Trefor Heywood

I have not seen the "remake" but being a Brit I do have a soft spot for the original. Some things do not translate across the Pond very well and it is impossible to reproduce the post war atmosphere of a much more innocent age. Besides which I doubt very much if they have used the music of Bocherini in this new one!

VPW created the biliolatry by teaching that: "The Word of God is as much God as God is God." It became an idol which demanded sacrifice and worship and of course the High Priests were the ones who interpreted and communicated its will.

Garth I have never heard of Ayn Rand. I have no problem with people being atheists or agnostics because everyone is entitled to their own views and beliefs or rather non-beliefs. My problem was that Soviet communism at least did officially endorse atheism and spread that through their satellite countries - the only notable example where they failed to make headway being Catholic Poland. Atheism or belief may well have an effect upon political viewpoints - there have been Christian Socialists for example, but whereas it is not automatic with Communism certainly the Soviet example of atheistic communism was widely followed and practiced. I never implied that all atheists were communists by any means. The Russian Orthodox church was veriy heavily persecuted and other groupings even more so.

Garth: How many other countries had "museums of atheism" often in former church buildings. How many other coutnries imprisoned and persecuted people simply for practicing their faith or for smuggling bibles in? Marx saw it as incidental I have no doubt but others after him were more vehement. The fact that they might have been a "member" as a child has nothing to do with it - Stalin was even once a candidate for the Orthodox priesthood! Religion and belief was seen as the enemy because it was antithetical to the pursuit of an earthly paradise (cough) and pointing to a higher power than the party and the leadership.

I still wonder how VPW managed to wangle an invite to Reagan's inauguration. That usually takes a cash donation doesn't it?

There have been societies (mainly communist) who tried to force non belief upon people - it didn't work and forced atheism failed completely. I don't think there is much danger of that kind of thing happening in the US. Politicians look for votes from religious folk! :D-->

Raf: The closest thing I can find to the founding fathers' view is in the DOI when the phrase "endowed by their Creator" appears. But it is more a statement of principle about rights in general than an instruction that this undefined Creator should be offically included. I remember Agape's record included the song "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." But as you say the nation is made up of individuals and their citizenship is not decided by what they believe or worship.

Raf Thanks for your distinction which is of course valid. In popular perception though it is precisely the Judeo-Christian God which comes to mind before any other. And a secular state should surely stay clear of making religious pronouncements or endorsing belief in a higher power. That way freedom to believe or not to believe is equally afforded to its citizens.

There are many ways of indicating the sovereignty (or suzeranity) of God. But it seems to me a twisted logic that refuses the 10 commandments on public buildings then has him on every coin and banknote. A bit like "trying to serve God and Mammon!" ;)-->

So now they sing the song "Born again and again" :)-->

But the "FOG" years were "MOG" years! :D-->

And that wonderful class: Dealing with the Accountant

And that wonderfully spiritual book: Receiving the Abundant Sharing Today

A randy old Wierwille named Vee Pee Could do certain things that were creepy Though his heart was on fire For the Word, he would squire Loads of women in camper or teepee. An insane young upstart called Loy Became Pres and then used as his toy Everyone at all levels As spiritual devils And killed all the love and the joy. A simpering yes girl named Rosie Although she was useless and dozy Still managed with Donna To take over and con a Group of people so she could live cosy.

No matter how many times ;)--> I bet Mike is the only one suffering withdrawal symptoms!

An anniversary celebration? More like time for the Wake! :D-->

Not with a bang but a whimper... (TS Eliot The Wasteland)

Thanks Ex, however I am not acquainted with any of these people. After ransacking my memory files the first name of the guy who taught KLIO was Jan I think. The Norwegian believer we witnessed to in Hull was Arvid R?ng.

Yes Heikki was Finnish but he spent some time in Oslo and later married my former Branch Leader Penny Jameson. The class was taught by a Norwegian Corpse Grad in Drammen near Oslo but for the life of me I cannot remember his name. I attended one session when I was visiting a guy who we witnessed to during my WOW year in Hull and who took the class later. In Norwegian Piffle is KLIO - Kraft for et liv i overflod. Despite my poor Norwegian it was quite easy to follow but as I was familiar with the session that probably helped! Christoph Stoop was Dutch Ex.

Didn't count the number - about ten times I think plus a session taught live in Norwegian! We had cassette tapes and the sound could be good on one side and crap on the other - perhaps the duplication machines in those days were not up to standard.

Well Loy must really hate his brother and consider him worthy of death: "Hello Bro - long time no see - let me execute you!" :D-->

I have the impression that no matter what TWI officially teaches, the top leadership is exempt from it. Rosalie was exempt from the no pets rule for example. Also lesbians have never appeared as threatening to heterosexual males as "homos" are.

One good thing VPW said in Piffle was about God always telling you first, not somebody else coming up sand saying "God told me to tell you..." In Jonah, the voice of God is in the still small voice, not in the earthquake, wind or fire. He can only speak when we want to hear and are prepared to listen.

I downloaded SP2 and in my case it was 98 megs, something I could never have contemplated if I did not now have DSL (Broadband). I have not noticed any problems with it nor any slowing down. I cannot say that I have noticed improvements on the other hand, but can only assume that it ensures the system has less chance of problems than before.

If one wrote to that address now I wonder who would get it? Clearly not RR she couldn't teach a snake to suck eggs!