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I was born into an Italian family in upstate NY. I was baptized into the Catholic Church and attended five years of Catholic (elementary) school. It was, on the whole, a major influence in my childhood. It sowed the seeds of longing for communion with God. IOW, it was instrumental in plowing the fields of my mind to prepare me for Wierwille's cult. When my children (one of mine and a stepson) were elementary school age, I became very involved in advocacy for public schools, both political and involvement with school district leadership. That was when I began reading regularly and extensively to satisfy curiosities and answer questions that frequently came up as I faced and endured life's challenges. Of course my childhood still has impact in and on my life. We each, individually and together, are the sum and substance of our life experience. I'm in my 70th year in this life (I have completed half of my 70th trip around the sun). I've been around the block a time or two. I've face my share of travails. I realize that's vague. But it's the best answer I can give you this evening.

Dr. Angela Priester is a clinical psychologist who apparently sees no red flags in TWI, which to me makes her a living red flag.

Good guess. No. He wasn't as famous as Spencer, but he made a name for himself. Hoping that this isn't throwing a monkey wrench in here but he had career on the side as a singer with one song in 1962 that reached #5 in the Billboard 100. He starred in a popular TV show that lasted six years (1957 to 1963. Frequently starred with Gary Cooper.

Did you have any strong beliefs about God before you became involved with twi? You went through a lot more than I ever did and you've come through a lot since leaving. Do you think any of it still has some impact on your life?

The link is an Interesting account of her life. Bernadette Soubirous had a childhood bout of cholera which left her with severe, chronic asthma along with other ailments throughout her life. Eventually she contracted tuberculosis of the lungs and bones, and this long-term illness caused her to die in 1879 at the age of 35. But here's the thing - according to Wikipedia, the apparition of "the lady" in Bernadette's third vision "told her that she does not promise to make her happy in this world, but in the other." However, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes was built in honor of the apparitions of "the lady" she saw. It is one of the most-visited Catholic shrines in the world, with around four million tourists coming every year. (Wikipedia: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes) And although God did not heal her during her life, she was canonized by the church in 1933. But because of her religious faith, she will get her rewards in the afterlife – an unprovable concept which requires faith in order to be real in the minds of those living. Where would religions be without the faith requirement?

The clue about the wife is genuinely challenging. Two of the others are so obvious you will SYH when you realize it. No clues in this post.

I see some places where quotation marks are missing, but that doesn't help to guess the producer's name. I'm almost tempted to google the name just to see how to retrofit your clues. George

Spencer Tracy?

Hitchcock had nothing to do with the Elephant Man. The Producer's wife did. She's a costar. They said she did not need to audition. In fairness, she was already an Oscar winner. MUCH later, the Producer became an EGOT winner. There's a grammatical/syntax error I am making repeatedly that gives the answer away.

Alfred Hitchcock? Could be thought of (because of his girth) an "elephant" man. Looks like Donald Pleasence. Not hard to believe his being pompous enough to insult studio execs. Only major problem is that he died in 1980. George

The Producer was actually considered for the role of Sam Loomis in Halloween, which no doubt would have created even further confusion. Sam Loomis was played by Donald Pleasence, perhaps better known [but not to me] as Blofeld in You Only Live Twice. Coincidentally, he also played Victor Frankenstein and Baron Frankenstein in a comedy called "Frankenstein's Great Aunt Tilly." Incidentally, not all syntax errors are syntax errors. Some are huge hints.

Those guesses are hilarious. No, it was not John Merrick or John Landis. Yes, that was a hint.

Honestly don't know... but I believe faith is still a requirement to accept it as an actual miracle. Similar is the story of Bernadette Soubirous. I believe the hell she went through trying to prove to everyone what she saw, was eventually confirmed by the spring, the healings that occurred, and later her incorruptible physical body. Even with all that, faith still is a requirement. Bernadette Soubirous - Wikipedia

I know of 2 versions of a film on that story in my lifetime. I saw the other one, where it was a film of a stage production, where the actor playing John Merrick wore no makeup. As a kid, I disliked that but watched the film. As I got older, I came to agree with what must have been the reason to use no makeup- that is, the play was focusing on his humanity and how he really wasn't that different. I know there was at least one other version, but I don't really know anything about it except they DID use the makeup. Confuse the audience....makeup.... was it JOHN LANDIS?

So, in twi, they're using plagiarized materials, and charging large sums for classes that have a negligible expense for them. The books are published in-house on the cheap, and marked up for retail prices. None of the content has been improved, and it's just got a new paint job. Not stated, but obvious with twi, was that- once again- everyone's now required to take the new classes all over again, and not considered grads of the new stuff just because they sat through 100% of the same material previously. Personally, I think the increased price per student is meant to offset the decreased numbers. Where they used to have 7-14 new students and a $40 class, they now have 3 new students (or rooms of grads retaking the new thing again "for the first time" and charge so much more to squeeze more money out of those leaned on to take the "new" class. As if it was costing twi much to run the thing- almost all expenses are borne by locals out-of-pocket, and the printing costs are covered several times over in the retail prices of the books. So, really, twi is re-treading what's already been re-treaded.

It is. George

This for those walking Oscar thesaurus types, which actor won the inaugural Best Supporting Actor award in 1936 and has won it three times?

Someone who had the same name as John Merrick?

Someone on Reddit told me the class is 18 hours, registration is $100, includes syllabus and books. He didn't say which books, only that they are revisions of old books, as the class is a revision of the original, errors and all. (He didn't know what I was talking about when I asked about error corrections.) He said they were holding classes "all over" and would try to connect me with one in my area, if I were interested. I asked if "the class" was available for purchase on Blue-ray or DVD. He said, "It's a class you can take, not something available for sale. Registration is $100..." An answer like that should tell you all you need to know about how old the new one really is.

As of this date: Board of Directors Rev. Vern Edwards [President] Rev. Steve Crommett Rev. Bill Greene Dr. Angela Priester Rev. John Rupp I know John Rupp, barely, from his time in the Bronx. I mean barely. WordWolf might have more memories than I. This website and its predecessor have done so much to expose the legacy leadership of The Way International. But I am not aware of any allegations of personal wrongdoing by any of the current board. Anyone have testimonial about their character? Not rumors. Not slander. Not even necessarily anything negative. What do we actually know about these people? Anything?

So... have we heard from anyone who has taken this class? Or the intermediate? Speculation aside?

Well... proverbs was written by a specific person or people to specific persons or people. That doesn't mean any OTHER people would be unable to cultivate long term curiosity. I get it. it took me years to get beyond the chains Wierwille installed in my brain. Think about what scientists, mathematicians, or philosophers having curiosity to figure out things they are interested in. Wierwille and Martindale were adamant that any new insight about ANYTHING was ONLY revelation from God. I (NOW) say that's malarkey.

I like the video - I keep saying I want to begin doing laps again and the video is a good incentive. I can understand someone communing with God while being in the woods. I used to do that myself. When it comes to Prov 2:1-5 though, I don't see world wisdom here. 1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Here's another thing that we, in TWI, thought was US as individuals tapping into the power of a specific God. Meditation alone in nature. 42 or 43 years ago, I spent a year as a Wow in Fremont, Ohio. In the Spring of 1982, I started spending some time in a small woods environment along Muskellunge Creek Road, immediately south of State Street. It was my happy place. I felt like I was communing with God. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=fremont+ohio+map&atb=v353-1&t=chromentp&iaxm=maps&source=maps What was really happening is better described as achieving a FLOW state. The irony, looking back on it, is in that it was and is something that is not at all unique to TWI or any other flavor or sect of Christianity. It took me a VERY LONNNNNGGG time to recognize and realize this aspect of FLOW. When I did, it was freeing in a very real way. I could accomplish things without reference to anything Wierwille. As far as a biblical key, I found it in Proverbs 2: 1-5. It took many long hours (over the course of years) it took me to overcome the chains Victor Wierwille planted in my brain in his PFLAP classes (read ONLY this and not that), Why? Could it have been because I had been indoctrinated ("trained") to be afraid of world wisdom?

Dang it . Oh, I got it. Glen Campbell and Neil Diamond went through my head but that's wrong. It's "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head".