penworks

When folks read the subtitle of Undertow, I sometimes get asked what I mean by Fundamentalism. They think only of the cult aspects of TWI, not the foundation it was built on, which was VPW's use of a fundamentalist view of Scripture. Much of it he plagiarized from work of other fundamentalists. Here's one of many blogs I've written about this: https://charleneedge.com/whats-on-the-menu-fundamentalism-basics/

Okay, I'll say here that I'm agnostic. Here's the scoop: https://charleneedge.com/charlenes-post-cult-nonreligious-alternative/

Update on this offer: There seems to be trouble with making payments to my account on Venmo. So, if anyone wants a signed copy at $15, free shipping, payment would need to be by check or money order. Supplies are running low. Email me at crledge@earthlink.net

Yes, you're right, Charity. Good memory! In the paperback, the scene is in chapter 37, "Not So Good," on page 289.

Hi Greasespotters! Today on my blog at https://charleneedge.com: From “The Snow Story” to “The Comment” by Charlene L. Edge | posted in: Writing Undertow | Hi subscribers! Amazingly, Undertow’s 7th birthday is this November. One way I’m celebrating is by sharing extra bonus material with you that’s related to my cult story, such as the book review below. I’ll do this until Nov. 1st. On that day, you’ll [subscribers to my blog] receive a special post offering free copies of Undertow. So, stay tuned. Meanwhile … Today’s extra bonus I’m very happy and humbled to share another unsolicited review of my memoir, Undertow. This one is from a former follower of The Way International named Buck Dopp. I met Buck and his wife in California many years ago when my then-husband and I were leaders for The Way. They were and still are among the kindest folks you’ll ever meet. From “The Snow Story” to “The Comment” A review of Charlene Edge’s memoir, Undertow In her exciting new memoir, Undertow, Charlene Edge records her real-life roller coaster ride when a Bible fundamentalist cult, The Way International, recruited and trained her to be one of its elite leaders in the Way Corps. For the next 17 years, her major life decisions were dictated or influenced by the Way’s teachings and her fear that disloyalty would engender severe consequences. Edge’s story details, step-by-step how the naïve freshman from Salisbury, MD who simply wants to know and serve God, is recruited by a fellow student at East Carolina University to a Way fellowship. She soon takes the Way’s Power for Abundant Living Class taught by founder and leader Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille who convinces Edge and her fellow converts that his research—by comparing ancient texts—has uncovered the inerrant and original Word of God. Wierwille’s miracle, which Edge calls “The Snow Story” confirms her emotions and soon her life has only one major purpose: to spread Wierwille’s Word of God over the world. Friends and family warn her along the way and in time she discovers the clues—-like “The Comment”—that lead to the realization that she has made a mistake. But how can she escape? Her writing style is generously seasoned with metaphors to complement the crisp details she is able to provide thanks to her meticulous journals and notebooks faithfully recorded during that period. Despite the length of time covered, the book is fast paced. Edge senses when defining moments need to be zoomed in on, and when other periods can be summarized. In the middle of the story, the reader forgets he or she is reading a book and it feels more like watching reality TV. The people in Undertow are multi-dimensional and she paints them with depth and color. The exception is her ex-husband whose deeds and misdeeds are brought into the story as needed without insight into his motivations. Edge guesses where he is coming from, but doesn’t know for sure. He’s a supporting actor, not a main character in this marriage which seems secondary to Edge’s primary relationships in her ministry work and special friendships. Undertow is a lively story and a cautionary tale for the youth who want to search for truth and then save the world. They may end up sacrificing their time, energy and money in the process. The money can be replaced, but the time is gone forever. What glitters isn’t always gold and as Edge discovers, the Word of God may not really be the true Word of God and therefore not the Will of God either. ~ Buck Dopp, former follower of The Way International —END— Next time on the blog “The Faulty Foundation of The Way International” Thanks for reading! Your writer on the wing, Charlene

On this topic ... TWI is using the same phrase, The Jesus Christ Revolution. 81st Anniversary Celebration Updates - The Way International News and Events I never thought I'd see the day when TWI was still grinding out the same old VPW teachings and pulling in the cash. Will this never END?

Ten days left to order your personalized, signed copy of From the Porch to the Page Email me at crledge@earthlink.net In the Subject line, write PORCH. I’ll reply with specific instructions. Offer ends: September 30, 2023 Description: 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 a short story about her cult experience predating 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.

I don't have answers to these questions about what current numbers might be. Perhaps someone who has left the organization recently might know. Is there anyone like that who is reading this?

Sorry, no, I haven't.

Part of TWI's history, in my view, is how a uniquely American belief helped shape VPW's teachings: that America was founded to be a Christian nation. About 35 years ago, I examined this belief in a paper I wrote for a creative writing class at what was then called Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL. I've posted it here for anyone interested in the fundamentalist aspect of TWI. Note - my name at the time I wrote the paper was Charlene Bishop. I was still married to my first husband, T*m Bish*p, from the Rye, NY fellowship. We married the day after we graduated from the Second Corps in 1973. In Undertow, I gave Tim the alias of Ed. We divorced in 1991. Cheers! Fund to Freedom_C_Edge.pdf

Thanks, Nathan.

I listened to her story and applaud her courage. Can someone find the other thread where we discussed the other podcast she is on? There are some good comments there. I remember in that thread sharing that in my experience (1970-87) the "holy kiss" was on the cheek and we absolutley NEVER taught our children to kiss adults on the mouth! For my own recorded presentation, view here: CHARLENE L. EDGE --Author "A Cult Insider's Story" - YouTube

Not quiet on my Way front. Every month Undertow is sold somewhere in the world according to sales reports I get from my book printer/distributor IngramSpark. And messages from readers continue to amaze me, especially from people from my daughter's generation. Some as young as 35. Anyway, you'd be surprised how and where word has spread about the cult called The Way International. Keep sharing your story, fellow Greasespotters. Word gets around. BTW, The International Cultic Studies Association sells Undertow in their bookstore.

Rocky, we know there can't be intellectual honesty when there's an agenda to protect. The biblical agenda was that VPW got that special revelation, remember? I call it the Snow Story. God told VP that He would teach VP the Word like it hadn't been known since the first century if he would teach it to others. And the rest of the agenda, in my opinion, has to do with upholding the belief that the original text had no contradictions. Right. And how would you know you have recovered the orignal text if there is no original text in existence to compare your findings to? Anyway, right, Chockull, what could go wrong? It was wrong from the beginning, in my view, since VPW stole most of his work from others, etc., and had an ego that wouldn't stand others usurping his power. What a mess he created. And the mess continued. In Undertow, I cite a letter VPW wrote to the Way Corps about a mess he created when members of the 8th Corps challenged his "biblical research," especially his gross ignorance and lack of understanding about what the Aramaic version (actually Syriac, but that's another story) was all about. He kicked them out of The Way Corps training in Emporia and they never returned.

In my experience, I met plenty of "older adults" in TWI 1970 - 1987. What I realized after escaping and reflecting on who they were, it became clear to me that none of them were equipped to challenge VPW on his teachings because they, like most of us younger ones, readily accepted the basic assumptions that VP based his biblical beliefs on: the inerrancy of scripture, the cannon of the KJV, and that Christianity was the only avenue to reach "God." And VP was good at deflecting questions. No serious scholars that I know of took PFAL. There were a few ministers, but they didn't stick around long.

Thank you, chockfull. It's a very humbling experience. Whenever anyone trusts you, you feel honored, right? Today, I'm looking through old files and just found this little piece I wrote in 2008. It's background stuff for Undertow but didn't make it into the final manuscript. Like a whole lot of other pieces. For what it's worth: The myth is broken (on the reasearch team at Way HQ) My own myth, The Way’s dogma, became unworkable for me. It needed a blind faith to stay involved with it. I had blind faith no more. I no longer trusted vp’s integrity, which was shot for me after all those long Literals meetings. When I first sat down for my first meeting with the research team I was excited. Thrilled beyond belief that God would call me to such a day, time, and hour, as vpw would say. With an overwhelming sense of purpose, and an even bigger boost to my ego, I took on a persona of what I thought was biblical literariness. This biblical literariness is sort of like what I later experienced when, as a freshman at OSU, I would knit my eyebrows and hunch over a book on literary criticism by Charles Lamb in a library cubicle. I’d emerge hours later, disconnected from the flow of regular time. I had to reprogram my mind to where I was and what time it was. At The Way, I became a fraud, albeit a sincere one. I thought we were doing honest biblical research until I noticed how subjective it all was, how fraught with politics – [we were told] don’t reveal vp’s blunders, choose the least strident interpretation, make it apply to us today by using today’s words. It never crossed my mind that the writers of those N.T. books might have had their own interpretations of the words of Jesus. Indeed, since God authored each and every word, how could they have had such private slants? Politics of the first century was totally unknown to me. Note: The Trial of Socrates By I.F. Stone Pg. 16 "Xenophon and Plato may have “heard” Socrates differently on the subject [of kingship] in accordance with their own preconceptions, as disciples so often do.”

Again today another former follower of TWI contacted me through my website. A woman. A woman whose story of abuse by Way leaders broke my heart. She is one of numerous people, men and women, who have sent me similar messages since Undertow was published nearly seven (7) years ago. I carry these stories are in my heart, and I honor those people's courage to keep on living despite grave wounds. If you are reading this and are one of these people whose story I now know in part, be assured that I admire you and cheer you on in your journey of healing.

Until today, I've been behind the times in my knowledge of how major a WAY offshoot there is in Belize, although I'd heard of it. On Amazon I saw they published a book titled Christ in You. I recognized the cover photo: the original group of W.O.W.s that VPW sent out in the summer of 1971. The ones who are still alive no longer stand with TWI. They recycle a lot of VPW books, etc. Geez. How did they get the rights to do that? Or do they not care about details like that? About Us | LTA (ltaschool.com) Read books online (ourebooks.com)

In Kenya, there's an effort by churches etc. to hold religious leaders to a code of conduct (a good code!). Interesting attempt. Cult News 101 - CultNEWS101 Library: Church Leaders Roll Out Code of Conduct to Put Rogue Preachers in Check

Hi Rusty Duck. Glad you're checking out this site where so many find so much valuable and helpful info and support. Wishing you the best in your journey away from The Way. Penworks a.k.a. Charlene L. Edge author of Undertow. Attached is the first chapter of the book. Enjoy. It's also available on my website. https://charleneedge.com - where you can find my blogs about fundamentalism and cults and TWI. Hiding-in-Plain-Sight.pdf

LCM letter 1990.pdf Attached is an old Way document: A form letter from Craig Martindale in 1990 to all Way Corps. Weirdly, I was already OUT. Escaped HQ in 1987. He was well aware of that and of my unmendable break from TWI! But of course we know these letters were sent out to everyone on the Corps list without consideration for details like whether or not they'd repudiated TWI. LOL.

In Undertow, there's a person named Patrick Ryan who provided a blurb in one of the first pages of the book. I met him through the International Cultic Studies Association. He had a sister who'd been in The Way, so he had a personal interest in my story. For years, he's been working as an exit counselor with another person, Joseph Kelly. They compile articles about cults and send a daily newsletter called Cult News 101. Here's a bit about him and a link to an interview: Cult Stories: An Interview With Cult News 101 Founder Patrick Ryan "There’s a small but dedicated social media community that focuses on the world of cults and if you start following accounts, the algorithms at sites like Twitter and Instagram will eventually funnel you towards Cult News 101, which aggregates stories from newspapers across the globe. When we first found the consistently updated trove of articles, I was curious who was aggregating all the content. Was this a true crime rubbernecker? An A.I. bot programmed to feed AP dispatches? Or was this the work of someone with a vested interest in spreading the news from Cultland? A few exploratory clicks around the web proved that the accounts and the site that hosts the insanely large archive of backdated stories were the work of two exit councilors: modern cult deprogrammers Patrick Ryan and Joseph Kelly, who both have experience on the inside of coercive organizations themselves." " ... I finished the interview by asking Patrick Ryan why it’s important to tell cult stories. I pointed out that I felt that these stories illustrate that coercive control has proven to be a feature of humanity, which he agreed with. 'It’s a bug, it's a feature, and it's the whole history of mankind. It's nothing new. You know, the history of humanity is oppression of people, of a certain class with money and wealth or swords and spears oppressing other people, making them slaves either physically or mentally. It's the history of mankind.'"

Thanks for telling us about this. I've always wondered about your story ...

I have every single one. If anyone wants them, send me a message here at GSC.

If you're writing a book or magazine article or a post here at Greasespot Cafe about your Way experiences, here's my latest blog post about my book about writing, which features a timetable showing how and why I wrote my memoir, Undertow. The following is posted on my website at https://charleneedge.com and in the thread for Undertow here at GSC. September Discount: From the Porch to the Page by Charlene L. Edge | posted in: Book Events, My Writing Life | 0 Greetings, subscribers! Happy Labor Day weekend. To celebrate the labor of writing, for the month of September, ON SALE for $15.00, you can get my most recent book, From the Porch to the Page: A Guidebook for the Writing Life. $15.00 includes tax and shipping to anywhere in the USA. This offer, unfortunately, is not available to readers in other countries. However, the book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For ordering details, see below. Did you know…? This book includes the behind-the-scenes scoop—references in essays and a timetable in Appendix 1 —about how and why I wrote and published my award-winning memoir, Undertow: My Escape from the Fundamentalism and Cult Control of The Way International. This is particularly valuable to readers of Undertow who tell me they are now working on memoirs about their own experiences in The Way International, which is still in business and actively recruiting. Porch is NOT only for writers From the book’s cover: 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. More than 30 essays on the writing life and craft Charlene’s short stories and poems illustrating essay topics — some of these were published and won prizes Nourishing insights from well-known authors and poets Recommended books for writing memoir, poetry, fiction, and travel stories Beginning with “Readers Become Writers” and ending with “If You Want to Keep Writing,” Edge’s encouraging and gentle book highlights the vistas, detours, and delights on the writing path, along with truths we can all apply to poetry, prose, and life. To order your personalized, signed copy of From the Porch to the Page Email me at crledge@earthlink.net In the Subject line, write PORCH. I’ll reply with specific instructions. Offer ends: September 30, 2023 Thanks for reading! Your writer on the wing, Charlene YouTube presentation - book launch for From the Porch to the Page. Website: https://charleneedge.com YouTube presentation on Undertow: CHARLENE L. EDGE –Author “A Cult Insider’s Story” – YouTube