Calavicci

I noticed the VPW worship too but I stayed for years after that realization. Then there were the other way sheeple who loved to name-drop how they knew the "doctor". These were the ones that for some reason ended every reproof sermon with "..see?". Very strange days those were. I won't miss it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhj867TUpZY

I heard something about people from headquarters or somewhere "important" were staying at various "beleeevahs" houses, and doing teachings that are probably designed to tie off the bleeding, i.e., the departure of whoever's left "standing", as it were. This might be what you're talking about here. I also understand that the people who tiptoed out during all melee are going to be contacted and sweet-talked into coming back to fellowship at some point, maybe by L1pps himself.

A whole fellowship closed down, the one he was attending, they decided this was the "straw" so to speak. A now-former Colorado limb coordinator, m4rk w4ll4c3, left last year with little warning. So things have been brewing for some time. For some others, this was a perfect opportunity to sever the ties to twi, those who were apparently doing the "fade out" method of leaving anyway, if I had to guess. Of course, plenty others there are gonna stay in twi no matter what.....

That must be why in the newer regurgitation (oops.. iteration?) of that class, "Living God's Word as a Family", is at pains to emphasize the monogamous marriage. Back when I took that in 2004, I had been around about 4 years, and NO idea about the sordid past of the way. I found that out MUCH later, when I got a computer. No wonder RR despises the interwebs so much...

Wow. Excellent post, that about sums it up. Can't say I disagree with any of it. Thanks.

I find it interesting that Jack LaLanne (b. 9/26/14) was over two years older than vpw (12/31/16). Vpw looked the more decrepit than Jack , in the photos of 'ol vic taken over 25 years ago. R.i.p. Jack! Edit: sorry, couldn't attach the comparison pic of Lalanne, like I intended.

When I first got into the organization, I was awed by the teaching. You all know why, it was cleverly marketed and promoted with the aim of enticing/compelling you to take part. And part with your money. So it took me a bit to begin to see it. I never lived around a fellowship, I lived right in the middle of an East coast city. At the time, I didn't have a car, and didn't need one as I lived just a couple miles from where I worked. I noticed after two or three years and switching my "assigned" fellowship, that again, it was somewhere miles removed from me, in the suburbs where no public transit dare roam. Indeed, this was common to all the fellowship locations that I knew of. Not one of them in or near the city proper. This necessitated procuring rides from someone I lived near enough to take public transit to meet up and carpool with. This was an unpleasant development for "independent me", pleading with whoever would be "generous" enough to meet me at a bus stop (Not even my house, mind you!) but I submitted to it so I could get to fellowship. The thing that bothered me and seemed "unChristianlike" was the reaction if I was late, especially likely in light of my taking the bus. Public transportation is no excuse, I was admonished. Apparently, it was "believing" action to take the bus and wait an hour for them to get me, if required, no matter the weather conditions. At the time, it never occurred to me to question the words of someone who never rode public transportation in his life. This hardness of heart bothered me, even though the people in question helped me in other situations. There was a also a palpable disdain for people of the "wrong" economic status, judging by the lack of people under a certain income range, as they were reaping the results of "unbelief". I wondered, "aren't these the type of folks that need 'the Word' most of all?" I never asked this directly, but plenty there mentioned how "spiritually dark" the city was. They thought that they were too far gone is what I deduced the reason for this was. I also noticed the "whitebread" composition of fellowships. No matter which suburban location, it was usually 90-100% white. And this near a majority-black city. Which also gives the real explanation for why almost no witnessing attempts took place there. The leadership implicitly believes there's no money it for 'em, so why bother. Don't get me started on the teenaged children of various "long-standing" corpse members or leadership there. Their arrogance and conceit were astounding. Because Mommy and Daddy were leadership/ veteran corpse/ way disciples/blah/ blah ..., they could look down upon us who were late to the game. They were generally more unpleasant to be around, though marginally less stiff, than their high-horsed parents.

They just came out with these new $4 song books, that have a few "new" songs in them. Naturally, fellowships started using the new songs (as per direct 'leadership' mandate of course) in fellowship to remind people that they basically need to drop four dollars and get them, right away. Another transparent attempt to squeeze out some revenue, no doubt. They are starting to get desperate, I think....

Ugh. Lynn still finds it necessary to inject his "humor" into every other sentence. Corn isn't just found in Ohio, for sure...

"What amazes me is how Wierwille elevated the worship of the Word above the worship of God or a relationship with Jesus Christ." I've been seeing that too, and I can't unsee it. Kinda like when I see "The tithe doth still provide" (which, of course, is still appended to the foundational class). I realized one day, "Hey, isn't God the provider here?" I guess it's troublesome concept to the "ministry", this thinking for myself thing.

I've tried to look up some info on that, but haven't found much. I did find this interesting link: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=fa/rmakon Some of the uses of that Greek word in literature do not carry a negative connotation, i.e., "Remedy,cure". So there must be a positive aspect. Interesting. Some have mentioned the number 42 earlier. Couldn't the answer also be "420", esp. in this context, yanowutimeen? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_%28cannabis_culture%29

Good analysis of the letter, I was thinking the same thing. Sounds like the same guy who wrote "Living in the Eye of the Storm" alright. Seems to me it's the same product with a different brand and wrapper, but the same list of "ingredients".

It has occurred to me (yes, my own thinking) some time ago that if many of the "wayisms" were things that God really wanted us to know, wouldn't they be spelled out pretty explicitly? The Great Principle is nowhere demonstrated with any clarity, or at all, that I can see. For that matter, so are host of others, as you all well know. Speaking of discretion on the forum, I sometimes wonder if I will be accosted or somebody will call me about it, you know "confrontation" and all that. But I could not care any less....

Wow this is so true. New people might show up from time to time, but as soon as they get a whiff of the boredom of the STS, it's over. Also true how there's more emphasis on VPW again. If I hear references to "our founding president" or any variation of it just one more time, I'll choke on my own vomit.... A recent teaching I heard went into some length about how our "leaders" are chosen by God, and we should basically listen to them as Him. There again, I was retching inwardly... ps. sorry to bump this, didn't look at the year...

Why indeed. There is no explanation of forgiveness that is viable to the atheist, as far as I can see. Debating questions of faith-based morality with an atheist is much like trying to debate the merits of Mozart with a shark. No point. If one does not believe in God, or any externally-based faith system, then one must fall back to belief systems that are arbitrary in origin and materialistic in nature. Try "situational ethics". For the devout atheist, I recommend evolutionary psychology, and human biodiversity. Lots of fodder for those whose religion is atheism, and who bow before the altar of Darwinism...