"the Way:Living in Wonderland"

[socks]

Bumped because everyone looked much younger 7 years ago.

[waysider]

You should have waited until after sundown. That way, it could have become known as the first thread that went bump in the night.

[socks]

Aaah! A bumper sticker?

[Ham]

Bumped because everyone looked much younger 7 years ago.

speak for yourself. I look younger every year.

[waysider]

speak for yourself. I look younger every year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoEsMdBzISo

Edited February 8, 2012 by waysider

[Ham]

All things must pass.. if I can add two words: this way

Isn't it the same thing as "away"?

[socks]

All without exception?

Sorry, some things will never pass. Some things go on and on and on and on and, well, on. Of this I'm sure.

[Ham]

Yes, they keep on going..

I wish I could buy a ranch..

with an old man,who had half a sense what was going on..

I'd keep him on the payroll..

[Ham]

Blackbird singing in the dead of night..

[Ham]

Piggies get a place cued one song below this.

[Ham]

"blackbird"..

well, you are kind of contaminated, aren't you?

sorry, can't help it..

universal truth and all..

[Ham]

I liked this about the Roman Catholics in Grand Rapids.. they were willing to acknowledge universal truth..

it's a big step in my direction..

I'm sure in a few others..

interesting..

[Ham]

No starched white shirts for me. noooooo.

Not my kind of playground..

Christ.

The place I am working at extorts donations (for a good cause) from "employees".. to wear blue jeans on Fridays..

weird place..

where do you deposit your donation, if one only works Monday through Thursday???

[MRAP]

I admit, I have not read all the posts on this thread yet but I will. Word Wolf said in his very first post that the book: The Way Living in Love by Elaine Whiteside was a commercial. I agree totally.

I was in twi a couple of years before I bought and read the book and during the reading, I realized, that it was not the opinion of someone on the outside looking in, it was a cosmetic painting of propoganda by the Way. I don't think I was alone, that book elivated eye brows everywhere. In hind sight, I think that book engrained doubt about twi. It was sooooo over the top.

Ealier today, I was going through alot of my old library: some to trash/re-cycle, some to the local library and some I held on to; I held all the twi stuff, not sure why, I won't read any of that stuff anymore - I don't need that many reminders on my early age ignorance. I even got Uncle Harry's book, not sure I want to revisit that either - not sure where his heart was when he wrote it.

Hey, if you are looking for an old twi book, hit me and I will get it off to you.

[Oakspear]

"TW:LiL" gives an interesting quote on page 14 about some WOWs.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The eight here this morning were given a Headquarters

assignment where they do necessary work as well as study, learn and

grow spiritually strong. Their program is designed to build

discipline, knowledge of God's Word and commitment. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

WOWs assigned to headquarters was not common when I was around.

Anyway, on to the next quote.

Interestingly, after the WOW program was scrapped and replaced with Way Disciples, there were Way Disciples groups that were assigned to HQ

[WordWolf]

Interestingly, after the WOW program was scrapped and replaced with Way Disciples, there were Way Disciples groups that were assigned to HQ

As twi's shrunk, they've "recapitulated" many of their steps from when they grew.

One was switching a dozen or so regions back to 3 in 1989 when 80% of the

membership walked off. Another was putting "wows" aka "way disciples" on-site

at their permanent location(s). Initially, it was a way to get others to work

there without really paying them. Later, there was enough of a candidate pool to

get people to agree to work there permanently, which made for more competent

work (no need to keep retraining new people.) Now, with an inability to find

willing volunteers to be bossed around for a living, they've been ordering

some to do so from among those who thought they were volunteering to travel

somewhere and teach the Bible for a year to new people.

[MRAP]

Holy dang WordWolf, what you just wrote sounds like what we did (tried) in Iraq and Afghanistan: basically it is a nation building concept from a grass-roots perspective.

The GSC is an unbeleivable site - stuff posted here is so profound and from some very well versed biblical minds.

I love it.

[WordWolf]

Edition 5.6 of my timeline.

====

This timeline is mostly from publications OF TWI.

=========

Let's see.

victor paul wierwille was born to a large family of German descent.

(Born December 31, 1916.)

According to locals, Ernst, his father, was an alcoholic with negligible

education, with a bad temper who acted as a bully.This was true in his dealings

with locals AND with his own family.Each child had their own chores.

Little Victor chose to neglect his chores, and would vanish for hours into the woods nearby.

(It has been noted that this running off may have been as much to avoid

an abusive father as it was to avoid doing any work. Or it may be unrelated.)

He claimed that when he was young, he once told a minister that he wanted to be

a man of God like him. Other than this statement, Little Victor showed

no actual involvement in the church, no actual effort or work in the things of the church.

So, this seems to suggest an interest-not in being a man of God- but in being

the man the whole community turned out to see, to have their respect.

As a teenager, young Vic continued to lack any qualities of a man of God. In fact, he went out of

his way to earn a reputation going in the opposite direction. He was a bully, a showoff and a braggart.

(He seems to have been taught this at home.)He did all sorts of things for attention. He was quick

to start a fight or mouth off at others. He had a quick wit. One of his common ways of showing off

was to tear up and down the streets of New Knoxville on his motorcycle, trying to get attention.

His demonstrated talents seemed to be limited to his quick wit and his ability to play a guitar,

which he showed competency in.

Old Man Wierwille was preparing to pass on thefamily farm to young Vic, as was the family

tradition. Young Vic balked at this. He'd had plans to go to college. At first, he considered

a few fields-business and so on- but by this time, he had decided upon the seminary.

(This was before the time he referred to as "believing the Bible as the Word of God".)

Old Man Wierwille was skeptical of this, and said that young Vic, having shown lack

of hard work on simple manual labour on the farm, would never make a good preacher.

Young Vic convinced him he would do better with books than with sweating out in the field.

Young Vic went to school for the ministry.

His community thought it was some kind of joke- everyone knew he lacked the proper character.

(He never overcame that impression with them.)

Victor had the option to study "Bible Languages" or other subjects requiring hard study. He instead

chose to study Homiletics, the "softest" option he could have learned. (He never overcame his

deficiency in study in Bible languages, church history, etc.-not even to the level of an informed

layman as of 2004.)

Victor was married July 2, 1937(Mr was 20, Mrs was 21). According to vpw, he and Mrs W married

secretly while he was still in college. No reason for this was ever given.

Victor suggested he played on his college's basketball team, and that after college

he played on the professional team "the Sheboygan Redskins." His claim of each was

phrased ambiguously ("I played basketball all through college" "I was involved in the

Sheboygan Redskins") and the purpose seems to have been so that he was believed

to have said he did both without actually making the claims. Later, he began

making claims that he also "invented the hook shot" at this time.

He graduated with a BA from Lakeland College in 1937. Donald was born in 1940.

Victor graduated Princeton Theological Seminary in 1941, with a Masters in Practical Theology.

He did his "trial sermons" in 1941 in Payne, Ohio for the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

According to his memorial in 1985, he started his first pastorate July 1941,

and was ordained July 29, 1941.

(According to his account in TW:LIL, his first pastorate began in 1944 in Van Wert, Ohio,

and continued until 1957.)

Victor entered his first pastorate and wasted little time becoming a bully and a

control freak AGAIN. He himself claimed he started his job by immediately

doing whatever the elders told him not to do- even though it hampered his ability to do his job

properly. According to him, they confronted him on this, he mouthed off at them, and they just

let him go about his business, and the local church prospered as a direct result of him.

He was known for building a fairly interesting sermon, and getting people involved,

including the youths. (This was STILL before the time when he claimed he believed

the Bible was the Word of God.)

He said the following year, (1942) he slowly became discouraged and was searching.

He was still the man he had been, which is to say he was prideful, arrogant, boastful,

liked attention, and viewed the clergy as a PROFESSION and not a holy calling.

(He could have been just as "called" as an accountant or actuary, say.)

During 1942, he claimed he was ready to give up being a minister.

About a year later (Payne, 1942, August), he met Rosal1nd R1nker. She was a former

missionary to China and Korea. She's remembered as the anonymous person

who asks vpw

"Why don't you search for the greatest of all things in life

which would teach Christians the HOW of a really victorious life?"

This woman fixed a great deal of attention on him, and had a forceful personality.

She spent some time with him alone. It was of this time that he later claimed

he asked forgiveness of God. He also credits her with DOGGING HIM

"on the Bible being the Word of God",

and she "got me STARTED on the right track".

which, until this time, he hadn't believed, not even in all his years of school.

During 1942, he claimed he was ready to give up being a minister in August AND September.

One month later (September 1942), an event happened that he later showed a habit of re-writing.

As Victor told God he was getting ready to quit (again), He claimed that God spoke to him and said

He (God) would teach him (Victor) His Word (God's Word)

like it had not been known since the 1st century,

if he (Victor) would teach it to others.

(This is the famous 1942 promise.)

vpw did not discuss this event with anyone until he told the early corps-according to Mrs W.

Thus, the earliest possible origin-point of this story is 1969,

when the "zero corps" was begun.

Victor of course lacked the education in church history to contextualize this claim-

since it was inaccurate as stated. This implies that this was a made-up story,

or it came from a god lacking knowledge in history.

Victor later added a second part to his story- a snowstorm.

He said that he required PROOF of God, and asked God to let him see it snow.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, and he saw a veritable blizzard out his window.

The later addition to this story suggest that he felt it needed more support

after using the initial story. Victor showed no marked improvement, neither in

character, nor in behaviour, thru the rest of the 1940s (nearly the entire decade after this

supposed promise), which strongly supports the rather direct assertion that he lied thru his teeth.

vpw referred to this as one of the two most significant days of his life.

October 3, 1942, vpw did his first radio broadcast. He continued to do a radio show

under one name or another for several years- Vesper Chimes, aka Chimes Hour Youth

Caravan. Its name changes to Chimes Hour Youth Caravan in 1947.

Rhoda joined its staff in 1947.

(Supposedly, the name "the Way" was in the documentation for this group since 1942.)

In 1948, vpw was issued a "Doctorate" from Pikes Peak Seminary, an organization lacking

accreditation and formal classes (among other things.)

At some point, vpw began claiming that he took EVERY class

Moody Bible School's Correspondence program issued.

According to official records at Moody, vpw never turned in a single class of

their correspondence school. This may mean he took classes and never

finished ANY (which indicates laziness), or that he was lying about taking

any of their classes.

At one point, Rufus Moseley attempted to minister Holy Spirit to vpw, but vpw demonstrated

an inability to receive it. In 1951, he visited missionaries in Honduras.

In 1951, vpw made another claim he was ready to give up on the ministry

(even after, supposedly a direct promise of God about really important stuff

which promptly failed to materialize.)

In November, 1951, vpw attended the Full Gospel Rally, in Tulsa, Oklahoma

(a big Evangelical conference.) He made several claims of this conference.

People at the conference OTHER than vpw supposedly had no difficulty beginning

speaking in tongues. He claimed he faked speaking in tongues in a clever

way, and others were unable to tell. He was further disillusioned about working for God.

He then claimed a miraculous snowstorm blocked him into the city entirely, and

ALL the evidence there NO blizzard whatsoever (and there was a WEALTH of evidence

-at the airports, Amtrak and bus depot, the hotel staff, the attendees,

etc) was concealed by angels. vpw also, apparently, never approached a window,

or they made an illusion at the window.

vpw has referred to this as one of the two most significant days of his life.

(Many people currently feel that vpw completely made up the story that God spoke

to him in 1942, and that his dependence upon this event plus the event at the

Full Gospel Rally to establish his authority were both dressed up with made-up

snowstorms to make them sound more spectacular. The specifics of both

appear to support this position-especially since vpw was fond of increasing

the magnitude of his claims in things as time went on.)

Supposedly, a woman came up to him and told him that she knew a man who can help him-

JE Stiles. He claims God told Stiles to attend the conference with the sole purpose

of ministering the Spirit to vpw. vpw met with Stiles, and made a few chauvinistic

observations to himself, before going off with Stiles.

Stiles worked with him for a few hours nonstop, hammering across to vpw what

the Bible says on speaking in tongues, and working over his doubts one by one.

Finally, vpw was able to speak in tongues.

It was during the 1950s that vpw's behaviour was noted to finally improve,

although he still did not stop including inappropriate words or concepts in his sermons.

In March, 1953, vpw found out about BG Leonard, and pushed his way into BG Leonard's

CTC Gifts of the Spirit class, which Leonard told him was closed, but permitted him

to enter after vpw arrived. vpw took this class twice, bringing several people with him

the second time. (That second time was July 1953.)

vpw then went off for a few months by himself, then told Leonard that he'd like to run

Leonard's CTC Gifts of the Spirit class locally for his congregation on a one-time basis.

Seeing the benefit to other Christians, Leonard agrees.

vpw then ran the first of "his" Receiving the Holy Spirit Today classes, (October 1953)

and took a photograph of that class. He told the students that this is "his" class

called RtHST, with NO mention of Leonard's class from which 100% of the content

had been directly lifted. The students had no reason to think he's lying. vpw sent

the photograph to Leonard and told Leonard that this is a photo of the class that took

Leonard's class on a one-time basis that was run locally. Leonard took vpw at his word,

and had no idea that vpw continued to run Leonard's class with vpw's name on it,

defrauding both Leonard AND the students. That the classes were interchangeable

in terms of material was the opinion of vpw himself- anyone who had graduated

Leonard's "Gifts of the Spirit" class was considered to be-by vpw- a graduate of

"vpw's" RtHST class.

To this day, many students STILL think this was was vpw's class, even when

evidence is introduced to the contrary. Later, vpw added the contents of JE Stiles' work

on "Gifts of the Spirit" and Bullinger's work on the Holy Spirit as well as

"How to Enjoy the Bible", and expanded the class into a class that was the

sum of the 3 men's work-Stiles, Bullinger and Leonard-rather than just Leonard.

He also renamed the class "Power For Abundant Living", rather than

"Receiving the Holy Spirit Today".

vpw later made a few offhand comments here and there that the material in the class

is not original, but its compilation was.

(However, as it was constructed, vpw could have been sued by copyright holders for

Bullinger, Stiles, and Leonard. Leonard found out but chose not to prosecute.)

It is often noted that the supposed 1942 promise claimed vpw would be taught-by God-

things unknown since the First Century Christians, if vpw would teach others-

yet ALL the material vpw taught was all taken from Leonard/Stiles/Bullinger/Kenyon

and a few others, and thus, it was all KNOWN. Therefore, if a god gave vpw revelation

in 1942, it was a god that lied, since vpw's source for everything was

MAN and NEVER represented information lost since the First Century AD-not even once.

In 1953, vpw also took JE Stiles' "Gifts of the Spirit" book, changed a few words,

and self-published it as the 1st Edition of "Receiving the Holy Spirit Today."

That it was the same year is no coincidence-it was the "original" textbook for

the "original" class. ("Original" in the sense that they were the 1.0 version of

his class, not that they originated at that time.)

Later editions would include incorporation of material from Leonard and Bullinger,

and would include more cosmetic changes in the order of the words and the

specific words used in an attempt to make it look less like Stiles' book.

Among the changes was the deletion of a reference to an anonymous Christian

who "put it together" for vpw (that was Stiles), who was missing by the 4th

edition book, where vpw put it all together himself.

vpw ran "his" PFAL classes continually from 1953 onward, with some success.

Dr E.E. Higgins was one of the students in the October 1953 class. She's known as

the anonymous person who would call vpw at night and ask what God

showed him that day. In 1954, Dr Higgins first introduced vpw to EW

Bullinger's books, and gave him his first copies of the Companion Bible, and

"How to Enjoy the Bible." The contents of both these books later became integral

parts of "vpw's" class.

According to his published memorial, Bishop KC Pillai took PFAL in 1954,

and began teaching a class on"Orientalisms of the Bible".

(Pillai also wrote 3 small books: "Light Through an Eastern Window"

and Volumes I and II of "Orientalisms of the Bible.")

According to the memorial in 1985, 1955 was the year they officially chartered

"the Way".

In 1955, JP was born. 2 months later, VPW left JP with family for the next

year or so, and took his wife and eldest son on a tour of the mission fields in India,

on the Evangelical and Reformed Church's dime.(1955-1957) (Per TW:LIL)

He was irritated that he's reminded he is not officially designated as a spokesman

or investigator of theirs. According to his account in TW:LIL,

he there met Bishop KC Pillai, whom he later invited to teach.

According to the memorial, this tour of the mission fields ran from 1955-1956,

and included stops in Great Britain, Europe, India, and "the Bible lands."

According to the memorial, 1956 was when he wrote

"the Dilemma of Foreign Missions in India."(According to TW:LIL)

In 1957, vpw returned to Van Wert. He cut his ties with the Evangelical and Reformed

Church, and took "his" PFAL class with him.In 1957, he and Harry bought out

their brothers and bought the family farm outright. Rather than take ownership

themselves, they declared it the propertyof "the Way", a church organization

(thus tax-exempt.)(Per TW:LIL, Harry said this was the time they chose the name

"the Way".) Work began on fixing up the farm.

In 1959, he ran a Wisconsin Summer Camp. In 1960, he ran an Indiana Summer Camp.

In 1961, he moved to the farm (refurbishment being sufficient for the move). Bishop Pillai

arrived and taught at the summer school. (Per TW:LIL.)

In 1961, he ran a Miamisburg, Ohio Summer Camp.

In 1962, he moved the summer school to the farm (refurbishment being sufficient

to hold classes there in the new BRC.)

In 1962, Lamsa taught at the summer school.(Lamsa is another unconventional teacher

who claimed special knowledge of the Bible and special status as a man of God.)

In 1963, vpw went to Lima, Ohio and filmed the sessions called "the Teacher".

(Despite this, success STILL had not taken off as vpw wished.)

According to the memorial, 1967 was when "Are the Dead Alive Now?"

(which is adapted from some of Bullinger's books) was published, and PFAL was filmed.

This was the edition of PFAL that incorporated Bullinger's books

(the contents, but not the books themselves) into the curriculum.

In Fall of 1967, vpw first filmed the PFAL class. This was done in a setting

with bright studio lights. (Bright studio lights do not cause cancer.)

vpw claimed that a doctor told him that filming a second day would mean

permanent eye damage, and that he was staring into 8000 watts.

He filmed for 3 complete days, getting sore eyes from the bright lights

(which do not cause cancer.) The figure of 2000 watts seems to be a more

realistic figure for the light level of the filmed class (which is still VERY bright.)

According to TW:LIL, In 1967, vpw read about the Christians at the House of

Acts. vpw went there, impressed them, and convinced them he has extensive,

EXCLUSIVE knowledge they lack. He then turned those he could from unorganized

Christians into a recruitment arm for his class and organization. They agreed

to handle things on the East and West coasts, and many young Christians were

impressed with THEM and join. It's been suggested that one of the reasons he

went there was because he'd heard of the "free-love" movement and wanted to

connect with Christians who would have sex outside of marriage. Thus claim might

sound ridiculous if his accounts of them didn't include little comments about their

displays of affection-and especially since he'd asked one of them-back then and

there-to give him DETAILS on what an orgy was like. He followed up by claiming

that God PERMITTED orgies-but considered monogamy BETTER.

It's also believed that San Francisco is where vpw bought the pornographic materials

he showed the corps, some Advanced Classes and CFS classes-like the movie

of the two women with the dog. (He MENTIONED that video to many Advanced

classes and CFS classes where it was not SHOWN.)

According to the memorial, his trip to Haight-Ashbury/House of Acts was in 1968.

As of 1969, sizeable numbers of young people had flocked to twi from both coasts

as a result.

Once there was sizeable membership in both coasts, vpw pushed out the Christians

from the House of Acts and insisted authority would come FROM hq and tithes

would go TO hq. No exceptions. At that point (1969), vpw made his first attempt

at a Way Corps, which resulted in the famous "Zero Corps".

At some point-presumably early in the way corps history, and possibly as early as 1969,

vpw (according to Mrs W's account) first begins to tell his "snow on the pumps" account

to people, starting with the way corps.

At another point-before the early 1970s-vpw began adding to the "special revelation"

that produced the books and classes (which were really compilations of the work

of other Christians with their names removed) and began speaking of special

revelation about current events. He began to expound on some conspiracy

theories to the corps, and about attempts to take over the United States.

vpw was getting this material from the John Birch Society and the Liberty Lobby.

A few people on-grounds were aware of information coming in from them,

but almost nobody knew those were the direct sources of his supposed

"revelation". As he had done often before, he just claimed to mysteriously

know things and never cited a source-leaving the listeners to guess that there

WAS no conventional source, making this ANOTHER thing God just told him.

These conspiracy theorist organizations and their personal biases fill in the blanks

in some of his odder statements. Their anti-Semitism helps explain his claims

that the current Jews were not descended from the historic Jews (which has been

disproven genetically since), and his recommendations of books like

"the Thirteenth Tribe." Their condemnation of rock and roll and musician/celebrities

explain his claims of all musicians being possessed, and his recommendation of

"the Marxist Minstrels" to the corps (which claimed rock and roll was a communist

plot to take over the United States.) vpw even had David Noebel, who wrote

"the Marxist Minstrels" come and lecture the corps.

In 1971, vpw began his WOW Ambassador program. This program underwent some

changes, but primarily was a one-year committment to get sent out,

support yourself, find housing, and run PFAL classes.

According to his memorial, 1971 was when the Orange Book, "Power for

Abundant Living" was first self-published. It contained mostly material from Leonard's

class and from Bullinger's book "How to Enjoy the Bible".

A number of pamphlets called "Studies in Abundant Living" accompanied the

PFAL class from fairly early on (the filmed class names "Studies in Human

Suffering", later renamed "Job:Victim to Victor".)

In 1971, the first 3 volumes of "Studies in Abundant Living" are published,

compiling the pamphlets into 3 small hardbound books.

In 1974, Emporia College in Emporia, Kansas was bought. It was renamed

"the Way College of Emporia". Despite an absence of accreditation, licensed professors,

and a school "library" composed ENTIRELY of used textbooks donated by way members,

it was put forth as if it is a normal, accredited college.

In 1975, "Jesus Christ is Not God" was published. This was the last book-

not counting Vol 4 of Studies in Abundant Living- that was actually put together by vpw.

In 1976, campuses were purchased in Rome City, Indiana ("the College of Biblical Research")

and Gunnison, Colorado ("the Way Family Ranch-Camp Gunnison").

In 1977, the PFAL '77 was done live at Ball State University. According to the memorial,

in 1977, Howard Allen and Donald Wierwille were installed as Trustees on the

Board of Trustees (replacing "Uncle" Harry Wierwille and Ermal Owens.)

In 1977, Volume 4 of Studies in Abundant Living was published.

In 1978, the land for the LEAD Outdoor Academy was purchased in Tinnie, New Mexico.

In 1979, Advanced Class '79 ran (live, I imagine.)

In 1980, "Jesus Christ Our Passover" was published. This was the first book written by

competent staff and researchers. According to the book itself, it was written

"by Victor Paul Wierwille", with no mention of anyone else. It was a higher-caliber book

than twi normally self-publishes.

In 1982, twi celebrates its "Fortieth Anniversary" since the radio shows that

weren't called "the Way". In 1982, vpw installed LCM as the new president of twi

and vpw becomes "president emeritus".

In 1982, "Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed" was published. It also was written by staff,

and said "by Victor Paul Wierwille" on the cover.

It relied largely on the calculations of another writer as well. This book also saw the

breakthrough of proper crediting, since it actually named the other writer

(Martin) and his book.

In 1984, a live PFAL class was taught at Camp Gunnison, and a manor house was

purchased in Gartmore, Scotland. It was named the Way College of Biblical Research.

(aka Gartmore House, or "the big house" to the villagers of Gartmore.)

vpw spent his life drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking cigarettes and cigars-

tobacco products. Although he usually did it "off-camera", many people knew some

of this. Everyone knew he at least smoked, but he seemed to chain-smoke when

"no one was watching." Furthermore, he had a "coffee cup" next to him for morning

meetings and so on-and often, the contents had nothing to do with coffee. Those who

ever commented on it (who were few enough among those who noticed) were

treated to his comments about us not being "under condemnation" and thus it wasn't

sinful, and therefore had no consequences.

However, there WERE consequences....

By 1984, the long-term exposure to alcohol-which damages internal organs, including

those that act as the body's filtration system and also damages the brain-

and long-term exposure to tobacco-which is a known cancer-causing agent

(unlike studio lights)- resulted in some permanent damage to vpw' body.

He acquired cancer of the eye and liver, and suffered a stroke.

vpw quite vocally-and often- announced that the eye damage was the result

of getting cancer from the studio lights used when filming PFAL- thus saying it was

the result of virtuous activity, and used to give the students a guilty conscience.

Once, when addressing the corps, he was speaking on personal committment to

God. He said "I gave my EYE-what are YOU willing to give?"

Further, in private, vpw was MOST disturbed that he had ANY physical problems,

especially this one. He claimed he'd never been sick or needed an aspirin EVER-

not ONE DAY in his life-before this. Not even in PRIVATE did he ever seem to admit

he'd exposed his body to carcinogens for DECADES. He had surgery that

removed the cancer-stricken eye.

The details of the stroke were COMPLETELY hidden-although there were witnesses-

and the existence of any cancer produced a problem. According to vpw's DOCTRINE,

any Christian should be able to believe sufficiently to burn out a cancer from their

body. vpw had slowly manipulated his personal image to the point that he was

frequently seen as some sort of super-Christian-which is what he wanted. However,

this meant he should have EASILY believed away his cancer.

WORSE, he'd taught in the Advanced class that, since a cancer has a life of its own

(like algae), it must be the result of devil activity. Since vpw was supposedly a

super-Christian, he should have been able to deflect such an assault easily.

However, rather than adjust his image, or correct his doctrine-which had already

hurt many other Christians-he simply hid the cause of his descent into death.

In 1985 the "Word over the World Auditorium" opened at the organizations hq on the farm.

vpw died May 20, 1985 at age 68. According to his death certificate, the cause was

cancer of the liver and of the eye. According to most people in twi at the time,

the cause was UNKNOWN. The most commonly-stated reason was

"he got tired of fighting."

In the last few months of his life, vpw visited Gartmore and spoke privately

with Chr1s Ge*r. He (CG) later claimed that his own paper which he wrote

afterwards-"the Passing of the Patriarch"-was based entirely on private

conversations with vpw. (Some people believe him, some do not.)

That paper-among other things-also claims that vpw would have been

able to "believe himself healthy" if he'd wanted to.

Volume 5 of Studies in Abundant Living was published

posthumously. Its contents were from vpw, it was edited by Chr1$ Ge*r.

=========

[Kevin Fallon]

In 1979, Advanced Class '79 ran (live, I imagine.)

WW - Thanks for this great history lesson.

Yes - AC '79 was live. It was filmed (videotaped?) so that vpw wouldn't have to teach it live again. For those of us who were there - a very interesting experience. The opening ceremonies featured an Olympic-like run of WC members bringing a torch (The Light Of The Word) up to the front steps of the venue. IIRC it was supposed to have been relayed from one of the root locales. Another torch was lit (just like the Olympics) and doves and balloons were released. During this class we were treated to LCW in tights dancing on stage as he started to push his 'Atheletes Of The Spirit' doctrine.

[outandabout]

WOW Wordwolf that was a great summary. I don't recall reading it before. And I went to Advanced Class 79 but don't remember the doves and balloons. kevin, you have a better memory than me.

[skyrider]

In 1979, Advanced Class '79 ran (live, I imagine.)

At Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Taught live by wierwille.

Promoted with lots of hype.

Had a "torch" carried from Rome City, IN--->Van Wert, OH--->Athens, OH

to symbolize the "athlete/Olympics/torch from Rome to Athens."

Wierwille had told us in-residence corps that his name was stricken from

the Van Wert church where he'd pastored......and thus, had some 40 runners

run the streets of Van Wert to symbolize the growing strength and outreach

of twi in 1979. I was one of these runners in Van Wert.

[so, wierwille wanted to make a statement to his former church. Yeah,

22 years after his resignation/firing....see the love?.]

:rolleyes:/>/>

.

Edited November 9, 2015 by skyrider

[WordWolf]

LOL T-bone!

When I was given access to dictor's personal research library (which was in large wall safe in his office) by Donna Randall during my 2 years in-rez,

One of the many things I found were 2 pamphlets written by Rosalind Rinker with her picture in B&W on the covers. One was entitled "Power For Abundant Living", and the other, "The Word of God Is the Will of God". Sound familiar???

The "forgiveness" dictor had to beg for was because of his sexual affair with Rinker, which is why she left Dodge. But, the year after she left, dictor hired another pianist to play for the Youth Chimes Caravan and be its Sectetary. Her name was Rhoda Becker. So, of course dictor was busy bangin' her before he had the UCC hire her as HIS fulltime Church Sectetary. Before they moved back to the family farm, he married little Rhoda the Mennonite off to his own brother, Reuben. Both were on twit staff until they died. They had one son, Bob Ed Weiwille who was "Assistant General Manager of The Way" under Howard Allen. Bob Ed married Gene and Donna Randall's daughter, Vicki.

At the first Corpse Placement/Leadership meeting after his surgery in winter, 1982, dictor passed the old "stink-eye" around the tables for us all to worship. He said the reason he waited until after the 40th Anniversary coronation and installation of da forehead as prez, was because in the Aaronic Priesthood, open only to direct blood descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Levi, men with physical deformities were prohibited from the Priesthood. Vic believed that the removal of his cancerous eye (ocular melanoma) was a physical deformity which would have disqualified him from installing the Okie doofus and passing him the Meshuggene mantle. So, he did not want to "disgrace" gawd and da forehead with a physical deformity, and therefore waited until December to let Fritz and his team take out the eye. However, the eye was removed AFTER metastatic disease had slowly spread to lungs, brain, and liver. The official cause of death was, "Occular melanoma with metastatic liver disease". That's what's on the death certificate.

(snip)

The "forgiveness" dictor had to beg for was because of his sexual affair with Rinker, which is why she left Dodge.

(snip)

HA!

We were correct! Earlier in the thread, we worked it all out, just based on what was printed in

"The Way:Living in Love."

[WordWolf]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">"After I met Rosalind Rinker in Indiana, I invited her to visit us in Payne, and

she came for a week that summer of 1942. Maybe it was August. I remember it was near

the end of summer, and she used to dog me on the Bible being the Word of God.

She talked to me about getting my own life in alignment and harmony with the Bible. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

OK.....I have only ONE question...Why in the he!! did VP take so much from this WOMAN? Up until now...VP has no respect for woman. Suddenly, this lady is lacing into him...and she's the best thing since sliced bread. hmmmmmmmmmm???? :rolleyes:/>-->

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> The last night of her stay, she and I went into the church and knelt at the

pulpit chairs. I remember I asked God for forgiveness, understanding and love,

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The forgiveness word REALLY caught my eye. Here is a man that is sure of his beliefs...he's taking a stand ... he's telling the religious leaders where to go and setting them straight.

Now he wants forgiveness??? For what?

Someone feels guilty? What about?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WordWolf:

=======

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">...He introduced me to this woman,

Rosalind Rinker. We got acquainted just in a brief period of

time and somehow or other, it jelled within my heart to say

to her, "Well, why don't you come over to our house and

spend a week?" And she said "Well, I'll just do it."

But this woman had found something out there under Aleta

Yacoub. She had tapped something and she knew that when

somebody said to her 'do so-in-so', if the time was right, it

was God's will for her to walk in. So I said to her,

"Would you like to come for a week or so with us?" And she

said "Yes, I will." I said, "When will you come?" She said

"I'll be there Saturday" or Sunday, I forget which.

Lo and behold, here she came. You know what we did? When she

came, I wanted her to speak to our church group, but she had

no interest in that. She said, "I want to talk to you." And

we sat down in that same office where I'd had this

revelation from the Lord. She began dealing with me in the

Word. And "Boy," I thought to myself, "how can a woman have

this much knowledge of the Word?" And she told me she had

learned all of this within the last six-seven months!

And she took me-that had been through all these colleges and

seminaries and had almost my work for my doctor's degree

finished-she just takes me and winds me around her finger

with the knowledge of God's Word-I didn't know any of God's

Word compared to her. I'd quote her some theologian, she

said "That don't mean anything to me. What does the Word

say?" And she pinned me down, and she took me into the Word,

ans showed me that it was the Word that counted and not what

a theologian said or what a main said but 'what does the Word

say?' And she pinned me down, and she took me into the

Word, and showed me that it was the Word that counted and not

what a theologian said or what a main said but 'what does the

Word say?' And she kept backing me up against the wall-

whole week long. Just, night after night, day after day,

that's all she did.

So, one evening, after everybody else had gone to bed, she

and I went into the church and we knelt at the pulpit chairs

up in front, and we prayed together, and that was the

second great night of my life. When, during the course of

that weekend, she told me that God was showing her that He

had something very special for me to do, and that I should

teach the Word. I forget what this all is about, but it's on

the flyleaf of out class on Power For Abundant Living. It was

she who made that statement that's on that cover, you know,

that red-green-yellow thing that we give out for the classes,

the essence of it-of what she said is on that sheet. And that

greatness of God substantiating to her what He had already

told me, corroborated something in my heart. And that just

blessed my soul.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE> </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> I wanted her to speak to our church group, but she had

no interest in that. She said, "I want to talk to you."

========

"how can a woman have this much knowledge of the Word?"

======

And she took me-that had been through all these colleges and

seminaries and had almost my work for my doctor's degree

finished-she just takes me and winds me around her finger

with the knowledge of God's Word-I didn't know any of God's

Word compared to her. I'd quote her some theologian, she

said "That don't mean anything to me. What does the Word

say?" And she pinned me down, and she took me into the Word,

ans showed me that it was the Word that counted and not what

a theologian said or what a main said but 'what does the Word

say?' And she pinned me down, and she took me into the

Word, and showed me that it was the Word that counted and not

what a theologian said or what a main said but 'what does the

Word say?' And she kept backing me up against the wall-

So, one evening, after everybody else had gone to bed, she

and I went into the church and we knelt at the pulpit chairs

up in front, and we prayed together, and that was the

second great night of my life. When, during the course of

that weekend, she told me that God was showing her that He

had something very special for me to do, and that I should

teach the Word. I forget what this all is about, but it's on

the flyleaf of out class on Power For Abundant Living.

And that greatness of God substantiating to her what He had already told me </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here's the rundown on what I thought was particularly noteworthy...

-she wanted to deal ONLY with him, focusing all her attention on

Mr Humility. Of COURSE he went along.

-yes, he was surprised a woman knew the Bible

-he snuck in references to his attending seminarIES and collegeS

-There's a set of odd, CONSISTENT phrases here.

She "wound him around her finger".

She "pinned him down" -TWICE he says that.

she "backed him up against the wall"

Then they were alone, up after everyone went to sleep.

It's at THIS time where the previous question-

'why is he asking for forgiveness NOW?'-

becomes current.

Is his subconscious choosing of words telling us more than he

meant to? What happened after everyone went to sleep?

And did getting away with it help to make it easier to do again

later to other people?

Remember-he's a control freak.

Who did what, and to whom?

Here's what we know, or is blatantly obvious from vpw's own words.

Rosalind Rinker was a decisive woman (she made decisions at an instant and carried

them out), with a forceful personality (all this "pinning" and "backing").

She dismisses meeting with his congregation COMPLETELY,

and focuses all her attention on him.

She says she wants to meet with him.

vpw, speaking about this time, says she

"winds him around her finger"

"pinned him down"

"pinned him down"

"backed him up against the wall"

"night after night, day after day" (not "day after day, night after night").

After everyone else had gone to bed,

they went alone to the pulpit.

There they spoke, and she told him that he was very special

("she told me that God was showing her that He had something very special for me

to do...").

(<span class="ev_code_RED">interlude??</span>)

Before they leave, vpw prays for forgiveness.

========

So, then,

my questions.....

What did Rosalind Rinker HERSELF have in mind here?

Was there an interlude?

And,

my most interesting question of all.....

<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">Did the hunter become the prey? </span>

We know that before this, EARLIER, that he was prideful, arrogant, boastful,

liked attention.

We know that, EARLIER, he viewed the clergy as a PROFESSION and not a holy calling.

We know that, EARLIER, he preferred books to manual labour.

We know a woman arrives,

focuses a lot of attention on him,

has a forceful personality,

and says he's special.

They go off in private.

vpw prays for forgiveness.

We know that he was a control freak on his congregation LATER.

(I refuse to believe a congregation with elders will have a man ARRIVE,

immediately terrorize his congregation, and just say "ok" without replacing

this wet-behind-the-ears young pup with less than a year outside of school.

They'd have him replaced within the month. Having his seat VACANT is better

than having a screw-up botching up the job. Let elders rotate duties until even

a lukewarm replacement can be found.)

We know that LATER he engages in some activities with a church secretary.

vpw insists that they never fired him-he quit.

We know that LATER he focuses attention on young, impressionable women,

and sometimes resorts to alcohol to lower their inhibitions,

and sometimes resorts to drug to knock them out.

Was there an incident between EARLIER and LATER that channeled his self-centered,

egotistical behaviour into sexual directions?

=========

BTW,

kudos for Ala for catching that peculiar phrase,

which started my little side-investigation.

[Grace Valerie Claire]

On 8/28/2005 at 2:13 AM, WordWolf said:

I finally got curious enough to dust off my copy of "the Way:

Living in Love" by Whiteside and read it thru. There's some

interesting stuff in there. I find that many warning signs are

telegraphed there and so on.

========

For those of you who've never heard of it,

it's a book published in 1972. It was written BY a twi insider

about twi and life as an insider, at the beginning of the 1970s,

and published by twi. As such, any reasonable person would

consider it a lengthy commercial. No dissent from twi would have

been PERMITTED to have been published, and no dissent would have

been CONSIDERED by an innie. The perspective of the writer

reflects the thinking of insiders at the time-not a fair and

objective reporting of the facts. It includes many quotes from

people-especially vpw. For all intents and purposes, it should

be evident that the quotes from him IN the book are officially

endorsed BY him as accurate.

I'd like to post some of the quotes, and discuss where they

relate to each other, the facts as currently known, and other

comments made by vpw.

==============

Please feel free to post quotes directly FROM vpw from other

sources, as well as quotes from the Mrs W book.

I don't have a copy of it, but I did read it once.  Once was enough for me; I thought it was garbage!

[penworks]

15 hours ago, Grace Valerie Claire said:

I don't have a copy of it, but I did read it once.  Once was enough for me; I thought it was garbage!

I agree that it is "garbage" insofar that it is propaganda. But I think it does have a certain value: it's a good case study on VPW's sick thinking (and lack thereof) and a red flag about the dangers of cults, showing people with a story (instead of a dry explanation) about how cults reinforce their beliefs by spinning their own closed-group fantasy that, to them, makes sense.

On a personal note, psychologically it's weird for me to read it because part of my recruitment episode is in that book told by my 19-year-old self. 

For my daughter, it's a window into her parents' former lives (her dad is in the book, too) showing her our idealism and misplaced trust in VP. It shows his manipulative practices, delusions, egomania, false humility, and narcissism (and other things too many to list here).

Just my 2 cents ...