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Lately I just have been getting my advice from Matisyahu

I knew this woman, but not well. Like most of us, she was idealistic, kind, and good intentioned. So why did she stay so long? IMO, time spent in the cult is relative to a person's needs. What strikes me is how a person misses or denies or misinterprets warning signs. I suppose part of it has to do with survival. Like her, I did that for years, too, especially the misinterpreting or rationalizing of warning signs. Psychologists tell us it's because there's a need in a person to cling to the status quo ... a variety of reasons are clear, i.e. fear of loss of community, loss of certainty, loss of feeling secure about "knowing the truth." I think we all can relate. It's a need so great that admitting what we're doing or believing or giving our loyalty to is bad, or a fraud, or a con, is just too much. We'd crack. Don't we all remember when we "woke up" and how hard that was to admit we had been duped or abused or stolen from? For some of us we nearly did crack up. Some I know have spent time in mental health hospitals, or are in serious therapy, or on heavy medication, or have lost themselves to alcohol or drugs. Or suicide. Breaking up is hard to do. Some people had a casual involvement in TWI. Others were encased in it like in an airtight plastic bag. Breaking free is HARD. I think it's a miracle any of us are here and able to compose a complete sentence. Maybe I should speak for myself, but truly, for those of us who were sold out for so long and gave so much, creating another life post-TWI has been VERY hard work and if it weren't for many good people (many are here on GSC), healing love, education, and time, I can't imagine what would have become of me... So If you ever read this, Melanie, STAY STRONG and breathe deep. It's possible to heal a little every day with love, education, and time. And I ditto what Skyrider said, that Offshoot groups formed by former WAY leaders are not a good option because in general they repeat the patterns from TWI. Besides, bottom line is that the Bible is always open to interpretation by man. The notion of "the accuracy of The Word" is just that, just a notion. No one has it. It can't be had. But that doesn't mean you cannot find valuable things in the Bible. Just question what people tell you it "means." Cheers, Penworks a.k.a. Charlene Lamy (Bishop) Edge I can be reached at http://charleneedge.com/Contact

When your body leaves, and your mind is still in, you may not feel traumatized at the time, but it may come back and hot you decades later. It can be a mixed bag, with great feelings of relief at thinking for yourself being accompanied or followed by feelings not as good. I think my awakening got going slowly more than a decade ago, then was given a huge push by a fellow 8th corps account of her abuse and sexual assault...you can guess who I mean. Then I came across others, including my best survivor friend...completely non-Way and non-cult...whose support helped me remember my sexual assault and break my silence about it last fall. Others have helped, not even with the aim of doing something for just me...e.g. not the least of whom is this Penworks person! (You might say she takes the Edge off our trauma!) Not to mention...okay, I am LOL...a lifelong friend of the survivor friend above, just by being an example with her great unconditional sensitivity to people, as opposed to what at times seemed like genuine caring in the Way, but which also seemed to hinge on one's loyalty to the group and doctrines. So as not to ignore the rest of your post, my childhood was pretty good. Parents split up when I was a wee one (believe it or not, i WAS little once) but Mom was great, and we spent plenty of time with Dad while he was alive. I just got involved by a co-worker invite, and like many, was captured by the conditional care....the love bombing if you will...and there I was. Much better to have people care for you unconditionally...including one I should mention given all I have bared here, my counselor.

Here ya go...

I think so...that’s why they used shag carpet in the motor coach .

Great posts, WordWolf !!! wierwille’s statement has the appearance of being humble and honest while at the same time suggests he is the superior theologian able to rightly divide “the word” when handling those subjects. I’m sure his half-a$$ed “disclaimer” would not have fooled any competent theologians especially if they were familiar with the works he plagiarized - but wierwille’s class materials - kept “in house” (conveniently avoiding peer review) tended to impress a lot of young and naive students who didn’t know squat about the Bible anyway, Maybe slightly off topic but it addresses another aspect of wierwille’s plagiarism - how it cheated his students out of a real learning experience...and sort of relates to peer review - After I left TWI and began exploring and expanding how i studied the Bible - I was electrified one day when I was checking out several commentaries that I bought at an estate sale of a pastor. One commentary - in a footnote actually referred to how another commentary interpreted the same passage and criticized it for missing a certain detail of a Greek phrase...another commentary referred to the different ways several commentaries interpreted a verse and gave pros and cons on each alternate view... my point is that my excitement came from getting a taste of the menu for critical thinkers - variety is exciting! That’s what genuine honest teachers do - they expand one’s horizon by presenting various works/viewpoints and let students hone their thinking skills.

It's really too bad it took her so long to get it. And what did they think would happen with that letter? Didn't they notice what happened to other people who questioned the status quo? I don't condemn her, I just feel bad for her.

At next corps meeting in Auditorium..........all corps should wear this lapel pin:

Long-standing corps wanted to receive this Emeritus status.......to pin to their chests; a mark of distinguished service. Instead............Rosalie and her pimps took out their mark/avoid lapel pins and pinned THOSE to corps' chests. Lapel pin:

thank you so much billy

((((((excathedra)))))) never invisible, , however I feel that I way as well. Never underestimate the impact your own personal testimoney has had on others. For many of us it was the first inkling we had that wierwille was not as pure as the wind driven snow.