Posted by Skep on August 08, 2011 at 14:40:18
In Reply to: Re: atf, one size does not fit all posted by long time exer on August 08, 2011 at 12:56:28:
This thread, and the observations from "blue" have made me pause and think more about my own perspectives on TFI, Berg, his teachings, the leadership, and the real practices.
It is the final practice of the teachings what results in evil, in my opinion. For example, not everybody practices FFing but they were seen as not really part of TFI. Not everybody practice sucking the p... of their baby boy to put them to sleep as Sara Davidito did. Not all children were sexually abused in TFI because many parents have better sense of right and wrong. But many behaved that way and followed Berg's teachings to those extremes.
It is not what people believe, and not even what people did, regardless of labels. It is, as you say, in how those deeds affected others.
Maybe some people, if left alone would have ended up doing some of those things without Berg's being in the picture. Statistically, there are enough bad people in the world. But I am sure that the vast majority of people in TFI would not have done any of those things had not been for the teachings and the environment that those teachings created. Combine all of that with some other psychological personal weaknesses, and it seems to me that the recipe for evil is there to take place.
So, what where is the evil here? Everywhere but some of us were spared one way or another, and others have repented. I am sure many are still filling the guilt and so this subject is difficult.
But in one way or another, all of us are dealing with the experience and may continue doing so until the end of our walk in this life.
To me the box was open by Berg, and he let it flow knowingly or in ignorance. But he started it all and contaminated many. Once evil came out of that box it moved on its own. It is still moving on its own. TFI has become the fields of the man whose enemy came at night to plant tares. TFI will go forever until that day when the angel will come to collect... we all know the parable.
LTE, I know you are not Christian and the analogy above may not sit well with you but I thought it was fitting example of a way to deal with the issue. I am sorry for all the friends, people I consider brothers and sisters, I left in TFI when I did, but I have prayed they see the light one day.