Bolshevik

Thanks DWBH, It sounds like he drank enough to be dependent. His thinking process and mental wiring were likely permanently altered. (I'm speculating this based on what I've read) It is curious to me, that, anger-based-yelling became commonplace in TWI, by non-alcoholics. I would think this is because the venerated VPW was an alcohol-driven-yeller. (Here on GSC, LCM is the prime example, but, nearly everyone did it. From my own experience, that was standard, expected, admired, behavior in TWI.) Also, I would wonder how much of the writing of PFAL might be substance-abuse influenced.

Once a lab instructor held a human liver out in front of me and the class and said, "This is what happens when you mix alcohol and Tylenol" and then slammed the liver down on the table. The noise? Rock of Ages.

There's a lot of joking about the Drambuie in the threads, and mentioning he lost an eye due to the lights from filming PFAL drinking too much too long. Is this an exaggeration? Was he perpetually drunk for decades or did he just need some help when speaking publicly?

"Christians Should Be Prosperous" In TWI, "Christian" was often considered a derogatory term. Sooo . . . "Losers Should Be Prosperous" would be more a more accurate title.

By "advanced", do they mean to move forward in (wasted) time? Really this all means that the spiritual maturity of the home fellowships have risen to a level where the Advanced Class is not longer needed (for wasting ABS). This is cause for celebration.

“The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”― Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

Bullinger. LINK. There, I said it. Once.

Forty-Two. Tangentially speaking.

I believe I was in total agreement with you. I can rephrase. "If Joe Believer hadn't given heart and mind and soul and spirit and pnema hagion to VPW, it is likely he would have fallen for something else just as stupid maybe even more idiotic instead . . . and that points to bigger questions on how to fix this mess"

If Joe Believer hadn't given their financial assets to The Way, they would have probably thrown it away for someone else. You know, like, The Government. LINK There's a slim chance The Government will take it all anyway. Which is certainly more than enough reason to panic. Does The Government know there's $64 million to question?

It took young people to build the ministry. It will take young people to see if flourish again. I'm glad you mention the young leaders. It is important that we pray for them. Perhaps a lift list of all their names and positions of service posted here would be helpful? Maybe even their specific plans of action. It is important to be specific in prayer. I also know people who say they were cured of the incurable in The Way. The sight of these folks certainly gives one pause. Doesn't it?

Geshem, son of Jahdai, descendant of Caleb? The Way is a type of bullying. And yes The Way is a joy for those who can't understand they are being bullied.

I like your insight T-Bone. VPW seemed to create and then fill voids. Almost of as if there was a power-struggle he had the solution for. From my personal memory of reading JCING, "The Trinity" is generally presented as dirty-playing an aggressor. Implying that aggressive tactics are needed to fight back.

Interpret the verse and eat it too, right there in the verse.

John 10:10 is part of the four gospels and not addressed to the Grace Administration. Therefore PFAL is discredited because VPW got "to whom" incorrect. And getting "to whom" correct is something we learned about in PFAL.

Just remember everyone's situation is different. Use this "Rent or Buy?" Calculator LINK Then you can decide how well you've managed your God's money. If you still can't make a decision on that, just remember there is always THIS

no no. They ARE making progress. No good comes with haste. What they are doing is softening the ground for planting seed in people's minds. It takes a lot of effort. And a long time before results are visible. A long, long time. Like, long long after anyone who notices is gone kind of time frame. Believe.

This is just for debt? To run a fellowship or bible study your finances need to be public record? Would there be a legal reason for that?

now we've got a comic con

I'm well aware of this point especially, Mr. Skyrider. I have family currently in TWI. I also know Christians who witnessed those days. However, most of the damage was already done back the the 70s and 80s. Then was the time to jump and shout warnings. And I participated in the thread you've mentioned. Seemed a temporary situation. Not a permanent one as we've seen elsewhere. Which brings me back to the idea that Jean-Yves will be managing a nostalgia group, and the idea of making older wayfers comfortable in their wayferdom as a good thing.

Jean-Yves is not LCM or VPW. Is he going to do anything like THAT? But you know, what harm IS being done to those still involved? Wayfers are wayfers, leadership or not.

Is Jean-Yves that bad? This is a nostalgia ministry. The followers want their nostalgia. Isn't taking the nostalgia away a source of suffering for them? A guy like Jean-Yves is could just be giving them their comfort for their remaining days. VPW caused followers to leave by dying. LCM caused followers to leave by yelling. Rosie caused followers to leave by stone-walling. What is the worst Jean-Yves going could do? Cause people to leave by out-living them?

you know . . . this could be a discussion about a nursing home

Hi Grace, It sounds like you're familiar with other organizations besides The Way? I tend to think that had the internet been around back then, VPW would have adapted to that reality. The internet can be a great tool for evil. Modern TWI simply chooses not to adapt to the modern world. How a person makes choices is probably more important than how much information a person has. Even before the internet, the human mind takes in an infinite amount more information than it consciously processes. . . . I tend to be skeptical of the "if the internet were around back then" claims.