rascal

Shoot I had to pay for those stupid money orders and stamps to send it in every week...geeze what a dufus I was :(

I know that a wow one time had her surgery on the field paid for. That was it. I don`t think *twig pig* counts here because that is something the local believers did as an aside from twi tithe. The money was for God, it never dawned on me that God didn`t need money...or that if he did...he might direct it to be used to take care of people.... If a person had a need....it was their own darned fault...and to help them out in any way would be a detriment to them learning how to *believe* bigger...at least that was the impression that I got in the different areas that I lived in. It boggles my mind that it never dawned on me to be offended that wierwille had a motor coach and airplanes and Harlys....yet the people in our fellowship were really struggling to send in their tithe. One time we had a fellow living in the back of a semi trailer in North Dakota...for heavens sake...that money that our twig gathered and sent to hq each week would have really helped him.

That could be true twinky, or maybe having had that tightly controlled thinking for so long.....it is disquieting, even offensive when people begin to think outside of those confines.

YES! Those who didn`t lose children...family members...have car accidents....money troubles....etc were the GOOD believers. Have any problems, sickness etc....and it was because you personally were blowing it some where. This was one of the most personally destructive teachings in pfal. It caused the most heart ache because folks were blamed and many times abandoned when they needed support the most. There was so much shame when things didn`t work out as anticipated....we always blamed ourselves instead of questioning whether it was a valid teaching :(

I`d give Pawtucket and the moderators a WHOLE lot more credit than that Jonny.

They SAID that God loved us...they claimed that he wouldn`t spit in our direction if we didn`t follow twi`s rules.

They SAID that the way corpes how to learn to be your best for God.....They didn`t tell you that the application was an irrevocable commitment to God, a vow that was unable to be broken without dying spiritually.

Danny, that is pretty heartless on their part.... They SAID that they loved us and that we were God`s best....your experience would indicate otherwise :(

Semantics Dove, semantics...When you claim that I make things up, you are calling me a liar pure and simple. I will continue to relate my experiences in twi. I am not required to produce proof in order to talk about it now 20 years after the fact. I will continue to listen and learn from my brothers and sisters experiences ....together we provide the pieces of the puzzle to understanding what happened and why. Again, I ask you to share from within your realm of experiences, I ask that you allow others to share theirs.

No agenda, just want to be allowed to speak of my experiences without you following behind calling me a liar.

Dove, you just weren`t there plain and simple. It is pretty silly to think that you understand the different teachings, the different requirements, the different level of commitment required. It was a different world than the one you lived in and enjoyed :( To call folks into question because their experiences and impressions do not mirror your own is pretty unrealistic You are in no position to deny anybody elses experiences, or to pass judgement.

That is rediculous....YOU are not the one who decides what qualifies here as to what is pertinent or relevant....My experiences are mine to relate here, and the contribution is welcomed as long as it is done politely. Please, relate your personal experiences from your limited experience and exposure in twi. Allow the rest of us the same courtesy to relate our experiences as wow`s or corpes, or victims of abuse.

Not any more your not. Our experiences in twi are facts. They happened, and as long as they happened to us personally, when relating the incident....we are under NO obligation to say *alleged* discussing them.

Not only that, there is this pesky little thing called the statute of limitations that has eliminated a lot of us from taking twi to task legally. This isn`t a legal court, we are free to talk about our experiences. Dove isn`t required to prove in a court of law that his experiences are any more true or factual than ours...yet he feels he is to be allowed freely to post of his experiences unhindered....while calling into question the validity and reputation of any whom post of the more unpleasant aspects of twi. Let`s keep it fair and balanced indeed.

Great point twinky. TWI left no room for personal long suits, ones unique insight. We had to do it all their was and there was no room for what suited us. I remember that the lc in Alabama would take the guys out fishing or watch ball games...(the women had to have classes on how to be better wives on their days) those were considered acceptable spiritual activities. But for me to ride horses, or train dogs with a group was a waist of God`s time. Never mind the fact that most of the people I brought to fellowship and eventually enrolled in classes came from folks I met at these activities... The one time my face was melted was over the whole *animal* thing. My heart certainly wasn`t *corpes* if I allowed these distractions...my time was God`s time now...

Wow...I never heard that teaching....I would be in serious trouble because I have always been a dreamer. Sometimes they make sense other times they are completely bizzar. My kids seem to be the same way.

Yeah, and it began as soon as I left :)

Wow Mo, may I add a few? TWI SAID that we were Christians...but most were unable to follow the great commandment...*love your neighbor* TWI leaders SAID that they were of the spirit...yet so many many times their actions were in the category *of the flesh* TWI SAID they spoke for God and that we must follow their orders...yet so many times this brought disaterous consequences. TWI leaders said to trust them...and then they betrayed us. I think that there is a reason that twi was so scornfull of church...I don`t think they wanted us to see how genuine Christians behaved.

Never

Thanks Groucho.

We shouldn`t HAVE to be afraid of fear or suppression or dispute if it involves our personal experiences in twi. We shouldn`t have our character, our veracity, or our morality called into question by people who don`t like hearing our side of the story.

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I guess your motivational exit role wasn`t enough potato. Trust me, you are not the only one that we have celebrated their successful exit from twi...Nottawayfer, Belle, Abby to name a few just off the top of my head :) Bumpy, having just been here a few months is obviously an expert on how many people were able to leave twi once finding this spot and found the answers needed to break away. I know that after way dale came out, and gs a year later....membership dropped from 25,000 to currently less than 5, 000. Cman, it is an excellent observation, thanks for sharing it with us. I hope that it`s intent doesn`t get lost in the derail.

Well that would certainly get rid of the pesky women who persist in telling these stories....Seriously....to me it is too much like being banished to Siberia...and then who gets invited? Those abused? women? Everyone?? This is the place to tell the other side of the story. Tex, I look forward to reading your book.