By Rick Ross, Expert Consultant and Intervention Specialist Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader. •Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability. •No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. •No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement. •Unreasonable fear about the outside world, suc
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

lily rose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Invisible, > > When I joined I didn't do an exhaustive analysis > of world religions and decided the LW presented > the best theology available. I had no biblical > discernment skills and did not realize then that > many of JRS's teachings go against the Bible. But > I probabl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Invisible Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We can find fault with anyone or anything if we > choose to do so - we can even cry about how we > were robbed of all the presents we didn't buy, > give or get because some one told us not to > celebrate Christmas (easy now) - or one might ask > - why did one join the church, if they had to gi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I did not know this. Thanks for sharing the bit > of walk history, dbc. > BTW, I had a falling out with my father > (biological, not John) over my refusal to > celebrate Christmas in the late 70's...based on > walk teaching. It was all so unnecessary. And > now, of course, the Christm
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Like to hear from Rick. I'm given up child brides. Oh, dear God...one can only hope, NickleandDimed! And not just for Lent!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain wrote > > If they would like to add a Mormon holiday I would > suggest Pioneer Day. It is celebrated on July 24 > of each year. It celebrates the entry of Mormons > into Salt Lake valley in 1847, after the long > journey westward to escape religious persecution. > Just a thought. Great idea, changedagain! I was thinking that if they want to show o
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hot news flash!!! (Where's kBoy?) THIS FEAST OF DEDICATION — FILL YOUR HEART WITH THE LIVING WORD (or keep buying more of those CDs!!!) 12/17/17 Honolulu, HI The Feast of Dedication celebrates the miracle of Hanukkah that occurred at the cleansing of the second temple during the time of the Maccabees. They had to build a menorah and fill it with what little oil they had. Then God cre
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"We strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel" is a good description, Larry. Even with the coming of the Christmas Truck, I've heard Rick say that we can go out and bless other people on Christmas Eve because "we don't celebrate Christmas". I think the real meaning of this is that TLWF doesn't celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. I would even argue that
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Great points, Lily Rose. JRS was considered to be THE Apostle to the Kingdom age. He had definite ways of letting you know what you were supposed to think. In fact, he used to say, "Let me tell you how to think." If he said, "Get married," you got married. If he said, "Get divorced," you got divorced. If he told a young woman to get an abortion, she got an abortion.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I'm still having trouble editing. The second paragraph in my previous post was in response to Invisible's comments.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Kbyrne, nothing like the Jim Jones' mass suicide to perk up the holidays. Tell the kids go home to see their parents for a change so you don't get as much "persecution"! I was in the Walk for over forty years. I never felt that it was up to me to decide whether I should celebrate Christmas or not. Well, unless I wanted do that knowing that I was offending God...or admitting
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I got to know Bob fairly well in the latter part > of his life. He was very distraught about his > financial situation, and felt betrayed by G & M. > I've mentioned before that I was notified of his > death by an announcement Gary made during a valley > feast service. Coupled with the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Invisible Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think many people had their own experiences, > have their own unique thoughts and opinions about > Impact but I believe there is very little spoken > about Impact any where because of the love so many > of the people had for Bob. He wasn't about money, > nor was he greedy, and he worked at t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Tknc wrote: "As far as extended family goes, We essentially stopped all contact and broke all ties with them years ago after my grandparents passed away. We were all affected too much by being around them and taught to keep our walls up at all times. They were identified as having a religious spirit so I have no real relationship with any extended family" I'm so sorry to hear
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: "My heart cries for you Tknc. Your family was so toxic from the living word teachings. I highly recommend seeing a professional for help. I did and it helped a lot. You belong to the family of man now. Try to find the love and connection in a new place maybe. And a new way." Tknc, I agree with Puddington. I also got help from a counselor. It was very helpful
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

corboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Y'know, forbidding participation in Christmas is > an effective way to isolate us from a huge array > of outside influences and thus trap us further in > a cultic group. > > A group that tells you to avoid winter holiday > efforts and festivities requires you to forgo > special times wit
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Cloudwatcher Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Welcome Reepicheep. Yes we were ripped off of > Christmas -- our families cheated out of a very > special time for so many years. Then Lord > Fauntleroy wants his C Truck and -- well so much > for Saturnalia. Let's go caroling. It was a wild > ride and living at the whim of insane peopl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you for the warm welcome, Lily Rose and NickleandDimed. This time of year is especially hard for me because of time missed with loved ones during the holidays. Many of those I miss the most have passed away, and that time will never be recovered. I’m sure that I’m not the only one posting here who has this sadness. It was bad enough when we “didn’t celebrate Christmas” because we could s
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We all paid a price to leave, I suspect. Now our > joy is in the freedom we have. Agreed, Puddington. This is the first time I am posting, but I have been following the forum off and on for quite awhile. I am so appreciative that it is available. I came into “the walk” as a teenager, and finally terminat
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families