No Stranger to Controversy

March 2013  -  Author S.R.Claridge is no stranger to controversy, particularly surrounding her novel, House of Lies. 

Upon the book's release in early October 2012, it was immediately linked to the International House of Prayer (IHOP) student’s, Bethany Deaton, murder later that month.  Strange similarities between the happenings in the prayer group, the murder itself and what Claridge wrote in her novel began to surface, making some IHOP members uncomfortable. 

In November, Fox news posed a question that was on everyone's mind:  Does the author know more about IHOP than she's letting on?

In a statement to the press, Claridge said she studied "five groups with cult-like tendencies" before writing House of Lies and admits that IHOP was one of those five; but she has ensured her readers that the book is fiction.

More intriguing is the fact that Claridge's sister is a leader in IHOP, making the premise of her novel, a story about a woman trying to save her sister from a cult group, appear to hit close to home.  Claridge's distaste for IHOP is no secret, though she maintains that her stance is against the "dangerous cult-like nature of the group" and not against her sister.  In a recent letter written to the Mayor of Sunset Hills in St. Louis, Missouri, made public through the Board of Alderman website, Claridge stated, "my sister has a beautiful heart."

Could House of Lies hold the truth about IHOP and other current cult-type organizations?  Claridge won't say, but advises anyone who is considering joining these types of groups to "educate yourself before jumping in."

IHOP is certainly no stranger to controversy and has come under fire since the '80's.  Founder, Mike Bickle, admits that the entire operation has been built upon the prophetic visions of Bob Jones and Paul Cain, both of whom "have been discredited as dangerous false prophets."  Further scrutiny came with the Gruen Report and the secrecy surrounding Bickle's Blueprint Prophesy, a document supposedly given to him by God, but has been altered three times to fit the ever-changing make-up of current Christianity.  Investigative findings and testimonies from ex-IHOP members lend credence to the speculation that something dangerous is happening behind closed doors, though IHOP denies all claims against them and takes drastic measures to distance itself from controversial issues, such as the starvation death of baby Jeremiah Candler and the murder of  Bethany Deaton.  In both cases, IHOP stated the persons involved were not members, though evidence suggests otherwise.

Claridge’s blog gives insight into some of the groups she may have researched for House of Lies, leaders which include Jim Jones, David Koresh, Westboro Baptist Church, IHOP and many others; though the author remains vague in naming all of the groups and we’re guessing it’s because of the backlash.

 

On her blog, Claridge stated, “I’ve received countless hate mail, seemingly from IHOP members, telling me I would be better off dead and berating me for writing House of Lies.”  In a December post, Claridge stated that she owned a shot gun and was now carrying a stun gun for protection. 

It prompts an important question:  Do people get that upset about something that isn’t true?  Or has House of Lies hit the proverbial nail on the head?  A person who might be able to shed light or at least relate to the backlash Claridge is experiencing would be Dan Brown, author of the controversial novel, TheDaVinci Code.  After his book release he received death threats and employed body guards because evidence shown much of his fictional novel held truth.

When asked about the Deaton murder case, Claridge said she is following the case closely and praying for justice to be served.  “I want the truth to come out so that Bethany’s family and loved ones can begin healing from this tragedy,” Claridge wrote.

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Controversy at the Center of Silence

February 2013 – Once a vocal spokesperson against cult groups like those in her novel, S.R.Claridge goes silent, leaving fans to wonder why.

To her regular readers it seems strange that Claridge has stopped blogging about the International House of Prayer (IHOP), one of the many groups she admits to studying prior to writing the controversial novel, House of Lies, which generated death threats and hate mail for the author.   

Up until last month, Claridge had been staunch in her stance against the group, labeling them a “dangerous cult.”  Now, her silence has some concerned.

Ironically, this silence comes at the same time that Claridge’s sister, Director of the Gateway House of Prayer (GHOP) in St. Louis, withdrew her request to turn a vacant firehouse into a rectory for students; a request that stirred dissention within the small St. Louis community. 

We’ve now learned that at the center of the dissention was Claridge’s novel, House of Lies, once again prompting people to wonder how much truth is on the pages.

Residents near the Gateway House of Prayer objected to the expansion, signing a notarized petition and placing signs in their front yards; after which they experienced acts of vandalism which resulted in police intervention.  No charges have been filed against GHOP members, though many residents remain skeptical of their innocence. 

“Nothing like this ever happened in our neighborhood until we said we were against this (GHOP expansion),” one resident told the South County Journal. 

“This isn’t the type of group we want in our backyard,” another resident shared back in October with a local television station.

“We read about the Deaton murder at IHOP in Kansas City and had questions about the connection between IHOP and GHOP,” one resident told reporters.  She explained how they followed the trail from the Deaton murder to House of Lies to Claridge being related to the Director of GHOP.  It was this coincidence that led residents to take their concerns to Claridge, who responded in an email that residents later forwarded to the press.

In the email Claridge stated, “IHOP and GHOP are one in the same.   They are not financially or legally linked, but relationally, in belief, practice and methodology they are one.”   Also in the email Claridge encouraged residents to “educate yourself on their theology,” calling the group a “dangerous end-times Apocalyptic movement.” 

Upon finding out that her letter had been forwarded, Claridge drafted a second letter to the Board of Alderman and the Mayor’s office.  “House of Lies is fiction and should not influence your decision regarding GHOP’s permit request,” Claridge wrote .  “I encourage you to educate yourself on IHOP/GHOP and base your decision upon the facts.”

We finally caught up with Claridge via email and asked her if her recent silence on the subject was indicative of a change in stance concerning IHOP.   She wrote:  “My stance against the International House of Prayer movement has not changed.  I still believe they are one of several misguided groups with dangerous, cult-like tendencies.  I encourage everyone to study these types of movements before getting involved.” 

Claridge ended her email by stating that she wanted it made clear that her stance was against IHOP and not against her sister, who happens to be a leader in the movement.  “I love my sister and she has a beautiful heart,” Claridge wrote. 

 Though there is speculation that Claridge is somehow being coerced into silence, the author denies the allegation.  "Sometimes you just get tired of beating your head against a wall," she wrote.  "When you become so obsessed about standing against something, you lose sight of all of the wonderful things in life that you stand for."

 

 

 

 

More Threats Surround Novel 'House of Lies'

December 2012  -  Kansas City, MO  -  Susan Claridge (S.R.Claridge),author of seven mystery novels, never imagined she would receive threatening letters from readers.  But she never imagined one of her stories would play out in real life either.

The problem:  International House of Prayer (IHOP) members are claiming her book, ‘House of Lies’ is about their group. 

On her blog today, Claridge posted the threatening note:  “S.R.Claridge, I have read your blogs about IHOP and your book House of Lies. I know it's written about IHOP but your information in the book isn't accurate. You tried to make your character Max Sagan be like Mike Bickle, but Bickle is a true man of God and a true prophet. You are going against God and God will not allow you to spread lies about His chosen people. You are offended by what you don't understand and you're mocking people you shouldn't. If I were you I'd be careful.”

The sender is someone who calls themself “AnonBerean12.”  Anon stands for anonymous.  Berean is a common term used within IHOP and means “one who tests what is told.”  The number twelve can be symbolic of many things, the twelve apostles, the fact that IHOP founder, Mike Bickle, teaches that God is raising twelve new super-prophets and apostles, etc.  Regardless of the symbolism, it is clear that the sender is an IHOP advocate.

Claridge’s response reads calm.  She first states factual evidence about Bickle, his history with false prophesy and his status of being what she calls a “self-proclaimed” prophet of God, and follows it up by asking the sender a question. 

Claridge wrote: “I will end this blog by asking you one question:  Could it be that House of Lies offended you because deep down you know you are indeed dwelling in a house of lies?  Could it be that it is just too close for comfort?”

If we were to tally points on who won this round it would be Claridge, hands down.  But one point cannot be overlooked and that is the fact that a threat was made to “be careful.”

'House of Lies' is a story about a 29-year old woman who tries to save her sister from a Kansas City cult group called P3, led by Maxwell Sagan.  The book probably wouldn’t have drawn as much media attention were it not for the likeness between the circumstances surrounding IHOP member, Bethany Deaton’s death, and what happens to cult members in the story.  

Now, IHOP members are bringing it even more attention with their angry threats.

In relation to receiving hate mail about the book, Claridge commented in a thread on her Facebook page:  “It doesn’t hurt me anymore because I know they are speaking from a brainwashed view… but it saddens me.”

Accusations toward the book and the author from IHOP members have been outlandish and Claridge states on her blog that she finds them “humorously ironic.”   One such complaint is that the book doesn’t show IHOP accurately. 

Any reader or mildly intelligent individual will tell you that there is neither accuracy nor inaccuracy in fiction.  It is whatever the novelist wants it to be.  However, IHOP members have gone as far as to post negative reviews on Amazon, stating the book shows that the author has a personal vendetta against IHOP.

Despite the fact that Claridge has stated in a Fox 4 news interview, on her Facebook page and in her blog that the book is not written about IHOP, IHOP members refuse to listen.  "I studied five cult groups before writing this novel.  IHOP was merely one of those five," Claridge told Fox reporter, Gia Vang.

"They'd rather attack the author and place blame on her for their own insecurity about their cult group than face the truth," said one ex-IHOP member.

Outside of IHOP, ‘House of Lies’ is receiving rave reviews, likening it to Dan Brown’s ‘The DaVinci Code’ and calling it “another action-packed adventure by S.R.Claridge.”  (RipeReviews) 

Is Tyler Deaton’s Southwestern group angry because the book, which released three weeks prior to the Deaton murder, foretold the killing in which they were involved?   Are IHOP members angry because ‘House of Lies’ hits too close to home?

Whatever the case, Claridge is taking the brunt.

 

 

Tyler Deaton's Inner Circle Crumbling

Immediately following Micah Moore’s confession to murdering Bethany Deaton, Alan Hood of IHOP-U (International House of Prayer University) made a statement denying that Tyler Deaton and the members of his group were an active part of IHOP.   

Hood said: “Mr. Deaton led his religious group entirely independently from IHOPU.”

Following this statement, it became clear that Tyler Deaton was listed as a Division Coordinator of the IHOP “Friendship Groups.”  Also, Tyler Deaton wrote on his blog that he was an active member of IHOP.

 

“I am student in Kansas City, MO at

the International House of Prayer,

in the second year of a 6-year

preparation to overseas missions.”

There is now more evidence to support the fact that Tyler and his group were indeed actively involved in IHOP.

Boze Herrington, a friend of Tyler Deaton and Micah Moore, who moved with the group from Texas to IHOP in Kansas City, is listed on FB as an “Editor at the International House of Prayer.”  

Herrington also has a blog, though he hasn’t posted since July of 2012.  http://thetalkingllama.wordpress.com/2011/12/ 

In a December 2011 post, Herrington writes, “I’ve gotten to the end of this year and I’ve realized, people aren’t all that bad. I don’t know where I’d be without them. Even the people I’m not allowed to talk to. It hurts, but I enjoy them. I like them.”

Is this another case of IHOP telling its members not to talk to people who question their beliefs?  Or to “fast from their families” as it has been called by many IHOP attendees.

Also, members of  Tyler Deaton’s original group are beginning to talk and what is being said is troubling.  Several members have eluded to the notion that Micah Moore didn’t kill Bethany Deaton, that one of the others did, and that Tyler (being the leader) forced Moore into taking the blame, stating, “he knew he had it in him.”

We’re now learning that that statement, which the media and all of us thought to mean he had the strength to kill Bethany, may have meant he had the fortitude to protect his friend and do jail time.

Was Bethany killed out of accidental rage and then Tyler and his friends tried to make it look like a suicide?

That’s the story we’re hearing now.

According to one anonymous group member, who has since left IHOP and returned home to Texas, “I realized they were capable of anything.  We were capable of anything.”

What role does IHOP play in all of this?  One ex-member says it is the distorted teachings of the Bridal Paradigm that adds a sensual undertone to the relationship of humanity and Christ, sending hormonal surges through the mass hypnotic worship sessions. 

Did this message pave the road to Bethany’s sexual assault?  Several friends from the tight knit group say YES.

One member, who has recently un-friended Boze Herrington on Facebook, claimed that Herrington didn’t do well with the news that Tyler and Bethany were getting married.  They wed on August 18, 2012.

On August 19, 2012  Herrington posted these photos to his Facebook page.

 

 

His photo albums have more pictures of Bethany Deaton than anyone else, but no photos of Tyler and Bethany’s wedding.  One friend states this is because “he was secretly in love with Bethany.”

Was Bethany Deaton’s murder a crime of passion?  Accidental rage?  Or was it a deliberate murder to keep her from telling her therapist about being sexually assaulted by Tyler, Moore, Herrington, Vowell, Cain, Matt, Gehring and others?

The truth will eventually spill out and IHOP will need to answer a lot of questions about the ramifications of their false teachings.  One cannot open the doorway to evil and then claim no responsibility when the child steps inside.