In Reply to: Has anyone read this book? posted by Carol on August 03, 2004 at 10:38:56:
Hi, Carol!
I've also read the Cornerstone articles, a couple of weeks ago; I believe. I cannot say I thought too much of Chancellor. How much access to the Mo' Leters and TF morality does one need to render an accurate portrayal of TF?
I think his postion is weak. He's more of a sensationalist journalist, than of an accurate or even inquisitively questioning and/or maturing Christian; I'm afraid.
I just can't give him a "pass"; I'd say to him that he should actually do his investigation according to the Bible, or at least call it what it is.
When I was working for a Geophysical contractor in Venezuela, in the early '80s, I regularly visited TF colonies in Caracas.
I also ran into some real Christians, who were feeding poor people washed out of mountainside cardboard and dirt hovels--clothing and sheltering themas well.
They had an American pastor who was training his Venezuelan replacement, and he had grown up as an expatriate there; just as I had.
Anyway, he and their elders prayed for me to be able to minister to TF members, that Jesus would "hold their minds" as he had for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, while He "opened the Scriptures to them", until the proper time for Jesus to reveal Himself to them, and break bread with them.
As a direct result, over a period of a year ,I visited them, resisted all the advances of several FFers that were "sic'ed" on me, ministered to all of them, as well as to a couple from Spain, and three people left TF! I really praise God for that!
I suppose I could write a book about that, along with my '71-'74 membership, and my pre-COG/FOL invlovement in the yoga occult, etc.
I might even make a good amount of money from it---like a sort of "payback" for the ripped-off part of my life I spent with them. Hmmm.
I've just never been led to; and probably won't be.
Which is my point. I think it's obvious that Chancellor has his career in mind all the time, and played to the "winds" of what he knew he could publish. Period.
Carol, you wrote:
"I don't imagine this perspective absolves Family members of their crimes against a generation of children, but it does remind me that there but for the grace of God go I. It also reminds me that from the perspective of Family members (and that of many people outside TF), there is no doubt a certain gratitude that they did not made the kinds of choices that would have brought them to where I am today."
Your last sentence there is a little confusing to me. The deceit/seduction/rape/torture, and the 2 Peter 2 type of "through feigned words
mak[ing] merchandise" of especially the SGAs is obvious, and so is the "there but for the grace of God" comment.
So, of what are you speaking when you refer to "a certain gratitude that they did not made the kinds of choices that would have brought them to where I am today".
Through readng your posts on this and other boards, I'm somewhat aware of some of those choices, I think; but I could do with some clarification, here.
Are you refering to your "pro-Empire" political stand where you refered to yourself as a "sold-out Systemite" (somewhat tongue-in-cheek? So am I!), or your current stand of pro-homosexuality, or your interpretive view of human behavior via psychology/psychotherapy, or other intellectual positions you have occupied post-TF?
I would be very interested to know; seriously.
But, back to Chancellor: I remember an "off-set card" verse I memorized way back; of course its focus now is (after first applying it to myself in prayer, repentance, meditation, etc.) more on the cult, than the "damnable church system", which I just took Berg's word on.
Anyway, if Chancellor is supposed to be this hugely informative Christian authority on TF, He should, I believe, give a little more heed to Titus 1:16--"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
In other words, it doesn't matter, to me, that TF once stood for whatever.
They demonstrate that they do not know God.
Their lives, practices and teahcing are abominable, they do NOT obey the Bible, and they are hateful reprobates against every Christian ministry--they are typical reprobates, and will be so until they leave and disavow Berg et all.
They are so obviously VILE, I really don't care WHOM that hair-lips; either!
'Later!