March 17, 2020
The Word of Faith movement is often critiqued for its health and wealth Gospel, charismatic abuses, and the antics of its televangelists. What’s talked about less often is its historical ties to the metaphysical cults of the late 1800s, and its doctrinal parallels to New Thought and New Age spirituality. Word of Faith grandfather E. W. Kenyon (1867-1948) was influenced by New Thought teachers such as Phineas Quimby and Mary Baker Eddy, thanks to his extensive metaphysical library and the influence of New Thought at his college of study. These teachings later become adopted and intensified by the father of the modern WOF movement Kenneth E. Hagin, who inspired the likes of Copeland, Roberts, and Hinn. In this series, we are joined by former New Thought proponent Melissa Doughtery and former New Ager Steve Bancarz to document these historical ties and analyze the striking similarities between WOF teachings and the metaphysical cults of past and present.
