R E E P "I could not trust myself to make a good decision." This is just one more unfortunate consequence of groupthink, brainwashing, and mind-control, that effectively undermines autonomy and surrenders it to another. There are those who have come forward to share that this has impeded their decision-making skills for many years. The broad range of injuries inflicted by a cul
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

R E E P When one is in a cult, the last thing one studies are 'cults'. For that matter, when one is in a Christian cult, the last thing one reads is the Bible, except for a devout few. We were fully indoctrinated with JRS' emphasis (then G&M's guilt-trip), attending a ridiculous number of services for those in the L.A. area, along with listening to cassettes and C
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

S O U T H C H I Absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is how history has played out, because we ventured away from HEAVEN in a desire to make ourself someone 'special'--and be the center of attention.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

R E E P "I have begun to view my years in The Walk/TLWF as helpful in understanding the current political climate." I am HAPPY you found at least one silver-lining in it all. Many of us now can smell a cult like a hound dog.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D Thank you for posting the "fucking horror movie" thread from Jodi above, which is not as far 'off-topic' as you surmise. It is just one more sad tale regarding the dangers that personality cults pose, be they religious, philosophical, or, unfortunately for our sake, political. The same cognitive dissonance afflicts them all. I have friendships that span
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D What an amazing contribution to the dialog, coming just one month before Shalom's disclosure. There are too many issues to cover in detail, but what a damning indictment of a system that was corrupt to the core, and yet was able to sustain itself for seven decades because it was being run like a fascist state dressed in sheep's clothing.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D What a sad legacy--it breaks my heart to even read it. The degree of destruction inflicted on all levels is truly disheartening, given that it was done in the 'name of the Lord'. Some have recovered, some are still recovering, and some may never recover--at least not in this life. The G-man is the only one left to hold accountable, but he will most likely NEV
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The ultimate cop out and spin. After we easily dismissed so many other 'false prophecies', the resurrection life issue was probably second only to no 'kingdom' appearing on the scene in 1979. It ultimately set the tone of guilt-projection that infected the fellowship right up until its ignominious end. Those drowning in guilt are quick to project it, and we were the a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D Great response to WASTED. Learning how to let things go, especially anything placed upon us by others, is one of life's most important lessons. P U D D was gracious enough to supply us with the most insideous one employed within TLW--being personally responsible for the death of JRS. Anyone still carrying around even a residue of that guilt should cast it onto the as
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

P U D D “It’s Easier to Fool People Than It Is to Convince Them That They Have Been Fooled.” Therein lies the danger of cults. We can arrogantly think 'we know' at any given juncture--when most of the time we barely know what can be known--but it takes at least a modicum of humility for us to confess we not only 'know not'--but then have the rude awakening we have a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

R E E P It is pretty amazing how many developments can occur in such a short period of time, politics and Covid notwithstanding. There is no telling where this sordid tale may end. Even though we have leaders on the run (probably with the $$$) being chased by lawsuits, and the 'Center of the Universe' incinerated into a black hole, we still have with us the 'remnant of the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D Our CREATOR has been portrayed in a very unfavorable light, especially in the Judeo/Christian/Muslim traditions, which are all conjoined at the hip. They all seem to have come from a seemingly unhealthy relationship with whom they believe is the MOST HIGH, but instead, have conveyed a picture of one who has been knocked down a few pegs. Jesus, on the other hand, seemed to h
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The sheer vindictiveness of G&M continues to astound me. They were so efficient at publically presenting themselves as something completely the opposite, we in the cheap seats, knew little or nothing about what degenerates they actually were. Too bad there wasn't a 'whistle-blower' earlier in their (or JRS' regime) that would have spared a lot of folks a heap of misery.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

As we all know, cognitive dissonance is a malady of cult participation, where our experience does not reflect reality. We see this on display with a large segment of Christianity following someone who represents the exact opposite of the beliefs they espouse. This also includes the current 'remnant', who have their eyes closed and ears covered, and still support our former 'fea
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A FANTASTIC STORY ". . .the vision JRS allegedly had in 1972 seeing 7 years into the Kingdom. . ." Two things here: First, this completely explains all the 'warfare' JRS claimed to be under all those years, which was really the guilt of having foisted such a 'fantastic story' upon a large group of followers (as well as just one more affair to sweep under the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

H O L Y J I M C A N Y O N -- Part Two (Posted by LONE.WOLF) 1. Gary saw the Lord huddled in a corner of his home, and he said it was the first time he’d seen him in his physical being. This happened a couple nights before Marilyn’s passing if I remember correctly. 2. He knew the Lord was there for Marilyn, thus he didn’t approach or speak to the Lord. 3. Not once in the word did Gary
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

W O O K I E Welcome to the conversation. I have been a contributor to the main TheWalk/TLW forum above for many years. I would be happy to share anything you want. What years covers the locations listed above? I put in 35 from Hawaii to DC and other places in between. In addition to the Woodrow Nichols expose covering years up to 1980, there has been a Kelly Daniels book and an Andrew
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D P.S. From the same source mentioned above (I think), the Grills are apparently residing somewhere in Arizona, just within reach of California, but enough out of reach of the law to require extradition (?). (Pure speculation.)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D Information from an American-born, Brazil-expat recently arrived in the states shared that there was some kind of 'payoff' to Silas that upset many of the locals. He has since respun himself into a new 'misery' in an upper middle class area of (I cannot remember where) Brazil. As you surmised, the G-man and Silas probably had a 'gentlemen's agree
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

* * * T R A M P  o f  I S R A E L * * * We may have a POTUS who claims many things, but we need look no further than our own 'Lamp of Israel'--better known in some circles as the TRAMP of ISRAEL. When we now survey the vast landscape of destruction that the 'Lamp' is either directly or indirectly responsible for, the outrage is directed towards a claim that is outrageo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

L I G H T 7 7 7 : (From CHANGED repost.) One can definitely feel the depth of torment your situation engendered. Once again, it is/was a carefully crafted narrative that presented a public face to most, and a private face that slow-boiled all sensitivity and decency out of those they carefully vetted and found worthy to be in their presence. The WIZARD OF OZ had nothing on TheWalk/TLW.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

O N I O N : Being neither Doe/Perpetrator/Plaintiff/Defendant, I thank you on behalf of those who's case will need all the help they can get, considering the insidiousness of the Does/Perpetrators. Very few had the point of view you were afforded, edited and compartmentalized as it was. What was hidden in darkness will hopefully be brought out into the LIGHT.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

R E E P : "G&M just wanted people to write down their sins and nail them to a cross." "Didn't someone collect all the sins and offer to sell them to the highest bidder?" "Yes. Rick and his buddies. They "joked" about it." This was obviously dangerous information in the wrong hands, which it apparently was. There was no one more IRRESPO
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

C H A N G E D RE: Right Spirit Calling BS on the same was something Jesus (Y'shua) did on occasion, especially when confronting the hypocrisy of the religious authorities of his day. This did not make him extremely popular, and was probably viewed as someone having a 'wrong spirit' with the wrong people, worthy of course, of the death penalty. It is good that option was n
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

* * * T E E * T I M E * * * An expat recently recounted how they assisted G&M to get reduced rates during their 'golf phase'--and was a much better player than both of them.  One cannot fault another for enjoying a little R&R from time to time, but it begs the question--just how much R&R did G&M need from their 'schedule', and better yet, what WAS their sche
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

O N I O N : Lest we forget that both G&M were complicit in orchestrating three major Rick Disney coverups/mop-ups/damage controls that occurred during multiple affairs/marriages--I lost count.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One 'unintended' consequence of those who still fawn over the G-man in his current iteration by kissing his ass with favorable comments on his FB pages is to reveal themselves BY NAME as the current Walk/TLW version of 'holocaust deniers'. They have included themselves in their own version of a 'rogue's gallery', nothing to be proud of, when one considers t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

THE HEINOUS TAKEOVER OF TLWF IN 1992
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

FREEDOM within TheWalk/TLW was a slowly eroding experience, as subservience to 'overlords' was increased over the years until there was little to no room for personal initiative, and a 'boil the frog slowly' compliance was implemented upon those who would tolerate it. If one believes that 'the TRUTH will set us FREE', then we were mired so deep in illusion that we
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The TRAMP OF ISRAEL's own admission of being a 'woman who is anti-woman' fits perfectly into the Jezebel paradigm, eliminating all of the female competition for her throne. This was followed up later with the directive to 'kill the male spirit', thus solidifying her position as the sole 'lord & savior' of the fellowship, all the while decimating its ranks
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families