There simply cannot be enough said about how VPW appropriated the works of others and made money off them. TWI was a business and as far back as the mid 70s I was told that our goal was to promote the "word over the world" and that the best way to accomplish that was "run classes, run classes, run classes". There was no ambiguity about this. Going WOW of course was a great way for TWI to get an energetic, mobile, cost free resource to push PFAL. Great business model. You have tireless salesmen working for nothing so all monies are profit.
TWI never sponsored missions, fed the homeless, set up shelters, or tried to improve the community. Most REAL churches have a natural interest in helping people even those who are very down and out but not TWI. We were taught that "unbelievers" are "corpses" even our own blood family relations were characterized as such especially so if they didn't want to participate in TWI lifestyle. TWI never demonstrated compassion or even minimal towards humanity in general. They isolated themselves and set themselves apart from all other forms of worship and took a horribly dim view of anyone wanting to maintain even minimal ties to their religious heritage.
The interesting thing is that you do still have very hardcore admirers of VPW as if his death emptied all that was good and pure from TWI (Though I think that happened once VPW consolidated his power by taking over Way West). In many ways these staunch supporters are like any religious fanatic who will hear no criticisms of the great leader and its often impossible to get them see it any other way. One thing I've noticed about most VPW hardcores is that they have very little exposure to the bible and the concept of christianity prior to their Way experience. So TWI was their entree into the world of
Jesus, salvation, and deliverance.
They are like a young kid who gets his driver's license and his dad gives him a broken down VW as a starter car. At first The kid thinks its just the best thing in the world; however, for the average kid, he starts to notice that there are perhaps better cars out there and when the VW dies, he moves on. But in the rare case , the kid still looks at that first VW as if it was the "one and only" even after it just broke down one day. They still pine for it and will claim that it was "The best running thing I ever had" even when everyone else knows it was just a hand-me-down car. They confuse things and let nostalgia and romanticism of a different time get in the way of reality.
Well corny car comparisons aside this still accurately reflects the fanatical determination that some have to preserving the idea that VPW was "The Teacher" who saw "snow" and was here to "teach the word like it hadn't been since the first century". In reality there aren't that many who feel this way but given their loud support of VPW it is sometimes easy to get the idea that there are more of them. Whenever I talk to people who still pine for the "good ole days" its interesting that they don't normally mention VPW or other Way leaders as being important to the good times they had. They always mention other people like themselves - well meaning, young, energetic people who wanted to make a difference. Yet for some reason they confuse these friendships as being validating of TWI. Its my claim that those poeple were good people no matter what church they went to . And give those people the credit for doing good NOT VPW or TWI.
They are like a young kid who gets his driver's license and his dad gives him a broken down VW as a starter car. At first The kid thinks its just the best thing in the world; however, for the average kid, he starts to notice that there are perhaps better cars out there and when the VW dies, he moves on. But in the rare case , the kid still looks at that first VW as if it was the "one and only" even after it just broke down one day. They still pine for it and will claim that it was "The best running thing I ever had" even when everyone else knows it was just a hand-me-down car. They confuse things and let nostalgia and romanticism of a different time get in the way of reality.
Hey there Diazbro -- great analogy!!!
Not corny at all. First impresssions are usually lasting ones, and by the time 20 or so years pass by, they're kinda clouded too. The good is remembered, the rest forgotten.
(Ps - my first car was a VW squareback. :blink:
Much as I liked it then -- I prefer my newer Subaru! These days.) :D
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Belle
AWESOME, David! Thank you!!!
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rascal
B.G> Leonard vs. V.P. Wierwille .... is quite simple
The genuine vs the counterfit
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diazbro
There simply cannot be enough said about how VPW appropriated the works of others and made money off them. TWI was a business and as far back as the mid 70s I was told that our goal was to promote the "word over the world" and that the best way to accomplish that was "run classes, run classes, run classes". There was no ambiguity about this. Going WOW of course was a great way for TWI to get an energetic, mobile, cost free resource to push PFAL. Great business model. You have tireless salesmen working for nothing so all monies are profit.
TWI never sponsored missions, fed the homeless, set up shelters, or tried to improve the community. Most REAL churches have a natural interest in helping people even those who are very down and out but not TWI. We were taught that "unbelievers" are "corpses" even our own blood family relations were characterized as such especially so if they didn't want to participate in TWI lifestyle. TWI never demonstrated compassion or even minimal towards humanity in general. They isolated themselves and set themselves apart from all other forms of worship and took a horribly dim view of anyone wanting to maintain even minimal ties to their religious heritage.
The interesting thing is that you do still have very hardcore admirers of VPW as if his death emptied all that was good and pure from TWI (Though I think that happened once VPW consolidated his power by taking over Way West). In many ways these staunch supporters are like any religious fanatic who will hear no criticisms of the great leader and its often impossible to get them see it any other way. One thing I've noticed about most VPW hardcores is that they have very little exposure to the bible and the concept of christianity prior to their Way experience. So TWI was their entree into the world of
Jesus, salvation, and deliverance.
They are like a young kid who gets his driver's license and his dad gives him a broken down VW as a starter car. At first The kid thinks its just the best thing in the world; however, for the average kid, he starts to notice that there are perhaps better cars out there and when the VW dies, he moves on. But in the rare case , the kid still looks at that first VW as if it was the "one and only" even after it just broke down one day. They still pine for it and will claim that it was "The best running thing I ever had" even when everyone else knows it was just a hand-me-down car. They confuse things and let nostalgia and romanticism of a different time get in the way of reality.
Well corny car comparisons aside this still accurately reflects the fanatical determination that some have to preserving the idea that VPW was "The Teacher" who saw "snow" and was here to "teach the word like it hadn't been since the first century". In reality there aren't that many who feel this way but given their loud support of VPW it is sometimes easy to get the idea that there are more of them. Whenever I talk to people who still pine for the "good ole days" its interesting that they don't normally mention VPW or other Way leaders as being important to the good times they had. They always mention other people like themselves - well meaning, young, energetic people who wanted to make a difference. Yet for some reason they confuse these friendships as being validating of TWI. Its my claim that those poeple were good people no matter what church they went to . And give those people the credit for doing good NOT VPW or TWI.
Give credit it where it is due.
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coolchef1248 @adelphia.net
thanks
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oldiesman
Check out their website:
CFCOFTEXAS
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dmiller
Thanks for the Link, Oldies! :)
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dmiller
Hiya Chef. Hey --I don't think that was off topic at all.
Wuz wondering the same thing myself! ;)
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dmiller
Hey there Diazbro -- great analogy!!!
Not corny at all. First impresssions are usually lasting ones, and by the time 20 or so years pass by, they're kinda clouded too. The good is remembered, the rest forgotten.
(Ps - my first car was a VW squareback. :blink:
Much as I liked it then -- I prefer my newer Subaru! These days.) :D
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