waysider

I had some good times. I won't deny that. I also had some bad times---- lots and lots of them. The cost of those "good times" was much too high. Some even paid with their lives. When the smoke all cleared, I was faced with the reality that The Way was nothing but a cult, not even a special cult, just a piddly little Bible cult set in a cornfield, led by a scam artist who used the Bible to attach credibility to his twisted agenda..

Yes, by all accounts, The Way is what some might call a "closed corporation". You can't just buy things from their bookstore or attend a Sunday Service without some degree of vetting taking place. Wierwille was fond of saying, "You're always welcome at The Way"...Uh-huh... Try slipping into a Sunday Service sometime and see how "welcome" you are.

edit: Sorry. I didn't see that Twinky had beaten me to the punch. :)

And, if you should discover you need an item that's just a tad bit too high for your reach, "You just STAND on it, baby.".

I contacted both these institutions a couple years ago, seeking general information on VPW. My requests went unanswered.

"The real reason wasn’t that the daily devotionals would “let you down” – it was that readers might get a different perspective. Might have something that competed with the Word of God as taught by TWI. Might present a wider view, a different meaning – or (gasp!) something that contradicted what TWI said. Might allow some wiggle room, or even the strength to escape the clutches of TWI." The perception of having "elite knowledge" is a common trait found in most cults. The Way was no exception.

GSC is volume 2.

Personally, I think Wierwille's ultimate goal was to build a customer base of people who would systematically forward a portion of their income to him on a regularly scheduled basis. (ABS) The PFAL class was merely a vehicle to enable that. In that sense, I see the W.O.W. program as a wholesale failure. WOW's and class instructors didn't (and weren't supposed to) comprehend the bigger picture and, so, energy was mistakenly focused on a peripheral goal. (ie: get people in the class.) On the other hand, the WOW program cost him nothing. Any profit that came from it was icing on the cake. Wierwille knew it was never about "moving the word" in a Biblical sense.

What an irony, use a concept from the OT to emulate life in the NT.....and fail at both.

Yeah, study at the man of God's feet or something.

Without the WC, there probably would have been no Fellowlaborer program, either. I'm just sayin'. THE ZERO CORPS

If Wierwille was an expert at anything, it was blame shifting. He had that down to a art form.

That would be like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.

....seasoned with a unique blend of "aw shucks" spices.

I have my doubts that even that sentiment was genuine.

And in summary: He was a selfish old fart who didn't give a damn about anyone but himself. Dat's Riiiight!

Gotta be careful with this stuff. Eve stopped to think about what that 'ol snake was pitching and....BAM!...smacked her right between the eyes. "You just STAND, baby, no matter what.".....VPW

That would be me.

As we rapidly approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I find myself thinking about how history (real, honest history) "ain't pretty". Unless, of course, we rewrite it and edit it it to serve our purpose. "Stand", says VP in session #7. "Just don't budge. Don't let anyone talk you out of it." (somewhat paraphrased) So, that's what some people do. Others, conversely, have looked the demon in the eye and scoff at the notion. Ham made an interesting observation on an older thread when he stated that "food that's been poisoned is still food.". Sure, there's still some vitamin and mineral value... if you can just find a way to get past that pesky arsenic. :o

*BUMP* It's old but, still a good read.

Well, while you're up, could you grab me a beer from the fridge?

Yeah, I've noticed that, too. Maybe it's a sense of "If only I had.....". Personally, I think they should replace that with "I'm glad I never....".

It was a long time ago. why should it matter now? Norway murders L.E.A.D. Driven to suicide Anyway, I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody outside of a .

I knew they invented those microwave noodles I like so much but, hey, who knew? Oops. I guess those are Ramen, not Roman Ahhh...never mind.

You couldn't pay tuition for the PFAL class, you had to make a "donation". I find myself wondering if VP was already anticipating that someone might sue The Way when it failed to deliver on "the green card" promises. If you make a donation, they can do whatever they want with it (as long as it's not something illegal) and don't have to give anything in return.