Selah

"Selah" describes secrecy, or the practice of being secretive. Taken from the Bible - selah meant "silence".

There are many layers of secrecy wrapping and protecting the core leadership. Some examples of "selah" practice:

• Disciples were given "Bible names" and were not allowed to know each other's "system name", so as to be able to answer authorities and accusers in honest ignorance.
• The group's policy of not disclosing what their true beliefs were, in order to avoid "persecution". Members show outsiders a facade, while leading very different lives and adhering to radically different beliefs on the inside.
• WS (World Services) units which handle publications and finances and operate in secrecy, even from most other members of the group.

See also: Secrecy.