Rocky

Of course, Wierwille died well before the advent of the interwebs and cellphone cameras and voice recorders. That may be why the Me Too movement only emerged over the last few years.

Well... there WERE allegations of laws being broken. Martindale WAS subject to litigation. IOW, there are records on GSC of at least two such situations in which "those affected" DID follow up. The business (non-profit organization) of TWI settled. That IS essentially, by default, or at least by implication, conviction with civil liability. Therefore, your claim seems hallow. You can search this website for details and names.

Well... synchronistic events are, as Bolen wrote, subjective. As far as synchronicity in the rearview mirror, I do believe we can and do reevaluate our experiences and memories. Whether that's synchronicity, I couldn't tell. In the late 1980s, I shared a house with a former wayfer shortly after we both left TWI. He had spent time on staff at HQ and at that time recently divorced. He participated in Re-evaluation counseling, (not with me). As best I could tell, he benefitted from the one-on-one counseling process. So, T-Bone, it's quite likely your post was off topic to some extent. But in this case, no big deal.

Not the same as everybody being unconscious... I view it more as being responsive to a collective SUBconscious. But what do I know? Hope you have a good night's sleep tonight.

Well... one thing it apparently is NOT: about God.

Just that "begging the question" does not equal raising the question for someone to answer, but rather represents an argument fallacy.

It sounds like you're the one who is begging to ask that question. Nevertheless, there seems to have been myriad issues of power imbalance at work (or, in play) for all of the "playmates" and girlfriends. To me, that means your question is immensely complex and not easily answered.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Isn't that special?!

The lyrics seem to focus on the highlighting the sense of belonging, rather than about God.

https://www.netflix.com/watch/81083002 The playbook on how to become a tyrant.

I'm on the reservation list for a new Aptera solar powered vehicle... hoping my turn comes up in 2023.

I'll second that very well put sentiment.

However, "Randall" DOES return results.

If/when you can, find a different therapist and ask detailed questions about how the person has been able to help individuals. As for me, books written by the late Dr M Scott Peck were my starting point. The Road Less Traveled showed me how to begin (re)evaluating my experiences and thinking. Stoic Philosophy can be helpful too. Much more recently (still seeking to learn/grow) I've found a trilogy of books by Ryan Holiday very helpful. The Obstacle is the Way; Stillness is the Key; and Ego is the Enemy. You might be able to find those books in your local public library. It may or may not be obvious to you, but a supportive social support system (i.e. friends) is crucial for recovery. Humans are inherently social. TWI's claim is accuracy of God's Word. But the real draw is a tribal sense of belonging. My hope and prayer for you is a rewarding journey of recovery.

I briefly met Donna Randall in Gunnison, CO in July 1978. Other than that our brief interaction was pleasant, I have no detail to add. I'm confident your best resource for understanding Donna and The Way International is to speak with Charlene and to read both Undertow and The Way: Living in Love.

Yeah, I had seen he resigned.

And Australia. Hillsong apparently started down under. I just read about this new documentary, which apparently was first broadcast a few days ago, on the Washington Post. This link should enable people to read the story without charge... because I subscribe (for $29/yr). They've apparently made the big time with a Discovery+ channel documentary about them. The WaPo staff writer (of this story) starts her feature thusly: For the first two decades of my life, there was very little I did that wasn’t touched somehow by evangelical churches. I can still sing a random smattering of Bible verses, thanks to catchy little melodies we played on cassette tapes in the car. If I squeeze my eyes shut hard enough, I can reach down into the primordial dregs of my memory and find some of the pledge to the Christian Flag, bringing up with it the Play-Doh smell of my preschool classroom at a church-adjacent academy in Scottsdale, Ariz. I still remember the first time I ever felt so overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit that I wept during a church service — I was 11, and it was during a rendition of “Shout to the Lord,” a beloved praise anthem from none other than Hillsong, the Australia-based global charismatic church network known best at the time for its stirring, internationally popular worship songs. I’m still working out why exactly I quit going to church in my early 20s, about a decade ago; for a long time, all I could really muster was that I could no longer ignore the gnawing suspicion that I’d be happier if I did. (I was.) As an adult, though, I’ve started to piece together that perhaps it had less to do with God or the Bible or Christianity itself than with the fallible, corruptible, misguidable human beings I answered to every Sunday. So when I watched Discovery Plus’s new three-part documentary “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed,” some of what it uncovered felt wholly, sadly familiar. Other revelations, though, were uniquely horrifying.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Why?

Okay, I'm certainly not a fan of the R and R clan, but... while I too would absolutely wonder, I don't believe there's enough there to CONCLUDE--simply by virtue of the fact that a website and name were established ahead of time--that they were not sincere. First, they absolutely KNEW the likelihood was through the roof that they would be labeled "mark and avoid," and they knew of NT scripture counseling them to go to TWI with their grievances first. Prudence required them to be prepared for the nearly inevitable response. I don't see this particular action as having any bearing on their sincerity or lack thereof.

While you may be right on the mark in your assessment, I'm not sure the qualifiers are necessary. Accurate truth isn't nearly as relevant as the fact that belonging is a fundamental human need. I'm not suggesting you are inherently wrong, as factors relating to position in a group to which they belong are certainly relevant to varying degrees, but the bottom line regardless is belonging to a tribe.

Mastering synchronicity? I'm not sure that's a useful approach. In TWI, everything seemed to be about the believer mastering believing to make things happen the way s/he wanted (hoped) for them to happen. Synchronicity, as I understand it, is not at all about believing for things to happen. Letting go (i.e. letting go and letting God) is more the way I understand synchronicity. Otherwise, I viewed your comment as TL;DR. If you'd like more thoughtful feedback, I would hope you could practice brevity and figure out how to more concisely make your points so that readers would find it less tedious to read.

Keep learning... and keep expanding your imagination. God is bigger than the Bible.