They were nothing more than a bunch of bullies, despite their ability to smile and say, "God bless, you're the best.".
I would make but one small insertion. I would say they were nothing more than a bunch of bully-wannabees. Adults who were secure in themselves weren't intimidated at all.
In all my years on staff and in-residence, I NEVER SAW wierwille,
cummins, geer, martindale, lynn, etc. DO what I'd describe as
an unequivocal spiritual display of the power of God.
.
Oh, I don't know. There was the time in PFAL where Wierwille went "Lo shanta...etc." We all considered that a display of the power of God. Then there were the times he would stand in front of the group, close his eyes and pronounce a benediction. It was always the same one. You know, "May the Lord make His face to shine upon you...." It certainly looked spiritual. Turns out it was a quote from the Book of Numbers but he never mentioned that.
Bolshevik, that's known as the Aaronic Blessing. It's quite widely used in churches etc and there are some lovely posters available in Christian bookstores with photos of loving-looking dads and kids etc. Even VPW didn't need to state that he was blessing the congregation using a scripture from Numbers.
Of course it took work. Sounds like an opportunist though. He wasn't really that impressive and skillful? He left LCM. A master would have shared his skills with . . . someone. If he did, who?
He was ALSO an opportunist.
Whenever possible, he was LAZY and cut corners.
That's why he had a supply of teachings from real Christian ministers
locked away were only a few saw them (I spoke with one ex-top twi'er
who did) and used those as references after claiming he threw away
all such reading material.
He was skillful at fooling people, which is why he succeeded.
Since he was also a diehard Narcissist, it all had to be about HIM.
He was not going to FULLY share his skills with ANYONE.
(He MIGHT have if he had a son who had worshipped him completely
and seen that as a legacy, but otherwise it would draw attention
and praise away from vpw.
lcm was never told lcm was a conman and a fraud- and part of the time,
vpw himself believed he was genuine as well. During his final hours
of life, he wondered aloud for some time what he could have done wrong
that he wasn't getting miraculously healed- and was supposedly unable
to think of anything wrong across his life. If that was all just an
act, he spent a lot of time on it in his last 2 days of life rather
than relaxing or getting entertainment.
Even so, he had succeeded in manipulating people to the degree that
when lcm stopped worshipping vpw, he still was able to go to cgeer
and get worship, and ramble on in a way that cgeer wrote up
'Passing of a Patriarch' from it- and people took it very seriously
despite it being full of nonsense and failed predictions. To this
day, there's people who get hostile when you suggest his error-ridden
doctrines actually have error, when you claim Christians not from
his system can be as good or better than theirs, etc.
Considering there's a 2nd generation or more of sycophantic vpw
worshippers more than 20 years after he dropped dead in
contradiction of his own teachings about healing,
I'd say he was an amazing success at manipulating people.
He was skillful at fooling people, which is why he succeeded.
. . .
Love him or hate him, he is given so much credit and admiration here. A blight now? You'd think more would be written about his handiwork. (And yes, I don't like him or his work either).
Grit, not skill, usually determines success. Stolen work, the environment of the United States, ad hoc nonsense. Shunned by most, right?
I don't think I'd call him a master but he was highly skilled and had a bundle of determination. I think it all sort of snowballed on him and he got to a point where it was all or nothing.
Bolshevik, that's known as the Aaronic Blessing. It's quite widely used in churches etc and there are some lovely posters available in Christian bookstores with photos of loving-looking dads and kids etc. Even VPW didn't need to state that he was blessing the congregation using a scripture from Numbers.
IMO opinion I still think he was show boating, trying to look holy. But that's just my take.
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Broken Arrow
I would make but one small insertion. I would say they were nothing more than a bunch of bully-wannabees. Adults who were secure in themselves weren't intimidated at all.
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Broken Arrow
Oh, I don't know. There was the time in PFAL where Wierwille went "Lo shanta...etc." We all considered that a display of the power of God. Then there were the times he would stand in front of the group, close his eyes and pronounce a benediction. It was always the same one. You know, "May the Lord make His face to shine upon you...." It certainly looked spiritual. Turns out it was a quote from the Book of Numbers but he never mentioned that.
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Twinky
Bolshevik, that's known as the Aaronic Blessing. It's quite widely used in churches etc and there are some lovely posters available in Christian bookstores with photos of loving-looking dads and kids etc. Even VPW didn't need to state that he was blessing the congregation using a scripture from Numbers.
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WordWolf
He was ALSO an opportunist.
Whenever possible, he was LAZY and cut corners.
That's why he had a supply of teachings from real Christian ministers
locked away were only a few saw them (I spoke with one ex-top twi'er
who did) and used those as references after claiming he threw away
all such reading material.
He was skillful at fooling people, which is why he succeeded.
Since he was also a diehard Narcissist, it all had to be about HIM.
He was not going to FULLY share his skills with ANYONE.
(He MIGHT have if he had a son who had worshipped him completely
and seen that as a legacy, but otherwise it would draw attention
and praise away from vpw.
lcm was never told lcm was a conman and a fraud- and part of the time,
vpw himself believed he was genuine as well. During his final hours
of life, he wondered aloud for some time what he could have done wrong
that he wasn't getting miraculously healed- and was supposedly unable
to think of anything wrong across his life. If that was all just an
act, he spent a lot of time on it in his last 2 days of life rather
than relaxing or getting entertainment.
Even so, he had succeeded in manipulating people to the degree that
when lcm stopped worshipping vpw, he still was able to go to cgeer
and get worship, and ramble on in a way that cgeer wrote up
'Passing of a Patriarch' from it- and people took it very seriously
despite it being full of nonsense and failed predictions. To this
day, there's people who get hostile when you suggest his error-ridden
doctrines actually have error, when you claim Christians not from
his system can be as good or better than theirs, etc.
Considering there's a 2nd generation or more of sycophantic vpw
worshippers more than 20 years after he dropped dead in
contradiction of his own teachings about healing,
I'd say he was an amazing success at manipulating people.
And a blight on Christianity and humanity.
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Bolshevik
Love him or hate him, he is given so much credit and admiration here. A blight now? You'd think more would be written about his handiwork. (And yes, I don't like him or his work either).
Grit, not skill, usually determines success. Stolen work, the environment of the United States, ad hoc nonsense. Shunned by most, right?
A Master?
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waysider
I don't think I'd call him a master but he was highly skilled and had a bundle of determination. I think it all sort of snowballed on him and he got to a point where it was all or nothing.
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Broken Arrow
IMO opinion I still think he was show boating, trying to look holy. But that's just my take.
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WordWolf
Of course. He put work into ministering when it was something theatrical he could fake
(copy from someone else)
or when it was some teaching or book or research he could fake
(copy from someone else.)
vpw was a fake and a conman, and he fooled a lot of people,
some of whom proudly remain conned to this day.
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