Rocky

Perhaps a more stark mental model for said kind of dark example of a void is a guy in the news all over the country the last couple of weeks for his pervasive, persistent prevarication. A guy who claims 142k people selected him for a seat in a certain national legislative body (in the US). But that 142k voted for somebody who conned them.

AFAI am concerned, the "great principle" is NOT in the bible. Ecclesiastes says there's no new thing under the sun, sometimes that's true. But "the preacher" who wrote Ecclesiastes didn't know much about astronomy beyond names of some of the most prominent constellations; didn't have anywhere near as much available knowledge of cosmology or healthcare or geology or electricity or any one of hundreds or thousands of sciences or other fields of study. However, there WERE philosophers back then. Thinkers. MY Great Principle is Lifelong Learning. I clearly don't know nearly as much as I would like (or love) to know. But this is one thing I learned a little bit about today.

What matters is the response, not the reaction to the response. I love chockful's idea.

YES!

Not surprising. Paranoia can be serious.

They may not have liked how we criticized their FOG pic. The new one seems to be trying to project a more "cheerful" image... with a pic of the fountain in front of where the plagiarist, alcoholic, adulterer is buried.

Yeah, I know they've kept lists of PFLAP grads. That's how I figured they'd been doing it... without using any database/filter techniques. I doubt they have a current address for me, however. I told them to take me off of mailing lists at least 30 years ago.

Good deal.

Hi Extremist, I recently started a thread in the About the Way forum on the subject of Which is more or less saying what you're asking with different words. You could also go to Goodreads.com and search for books about spiritual abuse. There's also some memoirs from former Way Corps that you might find helpful. Of course, you probably have already identified and become aware of problems with TWI for yourself. Long ago, people here at GSC were also recommending The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse. This book was published 31 years ago. Much research has been done since 1991. The International Cultic Studies Association has resources you can either send for or perhaps find in public libraries. Written by one of our own friends, Charlene Edge, a memoir Undertow, My Escape From the Fundamentalism and Cult Control of the Way International. Is listed on the ICSA website, but you probably can get it for less directly from Charlene or from any online bookseller in either paperback or kindle edition.

The friend, to whom I referred in my comment earlier, intuitively noted he has lived in the same house for too long a time. I don't believe twi is anywhere near sophisticated enough to do such research. In fact, the mere fact they are doing this seems to belie a definite fiscal desperation, as others have noted.

I heard from a friend on FB yesterday, a friend who has posted prominently on GSC, about having received one of those postcards. While probably would make sense for twi to filter the mailing list as you suggested, I don't think the cult is currently sophisticated enough to figure out such targeting for the mailing.

I wonder if Mike has chosen to ignore me. I wish him success... maybe not with his stated goals, but rather with what might be his actual heart's desires. I think of Psalm 37 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; What got me thinking about that? This YT video. Then, like rivers of understanding running together in my mind, I looked up this book and immediately requested it (put it on hold) at my local public library. THEN I considered how and why Mike is so apparently not successful in his state goals (getting GSC readers to believe him about Wierwille's ministry and writings. Robin Dreeke might have some insight on that issue. What do you think?

Probably the "Fountain of Living Waters" near where they have the plagiarizing, alcoholic, adulterer buried.

[/snarc]

And as we ALL know, feelings ARE NO [a] guarantee (evidence) for truth. -- Victor Wierwille. What is it called when one thing is articulated, but the opposite is practiced? Btw, for any potentially strategic thinkers in the audience:

Great post Twinky!

Ownership, Mike. Take ownership of your communication skills or lack thereof. Genuine leaders don't blame. The support. Which one are you? Which one do you want to be?

Who among you (or us) might be strategic thinkers? Was Victor Wierwille a strategic thinker? (not necessarily a rhetorical question) Is Mike a strategic thinker? (rhetorical question) I mean what really is a great principle? How does it apply to GSC? Are YOU a strategic thinker? (rhetorical question) [stream of consciousness]

I'm thinking it's really not a significant matter, but I put it in bold in the link. I mean really? Does it matter at all? But I searched (the internet) for both spellings. This one came up. I use DuckDuckGo for internet searches.

Did you read the link? https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Exceller

Yes. Me. First unintentionally faked it in July 1975. Took more than 40 decades for me to realize it was all BS.

Was it really spelled "exceller?"

A survivor of sexual assault, Laurie Halse Anderson presents a highly readable, intimate memoir in verse You may be able to borrow this book from your local public library.

And various inputs (into one's diet) of fiber. I prefer medjool dates.

Verbal legerdemain. That's what you just described and what WE ALL (who became followers) bought into, hook, line, and sinker. It's my belief every human is subject to being conned in some way or another.