Twinky

Okay, now I have to sign off. Am being harassed and yelled at by Crypto, who wants her treats (handfed on Dreamies, fragments of ham, or the like). She still doesn't let me pick her up but at least she beats me up now. And then to bed. Night night.

The b&w one is called Tuxedo (for obvious reasons), and her all-black litter mate is Crypto (loves to hide, was three months before I even saw her). Two very troubled girlies. Here's their story. It got to be quite a long thread. http://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/topic/16471-cat-whispering/ Yes, we discussed Going Clear, too. There's a search function at the top of each page, top right corner. That might help you locate similar topics if you choose appropriate key words. You can search the thread you're on; the wider forum, like About The Way, or Open; and all content.

Here.have a look at this. It's currently 4 pages long (we have a lot to say about that, here )

Oh, and lest I forget my manners, Kathy - welcome. Draw up a chair, have a coffee and have a good read and a natter.

Have you seen the Leah Rimini/Scientology thread in this forum? Pointing out the similarities between TWI and Scientology as total-control cults? (There are other threads, too.) I get you are talking about the individuals VPW and LRH, but the cult and the man are pretty much inseparable, since the man controls the cult and uses it to his own advantage.

T-Bone, you crack me up! That's hilarious! (I love yoghurt, have never tried that brand, and don't think I ever could now - I'd snort it out laughing too much)

A poisoned well? Or a cracked and broken cistern? I'm inclined to think the former. A well that keeps on supplying, but ruins all it comes into contact with. Doesn't seem like a cistern that is going to run out of water (poisoned or otherwise) any time soon, unfortunately. Contents still trickling out, but enough remaining that people still try to drink.

Search (or re-search) into people's pockets, what say? Also search (and re-search) into people's daily habits, including time spent with spouses. How prurient! Some of the best research we (as ex-Wayfers) can do is - read other versions of the Bible. Especially more recent ones, in more comprehensible language. Can really bring those dry old passages into sparkling life.

Grace, if you do a bit more reading around, you'll find she was an early supporter of VPW. He valued her opinion, so he wouldn't have shown his noxious side when she was around. And don't forget, so much of what we know now was very well hidden at the time. She wasn't on campus and she didn't see what actually went on, most likely.

2002 - things must have changed. I don't remember lists of vulgarities when I took A New Life. Or maybe I just blanked any vulgarities out. I only remember the crudeness with CFS.

Now as well as CFS, there was also a class called "A New Life" taught by Dr Carolyn Rawlins. This was actually a very good class. I remember material from that. I even kept the class notes/handbook from this class - I burned all my other Way class material. It was a video class, or mostly so (it was such a long time ago) and I've a distant memory that Dr Rawlins taught some parts in person. At least, she was present during and could be asked questions, which were appropriately answered. I don't know if A New Life was offered to everyone (ie on the field), or just to in rez Corps.

@DWBH: sorry if I offended you when I said what I did about that letter. I didn't mean to be offensive to you. Yes, of course you were all Waybrained at the time so of course all that Wayspeak made it onto the page (and yes, I was like that too, for a long time after I was banished). Reading the letter now, decades after all that strange manner of speech has been eroded, is like looking at a foreign language document. Or maybe some work by Chaucer ("Wow, did people really speak like that?") I had had the impression that it was just a letter sent to the "trustees" [not that they were trustworthy at all] and only to them. I honestly can't imagine them reading it with seriousness, except to find out who'd written it, so that they could be banned. I am very glad a wider circulation provoked a mass exodus. Think how many lives were rescued - both immediately, and also those who never got sucked in because the potential suckers-in had unsucked themselves. Just a bit of an off-topic: I have no difficulty believing and understanding that at times it was very difficult in TWI under VPW. I frequently think that some of the older pre-LCM-prez posters here haven't a clue about the horrendous goings-on under LCM's "posidency." Lunchtime meetings, for example, could be a screamfest from LCM for over an hour. Corps Nights were sometimes a 3 hour screamfest. The atmosphere of suppressed violence, suspicion and spying on others was everywhere. I don't want to derail this thread, but a little understanding goes both ways.

I never heard of that class. When did it run? When might it have been discontinued?

Just so, Bolshevik.

Yes, they "speak" all the right words. But their actions are different. And what they model as being loving isn't anything recognisable by most people. Not even the "tough love" propounders.

Don't think I hadn't realised these things before. I had. But somehow, this evening, it seemed like a very bright light upon the whole situation. A spotlight, highlighting the disconnect. Wow.

I was a very early reader, a very early writer - way before my first school. In later years, I trained as a lawyer. Specifically, as a litigation lawyer. I started in general practice, but the firm I was with had a specialty in personal injury, defending on behalf of insurance company clients. I prepared court documents, and presented cases in court from time to time. I wrote letters on behalf of my clients, and responded to letters in. I also did general work - matrimonial, general debt matters, and such like. Negotiated settlements or compromises. I'm also a northern lass. Northerners tend to be more direct in what they say. But usually I'm more nuanced, more careful in how things are said. So, you can see that words, crafting responses, etc, are what I've dealt with all my life, sometimes directly, sometimes in more cushioned language. TWI was thrilled to get this professional person that they'd sucked in. I wasn't over-impressed by PFAL, which even as a newbie seemed incoherent in places. I wasn't impressed by the rather childish collaterals. The grammar in these documents appalled me, but hey, I managed to see through and forgive all the mistakes to try to get to the truth of the Bible. I shouldn't have ignored the red flags, but brought my forensic skills into play. But ... one trusts church ministers. At least, they ought to be trustworthy. Religion wasn't my specialist subject; words and law are. So when I spoke up occasionally in rez, what happens? Nobody listens to what I say, but I'm treated as though I were at fault. I got told, it's not what you say but how you say it. Go and learn to speak differently. I was given loads of verses to memorise. In actuality, what they were doing was using Bible verses as a cudgel to beat me up. They were attacking a thing I was good at. They tore down my self-confidence. And it has taken all this length of time - how long is it, well over 20 years - to see where the problem really is. What the disconnect is (so, I'm a bit of a dunce at times, too!). They said one thing, BUT THEY NEVER MODELLED APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR. What did we get, especially in rez? The higher-ups didn't model words of gentleness or kindness, but shouting. Words of condemnation. Threats. Bullying. Manipulation. Of course, some coordinators spoke kindly, were nice people. But the Corps Coords, the Dept heads, etc, could be self-important and throwing around of their weight. What's really interesting is that nobody I know now have ever said any of those things to me, that I was accused of in TWI. People have been kind, patient, generous in their loving support. Lovely to me when I was first getting my head back in order - a (now) dear friend said when I first came on the scene, they all thought I was rather strange and that I came out with some very odd things, said and did things in a disconcerting manner. These people in my church, and the Christians I've met from other churches, model patience, kindness, genuine caring, the soft answer. The vicar did pick me up on one thing I said, that had been taken the wrong way and had caused hurt to a third party, but he did it with such gentleness and care that it wasn't a fearful confrontation but something that led to reconciliation and a good outcome for all involved. Those are excellent models to follow. I am so thankful for the patience of those who genuinely love God. And for the humble example they set.

Good grief. The blind leading the blind. And both falling into the ditch. I've flicked through the letter. I really can't stand to read it "in depth" - the triteness and "Wayness" of it appalls me. Can't imagine the trustees, when they got it, doing anything more than reading the first page, then making paper aeroplanes of the rest of the letter. It's address to Believers; I wonder what random believers thought of it? How very thankful I am not to be caught up with all that menagerie any more!

As to research, just think about the example of the "talents" (Mt 25:15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.") So what's this about? A rich man gives money to three people. First, he checks out their ability to handle money. Next, he gives them an appropriate loan. Then, the borrowers go out and invest the money in their businesses, etc - v.16 "The servant who had received five talents went and put them to work, and gained five more. Likewise, the one with two talents gained two more." Their lender, the boss, is very pleased with them: vv 21, 23: His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." The boss was kind enough to give some money to someone of uncertain ability. That character didn't do well, was frightened of the money and the boss, and didn't do anything with it. His boss/the lender calls him (v.26) "wicked and lazy". The boss/lender took his money away and increased the loan that he made to more proficient borrowers. No note, of course (as it's a parable), that the more proficient borrowers took up bigger loan offers. Yes, of course this is teaching about other abilities than just the ability to take care of finances - it teaches about using our spiritual abilities and other talents, skills and abilities, too. Like it or not, we do understand and use money. We can utilise what it can buy to increase and build benefit, or we can freak out and cringe when it comes our way. There are other verses that speak about not borrowing and not lending but giving instead; and not being a guarantor. Those things need to be balanced. There's the famous verse about the love of money being the (in some versions, "a") root of all evil. We should not "love" money, but we do need to use money, so why not teach how to use money responsibly? And if that means borrowing on a well worked out and realistic budget, so be it. Now that could be a great area for TWI to "research" so as to give good practical teaching. Heck, it could even make them richer, too. More 10% and 15% coming their way.

The debt thing really should be completely changed. TWI doesn't teach proper budgeting skills - when I was in rez we all had to write down what we spent our monthly pocket money on, and it was scrutinised when we got our next pocket money. But budgeting skills and forward planning, as such, weren't taught. I contrast that with what churches here are doing to help people learn about finances, and get out of debt. No beating with cudgels, no condemnation, but instead good solid advice and help. Contact with creditors too, to get them to hold off with their intimidating letters and visits. Just suppose: if TWI had taught budgeting skills and debt management, how much that skill base could have been taken into the community to help people learn to balance their budgets. It's not "research" as such, but it is practical help.

The general populace of the UK doesn't focus on Advent either, just on a spending splurge, lots of parties and booze, a few carols, and decorating trees. When I lived in a southern hemisphere country, not only is Advent unknown, Christmas is pretty low key too. A great excuse for extended time off work on one's long summer holiday. The places where I worked (in legal offices) often closed for a huge 4 or 5 week holiday from <>23 Dec to end of third week of Jan... or a bit longer. (That's because the courts are usually closed then.) This was a bit of a luxury - other offices and businesses usually only close for a couple or three weeks. That's why it's good to be reminded of what Advent is about, and what "Christmas" is supposed to be about. Not an event that TWI ever considered, or focused on. But it is worth taking the time to slow down, think of things to come, and plan with hope and expectation. Joyful anticipation... excitement... real celebration. Advent has been a part of the Christian "church year" internationally since the fifth century at least - possibly long before. Not just a UK event.

It's Advent Sunday - the church's start to the Christmas season, a time of expectant and joyful preparation. Blessing, peace and joy to all my friends. And also to those who are not yet friends. This week's theme is HOPE - expectantly looking forward to the coming of the promised Redeemer. Isaiah 9:1-7 - - the hope of breaking every yoke of all the oppressors [Syrians and Assyrians, at the time], of the burning of all their weapons of oppression; of the coming of a great light and the coming of the government of peace, the Wonderful Counselor. Those people had a wonderful hope to look forward to. And we too have a wonderful hope of the "second coming" to look forward to, in just the same way. And we have more immediate "hopes" - for a better year, for a better job, for our families and friends. What are YOU hoping for, for this coming Christmas season and for 2018?

What's Vodafone got to do with anything? Plenty of other service providers. Makes the article look like inflammatory hype. If you're talking about restricting access to services or some website, maybe a better comparison would be China. Even Google plays by China's rules, in China.

Thanks for that, rrobs. Your link was slightly incorrect (https stated twice). If others here choose to follow up, here's a better link - I've pointed this to their home page, as there are items there that might be of interest: https://characterofgod.org/ The "I create evil" article contains a number of references and quotes from sources, academics, from decades if not centuries ago. If this "idiom of permission" was understood then, how come the knowledge got lost? Buried, perhaps in AV [KJV] English, which at times was a little political. There are a number of articles from older commentators. Some of these look as though they might be a good read. One of the articles is quite a long essay which also may be of interest. Here's the link to that: http://characterofgod.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Interpreting-Hebrew-Causative-Verbs-Permissively.pdf The author of this document quotes a number of different versions of the Bible, including easy-read type versions, which in this case appear more accurate (as in "I will let [some event] happen"). Thanks again for the link. Like you, I don't think any of the contributors has Way connections at all.

Check it out. Let me know if it's worthwhile. There may well be such an idiom. Or is it just - irony? However, I'd suspect that VPW used it more than it warranted, to give himself permission to re-work scriptures to give his own slant, or to give himself permission to do something that's definitely prohibited.