I only lived in the full-on-communal type setting for a short time, 3 years to be exact. In retrospect, the time was short but the impact was immeasurable. I think, perhaps, that had something to do with the timing. Chronologically, I had reached adulthood. Psychologically, I was at the point of reaching my stride. I'm not sure if arrested development is a real phenomenon. If it is, it seems to explain a lot. We all seemed to suspend our progression into adulthood. For those who were already transitioned or were well into the transitioning process into mental adulthood, the experiences were many times full of jolting conflict. Some of the younger members had a different sort of experience in that, instead of being a source of conflict, it became a source of definition. I suspect there are some who may be still stuck in a state of arrested development, not willing or able to venture beyond the comfort zone. "It's a jungle out there", sure, but, it's where we live so adjustments and changes are the order of the day.
Part of this suspension of development involves the failure to recognize it was our lifestyle and attitudes towards life that caused so much conflict, not the individual doctrines like when Jesus died or how many brothers and sisters he had or whether there are 212 figures of speech in the Bible or 213 or any of that sort of thing. In fact, I think it could have been centered around something completely non-Biblical and had the same effect.
Until one takes a step back and sees the experience from a more objective viewpoint, perceptions remain clouded and deceiving. This place has helped me take that step back and opened my eyes to a greater understanding of what really happened. Some will never take that step due to stubborn unwillingness. It's a choice they have to make on their own.
One of the interesting scriptural studies in the book "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" is kind of an expose on Pharisees - how they live, work, function. One thing sticking in my mind right now is the argument over "corban" or gifts with jesus. The study highlighted that the Pharisees would set up internal business circles and practices within so that they would only have to do business with other Pharisees - to be isolated from any impureness by having to deal with the general public.
This is precisely the feel that the BOD give off and how HQ is as a closed off society.
A husband and wife in our limb (personal friends) were provided an opportunity to go be part of HQ staff, they went and we never heard from them again (circa 1976). As we heard, all was well with them but they cut off all communications with us, their close friends; what's up with that?
Oh, by the way, Waysider, that's the most you have said in one breath since I have been on GSC - yes, this is quite the thread for those of us on the outside looking in, for those who were on the inside looking out, their life options were even more limited.
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Bolshevik
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skyrider
Yes....the ground has INDEED shifted drastically these past 30 years.
1) When wierwille walked the earth.....there was an intense cult of personality.
2) The twi-commune was given oxygen from Jesus movement, 1969 Woodstock, counter-culture revolution
3) Donnie Fu-git and the hippie generation were welcomed on stage to fawning followers
4) We had joy, we had fun.....we had places in the sun
5) Never underestimate the power of a movement
6) What happened to the "movement?" After about 12 years, the music died.
By 1999.....one savvy computer guy started Waydale
and the ground totally shifted underneath the splintered commune.
Yes......thanks to plenty who pulled the curtains back
many got the "blessing" of taking community college courses
without pushback and/or confrontation. You're welcome.
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Bolshevik
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skyrider
1985 -- Wierwille died
1987 -- Major TWI Exodus
1989-2002(?) ........and the "true wierwille remnant" splintered some 90 ways.
Corps leaders opened shop everywhere to run classes and cash the checks.
Trying to replicate the past nostalgia......"we had joy, we had fun."
Yet....many had bills to pay and kids to raise.
No thanks. No more commune-utopia for me.
It's called life.
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waysider
I only lived in the full-on-communal type setting for a short time, 3 years to be exact. In retrospect, the time was short but the impact was immeasurable. I think, perhaps, that had something to do with the timing. Chronologically, I had reached adulthood. Psychologically, I was at the point of reaching my stride. I'm not sure if arrested development is a real phenomenon. If it is, it seems to explain a lot. We all seemed to suspend our progression into adulthood. For those who were already transitioned or were well into the transitioning process into mental adulthood, the experiences were many times full of jolting conflict. Some of the younger members had a different sort of experience in that, instead of being a source of conflict, it became a source of definition. I suspect there are some who may be still stuck in a state of arrested development, not willing or able to venture beyond the comfort zone. "It's a jungle out there", sure, but, it's where we live so adjustments and changes are the order of the day.
Part of this suspension of development involves the failure to recognize it was our lifestyle and attitudes towards life that caused so much conflict, not the individual doctrines like when Jesus died or how many brothers and sisters he had or whether there are 212 figures of speech in the Bible or 213 or any of that sort of thing. In fact, I think it could have been centered around something completely non-Biblical and had the same effect.
Until one takes a step back and sees the experience from a more objective viewpoint, perceptions remain clouded and deceiving. This place has helped me take that step back and opened my eyes to a greater understanding of what really happened. Some will never take that step due to stubborn unwillingness. It's a choice they have to make on their own.
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skyrider
Good points, wayside.
One of my corps buddies, years after exiting.....said that the wow program
and corps program GAVE HIM TIME TO ADJUST BEFORE ADULTHOOD. In other words,
he wanted to "wait, suspend and party" before working a job for the next
40 years.
Like some say about college....."Well, the folks were paying for it and
it was a time away from parents and a time to party on their dime."
Same thing with corps. Some took it serious and some didn't.
But one thing is for sure.....it put life on hold.
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chockfull
One of the interesting scriptural studies in the book "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" is kind of an expose on Pharisees - how they live, work, function. One thing sticking in my mind right now is the argument over "corban" or gifts with jesus. The study highlighted that the Pharisees would set up internal business circles and practices within so that they would only have to do business with other Pharisees - to be isolated from any impureness by having to deal with the general public.
This is precisely the feel that the BOD give off and how HQ is as a closed off society.
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MRAP
A husband and wife in our limb (personal friends) were provided an opportunity to go be part of HQ staff, they went and we never heard from them again (circa 1976). As we heard, all was well with them but they cut off all communications with us, their close friends; what's up with that?
Oh, by the way, Waysider, that's the most you have said in one breath since I have been on GSC - yes, this is quite the thread for those of us on the outside looking in, for those who were on the inside looking out, their life options were even more limited.
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