skyrider

Some 40 years ago, wierwille envisioned the concept of a corps program where "his" committed followers would undergo a strict, disciplined training program....i.e. a spiritual marine corps. Obviously, the pfal series (foundational, intermediate, advanced class) was not the all, end-all.....nor were those summer school programs at hq. Wierwille desired more commitment, more structure, more control. The first year of this corps program FAILED.....and subsequently, was marked with disdain and labeled the zero corps. The following year, an undeterred wierwille revved up this training indoctrination in a fragmented twi that instituted a divisive pecking order that still exists today. Arrogance and hypocrisy are laced throughout this program and legacy of the corps program as "dr. wierwille" became the chief bottle washer. In my experiences, people become annoyed when someone is appointed to lead them that is highly unqualified and arrogant to boot. Add in some hypocrisy and years of growing legalism, and people bristle as corps leadership was forced upon the followers YEAR after YEAR. At hq, the good-hearted staff in the early-70s were being systematically replaced as corps infiltrated the upper-level staff assignments. By 1982, the corps brand was synonymous with "qualified leadership." Men like Johnnie T0wns3nd and John Lyyn didn't go thru the corps training, but were given special status recognition anyway. Even Don and Howard were publically acknowledged with honorary corps status. I know some hq-staffers who went into the corps, only to gain access to this corps recognition (and training???...ha) and BACK TO THEIR DESK JOBS AT HQ. What hypocrisy!!! Twi promoted it, allowed it, and sanctioned it. I knew many, many non-corps who had better qualities, better leadership than corps. And, every time that waysider (a GS poster) details his fellow-laborers commitment.....it exemplifies how many non-corps had the same drive, discipline and determination to fulfill "spiritual quests." But rather than spur on this pi$$ing contest between corps vs non-corps.......I see it as a divisive measure that fueled a competitive nature in the ranks of twi. Did wierwille have any idea that this would erupt? I don't know. But I do know that the corps program was an indoctrination of all things wierwille. It was NOT God's design. It was NOT God's way. The corps program was a fragmented patchwork of teachings that catapulted the ideology of a cult leader. With seclusion, intimidation, isolation and secrecy.....the corps program morphed into a rite-of-passage spiritual recognition that never existed. Wierwille surrounded himself with handlers, bodyguards, and yes-men to portray spiritual importance. But in actuality, this was nothing more than sleight of hand deception. The mid-70s corps training was filled with government-overthrow prophecies, America Awakes rallying, mal-pack teachings, food storage-survival kits, The Tracker seminars, etc. etc.......all the while, this was supposedly spiritual training. Huh? To me, the corps vs non-corps dots........ALL CONNECT BACK TO WIERWILLE. To me, this is a black/white issue that is leftover waybrain. These experiences and perceptions were in direct relationship with a cult environment. This status system is seriously flawed, because it violated the true principles of genuine leadership and true value. The corps site is little more than a nostalgic recognition of "what one was truly committed to" vs "what reality was." So many things folks. Maybe, that's why I detest my corps experience and indoctrination. And, perhaps.....that's why my time with a sweet College Division girl at Emporia was so special.

By wierwille's own admission, the corps and wows were "his kids".......and therefore, INCEST should be added to this discussion.

TLB....that's quite a broad brush to paint some 3,200 corps in the same "corner" as wierwille. Amazing, that you have that kind of perception and "spiritual awareness"....?????????????

Yeah.....leeches sounds about right. Twi's "corporation status" was built on the backs of the youth. With deception, manipulation, exploitation and greed....wierwille and co. used and abused. The cornfield cult prized the "dorothy-and-rhoda-like staffers".......no kids, no life outside twi, work into your 80s, live in a trailer, live meagerly, stand as a twi-pillar, praise be to vpw, etc. That "need" basis that wierwille proclaimed never was intended to SUPPLY OUR NEED later in life with .... supplement, far and away from twi..!!!!! So many things,...............

Yeah, that's what I said earlier...........my annual statement has ZEROES for those 4 years. Thanks twi.....NOT. <_<

There was a time when twi required staffers to sign a waiver form on SS payments. My yearly SS statement shows ZEROES for those staff years at hq. Around 1985 or thereabouts, twi's auditors/accountants informed twi that it needed to change its policies on SS waivers/payments.

Yeah..........Waydale was awesome. With all due respect to GS......Waydale was "striking while the iron was hot." So many posters with inside information on trustee dirty laundry, extreme legalism, and mark/avoid shenanigans. Martindale was caught in the headlights of adultery, spittle-teachings, out-of-control arrogance, character assassinations on corps meetings, all-corps-payroll-revelation, don's retirement, howard's "ousting," rosalie's knowledge of lcm-predation, wierwille's plagairism and predation and real motives, etc. etc. At the time, I was posting as FreshAir.....and must have started some 200 threads. When martindale made his April 2000 confession, the EXODUS (#2) was on......and 6 or 7 REGION COUPLES resigned from twi. Whole regions were affected over night....and twi was in major damage control mode. The Waydale threads were electric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From my knowledge and experience, international countries do NOT send a portion of their abs to twi hq. In fact, it runs at cross-purposes with bylaws and charters to do so (as I understand it). BUT.....all bookstore purchases (books, tapes, way mag, weekly tapes, etc) from twi ample financial motivation to support international outreach. This financial incentive reaches to those who register for advanced classes, advanced class specials, corps tuition, etc. Any one-time (yearly) gifts or offerings to twi could be written off the books of The Way of Ireland (for example).

Or....crank it back 40 years (1969) when wierwille was the mog who walked the earth.

Mirror, mirror on the wall Who's the greatest one of all? Could it be Me? Myself? and I? John smiles as he "hears" it reply. <_<

You spend very few holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter) together with your family because wierwille sold you on being with the "spiritual household".....and your parents are unbelievers in terms of twi waybrain. Then, when you get away from the cult, your parents are deceased or aged and feeble....and your "scapebooks of memories" is relatively (no pun intended) bare. :(

Not only is that MONEY-contributor......highly sought after. Not only is the constant adulation......always stroking egos. BUT......the twi-template of "ministering to the flock" GIVES THE TOP GUY the freedom to travel, very little accountability, blurred petty cash accounts, overnight stays at abs expense, discretionary spending, non-profit status, and "starry-eyed popularity" at every twig. WHAT A CUSHY JOB !!! Sounds like a U.S. Senator job or something equivalent. Heck......one could enjoy motorcycle riding, hunting elk, steak dinners, special vacation resorts, and STILL teach a twig or two along the way.....all on the splinter-group dime. And, get a nice salary to boot. No surprise why one wouldn't fight like he11 to stay on the gravy train.

Oh....I tend to think its MUCH MORE than "political BS." Does anyone really think that all these splinter-group leaders would/could "go where they feel inspired, touch those people who cross their path, etc" and make a fresh break from the MLM-twi setup? I mean, why is it that "the big guns"......cgeer, jal, finnyfan, dseed, other region guys.....quickly latched onto the contributors/supporters listings as they broke from twi's mother ship? Could it be.......faithful supporters ($$$$$) is the lifeblood of their motives? Could it be.......consistent adulation and praise of men is their highest prize? <_<

I continue to be amazed how the internet.....namely, waydale and greasespot.....have given me the opportunity to hear "the other side of twi." And, in this internet dialogue....the "disjointed gripes and murmurrings" have been pieced together to show me the wierwille puzzle of manipulation and control. No more silencing of one's voice. No more bum's rush off twi property in the middle of the night. No more black-balling and labeling of devil-spirit possessed. No more mark/avoid the dissenters. And yet.......some tell me that net neutrality is the "foot in the door" that will lead to a fairness doctrine for the internet. I don't really know what all that means....???....but that "fairness" would need to be given to other parties on a discussion (or whatever)? Some of us saw how twi leadership called a confrontation meeting and put the dissenter in a cross-fire of manipulation and bullying and shouting down the opposition. Some of us saw those region guys lead the charge and the character assassinations that followed. Some of us sat in corps meetings where individuals were singled out and reamed a new one. The wielding of authority is a powerful, powerful weapon. Net Neutrality

Gee....I certainly don't look at INDEPENDENCE as living in Wyoming, in a mountain shack, growing my own garden, field-stripping deer, trapping and fishing and isolated from all civilization. hahahahaha Maybe I should qualify being "fiercely independent"......?? Fiercely independent.........from subtle hireling shepherds and pastors. Fiercely independent.........from "it takes a village" collectivism. Fiercely independent.........from another offshoot coming down the pike. Fiercely independent.........and yet, mixing with good folk here at GS. :)

Gee......I'm trying NOT to. In retrospect.......EVERYTHING in twi seemed to have an agenda of control !!! And, I have to remind myself that wierwille was 55 years old in 1971.....and the clock was ticking on what he wanted to "accomplish." Now, EVERYTHING IS SUSPECT as to what wierwille was really pushing....and the 100 pages here at GS expose it all.

Twinky......there is a striking difference between your corps experience and mine. Obviously, in the mid-70s.....twi had to rely on more secular sources of suggested and required reading. As in-house books became available, JCOP & JCPS, twi turned more inward. The Adv Classes followed the same pattern and turned to in-house promo.

In mid-70s.... How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie Life is Tremendous by Charlie Jones The Greatest Saleman in the World by Og Mandino

As the legalism and intrusion of twi encroached more and more into our very lives, especially those of us who stayed into the mid-90s.....I find myself fiercely independent today. And, reading the posts of many who entered offshoots for years after twi......it seems like the same sentiment is embraced: stay independent. What started out as (seemingly) good.....ended up really bad. When small, twi was small in centralized power. When bigger, twi grew incrementally in legalism and intrusion. What ever happened to the stated concepts of 1) self-governing, 2) self-propagating and 3) self-sustaining? As the money rolled in to a central location, hq, the intoxicating power of control never seemed to release its grip. With the turning of the screws..... ...."biblical research" became wierwille-endorsed interpretations of scripture. ...."transformed by the renewing of your mind" turned into waybrain. ...."service to God" morphed into service to twi and abysmally to sexually serving a mog. ...."wooden-spoon doctrine" marshalled the forces of "it takes a rome city village." ...."way corps volunteers" were branded as slaves to the master teacher. ...."present truth" became the progressive revolution against one's free will. ...."obey your leadership" put more hierarchal distance from you and twi's throne. ....tithing (10%) became abundant sharing (15-20%) and twi wanted plurality giving (20-50%). ...."vpw the teacher" escalated to "wierwille the mog" to "wierwille our father in the word." ....a wow commitment ---> a 4-yr corps commitment ---> a lifetime of twi service ....to stay corps (1995) one MUST become full-time corps ....then, no pets....no pregnancies (w/o permission)....no cable tv....no music lessons for kids, etc. ....the twi-mandates were herding us towards a monk servitude. THE INCREMENTAL INTRUSIONS WERE DECEPTIVELY DISGUISED. NO THANKS......NO WAY.......NO MORE. TODAY, I AM FIERCELY INDEPENDENT.

Tzaia......lots of good points, thanks. I would add.....what I have come to believe is that twi and offshoots deliberately builds a system where all roads lead to dependency. Dependency to stay like-minded. Dependency to police each other and monitor thought and speech. Dependency that leads to self-destruct identity [catcup's article 'Destruction of Self']. Dependency is the christian equivalent of repeat business. With this dependency, one is inclined to faithfully tithe to co-join actions with mental thought.

Twinky.....I remember those Q & A Sessions during 1979-1981 (as noted in my original post). In 1982, twi launched into Living Victoriously and the hoopla of the 40th Anniversary...ie wierwille's farewell and martindale's mantle. I don't remember any public questions being addressed after that. This "window of opportunity" for publicly questioning things and addressing issues to wierwille and the trustees was like four or five times, 1979-1981 (as far as I remember). A couple of 6th corps guys came to the mic, at Corps Week, and it really irritated wierwille. Sorry, I can't remember the questions.... but I do remember the wierwille reaction.

Bump......good thread.

There was a time when twi had Q & A (questions and answers) sessions at Word in Business conferences and some of their Corps Weeks. The microphone was set up in the audience where one could stand in line and address a question to wierwille and the board of trustees. From 1979-1981, I vividly remember this as some questions poked some serious questions and exposed some flawed concept held by twi. Not only did wierwille become inflamed by some questions, he attacked the "messenger." At WIB conferences, the questions were more directed at getting "word in business" or business ethics and its relationship to profits. Some of twi's businessmen, at the time.....where not die-hard wierwille followers, and wanted more explanation on scriptural background. Whereas, questions at Corps Week were more directed at doctrinal issues or corps development or balancing work vs moving the word. TWI SHUT DOWN THOSE Q & A SESSIONS.........WHY? Well, I believe, that questioning begets MORE questioning......leading one down the path of critical thinking skills. Twi soon found that the masses were starting to question their sole status of leadership and authority. Even wierwille could not withstand open and upfront questions. Twi had to retreat back to the lecture-mode and teaching-format of teacher and pupil. Authoritative leaders do NOT like to be questioned. Claim big truths, and once they are out there, never relinquish. Allow those big claims like....."we have the word".....to sit out there, unquestioned. Nor would Chris Geer allow anyone to question his "Passing of a Patriarch" thesis......giving the last will and testament (cough, cough) of dr. wierwille. This happened all the time in twi. And, yet......twi doesn't have exclusive rights on this issue. Note the youtube segment..... Q & A Segment Questions are a good thing!

WHOA!......."under lcm they really were not a 'research ministry' as they claimed"... What about UNDER WIERWILLE they really were not a research ministry? Even a GS-poster who was ON twi's research team claimed that wierwille stifled or skewed the 'research.' Or, what about the wholesale plagairism? Is that 'research?' Could it be that some are STILL trying to sell the wierwille-adulation? Add a couple of words...."under lcm"....and the agenda becomes clear. :blink:

Yes, I remember wierwille stating that we fought on the wrong side in WWII. As one GS-poster, Sunesis detailed wierwille's association with Liberty Lobby/the Spotlight to chronicle this agenda in twi......the pieces of the puzzle came together. Liberty Lobby "In 1975, the Liberty Lobby began publishing a weekly newspaper called The Spotlight, which ran news and opinion articles with a very populist and anti-establishment slant on a variety of subjects, but gave little indication of being extreme-right or neo-Nazi. However, The Spotlight, critics charged, was intended as a subtle recruiting tool for the extreme right, using populist-sounding articles to attract people from all points on the political spectrum including liberals, moderates, and conservatives, and special-interest articles to attract people interested in such subjects as alternative medicine. Critics also charged the newspaper with subtly incorporating antisemitic and white racialist undertones in its articles, and with carrying advertisements in the classified section for openly neo-Nazi groups and books. The Spotlight's circulation peaked around 200,000 in the early 1980s,..."