waysider

Some of the love and camaraderie was very real--------and some was dreadfully fake. The real stuff is what bonded us together, not the organization or its twisted doctrines. I suppose one could draw some sort of analogy to a friendship that is forged in prison.

Here is something from page 5 of The Renewed Mind class that somewhat approaches a definition of The Renewed mind.----1974 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As you build your mind, understanding and heart, you build your believing---your strength or ability in the personal life. When your ability is built on The Word, it builds to the point of utilizing your spiritual ability which is all powerful. According to the scientists, neurons form a chain in the brain to remember information. By conditioning our minds through the renewed mind process we can correct imperfect chains or patterns in the brain. Actors, actresses, successful sportsmen, and others have become adept in their fields by practicing their role or game before hand in their minds. By continually feeding our minds on God's Word and practicing The Word in our minds, we become transformed (transfigured) by the renewing of our minds because our knowledge, thoughts, and habits have been conditioned. As this new material displaces the old, a new understanding is formed which in turn purifies the heart and builds additional strength to believe and get results. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So much for the argument that there was no thought conditioning taking place in TWI. That's the explicit purpose of this entire class!

Here is an abbreviation of page 15 of The Renewed Mind class------1974 To the end that you apply all 6 of these laws you will manifest the more abundant life. If you are deficient in applying one law you will not manifest the more than abundant life. 1. The Law Of Believing: As you believe, you receive. Believing appropriates results. 2. The Law Of Learning: No one can go beyond where he is led. We can never arise in our walk until we superabound in our study of The Word. Receive The Word with meekness. 3. The Law Of Using Knowledge: The knowledge of The Word must be applied in your life in order to retain it. 4. The Law of Effficiency We must use what we have with haste and precision. We must be efficient in our operation. Redeem the time for the days are evil. 5. The Law of Love Love activates. Until we walk with the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation, we will never be activated. Love binds the body together. 6. The Law of Giving and Receiving As you give, expecting nothing in return, your rewards will be great. God will bless you beyond what you have given. As you give, you receive. Now, someone may say, "Well, this does not specifically say ABS". No, it doesn't. But remember that giving to any cause or organization, be it with money or time, was absolutely off-limits in TWI. Thus, it is axiomatic that this reference to giving and receiving is slanted heavily toward giving to TWI. Miss this one point and-----No abundant life for you, pal.

http://www.uia.net/~messiah7/cultsthe.htm http://www.uia.net/~messiah7/tw_new.htm http://www.uia.net/~messiah7/rsr_buyBlessings.htm

I wouldn't say you necessarily feel anything. I mean, you can do it while you drive a car or cook breakfast or whatever. We were supposed to draw mental pictures of what we wanted or needed (must have them parallel, dontcha know?) and concentrate on the picture while we SIT. The thing is, while you are doing that, your brain shuts down part of its ability to ponder critical thought. I have cited some scientific studies that show that to be true in previous posts but don't have reference to them at the moment. I think it maybe differs from meditation in that sense. But, having never "meditated" I couldn't say for sure. One thing that just occurred to me is that it could possibly facilitate false perception. For example, we were supposed to pray (SIT) for leaders, especially VPW. While you are doing this, you maintain a positive image of that person even if you might know something about them that is less than desirable. It may explain, at least to some extent, why some people had a tendency to put him (VPW) "on a pedestal". That's how they pictured him as they spoke in tongues through the day. All in all, I would have to say I never felt like I was in some kind of trance while I SIT. In fact, one time I had a job that involved me working all by myself the entire day. (a physical type of job) I would picture people and things and situations as I SANG in tongues to the melodies of popular songs. No one was there to hear me so why not, I thought. At the same time, I was actively doing my job. I don't know if that makes sense. Maybe its kinda like "whistle while you work". The only time I might have felt lost in thought was when I would sit quietly, close my eyes and do my "lift list". That's a list of people and things and situations you are supposed to pray for. VPW was always supposed to be at the top of the list.

John From the descriptions, it all sounded very foreign to me. Then I read the symptoms. Yikes!!! I answered positive to 64% of the symptoms. (of the depersonalization) A big one for me is having an inordinate response to abusive authority figures. It's like somebody flips a switch and I'm off and running. I watch myself "from the outside" and it's like watching someone else responding. It's kinda like what the WWII Vets I've known describe as "shell shock". I'm getting much better at recognizing it and stopping it. As to the trance thing: You must first understand that what TWI did with speaking in tongues (SIT) may be different from some other groups. TWI taught that you should SIT silently to yourself. (NEVER out loud unless it was part of a ritual called a "Believers' Meeting".) Furthermore, they coupled it with the pseudo-law of believing. You were supposed to SIT while drawing a mental picture of what you desired or wished to pray for. (Perfect Prayer) We were told to do it much, much, much. So, if you found yourself stuck in a grocery store line or freeway grid-lock, you were supposed to picture various people and things while you SIT. We did this every chance we got. There is a list of 12 benefits that this supposedly facilitates. I won't bore you with the list but one of the significant "benefits" is that is supposed to be a direct communication between you and God. No small change to someone who is seeking to understand spiritual matters. That's my 2 cents for now

Trampled Under Foot

HaHaHaHa!!!! Now that there is just plain funny. You two couldn't squeeze into that profile with a greased shoehorn even if you wanted to. (Which I'm certain you don't.)

Well, what the heck, we're off topic anyway so here's a guy who KNEW how to shred. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWNtxME0psI

Good stuff, Chas.!!! :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:

I think "Waybrain" really describes an ingrained behavior pattern. It's that inner stubbornness that says "having done all, we must continue to STAND", never wavering or giving thoughtful consideration to opposing thoughts. It's relinquishing control to those in authority for no valid reason other than the fact they are in an authoritative position. It's retaining the naive belief that those in "leadership" have your best interests at heart. It's the reluctance to accept that The Way was really nothing more than a multi-level-marketing scheme that grew into a run-of-the mill, garden variety cult. It's that smug sense that comes from feeling that what we did in The Way was somehow superior to what others have done in countless other similar cults. After all, we were THE BEST! , dontcha know?

Gotta leave for work. Want a free turn?

If I made a crack about his shorts, would I seem to be running this into the ground?

To the tune of Safety Dance. S-S-S-S-I-I-I-I-T-T-T-T We can SIT if we want to We can leave your friends behind 'cause your friends don't SIT and if they don't SIT Well, they're no friends of mine. I say, we can go where we want to A place where they will never find And we can act like we come from out of this world Leave the real one far behind And we can SIT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qW0Edq1KqI

Safety Dance--------------Men Without Hats

YES! :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXwynAlYNS0

No idea here either.

Just when you thought it was safe to admit you were once in The Way. Is it any wonder some folks want to remain anonymous? :blink:

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship.

Man, that Leroy Brown was one mean cat.(Maybe the meanest man in the whole damn town) In fact, he was meaner than a junkyard dog and badder than old King Kong!

I had forgotten all about those, WordWolf. They really do make "learning" fun. Here are the youtubes you referenced. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_TXJRZ4CFc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQA5NDNkUM Here's my personal favorite, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo

Hebrews 12:2

Will there be refreshments? :unsure:

HOORAY!! Just got in from work and found my power back on. I didn't mind the power being off nearly as much as I detested the sound of generators filling the ordinarily quiet nights. I had my fridge plugged into my neighbor's generator until it (his generator) decided to take a dirt nap. All in all, we did much better this time than we did with the ice storm a couple years ago. That one had us out of juice for 6 1/2 days in the dead of winter. Missed a pretty important email but I'll see if I can remedy that situation when the Sun comes up tomorrow. I almost feel guilty that we fared so well compared to so many others.