TWI and Books

[Bramble]

I came from a family of bookworms. All my siblings read, they still read. Makes finding gifts real easy. After I got involved with TWI I was always busy, but I still had a paperback tucked in my purse or books stacked next to my bed. Later when I was a stay at home mom I was a regular library patron and yard sale/used book store patron too.

I quickly learned to hide my stacks of books. LCM occassionally read a mystery, and then everyone would go get THAT mystery. It was as if they were afraid to pick out their own reading material.

A woman in our branch in the late eighties got reproved for the paperbacks in her living room. She was disabled and reading was something she did in her long hours alone in her house, but that did not matter. Believers cleaned her house(she paid them) so her home was not her own. She left TWI, I hope she has her stacks of books handy.

Years later one of my kids received an award for reading the most books in their class ( these were read outloud). They gave kid a plaque which we took to fellowship to celebrate this accomplishment. Big whoop. I guess a 6 year old should be accomplished in other areas(we had the only little kids in that fellowship, most were never parents or kids were grown).

Was it just my area that had this attitude? Did other encounter it in their areas?

[mstar1]

I wasnt that big of a reader at the time but in my area it was looked at as at the least a huge waste of time or more often "off the word".

You should be studying "The Word" or memorizing the blue book or getting one of your 'teachings' that you always had to have ready to go prepared.

If VP or LCM or some woopdedoo quoted something THEN and only then did it get the seal of approval to be read without suspicion.

I had my neat little desk of the collaterals, "research books" and way approved things at the time and that was it.

I have stacks and stacks of books piled everywhere now--I need a bigger house

Edited January 24, 2010 by mstar1

[Twinky]

What mstar said!

Why waste your time reading, when there was all that Way stuff to keep current on. Or even read the Bible!

In rez [under LCM], we were banned from reading anything non-Way. I was in Plurality Palace one day and someone had put some books, including some novels, in there. Relieved at finding something different for a change, I plonked myself down and started to have a quiet read. What do you know but a few minutes later, one of my Corps sis came in - saw me reading whatever-it-was - and said if I didn't put it down immediately, she'd report me to the Corps Coord.

I've been reading since I was two years old, have got myself locked in the library a couple of times (at least) after closing time (), am a prolific reader of a huge range of books, and if I get any more, I will have to move house. Oh-oh...but the local library is having is annual book sale this week - fill a bag for some minute amount of money....

[waysider]

I read quite a bit as a kid and then as a young adult. After I became involved with The Way, my reading became restricted to materials that supported Way Theology. After all, that practice was specifically encouraged in "The Class" and then again in Renewed Mind and Dealing With the Adversary. ("Put aside all your secular materials----") Now my reading has become become rather limited, though this is due to my eyes tiring easily, not because of TWI..

[Tzaia]

The books went right next to my albums - on shelves. That was one thing I retained - my right to read what I wanted and listen to what I wanted. I don't think anyone ever said anything directly to me, but then again I would have ignored it.

For me it was more a case of if that's what someone wants to do in their own home and their own life, fine, but that's not what I want to do.

[RumRunner]

Reading is a must. TWI be dammmmmed for telling people not to read. As for uncle scary day (book burning)...there was a Jewish philosopher who's name escapes me right now who said in the late 1930's...once they start burning books it's only a matter of time before they start burning people. The novel "Ninteen Eighty Four" (George Orwell) the main character (Winston Smith) worked for the "Ministry of Truth" where they daily revised current and past readable material to reflect what the great brother wanted people to see (out with the old wine in with the new dontcha know). Reading is essential to freedom (among other things). Freedom means we don't have to agree on everything; but read, read, read, read and formulate your own opinions - don't let the media, the government, or your church formulate them for you.

[Watered Garden]

I was an avid reader of all things, including fiction. I had a bachelor's of English degree and had in fact taught for a brief time. I remembered the other day my textbook "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" and how after loaning it to a friend who tore up the cover, I sent it out to be rebound. That book was my pride and joy until TWI-dom, when all of a sudden it was earthy, sensual and devilish, and out it went. I wish I still had it.

After I got married, however, I found my husband thought it was fine if I read whatever, as long as I put the book down when he was talking to me. So a reader I am today and proud of it!

WG

[Bramble]

Looks like the book issue extended beyond my branch.

Odd that any movie was okay, I guess because there was a potential for witnessing. I even went to bridal showers where porn was shown, not a twitch from leadership.

And there were always plenty of Way materials to study or 'retemorize.'

Telling people what they could do in their own homes was so controlling, but then I was in TWI when leadership thought they should inspect your sock drawers and medicine cabinets to see if you were spiritually 'off.'

I have small house and don't want more bookshelves, so I've been buying popular fiction( most anything I would buy in paperback) in ebook for the past three years or so. I read on a pda or my netbook(want a sony ereader)--but my 8 gig flash drive still has plenty of room for storage, plus the net book uses an SD card. Love the storage! 3oo books, no space on shelves.

Also enjoy free cycle--when I have a box to give away, people drive to my house and haul them away.

[chockfull]

You know some people, especially if they are still involved in TWI, may read this thread and think "wow, they have it all wrong. I never had anybody tell me what I could or could not read". And you know, while that may be true, if you think about it, what books do people read while in TWI? How many times have you heard "Encouraging the Heart" quoted as if it's scripture?

IMO it's a combination of things. If you keep people's lives filled up enough where they have very little time to think for themselves, read for themselves, do for themselves, then that IS a control of sorts. People only have time to read a few books, and those will be from the "recommended reading list".

[WordWolf]

When I was in, I occasionally had someone try to comment on my

casual reading. It completely failed to move me for several

reasons.

A) In the first twig I attended, the regulars read, more or less,

the same stuff I was reading. (Not the same exact books, but the

same genres and so on- meaning comic books, science fiction,

fantasy.)

B) Only a fool would claim I hadn't been reading twi books.

In short, if someone had REALLY pushed me on what I was reading,

I would have challenged them on how well they knew the twi books

I was reading SOME of the time.

C) Most people didn't know I was reading whatever I wanted,

and didn't know I was reading stuff by other Christians on the side.

My position was one of eclecticism- I felt I could exceed the understanding

of the best of twi eventually if I took all of twi's learning,

and then added the best works of other Christians I could find.

(I believed the common propaganda that twi stuff, ounce for ounce,

was the best, but I also thought that other Christians had specialized

skills I could learn from- especially in areas twi was weak.

In short, I didn't hear it much, and when I did, I blew criticism

of my reading materials off as criticisms without merit.

[Keith]

I always read for pleasure. Never gave a thought about not doing so. Even Paul knew the myths and legends of his time.

[Bolshevik]

Once got scowled at for reading Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" when I was WayD. Guess they thought it was too "negative". I thought it was hilarious. Read it twice.

[Bolshevik]

Reading is a must. TWI be dammmmmed for telling people not to read. As for uncle scary day (book burning)...there was a Jewish philosopher who's name escapes me right now who said in the late 1930's...once they start burning books it's only a matter of time before they start burning people. The novel "Ninteen Eighty Four" (George Orwell) the main character (Winston Smith) worked for the "Ministry of Truth" where they daily revised current and past readable material to reflect what the great brother wanted people to see (out with the old wine in with the new dontcha know). Reading is essential to freedom (among other things). Freedom means we don't have to agree on everything; but read, read, read, read and formulate your own opinions - don't let the media, the government, or your church formulate them for you.

Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury, the "Firemen's" job was to burn the inside of houses that contained books.

[penworks]

Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury, the "Firemen's" job was to burn the inside of houses that contained books.

IMO that should be on a post-TWI reading list. Along with 1984 by Orwell mentioned by RumRunner. There are so many parallels in both books with the TWI experience some of us had, as well as Patti Roberts' From Ashes to Gold, her memoir about being a student and singing in the choir at Oral Roberts University and later as the wife of Oral's son, their divorce, her leaving the fold, and her recreation of a life outside the "cause."

Edited January 26, 2010 by penworks

[Ham]

maybe that's why some later corps "leadership" seemed to have the vocabulary of less than a fifth- grader..

isn't one's vocabulary directly related to what one reads?

I mean.. one graduates from a *college* limited to reading the vicsters books and such.. their growth is slightly "stunted", is it not?

Even worse were later later corps who were barely educated enough to mimic loy's style of barking..

[Bramble]

"Animal Farm" will hit some TWI nrves, too.

[RumRunner]

"Animal Farm" will hit some TWI nrves, too.

Should be required reading.

[George Aar]

In rez [under LCM], we were banned from reading anything non-Way. I was in Plurality Palace one day and someone had put some books, including some novels, in there. Relieved at finding something different for a change, I plonked myself down and started to have a quiet read. What do you know but a few minutes later, one of my Corps sis came in - saw me reading whatever-it-was - and said if I didn't put it down immediately, she'd report me to the Corps Coord.

Gawd! Can you believe it? Tell me we weren't in a farking cult. You're READING and some gimp comes along and says the equivalent of "UMMMM! I'm telling!" The Orwellian comparisons are obvious.

It's so disappointing to realize how easily manipulated people are...

[mudflaps]

When I was still doing a fellowship in my home I had a J**l O$***n book sandwiched in my book ends,my branch coordinator was at my house and happened to see the book,I could tell he did'nt like it his comment to me was "Yeah,that guy teaches alot of the stuff Dr. taught 40 years ago."In my opinion it's amusing to me how wayfers get so jealous of other churches success.

[penworks]

I didn't read any books or novels since they were "lies." What a crying shame...since I was an avid reader growing up.

Close to the time I left TWI, I read the novel, The Word by Irving Wallace. It's a fun read...actually makes you think! What a concept...

It is a far cry from "The Word" by VPW!

Edited January 27, 2010 by penworks

[Bolshevik]

isn't one's vocabulary directly related to what one reads?

..

. . . "General Mills" . . . "Vitamin D . . . 10%" . . . "with 1/2 cup skim milk . . . 15%" . . .

[Twinky]

IMO that should be on a post-TWI reading list. Along with 1984 by Orwell mentioned by RumRunner. There are so many parallels in both books with the TWI experience some of us had...

And Orwell's "Animal Farm" whre the new regime ends up indistinguishable from the old - except in the nature of the new regime's greater abuse of its followers.

[cheranne]

C.S.Lewis "The Screwtape Letters" a book that helped me see TWI as LIARS.

I love books so much I went and worked for Borders Books .Read On People!!!!

[leafytwiglet]

I have been reading this thread and thinking back on my time in TWI and I dont recall out right being told not to read other books... but I remember many times being encouraged to read the TWI material over and over and to make it my own... also I can not tell you how many times I got the lecture about how I was wasting my time on earthly things and should be focusing on the Word. and PFAL.

And most people were reading what was suggested by COrp or leadership to read.

IT was a bit disheartening for me I was and of course still am an avid reader.

By the way I read a wide variety of books for my college classes not to mention what I read to research for reports I have to do. IT has been very enriching to me.. I think one of the first things I did once Hubby and I left TWI was to read and read and read.. We used to curl up together on the couch and read together.

Sometimes the prisons we put our selves in are directed to us by the words and actions of those around us.

IF you are in the current TWI Under RFR then I would ask you, what books do you read, and if your twig leaader or what ever they call themselves comes over and you are reading a mystery or romance novel what happens ... do you feel guilty? do they reprimand you? IF you feel guilty no matter what they have done then you have to ask your self "why"... "why do I feel guilty for enjoying myself". !

[OldSkool]

Instead of learning to read the bible for enjoyment, I basically lost all desire to read books from forced study during Way Disciple and In-res Way Corp.