penworks

Getting back to how The Way's ideology can often affect its followers' political views, here's something I wrote that seems to add to this conversation: Former Religious Right Leader Endorses "Undertow" | Charlene L. Edge

You may ask what the book "validates that some of us have been talking about for so long." At the top of my list would be VPW's misogony, his vindictive attitude towards Christian denominations, and outrageous claims and opinions about what God does and doesn't do. He tells that story about when he heard God tell him audibly that He'd teach him The Word like it hasn't been known since the first century if he would teach it to others. And the phony snow story ensues. Anyway, for some people, they may be wasting their money to buy the book (at this time you preorder it on their form, which lacks a field for your street address, so you have to put that in the same box as the state). For others, it might be worth it to get the book and see for themselve VP the conman who double-talks his way through answering questions Whiteside puts to him. Elena was a nice lady but totally starry-eyed like the rest of us back then. She interviewed me and many others at HQ back then and shaped the material into a propaganda story. I could be wrong, but I don't think there's anyone in the book that's still involved with the original Way organization. They're either running Way offshoots, or, like me, have rejected any connection with VPW teachings or fellowships. Some who are featured in the book have passed away, like Del Duncan, Ian (Doug) Murphy, and George and Bernita Jess.

FYI There's a used copy of Undertow now available at Thriftbooks. $18.39. Browse | New & Used Books from ThriftBooks

Well, if they haven't deleted any of the text, I'm here to let you know I'm glad it's in print again. In the years to come, the kids of people who were loyal may be helped to understand what the appeal was. Also, I quoted some of that book in my own book, Undertow. Now folks can check that source and see for themselves what I referred to. I'm even quoted in that book, LOL, while I was in the Way Corps training and totally enamored with The Way. So you'll read what First and Second Corps members had to say and what we did back then. For anyone who wants to know some history of TWI and read what VPW said himself about a number of things--he's quoted extensively by the loyalist author, Elena Whiteside, this book will open your eyes. It validates what some of us have been talking about for so long ...

You're welcome. You're welcome.

I'll use this definistion from:Christian nationalism | Definition, History, United States, & Facts | Britannica: "Christian nationalism, ideology that seeks to create or maintain a legal fusion of Christian religion with a nation’s character. Advocates of Christian nationalism consider their view of Christianity to be an integral part of their country’s identity and want the government to promote—or even enforce—the religion’s position within it." In my experience with The Way, it was clear Wierwille believed the U.S. was founded to be a Christian nation and his ministry's goal was to bring it back to God's word (which was in actuality Wierwille's mostly-stolen bible teachings). Numerous outreach efforts were put into action, one year Word over the World ambassadors were assigned to target political elections. There was a program "God's Word in Culture" which aimed to convert folks who could spread The Way's propaganda anywhere and everywhere. Wierwille didn't make a secret out of his hope that this country would return to what he believed the founders intended, which was to base the U.S. on Christianity. This sure fits the profile of Christian Nationalism. It is not the way of democracy. I once wrote a paper titled, From Fundamentalism to Freedom. Here are a few quotes: "Dr. Wierwille was determined in this mission. "The United States of America is the central battlefield in a spiritual warfare being waged between the sons of God empowered and enlightened by His Word and spiritual wickedness from on high...we have been appointed and commissioned by God to carry the light of His Word to a nation desperately in need." (Wierwille, The Way Magazine 1974). He also wrote: "One reason America was in need, was that it had turned from God’s way of doing things. “So we in the good old U.S.A. have been caught up in the efforts to replace our American Christian foundation with a man-centered philosophy” (Wierwille “By The Way”. Those articles were published in the St. Mary's Evening Leader newspaper). The Way historian back in the 1980s told me that: "He [Wierwille] came across a book, The Light and the Glory, which had a major effect on him. Many of the Way’s leaders began teaching it in classes designed to show the importance of America in God’s plan to get The Word over the world. This was the goal of The Way Ministry. In practice, it meant promoting the PFAL class and running Way fellowships in every country. She also told me that a staff person, who had worked closely with Dr. Wierwille, said that before this time in the 1970’s most people on staff did not even vote. She remarked that the term “founded on” seems to be the key in understanding what people refer to when they say this country is Christian. In other words, when someone says this country was “founded on the Bible,” they are usually appealing to the Puritan and other Christian influences of the early settlers, not to what the Constitution sets forth separating church and state." Since I had never read The Light and the Glory, I found a copy and read the authors’ basic premise. One basic presupposition is that God had a definite and extremely demanding plan for America ... First, God had put a special ‘call’ on this country and the people who were to inhabit it. In the virgin wilderness of America, God was making His most significant attempt since ancient Israel to create a new Israel of people living in obedience to the laws of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Marshall, Manuel 22). As I read along, I wondered how the authors could reconcile these statements with the First Amendment. They feel the early settlers had a correct understanding of the will of God for America, and that this tradition is still somehow alive today. In Christians on the Right, I found further evidence of this way of thinking. "It was a God-given opportunity to do what they (the Puritans) had never been able to accomplish in the Old World: to establish a society which would be built entirely on their understanding of God’s laws as revealed in the Bible (Kater 22)." The Way held similar beliefs. I realized I had been in a group which tried to indoctrinate others with its own idea of God’s will just as those mentioned above. I saw that I had believed The Way’s interpretation and understanding of the Bible should be accepted by everyone. Where was the freedom to choose in that? During my years in The Way, I did think we should be and were examples to the world of what it means for Christians to live together in love. We were convinced our goal was attainable. We felt so strongly about this that one of our aims was to influence decisions made by our government. Dr. Wierwille was very adamant about this. “Let us put men and women into office who stand for the principles of God’s Word and let us rally to their support...get involved in the outreach of God’s Word or see America die. (Wierwille, The Way Magazine 1975. 30). I admitted we had just been reenacting what the Puritans had done long ago".

We're hearing a lot in the news lately about the rise and influence of Christian Nationalist believers in our government. For those interested, here's a sample of what I've written on that topic. Feel free to share these links on your social media pages. Confession: I'm a Former Christian Nationalist Launched in L.A.: The Campaign of Christian Fundamentalism Former Religious Right Leader Endorses "Undertow"

IMPORTANT NEWS: If anyone is offered a Spanish translation of Chapter One (or other parts) of my memoir, Undertow, or any other of my published work, including blogs, please know I have NOT authorized that translation. My book, like all books published in the U.S., is protected by U.S. copyright law. For more details, read the copyright page of Undertow. To put this another way: I have not given permission, and have no plans to give it, to anyone to translate any parts of my work into any language. I say that not only as the author, but the publisher who owns New Wings Press, LLC, which published both of my books. People who hire translators, by the way, are not the authors of a work, they are the publishers. Now, if as a publisher, I had a bottomless piggy bank and a professional translator I trusted (and another translator to check that translator's work), I might consider publishing Undertow in Spanish, but as of today, I'm 99% certain no such criteria is in my future. Nor do I want it, thanks anyway. In case you're not familiar with the book business, publishing a book, not to mention writing it, is a whole lot of work, stress, sleepless nights, a juggling act of managing editors, blurbers, book designers, book marketers (yourself and your friends), book printers and book distributors. And 99% of the time, money is "lost" on the project. So you have to really, really, really believe the book(s) are worth all that to publish them. So, I'll just say that sharing Undertow with those who want it, like you guys here at GSC, was and will always be one of the most rewarding endeavors of my life. Cheers, Charlene L. Edge

A hearty congratulations to you and your new beloved! Have fun at your wedding... I'm sure loving my second marriage: to a non-Way-believer. We married in 2002. What joy. What freedom to relax and be yourself!

If you wonder why and how I came to write my memoir, Undertow, this blog post I wrote some years ago answers that question: Dear Rachel: This is How | Charlene L. Edge

You know, it is possible John might answer questions about his paper and what happened way back when if any of you ask him. Here's the website contact page to reach him and his organization: Connect With Us | Spirit & Truth

If anyone wants to read my first-hand account of being on staff at HQ and talking with John right after he was fired, it's in Undertow, Chapter 54: Clampdown. I got his permission to use his real name in my book.

Do you want to read what I think about this topic of cults? Here are three of my blog posts I feel are especially helpful: Cults & Identity Theft | Charlene L. Edge The 3-D Cult Experience | Charlene L. Edge The Camouflage of Cults | Charlene L. Edge

Some of you might know about The International Cultic Studies Association, which is very helpful to people trapped in cults but want to get out, to those who've left cults, to those born into cults but got out, and families and friends concerned about "innies" they love. I've spoken at a couple of ICSA conferences and got to know one of the organization's executives, Michael Langone, PhD. He promoted Undertow for me and it's sold in the ICSA bookstore. Michael has his own website, too, that offers great info, like powerpoints which succinctly capture main issues with this complex thing we call a "cult." He knows what he's talking about, having spent many years counseling and teaching and working in this field. Here's the link: Michael D. Langone, PhD - PowerPoints, Selected Enjoy! Charlene Edge a.k.a. Penworks

If you've read Undertow, you know I was involved with TWI from 1970-1987 and knew those folks back then. Yes, they were good hearted. I worked with Bernita Jess, who was kind to me, for many years. I agree they were enablers, maybe some more than others, depending on how close they were to VWP. Intersting that Donna Rand*ll is not on this list! She was VPW's personal research secretary from the early days, helped when they filmed PFAL, and worked at HQ when I was in the Corps 1971-1973, and at PFAL '77 for the filming of that class, I was assigned to be her assistant, although I didn't do very much. So she was loyal from the beginning of the organization. She and her husband, Gene, lived in a trailer on HQ grounds for years. One of her daughters married VPW's nephew. She broke away from TWI around the time I did, in 1987 ish. She had been very close to VPW and I'll bet she knew a lot of dirt.