Rocky

Reporter's notebook: Death of a maiden By Tom Lyden Published 2 days ago [March 9, 2020] Victor Barnard FOX 9 (FOX 9) - If you do this job long enough you may be lucky enough to encounter people who are extraordinarily kind, fiercely courageous and incredibly wise. Sometimes, although rarely, they are the same person. Jess S*******-********* was that person for me. Six years ago, she and her childhood friend, Lindsay T*******, bravely came forward to tell me the story of cult leader Victor Barnard and his River Road Fellowship. Their willingness to share their painful story of life in a religious cult and of their rape by its leader, led to 52 criminal charges against Barnard for sexual assault, an international manhunt leading to his capture in Brazil, and eventually, his conviction and sentence to 24 years in prison. That was the part of the story the world got to see. But the scars of living in a religious cult, one in which the people you love may also be enablers of your rapist, can run tragically deep. Those scars never really heal. Jess would be the first to say that if she was still here. Last week, Jess took her life. She was 31.

Or that twi is inherently Christian?

Know what I mean, Vern? I wish that your exhortation, Twinky, was realistic... but I can't see it falling anywhere but on deaf ears at least in NK, OH. Just today, I read a review a friend on Goodreads.com posted about James Baldwin's play The Amen Corner. From the review, I'm hoping to borrow a copy of The Amen Corner from one of the local public library's near me.

Indeed, I didn't realize the crucial nature of the social connections twi provided at that time. Reconnecting with old friends and family is a wonderful thing and a great first step (when available) for finding "one's own tribe." Thanks T-Bone.

Even when faced with immensely challenging situations.

I found this blog on the Psychology Today website after listening to a couple of TED Talks by psychologist Guy Winch. The Importance of Belonging to a Tribe The curative powers of group identity. Posted Feb 19, 2020 As social animals, we have a "need to belong." We might not experience this need consciously or even be aware that we have it but it resides deep within us nonetheless. After all, in our historical past, we lived in tribes with whose members we spent our entire lives. Today, our "tribe" is often our immediate family—those with whom we live and share meals. However, given the fractured nature of today’s families (picture five people sitting in different rooms, each absorbed with their own screen), and given that unmarried adults often live alone or with roommates, our "need to belong" often goes partially or substantially unmet. What makes it important to address our need to belong to a group(s) is that it is not just a theoretical construct: It has real and significant implications for our emotional health. Here are some of the ways joining a group and finding our "tribe" can improve our happiness and emotional resilience. (continued) [...] If you do not have a "tribe" of your own, take the time to seek one out or create one. Doing so requires effort and initiative but the return on investment will be worth it as it can give a significant boost to your quality of life and your emotional well-being. Btw, here are links to the two TED Talks Young people (when we were young) were drawn to veepee's cult by the tribal need to belong. Coincidentally, a new movie that opens tomorrow in the US addresses the need to belong for both kids and an alcoholic adult.

Indeed, I remember March Fo(u)rth every year. So glad your nephew only lost property, hopefully he had insurance.

Indeed. But at age 22 (43 years ago or so), it just felt overwhelming... but yes, I know now it was a smart move. I almost made it all the way out of the cult that year. After being away for nearly a year, a 7th corpse guy apparently found my phone number (it was listed then) called me and I went back to twi for a few years. Finally made the break after veepee passed.

Obviously, I can't speak to your motivations (and I know you didn't ask me to), but there hasn't been anyone that matched your insight and communication skill to more effectively spell out the problems as well as you. Yes, others have told their stories. That's just as important. But your insight has been incredibly valuable and important. Had you not stayed in as long as you had, your story would not be as rich and robust as it is. So, thank you (on behalf of many others beside just me). Because of personal stress I'm currently enduring, I've been thinking a lot today about John 16:33. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In plain English, EVERYONE endures stress. Everyone has major challenges. Perhaps for much of our lives.

Yes, yes, and YES! Key words, abandoning him. As always, Brother Sky, you nailed it... not unlike nailing 95 theses to a church door.

Word!

My perspective is that it wouldn't have taken any supernatural operation for them to have seen it coming. Just common sense thinking about that tree. Perhaps they should have known it was inevitable.

Foreseeable. But without critical thinking skills, what can you expect?

clever!

Word!

Sky, you make numerous excellent points. Including that while Wierwille was alive, he was making the policy. I see the inertia and autopilot at work when new splinters break away and rather than actually figure out new thinking (new light) on God's word and will, they just cannot break away from Wierwille in their minds... three and a half decades after he's gone.

Autopilot is something humans do without conscious thought. That's what habits are. Much of what we do every day is done without conscious thought. 1.autopilot - a cognitive state in which you act without self-awareness; "she went about her chores on automatic pilot"; "too much of the writing seems to have been done on automatic pilot"; "she talked and he dozed and my mind went on autopilot" automatic pilot unconsciousness - a state lacking normal awareness of the self or environment

Seems like a reasonable inference.

Pretty much.

I would wonder, Raymo, if you by chance might be able to show us chapter and verse what God might have said to us in the Bible about how important it is in the grand scheme of things.

Bravo!

Campbell seems to focus on the mythology of the "hero." Which, IMO, is all well and good but stories and myths that communicate life aren't always about a, or the, hero. They are about concepts, ideas, notions. Making the abstract more tangible. In terms of the topic of this thread, I would ask if we consider Adam, or Eve, heros?