Broken Arrow

The mafia works the same way. It starts by being paid well by "the boss" for doing little favors for the boss when you're around 10-years-old or younger. By adulthood you're a hit man, i.e. murdering people for "the boss" and not even caring.

The mafia works the same way. It starts by being paid well by "the boss" for doing little favors for the boss when you're around 10-years-old or younger. By adulthood you're a hit man, i.e. murdering people for "the boss" and not even caring.

The mafia works the same way. It starts by being paid well by "the boss" for doing little favors for the boss when you're around 10-years-old or younger. By adulthood you're a hit man, i.e. murdering people for "the boss" and not even caring.

Yes, the general populace has lost, or is losing, their critical thinking skills. There are people everywhere who are hanging onto empty or false promises. It's rather sad

I found out cult-like thinking and cult-like loyalty can also exist in families, businesses, and just about any other institution. Personal freedom is always under attack even in the smallest ways.

TWI doctrine is the immodium of the people.

Wierwille opened a Living Victoriously session by stating, "Religion is the opiate of the people." I put it in the category of outrageous because that is actually a quote from The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx. Wierwille never attributed this statement as a quote and he certainly didn't say it was from The Communist Manifesto. That was representing someone's idea as his own. In other words, it was plagiarism. I'm sure someone in that audience recognized the quote. I wonder if he was ever called out on it.

Incredible! I'm tellin' ya the guy was born out of time. He would have fit so well as part of the inquisition.

Right. After all Jesus said he would not leave us as orphans. Not that one shouldn't have communion with others (humans need other humans) but we certainly shouldn't have to jump from one major, money-draining event to another.

Nicely stated Chockfull!

Yes...me!

I realize of course that this wasn't the crux of your post but the U.S. wasn't calling you to the Rock of Ages, TWI was. So I'm a bit mystified when you say, "For such reasons the U.S. is not seen favorably by overseas countries." The U.S. is not seen favorably because TWI compelled you to go to the Rock of Ages?

The line goes that since the rightly divided Word had been so buried for so long that God had to give special revelation just for Wierwille. It would never happen to us peons. BTW, how does a sky go "black with (white) snow?

Not that it matters but I do. I remember a SNS tape where he publically defended his doctorate. He said something like, "There are some who are saying I didn't earn my doctorate and that it was only honorary. But I did earn my doctorate, I did the work...." (Even though that's in quotations it is not a direct quote). I can't tell you the date so you're welcome to dismiss this. He did not say whether those questioning him were in or outside of TWI, but why respond to it if just some outsider were saying it? Someone else may remember that, too. I do know it was in the mid-70's.

Not that it matters that much, but supposidely one year he was inducted into the college's basketball hall of fame. LCM talked about being at the ceremony when he was inducted. You sure he didn't play on the basketball team? I mean, why lie about that? Then again, stranger things have happened.

I'm telling you, Wierwille told my Corps that his doctorate was in homiletics, not theology. I remember because I was slightly surprised. Does anyone else remember hearing him say that? Maybe I dreamed it.

Johniam...I don't want you to think I'm ignoring you but most of what I would have said in response to your post to me has already been stated by other posters. I see no need to just reiterate what's already been said.

For some reason talking about the "blood of Jesus" was a big no no in TWI. You could say "God made me pure", but you could not say you were "washed in the blood of Jesus". That was too close to saying Jesus was God, I guess.

No, I wasn't taught about speaking in tongues in the Methodist Church, but thanks for the laugh. I'll allow that "blasphemy" may be too strong a word though it still reflects my personal feelings. You just said it yourself, "the gift of holy spirit (comforter) takes the place of the absent Christ." That is not a Christian view and Christ is not absent. How could he be head of the church and be absent? How could it be Christ in us if Christ is absent?

Personally, I was not involved with TWI, nor did I swallow the doctrine hook, line, and sinker because I thought Wierwille was a doctor. Nor did I leave TWI and forsake their doctrine just because I learned his credentials were questionable. Even if VP earned a doctorate in theology from a respected institution, I still would not be fellowshipping with TWI based on other criteria. For me this is a non-issue. It may be of interest, however, to those who believe VP was a doctor of theology.

I have no recollection of writing that post; I have no idea why I would make such a smart-aleck statement. Sorry.

[ I'm not saying what they did was right or wrong. I'm just saying that the God of the Bible can't lie. Unless, of course, He was lying when He gave THAT revelation... :) George I wasn't trying to put you on the defensive, sorry. I was just waxing philosophical.

And that, to me, encapsulates the whole problem with TWI. Yes, that was taught, I learned it first in Sunday school in a Methodist church but I digress. TWI taught that but in practice they acted as though Jesus Christ never existed. That all we had to do was say, "I'm sorry" when we sinned. No mention (in my memory) that a Christian should seek Christ's help in turning our lives from sin to live more lovingly. Speaking in tongues was vaunted above the accomplished work of Christ its meaning and its purpose...in my opinion. If I remember correctly "Dr." went as far as to say, "The Word takes the place of the absent Christ." That's very serious error and borders on blasphemy.

Okay George you just brought up a topic I've thought about a lot. By the way, I'll admit this is off topic and we'll take it to another thread if need be but I have a question for you. If you know for a fact that someone is going to take the truth you tell them to commit an act of murder, would it not be appropriate to lie in such an instance? This is akin to the holocaust when the Nazi's would ask gentiles if they had any Jews in their house. Had the Gentiles said yes, they knew the Nazis would cart them off to a concentration camps where they would be executed. Was it not more appropriate to commit a lesser "sin" to prevent a greater one? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts. Please understand that I'm not defending LCM. I am, I thinking, making a case for why in specific cases it might be appropriate to commit a lesser sin to prevent a greater one.

Don't forget there was also a nice, relaxing boat ride across the Atlantic Ocean prior to being sold as property to "a loving family".