'Miranda's Last Gift'

[www.theatlantic.com]

From December of 2015:

Posted by: paleface
Date: December 06, 2015 01:30AM

Does anyone know when the prayers for the death of Martha Stevens started? Was it 1974 or so? Or was it earlier?

Posted by: changedagain
Date: December 06, 2015 02:21AM

Not sure. It was in full swing when I joined in '76...
BTW, I know some people get immersed in incompatible, hostile marriages--but labeling your wife a channel of Satan and involving hundreds of people to pray violently for her death--or the death of spirit that moved through her--is quite outlandish. Now that I have the benefit of some distance and have matured somewhat--this is clear to me!

On the topic of Shiloh University:

Posted by: Factoverfiction
Date: December 06, 2015 02:53AM
(excerpt)

The development of Shiloh University is scaring me. They offer a worthless DEAC accreditation at the cost of over $20,000 with no financial aid. They are attempting to sell it as the equivalent of a community college education, when the credits are not remotely transferable in the way most CCs are. Furthermore, they are marketing this to children attending their summer camps. A kid going to Shiloh U for a year as an alternative to college is an economic and developmental setback they likely won't recover from, and a regression into earlier trends in the 80s and 90s of TLW discouraging continuing education as "satan was targeting college students and pulling them away from the mantle and the covering of the church."

Posted by: kBOY
Date: December 06, 2015 03:48AM

FACTOVERFICTION:

There are a number of well-educated church members who have had no hesitation in sending their children to Shiloh U. When one believes TLW can do no wrong, that myopia extends to all it’s activities. As with everything else in life, consequences are not always immediate.

Posted by: changedagain
Date: December 06, 2015 04:31AM

Pushing Shiloh University upon young adults, in part by selling it as an equivalent of a community college education, definitely fits into the category of financial exploitation. If a kid graduates with a degree that basically is worthless--or at least not as valuable as what they thought--and they're also saddled with significant financial debt--that could take many years to recover from. I think you're right to be alarmed by this, factoverfiction.

BTW, my daughters--who spent years in this cult--both graduated from UC schools, with no regrets. Part of the reason they went this route was because I was deeply distrustful of church authorities directing their lives...in spite of the fact that they pretty much had their way with me (and the wife) for some 20 years. Of course, my daughters had seen enough troubling things themselves during their time spent in the cult, to forfeit their lives. Anyway, they attended colleges they wanted to attend. One interesting thing about them is that both rarely mention what they went through in the cult. The only thing that has been addressed, and this recently, is the older one questioning what was going on with this Shiloh University. She questioned whether the degree was worth the money the kids would be funneling to the school.

Posted by: kBOY
Date: December 06, 2015 05:30AM

CHANGEDAGAIN:

Our only offspring, who flew the TLW coop long before we came to our senses, also attended a UC school. The entire generation that left looks back at those still involved who are choosing to pay for a Shiloh U. education in bewilderment.

Posted by: Factoverfiction
Date: December 06, 2015 09:54AM

Changedagain' I agree, it is exploitation. It's dangerous and stereotypically culty--discouraging diverse education in the congregation that is. I'm glad your daughters did what was best for their futures. I fear for kids brought up in the church that never leave the 'covering' or in other words, the sphere of influence of the church and its mechanisms for control.

If I buy one of these patriotic bibles, it would be just to read Two Corinthians. My bible, which went missing over 25 years ago, didn't include that book for some reason.

[twitter.com]

changedagain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I buy one of these patriotic bibles, it would
> be just to read Two Corinthians. My bible, which
> went missing over 25 years ago, didn't include
> that book for some reason.
>
> [twitter.com]


There must be some special treatment in that leather cover keeping that thing from bursting into flames when he touches it.

My wife says she is considering buying one of these Bibles,
but plans to wait until the price drops to $2.99
Even at this lower price, she hopes they will sweeten the offer,
perhaps including a 'Two Corinthians' MAGA hat--whatever the hell
that is. She asked what I thought. I said I would pray about it,
if she made me do so. I reminded her that I no longer
pray voluntarily.
We haven't spoken since.
/s

Trump now selling "God Bless the USA" Bible for $59.99

The last line of an email I received today from an ex-cult member. It lifted my mood for some reason.

P.S. I don't have any This Weeks. At least, none that I know of. Shudder

Interesting take:
[www.instagram.com]

O.K.--that's it for me going down the political rabbit hole. Promise.
Wishing everyone the best.
-Michael Jones



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2024 01:04AM by changedagain.

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Thank you to all who have contributed to this discussion through the years--

including, but not limited to:

UnapologeticallyJohn832, Reepicheep, puddington, kBOY, that little red flag,

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Saw enough, FCSLC, 4generation, Cloudwatcher, Lilith, Jez the Belle, paleface,

The Jewel, Imapurple, Invisible, typer, TheSarge, Richard M. fromsouthchicago,

ApostleDog, TheycalledmeJonah, dbc, NancyB, Tmason, kbyrne, Northerngate,

Blowout, cultfree, Road to Damascus, Twoteetwo, fool me twice, Chachakitty,

Jan w lane, CARe, lone.wolf, FactoverFiction, JesusJesusJesus, Some One,

JesusJesusJesus, pressingonbyHisgrace, Some One, jhorning, Poliscigrad,

NavyVet79, Walked, dirtybrushes, 40yearsin2016, Prettyboy, FireWalker,

light777, I_woke_up, corboy, Liamthomasusa, Ohman?, Lifeontheotherside,

Amos, South Gate, Ditch_Digging_Yasper, Mined, denisewallerlaughlin,

heshealing, Reachingforward, Aleutian...


Much Love,
Changed



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2024 02:54AM by changedagain.