Grace Valerie Claire

WW, I remember reading in the Way Mag about why TC, and some other football player got WOW pins, when they never went WOW. I was just a "wee" upset about it. I worked my azz off for my pin, and it really meant a great deal to me. My WOW year was a struggle for me; I didn't know at times, if I would make it through the year. Then LCM gave two professional football players WOW pins, which they didn't deserve. I was so upset about this, that I never wore my WOW pin again.

RG, when a JW starts to witness to me, I say "thank you, but I am not interested." And then, I walk away. You have the right not to listen to people. I am polite, but very firm. Usually, that is the end of it.

Way, not only were some us annoying, but some of us were PITAs!

Johniam, I understand what you are saying. But I don't understand why TWI did what they did regarding the purges. For example, I know people who have mortgages for their homes. Many of these mortgages are for 20, or 30 years. What were the Way Corps supposed to do if they had a long term mortgage?? Sell their homes, and live where?? Also, what is an "unproductive evil purge?" I was out of TWI by 1988, so I really don't understand why TWI had a lot of purges??

Way, I think you are so funny!!

Ham, I think conditions have gotten worse. It seems to me that many of the splinter groups are breaking up. However, please me informed if conditions get better for them.

Bol, TWI was a choice for me; I choose to get involved; and then I choose to get out.

Steve, interesting post. People know that D&D is a game; young Victor is serious about Sowers. I think his cult will die out in a few years; why would anyone be interested in working for free?

How sad is that!!

New life, I don't think Sowers will go like TWI did. I think a lot of people will look it up on the Internet, and realise it's a lot of bunk. I don't think it will ever be more than a handful of people, at any one time.

Chock, if the Sowers had 800 tables, they still couldn't do jack in taking the word over the world.

Paved the way for us?? What do you mean??

Or both!

And a Godly one.

George, good answer!

And Bob called himself a Christian??!!

The only people 'worthless' are the ones that won't help. They are, indeed, worthless for helping you with your issue. As to why, I think we'll never know. It could be that the clergy in question was afraid, was uncomfortable with the situation, or was having a personal faith issue and doubted the benefit of prayer. This really brings up a bigger issue. How effective was TWI leadership at counseling and providing help and support to those who were less able and less fortunate than the rank-and-file paying followers? I'd say not. From VPW down, the philosophy was to take the class, read the books, read the Word and your problems would go away. This philosopy certainly maximized the cashflow to TWI, but it also neglected the whole concept of Christian charity and left lots of people behind. Add to that the fact that much of the latter leadership had neither the inclination or the born people skills needed for effective counseling. I realize all you asked for was prayer. Nonetheless, I think it all runs back the the same root. The lack of Christian charity and the inability/nondesire to help people outside of the TWI paradigm. Jim, great post! If you had problems, TWI didn't want to know about them. It was your problem, you deal with it. TWI was not good at dealing with people's problems. That was one of the reasons I left.

Sky, wow!! I am so thankful that I never went Corps. It seems to me that there was a lot of BS in being in a leadership position it TWI, well some leadership positions. I honestly don't know how you, and your family put up with all that garbage for years, and years. I know I would have left a lot sooner than you did. I never realized how much garbage some of the Limb Leaders had to deal with; I would have quit, and gone some place where TWI, couldn't find me.

BA, great post! TWI taught me to read the Bible for myself; I will always be thankful for that. I too think God loves us, and gives us many blessings. However, I do think TWI is, and has always been about money. I believe that money is their God.

Out, yes! Fellowship was sweet in 1978; by 1988, TWI was all about pushing classes. I was tired of pushing a Class, that I never liked.

Rocky, yes!! I think you nailed it; I think I stayed in TWI, because I wanted to belong some place. After a while though, I knew it was time to leave.

Allan, bingo!! I know some people had horrible experiences with TWI, and I understand their feelings. Some of us had good experiences in TWI, and some of us had mixed experiences, with the TWI. But, I really enjoy reading the posts; it amazes me how TWI drew so many different types of people into into its web.

JJ, how is your book coming?? I love all the posts on your thread; they make me think. There are a lot of sharp people at the GSC!!

Way, your post brings up an interesting point; if I had known it was a cult, would I have stayed with TWI? I don't think I would have. Also, knowing what I know about TWI, what I have stayed in as long as I did? No, I would have left much sooner. However, I suspect many of us who post here, wish we would have never gotten involved with TWI. However, I really am glad that I did; it wasn't always Moonlight and Roses, but I learned a lot from my time in TWI. Never again will I get involved with a Religious Organization. At least not today; tomorrow I will be wiser about how I spend my time, and money.

Way, I would love to hear your stories!!!