Rocky

T-Bone, your post makes sense to me.

Emphatically agree on both points.

Link to ordering Undertow on amazon.com.

If you ask me, I think you communicated that point very well. And I have to wholeheartedly agree.

Unless she has her retirement already planned out as something that takes her to someplace else (like back to NC), or unless the new administrator effectively asserts his dominance over the organization, human behavior/nature suggests she's not going anywhere in terms of exerting authority on the (dis)organization.

Liver damage from acetaminophen, which can be severe, can result either from an overdose or from regular doses that are taken while drinking alcohol. -- from medicinenet.com It may be reasonable to infer that VeePee (unknowingly) killed himself.

Nobody in TWI ever got away with trying to hold VeePee accountable for anything. And like Waysider said, it's doubtful he ever thought he had a problem with alcohol.

The most comprehensive documentation of the history of that time is in Elena Whiteside's book. Obviously, that leaves out much of any conflicts that may have occurred. Really, outreach much beyond Ohio only took off when VeePee visited the hippies in NY and San Francisco.

I can't speak to how frequently he was publicly drunk, but I am aware that whenever he visited believers on the field, they gave him bottles of Drambuie and served it to him during times he was sitting with followers seated on floors (events called "night owls") at his feet listening to his BS. He did lose an eye, years after filming PFLAP. Likely there were multiple factors contributing to the eye problems.

Received my copy today (didn't check the mail on Saturday). I read it last winter/spring. I'm hoping I can get my daughter to read it (a busy mom with a full time job) to understand more of my personal history. Btw, this is my hope for Rosie, JYDL and company.

You shall know them by their fruit. TWI was nothing more than a cult of personality (VeePee). Was there ever any spiritual substance to it? Were they nucking futs? The question answers itself.

Happy Thanksgiving, Greasespotters!

Btw, even the Mormon church invests in their communities.

For emphasis... yes, we're talking about YOU, Rosie and JYDL.

BTW, you might also want to get yourself a copy of Penworks' book, to be released on Tuesday this week. Undertow: My escape from the fundamentalism and cult control of The Way International. You'll see how GSC is not about trying to convince people that TWI is trying to get their kids to wear sheets and go around selling flowers.

As chockfull noted, your statement is entirely a rationalization. Does TWI provide advance notice that "there are legitimate hurts people have from their experiences?" That's not what it said on the Green Card when I first learned about the cult 42 years ago. You might find this book provides insight. Mistakes were made (but not by me): Why we justify foolish beliefs, bad decisions and hurtful acts. I would also kindly direct your attention to Proverbs 2. The key underlying concept in Proverbs chapter two is CURIOSITY. Has TWI programmed you to put up blocks and limitations to your curiosity?

So, next Tuesday, the webpage with the paypal link will be posted?

I can't wait!

I can't wait until Penworks' memoir, "Undertow" is published. Lot's of insight to VeePee's awkward "research" skills, I suspect.

Or might it have been your presentation of the "parody" that's responsible for readers not picking up on it? Nah, that can't be it. You'd never blame someone else for something you're responsible for, right? ;)

Did you try it out on a test audience before you posted it? ;)

The writer of the research paper apparently didn't grasp the purpose of the debt policy, thinking that the organization held to biblical scholarship above all else. Silly, naive youngster. Reminds me of Romans 5:3-4. "Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope." My PI: we aren't discouraged by the lessons from the school of hard knocks because we know that's how we learn life's lessons and build character and patience. From the perspective of the CULT (and the insight in chockfull's post essentially defines the concept of CULT), it's all about enforcing social norms that serve the organization at the expense of the member (or follower if you still prefer). And yes, stubborn, stupid and abusive.

The article on the Neuroscience of Rationalization is exquisitely brilliant. Thanks for that Bolshevik.