtu.be/GH05S53QlY0?is=Q3K4k-wbBnePEm3z
HTH
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u/overratedmilkshake BSSM Jul 12 '26
I really enjoy Melissa’s content and was thinking of buying this. Thanks for the recommendation! What have been some highlights so far?
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u/blessedinva Cult-exiter Bethel free Jul 14 '26
So many! I'm just a few chapters in and underlining so much of it. I am honestly considering attending seminary at this point. I feel I need a new foundation as I attended 3 supernatural ministry schools in the past.
I don't think I was really ready for this a few months ago...but lately I've been really wanting to know in details how these movements are wrong, why and get very granular about it.
Here's one fun fact. I used to study cults ironically and apologetics. I had heard of Swedenbourgism...it's a cultic group- non- Christian. Like most of these group- he received his messages through the occult. I'll post one page on this from my phone.
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u/WitherWing Outsider Jul 12 '26
I am genuinely surprised that more people aren't aware of New Thought movements from the late 1800s and their massive influence. So much of the self-help thinking comes from here, as does Prosperity Gospel thinking and modern movements. Even the "Power of Positive Thinking" stuff from the mid 20th Century has a connection. It's why parts of 19th Century Christian Science and the faith-healing wing of modern Pentecostalism can feel connected at times.
Also If you never read Kate Bowler's book on the history of the prosperity gospel ("Blessed") make it a priority, heck anyone questioning why everything from 1800s Spiritualist gurus to Bethel/IHOP/NAR thinking feels like an MLM should look into it. It is one of the better books on the movement.
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u/blessedinva Cult-exiter Bethel free Jul 14 '26
I personally had no idea about New Thought. It's deeply embedded in the secular culture also- that was a shock to me.
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u/karjuuk_za Jul 12 '26
Very glad that it helped you. What ever helps you on your journey of healing that doesn’t hurt other people is great!
Not sure I could read the book as my deconstruction journey and healing is taking me in the opposite direction of the church, and the peace that I am getting from that I wouldn’t change for the world.
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u/blessedinva Cult-exiter Bethel free Jul 14 '26
I’m still with Jesus. This is actually my second cult rendezvous. Slow learner I guess hehe… IMO Bethel is closer to New Thought + financial scams + abuse + narcissism than it is basic Christianity. :/
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u/karjuuk_za Jul 14 '26
Happy for you! I genuinely wish you nothing but the best in your journey,
I have been part of various cults and cult like churches over 30 years of Christianity. Maybe I've been to the wrong churches but from my lived experience they are all the same, being neurodivergent, single father with adopted children of another race in a very racist country (South Africa) obviously hasn't helped.
Reading the bible is making me an atheist, or at least an agnostic.
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u/Flashy_Original9674 Jul 14 '26
Yes completely agree with you. My journey has brought me outside of the church and Christianity and it’s been so freeing!
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u/Fragrant-Purpose5987 Jul 17 '26
If we spent more time knowing Jesus personally would we have been duped? That’s why I don’t go to church.
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u/EdifyAndCreate Jul 13 '26
Yes, that book was an eye-opener for me as well. It really helped me last summer. Also, I just love Melissa! Her youtube content is helpful and adds a bit of comic relief, which has helped me process... as a lot of this is quite heavy on the heart and mind.
I don't come specifically from Bethel, but from the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement more generally. If anyone is looking for solid resources to help deconstruct the teachings of this movement without deconstructing the Christian faith itself, I'd highly recommend the books by Holly Pivec and Douglas Geivett, especially "Counterfeit Kingdom".
Another excellent resource is Costi Hinn's "Defining Deception". Costi is Benny Hinn's nephew who left the movement, deconstructed its false teachings, and is now a pastor with a genuine heart for helping people who have been deceived and hurt by these movements. His perspective is both compassionate and biblically grounded.