penworks
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WANTED: Seasoned Ex-Corps Leaders to Come Back
penworks replied to skyrider's topic in About The Way
Yes, they (VPW's "girls") hid the fact that they slept with him or rather interpreted their liaison with VPW as "serving the man of God," which really means they slept with him because he intimidated them into doing it, preying on their sympathy. Or did they get brainwashed into believing they were "helping" him? I know some who would answer YES to that question. I recall a meeting in the fireplace room of VPW's house, which was the basement. It was sometime in 1976 or 1977, during the year I was separated from my then husband who left me there in Nov. 1976. There was a third Corps person who wanted to divorce his wife. VPW, in his chair alongside the fireplace, Drambouie in hand, confronted that person about divorce, stating that his (VPW's) situation served as an example of "staying together no matter what." He said that even though Mrs. Wierwille had had a hysterectomy which debiltated her from enjoying sex, he stayed with her. That was commitment. I did not want to know this. He foisted this information upon us whether or not we wanted to know the intimate details of his marriage. In hindsight, I realize that telling us this was possibly his ploy to gain our sympathy. Perhaps, I think now, it was his effort to justify his extra marital affairs. But that's just my opinion. We'll never know for sure. I do know I felt VERRRRRY uncomfortable with his telling us this most personal information. Why would a man do that? -
Why I Wrote My Story -- "Insanity on Steroids"
penworks replied to skyrider's topic in About The Way
For further help on recovery, I recommend: Take Back Your Life -
This is a "private message on my own feed."
My second book will be published in the Spring, 2022, in paperback and ebook, available from major booksellers.
For updates on its progress and pub date details, visit https://charleneedge.com. What it's about:
From the Porch to the Page: A Guidebook for the Writing Life is Charlene L. Edge’s most recent book—a delightful multi-genre collection with something for every reader and writer.
Edge’s prose is crisp and to-the-point, her voice discerning yet collegial, speaking friend-to-friend, as she shares stories, realizations, and moments of beauty. At the heart of the collection are more than thirty short essays, containing insights into the writing craft, practical exercises, marketing tips, self-publishing advice, and recommendations of books on topics to nourish the emotional and intellectual lives of writers.
As well as exploring beloved authors and poets, Edge includes her own work to illustrate and enrich her essays: short-short stories about a character, Melanie Craven, who falls into sticky but enlightening predicaments; poems on themes of growth, love, loss, nature, travel, and being a writer; and an article about Edge’s cult experience that preceded her award-winning, book-length memoir Undertow: My Escape from the Fundamentalism and Cult Control of The Way International.
Beginning with “Readers Become Writers” and ending with “If You Want to Keep Writing,” Edge’s encouraging and gentle book guides us on a journey from porches to pages, as she highlights the vistas, detours, and delights on the writing path, along with truths we can all apply to poetry, prose, and life.
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Why I Wrote My Story -- "Insanity on Steroids"
penworks replied to skyrider's topic in About The Way
Thanks so much for posting this part of your life story, Raf. I'm grateful for it. It's a lovely way to share with us the complexity of your life, of all of our lives. Charlene -
Why I Wrote My Story -- "Insanity on Steroids"
penworks replied to skyrider's topic in About The Way
Skyrider, Thank you for sharing your story in such detail. I admire that. The more background and insight about TWI that's presented here from eye-witnesses and thoughtful former members, the better. Over the last five years since I published my memoir, Undertow (about my 17 years in TWI) not a few former members have contacted me to share their stories. They themselves can't speak out for various reasons, but they validated many things I wrote about in my book. It's up to those of us who can speak and write to sound the alarm. Let's hope more brave former followers get up the gumption to share their TWI experiences, info about Wierwille's abuses, plagiarism, manipulation, and the resulting harm to so many which continues to this day, some of it through offshoots from the original Ohio-based organization. Wishing you and everyone here at GSC a happy and safe holiday season. Cheers, Charlene L. Edge https://charleneedge.com -
WANTED: Seasoned Ex-Corps Leaders to Come Back
penworks replied to skyrider's topic in About The Way
I just love nostalgia ... it's so cozy and comforting and ... oops ... other stuff that's not so great. In case you missed the article I wrote on this topic (posted here on GSC back in 2009), here you go. Enjoy. Nostalgia article CEdge10-28-09.pdf -
WANTED: Seasoned Ex-Corps Leaders to Come Back
penworks replied to skyrider's topic in About The Way
Plenty of former Wafers know that there "allegedly" were women in the early years of the "ministry" and then ones in The Way Corps who were Wierwille's "girls." He seduced them. One wrote her story about that in, Losing The Way. Others have told me themselves. This is not a new revelation on GSC. -
WANTED: Seasoned Ex-Corps Leaders to Come Back
penworks replied to skyrider's topic in About The Way
In 1971, I attended the first ROA and went to every one thereafter until boycotting the ones in 1986 and 87 while I was working at HQ and trying to figure out how to leave ... I see this revival of ROA as a way of recruiting young folks like I was back then, who are oblivious to the twisted roots of TWI, Wierwille's plagiarism and abuse of power, especially concerning women (the alleged secret harem, etc. that I happen to know now was in existence), the patterns of manipulation beginning with Wierwille, used to perpetuate its warped agenda of controlling people to further the organization and, in my view, its sick ideology of bibliolatry, homophobia, and self-righteousness beneath the cloak of "loving people" but in fact only demanding their loyalty. There's more, but ... As for nostalgia, I don't underestimate it in groups like this. It is powerful. But the target audience for this ROA is aged 18 - 35, or thereabouts, right? What are they nostaligic for? Not the "good old days," as far as I can tell. It's the current older "leadership" who are nostalgic and think this event will inject energetic new leaders/believers into its withering cause. Sigh. It might, but aren't people in this age range TODAY more attracted to social media, instant gratification, on and on? Are they willing to spend money on travel, housing, food, etc. for a week of ... what? Maybe. And just what are the goals they're supposed to shoot for if "The Word" is already prevailing (at least in some people's imagination). Maybe they'll just be looking for a good time meeting others their age and finding a future spouse or something. Good luck with monitoring what happens there, if monitoring is part of it. Seems like a lot of accidents waiting to happen in one way or another. Hope not, but human nature is ... well, human, no matter how many Bible verses you push into people's minds, no matter how many rock n roll bands sing on stage, no matter how much "sprituality" is talked about. I shudder whenever I think about it. That's just me. Go ahead and call me Wet Blanket. I don't mind. -
Thanks for posting this. I added a comment there, too.
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... which, in 2017, was published as Undertow. :-)
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Not sure why my status is "Newbie" since I've been posting here for 14 years, since 2007. Verrrry interesting.
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penworks changed their profile photo
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Lonnell was in the 2nd (Second) Corps with me. Facts matter. Cheers!
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Hi GreaseSpotters, This is Charlene checking in to say HI and let you know that you can read a FREE chapter of my memoir about being in the Way during the early 1970s and 1980s. I was on the biblical research team. To read Chapter One, "Hiding in Plain Sight" click here. A little about me: I am Charlene Lamy Edge formerly known in The Way as Charlene Lamy then Charlene Bishop. I graduated from the second Way Corps in 1973. My memoir, Undertow: My Escape from the Fundamentalism and Cult Control of The Way International was published November 21, 2016. It is available in paperback and eBook at major booksellers and independent bookstores. Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9978747-0-9. In 1970, college students at ECU, who were grads of PFAL, recruited me to The Way. I gave The Way 17 years of my life. From August 1984 to August 1986 I worked on the Biblical Research Team at Way headquarters in Ohio, specifically on the Aramaic Concordance project. In 1987, I escaped from The Way headquarters with my family and disassociated myself from the organization for good. MY WEBSITE: https://charleneedge.com
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Greetings. Over the years I've found important help/understanding/support from the International Cultic Studies Association. Today, I republished on my blog what I think is a mainstay of checkpoints for understanding how a cult affects a person. See what you think. Agree with some aspects? Disagree? Find helpful? Check it out at https://charleneedge.com/the-3-d-cult-experience/
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Dear Annio,
Good heavens ... I just read your post about being sexually abused in TWI. I'm so sorry you suffered all that disgusting crap. Please know I'm sending loving thoughts your way and so admire your courage in speaking out. I only wish the guilty ones, especially VPW, had gone to jail. Perhaps in the future a group of those abused might be able to organize and file a lawsuit. But all that seems so difficult. Sigh.
Best wishes for your continued healing, Annio. Cheers to you, brave woman.
Charlene
