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In Reply to: Re: oops a few typos posted by marina on June 15, 2002 at 00:43:27:
I know, there are so many angles to this whole thing, and a lot for me to consider. I don't believe Tim actually came out and lied about not being in the group, he just didn't answer it, if you see, he posted his letter to Texas Ray on the NDN board.
Like I said, it's a more emotional issue for me, and if the work is of God, or the more basic question, is there a God?, then I imagine He would bless it. My faith doesn't run that way, I left the group and have tried to do things for God which totally failed. Does that mean God's blessings were only on me while I was in the group? I don't think so, I refuse to believe that. But it makes me question the whole thing of "God", and I feel like in many cases, I have to go it myself and God gets involved in more major things.
I wonder that this whole discussion won't cause Tim to think more deeply about his connections to the group and the way he receives his donations. Even my husband isn't really standing by me in this issue. I don't agree with the Family, but even when the first issues of FCF came up, although I would agree to stopping FCF, or forcing FCF to be upfront about their Family origins and foundations, when it comes to the many individuals, not just Tim, but others, whom I do believe are doing a good work, I find it difficult to stir up trouble for them. Maybe I'm just a peace loving person and I should have been born a hippie.
My wish would be that the group would just fall apart and disband, rather than going through extreme measures of a media attack or court case which could cause problems for the children and the sincere. Even Ed Priebe apologised to the group for stirring up the Argentine persecution against them which lead to false arrests, separating children and parents, and when the French raids happened and kids were whisked off to shelters and stuff, it caused a lot of unnecessary grief. So I would ask, is this the goal of the ex-member community, to bring the group down in such a way? To destroy them like that?
If we want to hit at the source of financing, hit at FCF. Hit at Zerby, hit at known abusers, hit at doctrines. Of course you could argue that if FCF were shut down it would cut off a lot of funding for their projects, it's true, but can we spare those who are doing a good work the public exposure and give them a chance to find their funding from another source without having to carry the burden (curse) of the group on their shoulders?
Anyway, you can write to Tim as well and give him your opinions, his address is available on NDN, and also respond to his message there, I'm sure many will have a lot to say. I am just hestitant to automatically catagorize people because of certain things we think are facts about them. Or maybe I'm just being soft?
I know you were hurt deeply by the group, I would never want to minimize it, ever. My own family members were hurt as well by group doctrines, by group policy and decisions made by leaders and individuals. I just don't know what to say.
But I can't, at this point say, "Tim is a bad guy cause he refuses to acknowledge his connection to the Family and because he receives his donations through FCF, a known money laundering machine for the Family, a group which practices spiritual sex with Jesus and whose foundations lie in child abuse, prostitution for God, etc..." because we simply don't know enough about his situation and maybe if we knew more about it we could find it in our hearts to overlook his connections and let him live in peace. He is by far doing more in this world to help others than I am.
Maybe I'll have an opposite opinion on this in a few days though. Maybe knowing Tim and his family personally, having regular contact with his daughter who is living with him but is not in the group whatsoever, gives me a different perspective. If I weren't somewhat emotionally involved I probably would see things differently.
