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Getting Out : Inside Out

Scribes and Pharisees

from Banshee - Wednesday, January 21, 2004
accessed 10017 times

Please read my disclaimer.

Disclaimer: I wrote this a little while back, had a little rage to work out, and so I kind of “vented” by writing this. I didn’t post it because I know that most of what I have written has been written before, and by people with a much better language grasp than me. So I know that you have read it all before, possibly too many times, especially for those of you who have been on this site longer than others. But when I read it again recently, I thought I’d go ahead and post it anyway, just to help do my part to keep reminding the Family that we have not forgotten, as much as they wish we would. :)

Also, read at your own risk: there are Bible verses in the text. The reason for this is because the Family claims to follow the Bible, so you have to use the Bible on them sometimes.

Not being able to sleep, I was watching a re-run late the other night of the TV show “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” (The show’s subject is detectives who investigate abuse and rape.) The story on the show was regarding a Bishop who had been abusing young boys, and who had been getting protection from the Catholic Church from prosecution. The Bishop had been confessing his crimes to a priest, and the priest had been covering up for him. The detectives went after the Bishop; hit a brick wall with the Church, who tried to dissuade them with their “the Church will judge their own” crap.


They finally got their break when the priest decided to break his vows and testify against the Bishop. The final scene in the show is when the priest tells the Bishop that he will testify, and the Bishop freaks at him, saying he will be thrown out of the Church, and condemns him with the loss of his soul, making the point clear that the Catholic Church believed the priests “sin” of going to the authorities so much greater than some dozen or so counts of child abuse and rape that the Bishop had committed.


I absolutely seethed with anger watching that scene, being reminded not only of my own victimization, but also of how much like the Catholic Church the Family is in their denial of our claims of abuse. As the very same bishop who had abused these little boys spewed his venom at the priest who was only seeking justice for the children, I saw the Family, sitting on their sacrilegious, self-righteous asses, arrogantly claiming that we are the ones who are oppressed by demons, that we are the apostates who are in opposition to God, that we are the ones who have “sinned”.


Well, I have something to say to you, parents and Family members, something that the Catholic Church is having to learn: Just because someone is religious does not mean that they only answer to God for their crimes. Even Jesus himself said to obey the laws of the land, and “rendering unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things which are God’s” does not just apply to money. It means the laws too. If you break God’s law, you can go right ahead and answer to God, but if you break man’s law, you sure as hell have to answer to man. And here’s a news flash for you duped cult members, just in case being so segregated from society has crusted your memory cells: child abuse is a felony!


Your precious leader Zerby has got your mind so warped that she can publish something like the following quote (taken from “Keep the Faith”) without any of you even seeing the evil manipulation. (Please note that the capitalization and parenthesis are mine.)


13. " I'm not saying that there's no element of truth in what those who have left and are bitter say." (NOTE THE ADDITION OF “AND ARE BITTER.” IN OTHER WORDS, ONLY THOSE WHO ARE BITTER BRING UP THESE THINGS.) "I know that we have all made MISTAKES --there isn't a parent on this Earth who hasn't made MISTAKES in the rearing of their children. And some of those MISTAKES did affect some kids negatively, which is very sad. I'm not minimizing that." (RIGHT, ZERBY, EXCEPT BY CALLING THEM MISTAKES…) "We have apologized many times for the MISTAKES that we made as leadership in the Family…"


24. " Again, I'm not saying that there was never a MISTAKE made or something that shouldn't have happened. MISTAKES did happen. Some of the MISTAKES were very serious and hurtful, like the ones involving sexually inappropriate behavior or harsh discipline--both of which should never have happened."


Does this not sicken any of you? Not even in the least? HELLO!! Wake up!! She is calling our abuses “mistakes”! They are not mistakes! They are CRIMES!! FELONIES!! Crimes for which none of the victims have ever received any retribution for in any way whatsoever. An apology that absolves her and Berg and the Family’s publications from all wrongdoing? That is what we are meant to be appeased by? At least the Church’s victims received monetary compensation, even if not justice.


Does it not bother any of you, especially you parents, that her lame-ass apologies absolve her, and blame you? She lets you, the average Family member, take the fall for the abuses we your children suffered, but then turns around and says you shouldn’t feel bad or upset about it. So who is supposed to feel bad about what happened to us? Us? No, when we get upset about it, we are bitter apostates. What kind of fucking Alice in Wonderland world does she live in? While the similarities of the Catholic Church’s child abuse scandal and the Family’s own abuse cover-up may be glaringly obvious to those no longer in the cult’s clutches, for those of you still fully assimilated with the Borg, my only hope can be that one day you will see the manipulation and injustice with which you are fed your absolution.


I hope that one day you will know that just because you have burnt some publications and painted over some breasts and been given a “Charter of Rights” by WS (that can, by the way, be revoked by them at any time, for whatever reason deemed appropriate by them), that you have not been washed clean. Just because you paint over a swastika does not mean that it was not there. Just because you think you have “cleaned up” your act, and continue to make attempts at silencing your victims by calling us bitter apostates with made up stories, none of that means that it didn’t happen. Just because a handful of Family Members build orphanages in Africa in the Family’s name does not clean it. Just because you have found some needy children in foreign countries to care for does not mean that you cared for the ones that you were given in the first place, your own flesh and blood.You can build a palace over a cemetery; it does not mean the dead bodies are not still there.


You think that you are in bed with Jesus; that he has chosen you above all others in the whole world to give his “special gifts” and unique truths to; that he loves you above all others. One day you will wake up in your adulterous beds and find that you are alone, because you will finally see that you are the very kind of people that Jesus HATED the most, above all others.


I challenge you to go back and read Matthew 23, where he speaks to those he despises, and see if you don’t fill quite a few of what he considers some of the most contemptible and despicable characteristics. Good deeds? Burned publications? Changes of policy? Right.


25 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess."


26 "Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."


27 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."


28 "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."


33 "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (As a side note, Jesus also said that until you first make things right with those you’ve wronged, in this case us, He doesn’t give a crap about your good deeds.)


Matthew 5:23 "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;"


24 "Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."


We all know that one of your most favorite and repeated justifications of what happened to us, are the claims Zerby loves to make that “it happens to everyone in the world,” which she recently reiterated once again in “Keep the Faith:”


(pp 24:) "Some of the mistakes were…ones involving sexually inappropriate behavior or harsh discipline. It would have been so much better if mistakes hadn't happened. …But sometimes they do happen–-everywhere in the world, in every circle of society, not just in the Family."


To this I say to you, as I do to the Catholic Church (who, by the way, make similar justifications), that you are not “every circle of society.” You, by your own definitions and belief structures, are to be held to a HIGHER STANDARD than that of society. You, who claim to be the chosen ones above all others and following the teachings of Jesus above all others, should be adhering to a greater paradigm of love and mercy, considering that regardless of what belief or non belief is subscribed to, there is a universal agreement that Jesus’ greatest philosophies are that of love and mercy. But, instead of just adding what I think of your defense, let me just allow Jesus, your claimed husband, say what he thinks of you and your defense:


Matthew 18:6 "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."


7 "Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"


Here is another wonderful similarity that Jesus just couldn’t get enough of: the WS “elite.” In Cassy’s article “Character Assassination No More”, having lived in WS herself, Cassy brings up some examples of WS and Maria’s attitude of being special, elite, or separated from the Family’s general population. We all know that this was the case; we all read testimonies for years about the separation and secrecy and general elevation that Berg and Maria and their entourage lived in. This was a major problem I had with the Family, especially in the more recent years, as more and more rules and requirements were added to your daily life, with X amount of hours having to be set aside for this or that, meetings, spiritual requirements, etc, and all the while these edicts are coming down from people who have never, ever had to live the day to day life of a regular Family Member.


They never had the experience of having to juggle a home full of children, home schooling, required daily witnessing, required daily meetings, keeping the teens happy, pushing the Activated mags, following up on converts, making enough money for dinner that night, required prayer time, required word time, required this and that and everything, on and on ad nauseum, and yet still having to deal with digesting every new spiritual revolution coming out every 2 weeks—from them! Guess what Jesus thinks of that?


Matthew 23:2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat."


3 "For they say, and do not."


4 "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."


If that alone does not show that your sins are on Jesus’ “most Hated list”, here are a few more qualities that bring you into that category: How about the recent decree of how important tithe is, and of the very “heinous” sin of robbing God by not sending WS money (For some reason they do not notice that by doing this, Zerby and Kelly are claiming exclusive rights to them, and them only, being God). Jesus also had some choice words about this:


Matthew 23:23 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."


You seem to feel that it is so easy to brush away the dirt and the sins of The Family and of Berg by claiming that the things Berg wrote regarding incest and child sex were “just words” and “suppositions”; how he was just “exploring possibilities,” and that therefore they are meaningless as proof that what was written was immoral or wrong. That might assuage your guilt, but he’s sure as hell not off the hook according to Jesus:


Matthew 12:34 "…Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."


35 "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."


36 "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment."


37 "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."


It seems that it is very easy for you to fling around accusations of evilness and demon oppression and of us displeasing God, and yet you can’t seem to see when a scripture is written precisely about your own filth. As a closing note, before any Family member reading this starts screaming “persecution”, I just want to point out the holes in that wall you are hiding behind. Whenever we make a statement against the Family, or bring up something wrong you are doing, or expose some dirty little secret (Case in point: Tamar’s plagiarized artwork), or talk about plans of some sort of action against you, you claim that it is “religious persecution” that you are suffering because you are “living Godly in Christ Jesus.”


You use the persecution scriptures as proof that you are doing God’s will, including the verses that say how children will rise up against their parents, how he brings a sword, etc. But you have sorely misused these scriptures, because in all of them, Jesus is talking about children rising up against their parents because of their beliefs in Jesus, or separating from their parents because of their beliefs in Jesus, not because they have been victimized and abused.


WE ARE NOT ATTACKING YOUR BELIEF IN JESUS IN ANYWAY WHATSOEVER.


I have read nothing on this site to show that we are. We have never attacked any Family member for being a Christian. Therefore, none of our accusations or actions (or, as you like to call them, attacks) against you fall into your precious “religious persecution” claims. You cannot hide from us behind that shield thinking it shows God’s approval of you.


You are not being persecuted for your righteousness; you are being called to responsibility for your unrighteousness.

Reader's comments on this article

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from Tiocfaidh ar la
Friday, March 14, 2008 - 09:47

(Agree/Disagree?)
Does anyone else keep getting booted out of the chatroom as soon as you long in? It kicks me out right when I log in then doesn't let me log out.
(reply to this comment)
from Kayka
Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 15:53

Average visitor agreement is 1 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)

Hey wassup people and God bless you

No Im not a reemeber of the Family because I knowwhat the Bible said I have read the book not without your sister and the book is so touching.Let God be truth and evry man be a liar

Your scriptues you have gave are correct truly. I would like to advice you also to read the letters of Paul, John etc. the disciples are also aware of the last days when people will be as savage woles, they will proclaim to do the will of God but its just a justification to fufill their lust. These are know to be false prophets. I advice you to keep reading the new testamne especially the two books of Timothy, John and Letters if Paul

David Berg has be influnced by his father the Devil. Jesus has described the Devil as the father of all lies as I quote 'when he speaks a lie , he speaks of his own' also Jesus quotes 'Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lust of the father he will do..' THIS IS JESUS DESRIPTION OF THE DEVIL-THE FALLEN ANGEL. Paul even states that people will be speaking in tongues..but not all those who speak in tongues are speaking in the name of God he remind he church that even th Devil himself can come as an angel of light' THIS IS COMING FORM THE BIBLE

YOU can email me if you want to know the scriptures and I can find them for you.

David Berg stated and taught that the sytemite hate sex.NO that's not true...The world loves sex.But they way SEX was ordained according to the Bible should be between marriage of two people. With love, GODS loe which is in the Bible. if you love God you will follow all of his commandments

Go back to the Old Testament if David Berg says he's Moses then why did he neglected the chapters Levticus 18 and 20 where God highlighted to Moses the sexual sins that SHOULD NOT BE PRACTICED, Incest, rape, beastility and children are forbidden! This is from God

Also I read i the girls book that he stated that Jesus will return in 1993. Read Matthew 24 Jesu even said that 'not even, the son of man, nor angels, nor man on this earth know when Jesus will come back but only God' Read Matthew 24, you will understand better.

Jesus even stated that not all who call him Lord Lord will enter nto the KINGDOM OF God.Remember that

I advise to read the Bible, I advise people to read the Bible, DO NOT LISTEN TO EVERYTHING PREACHER SAIDS YOU NEED TO REASEARCH THEM IN THE BIBLE AND SEE WHAT GOD SAID. nO WONDER WHEN, these revelation where revealed people began to leave the church.

Also reemeber that its the power of the mind. Eve was decieved by the Devil who manipulated her mind to think eating the apple could make her feel like God. Brainwashing is what the devil loves doing.And the Devil knows that he has a little time and and in revelation even liars will be thrown into the lake of fire. In Gods eyes SIN IS SIN, THERE's no justifiation for it! This also shows that with God all things are possible.look at you all God has delievered you form the hands of Satan, tough it took time, God will never fail and hate you. God never punishes, he never hates you, he hates thse who do evil.

Brainwashing is powerful, that's why it's better to be intwined yourself into the Bible not some stupid letters and whatever other books. THE BIBLE STANDS ALONE! Gods word will never go back to him void.

Firstly the Bride is the whole Church, not just one person having sex with Jesus..obviously that sound ridiculous!!!!! YOU NEED TO BE PURNESS IN MIND SPIRIT AN SOUL FREE FORM SIN!!! ALL EVIL

I wonder where he's staying though this man..where is he now in eternity!

God bless you alll children are the heritage of God..!

Jesus loves you all, you need to be holy in heart soul and mind. Ths man had a problem and it was lust.which was adeadly sin..he was obsessed with SEX and abused the Sex Which was contray to the Bible.

Be aware false prophets in the last day

Email me Cos I have more scriptures you can read form the Bible

No Im not a memeber of the Family so the doctrines of Firlty Fishing is stupid. it will just makemen come to Christ just for sex!

Jesus is the way the Truth and Life..The Devil comes to steal kill and destroy!

God bless you all
(reply to this comment)

From smashingrrl
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 22:31

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
Holy fucking christ! Is there some method of nominating fucking morons for "Most Psychotic"? Wow. Hey, if we email the fuckwad, he'll send us more scriptures we can read from the bible! That's special. If we'd only read more scriptures....just think how different our lives would have been. Yup. We somehow skipped matthew 24. Fuckin' a. If we'd only gone from 23 to 24 instead of being in such a fucking rush to get to 25; none of this would have happened. Praise jeeebus. He fucking nailed it. We didn't read enough scripture. Damn. If we'd only known. Hell, maybe then we wouldn't all have fallen for that goat-fucking craze of '88. But that bestiality was just too tempting. Now, thanks to this inbred, mouth-breathing, moron; at least I now know god will never hate me. Too bad, I 'spose, that if this "god" bastard existed; I'd fucking hate him as much as I hate knuckle-dragging assholes who think they can save us by quoting some mother-fucking scripture. Yeah, asswipe. You're right. We just need to go read our bibles. Nah, I'd rather shove that fucking book up your over-clinched ass. Get the fuck off this site. FUCK YOU! (reply to this comment
From afflick
Friday, March 14, 2008, 08:23

(Agree/Disagree?)
Ok, that made me laugh out loud. In the library. [Shakes upheld clenched fist:] Damn you, smashingrrl.(reply to this comment
From Lithium
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 18:07

(Agree/Disagree?)
Haaaaahahahaaaaaa.....aaaahhhhhhaaaaahahahahahaaaaaa!This is rich! Is it just me, or is this world riddled with mindless psychotics? (reply to this comment
From Christian Pornographer
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 21:11

(
Agree/Disagree?)

God showed me that I should start a Christian Pornography business.

Here's a framework I've come up with.

www.sexinchrist.com/ pornography .html

(reply to this comment

From Christian Pornographer
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 21:15

(
Agree/Disagree?)

http://www.sexinchrist.com/ pornography .html >www.sexinchrist.com/ pornography .html (reply to this comment

From Christian Pornographer
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 21:13

(
Agree/Disagree?)
www.sexinchrist.com/ pornography .html (reply to this comment
From rainy
Friday, March 14, 2008, 01:00

(Agree/Disagree?)
Go drink some living water.
http://www.sexinchrist.com/oralsex.html
(reply to this comment
From Shaka
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 16:09

(Agree/Disagree?)
I'm sorry, could you repeat all that?(reply to this comment
from the family sucks
Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 03:35

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
I hate the Family for what they've done! I can't believe how blind they are! There was even proof of sexual abuse and they are still denying what they've done! If they think that they are serving god they are wrong. I'm sure god thinks they are sickos. they think that they are pleasing god by abusing children, they are wrong! they claim that Ricky Rodriguez killed himself because the "Devil" influenced his mind. What were they thinking. He obviously killed himself because of what the family did to him. I HOPE THEY GO DOWN!!
(reply to this comment)
From Sir Rantalot
Wednesday, August 10, 2005, 07:51

(Agree/Disagree?)
The Persecution Confirmation
Table of Contents
• Are we undergoing persecution for righteousness' sake?
• I was perfect, without sin, and they still crucified Me
• What's the Devil hitting at?
GN 1144 FD/MM/FM
By Maria FD/MM/FM 3556 4/05
Dearest Family,
1. With the negative media publicity we've been facing in different areas of the world lately, and a few very determined detractors doing their best to stop our work for the Lord, some of you have written me, asking, "Is this really persecution for righteousness' sake? Or is this something that we could have avoided somehow if we had been wiser‚ remained more mainstream in our doctrines, or just avoided certain topics in our message? Could we still have done just as effective a job for Jesus if we had stayed away from our controversial doctrines, which have gotten us so much negative attention?" I think the Lord's answer will be very encouraging for you.
2. It all comes down to: "If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). We're in good company! While we should learn from mistakes of the past and improve—and we have!—we'll never please the world. As long as we're on the attack, saving souls, and serving Jesus, we'll never please the Devil—the Enemy of our souls. We'll never please those who hate God's work and thus try to destroy us because we're doing God's work.
3. So here's to persecution! May it make us white, and motivate us to do an even better job than ever, knowing that "so persecuted they the prophets which were before us" (Mat.5:12). Praise the Lord!
Are we undergoing persecution for righteousness' sake?
4. (Jesus: ) The answer to this question depends on whether you believe that the persecution you suffer is simply brought about by people, or whether it's inspired by the Devil for a more sinister purpose. Lots of your enemies would have you believe that Satan has nothing to do with it, and that it has nothing to do with Me either, but that it's simply them against you, and that's all that it has to do with.
5. The problem is, that just doesn't hold up. That's an excuse, a diversionary tactic, and it isn't the truth. Consider the words of Gamaliel in reverse. He said that if the work of the apostles was of men, it would fail, but if it were of God, it would continue no matter what was done against them (Acts 5:34-39). In a sense, that holds true of the Devil and those who fight against you too. If your persecutions were just perpetrated by people with genuine grievances because they'd been wronged by someone, then with My help and a large measure of love, wisdom‚ humility, prayer and communication‚ you'd eventually be able to reconcile. But since these persecutions are ultimately because the Devil hates Me and hates My work and thus hates you—you're never going to be fully rid of them, because he doesn't reconcile or stop.
6. Of course, I will stop him in the end. But until that time, if he's your adversary, if he's got your number, then it doesn't matter who is against you and what they say—after they're done, there'll be someone else to take their place and bring new accusations against you.
7. The truth is that it is My enemy who is on your trail, and he is the one who's trying to defeat the Family.—Not because of the 1% of your sins and shortcomings, but because of the other 99% where you were right, and you were on the ball, and you defeated him and dealt him blow after blow through being My messengers, My brides, My lovers, My prophets, My truth-givers‚ and My lights in this dark world. That's why the Enemy hates you. That's why the world hates you.
8. But in typical fashion, the Enemy will mask his reasons and his attempts behind the outrage of a few who feel that their fight is not against righteousness and Me, but for righteousness and against the Family, because they think the Family is evil. This is not surprising or new and it shouldn't cause you to waver in your convictions or doubt the righteousness of your cause. If they persecuted Me and My prophets and saints of old, they will persecute you too.
I was perfect, without sin, and they still crucified Me
9. Look at Me. I was without sin. I had nothing wherewith they could accuse Me. Yet even the records of My death show that according to the laws and perspectives of man‚ I didn't die for love or truth or justice, but for political trespasses, for being a "troublemaker‚" a "disturber of the peace," and an enemy of Rome. Or, as the Jews charged, I was a "breaker of the Sabbath," a "heretic," and a "blasphemer."
10. But is that really why I died? Are those really the reasons why My enemies hated Me?—Or were those merely convenient excuses? And if they could find plenty of excuses to persecute Me—and I was perfect, without sin—how much more will they find excuses to persecute you, who are not without sin, who are fallible and human and have sinned and come short of the glory of God?
11. Just because someone has an excuse or reason that they're fighting the Family doesn't mean that you're not fundamentally suffering for the good you've done. If you're just looking at the people themselves, you might believe that maybe it's just them against you; but if you look at the spiritual causes and identify which side I'm on, and who is ultimately fighting against Me and you, it becomes clear that there's so much more to it than the wrongs that the Family—or individuals within the Family—stand accused of.
12. As the crowds said when they tried to stone Me, "For good works we stone Thee not" (Jn.10:33). Even then they were straining at the gnat of the small trespass of their law I had committed to give them an excuse for the fact that they were going to kill Me, because they couldn't stand the light and truth with which I was exposing them. It was Satan that was mad, not simply the people whom he was using.
13. "Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." Those are My Words and they're true today of you, My Family. And just as in My day, those who are picking up the rocks today say, "For good works we stone thee not, but for this sin and that mistake and this hurt" and so on. And while that may be what they believe to be true, you can still rejoice and be exceeding glad‚ knowing that ultimately it is the Enemy who is trying to stop you, who is persecuting you. It is for My sake and for the defeats you have caused the Enemy through winning souls for Me and sharing My love with the world that he persecutes you, not for your sins.
14. Of course, the Family has made mistakes and you cannot pretend to be blameless. There will always be ammunition that someone can use against you, because you're not perfect. But it isn't for those sins that the Enemy is picking on you. It's because of all the good. It's because of all the righteousness and love for Me, and it's because of all of the other sinners that you've plucked out of his hand and rescued for My sake that he wants to destroy you. He'll use whatever he can get to try to bring you down.
15. In your past you have had many persecutions, and they have all focused on some different aspect. In the old days you were accused of brainwashing and kidnapping and holding people against their will. And if you will remember‚ this was before sex (outside of marriage) was even allowed in the Family, and there was nothing on that score to accuse you of. You have been persecuted for proselytizing the youth, for converting heathen in countries where that wasn't looked well on. You have been accused of child abuse, child slavery, trafficking children, prostitution, drug abuse, drug trafficking, treason against governments, money laundering‚ and many other allegations.
[Box:]
16. (Comment:) Reading this long list of accusations makes me feel like a criminal, even though I know we're not guilty of these things.
17. (Jesus:) I want the children of David to reach the stage where they stand boldly in the face of any accusation—whether there is any twisted truth involved, or it's a blatant lie—and know that they are being persecuted for My name's sake. Be steadfast and bold and at peace, just as I was when I was brought before the Sanhedrin and the Romans and accused of stirring up the people or calling Myself a king. It's not that those accusations had no truth in them, but I knew I was being persecuted as the Son of God, and because I exposed their hypocrisy and wounded their pride and threatened their control. So I was able to stand boldly and with peace in the face of those accusations.
18. I want the same from you. Even though you're not perfect, you're doing My work the best you can, and yet you know you will suffer for My name. Thus you can have faith‚ and not fear or worry or cower in the face of persecution, but rather know that the God that you serve is able to deliver you! You might not be vindicated in every case. You might not always have the pleasure of seeing the lies of your enemies exposed and everything righted in this life. Sometimes I allow that as a test for the public, to see what they will believe. You need to get used to having your name smeared and not always wiped clean immediately. Sometimes you'll need to bear the accusations bravely, knowing in your heart that you're doing your best for Me, even when all around you the world thinks you're guilty.
19. It's good for you to hear these accusations and to get used to them. If you feel guilty or intimidated when you hear these accusations against you, then something is wrong. You must strengthen your faith, study up a bit, and get the facts straight in your mind and heart, so that you are prepared for the day when these things will be screamed in your face, posted on your door, and you will still need to stand up as My shining witnesses despite it all. (End of message.)
[End of box]
20. Your past persecutions should show you that it's not any one sin of yours—whether true or untrue—that you are continually persecuted for, but rather that you can't win with the System, and there is no way you can ever conform and be completely accepted by them as long as you continue to be the revolutionaries that I have called you to be. If you're not accused of one thing or persecuted for it‚ it will always be another. If there's not something you've actually done that they can use against you, your enemies will make something up. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.
21. The hard fact is that although mistakes were made that can give your detractors excuses and seemingly valid reasons for speaking evil of your good, if it weren't for the fact that you're actually doing so much good and so much right, the Enemy would let your mistakes slide. The Devil doesn't care about your mistakes. He doesn't care if people get hurt. He doesn't care about the times people acted out of My will and outside the boundaries of My Law of Love. He was in fact the instigator of most of those mistakes or sins, and he plans to use them against you. The Enemy does not care as much about rectifying individual injustices, unless it would hinder My greater work in some way. He cares more about stopping the Family as a whole.
22. He loves the fact that he has a cloak of righteousness for his sins. With it, he can feel free to use anyone who will let him to throw any amount of mud on the Family's good name and good works and say, "Aha, see, you deserve to be persecuted because such–and–such happened!"
23. But you don't deserve it, My loves. You don't deserve this persecution that you're getting via the media. You're getting it because you are good people, loving people, and most of all because you're a revolution. You're outside the System. You're like those mountain men who have their heads above the masses and can see the darkness for what it really is, but whom the valley villains hate and throw stones at.
24. That doesn't mean the Family is perfect or hasn't made some mistakes in the past, but it does mean that your few sins and errors don't add up to the wave of hate and demonic power arrayed against you. I'm on your side, and Satan is on the other side. That is a fact. The Devil is trying to wipe you out because he hates you—because you love Me and you give your lives for Me.
25. This means that you can stand firm, knowing that you're receiving persecution for the good you've done. You can know that the Enemy hates you and is trying to snuff out your witness because you are shining lights in the midst of gross darkness.
26. The Enemy will always hit hard with condemnation and try to make people feel that they're guilty or bad, or in a bad group, but that just isn't the case. The Family has confessed and forsaken and repented of those things that caused hurt to some in the past, and you are moving forward in love and in My power.
27. But confession and repentance don't matter to the Enemy; in fact, he'd rather the Family didn't confess or repent. He sees where you're going and he sees what you're becoming. He sees that the Family is stronger now than ever, and is getting more organized than ever, and the fruit that remains is some of the strongest fruit ever.—Which is why he has chosen this very time, during the year of strengthening, to let loose with all his guns of filth, bringing up your sins and mistakes exaggerated many times over to try to get you discouraged and think that I have forsaken you and that you deserve to be vilified, persecuted, and even disbanded because you're such bad, bad people.
28. But if you can hold out against his attacks and just tell him that you know that you're sinners but that I have forgiven and cleansed you, and you're going to go on for Me anyway regardless of what people say, there will be nothing more he can do. And the more often you take that stand, the more Satan and your enemies will expose themselves for their true motives of hating you because you are of God. You need to keep rolling for Me anyway, knowing that there will always be someone who has something evil to say about your good, but none of those things should move you.
What's the Devil hitting at?
29. Consider something for a moment: Even if all the lies spread around about the Family were true, what would you do then? If you swallowed every bit of filth and crap that the Enemy is trying to cram down your throat, what would be your next move? What the Enemy wants is for you to leave the Family‚ lay down your crown of loving service to others, and feel guilty for the rest of your life, while not doing any good for anyone.
30. But the fact of the matter is, even if you were as bad as they say you are—which you are not—the best thing to do would be to give your life in loving service to others, and spend the rest of your life spreading My love, helping others, and living unselfishly.—Which is exactly what you're already doing.
31. You're not horrible people. You're My brides and My prophets. Yes, you are sinners‚ and yes, you have often come short of My glory and My standard of perfect love‚ but the answer is not to abandon your place and go out and wallow in the filth of the System. The answer is to keep on going for Me and do a better job than ever of being My love to the world. The answer is to keep on keeping on, because the closer you are to Me, the closer you are to being right and pure and just and loving. And does the Family help you to do those things?—To be close to Me, love Me, and help others to know Me too? If the Family helps you to be closer to Me, then despite the accusations and tales from the past, even if all of them were true, you would be in a better place here than anywhere else, and the Enemy knows it.
32. Therefore the more you say, "Screw you, Devil, and all your garbage—we're going forward with Jesus!" the more you enrage him and infuriate him and expose both his true intentions and his powerlessness. He can't do anything against you to stop you, which is why he lets loose such a barrage of guilt and condemnation to try to get you to stop of your own accord and give up.
33. It's really handy for your detractors to have this or that excuse to justify their hate, but at the end of the day, that's all it is, an excuse. Some of your poor apostates and detractors are genuinely duped into believing their own lies‚ thinking that they are doing My service by "killing" your work and reputation and faith. It's like Saul was before he became Paul, or like millions of Catholics who thought they were upholding My truth by trying to quash the Protestant Reformation. They tried to stamp out what they considered heresy because of something they disagreed with, when in reality they were fighting My truth and My new move of the spirit. Like many people today, they focused on only part of the issue—the part they disliked—for so long that they began to think that's all there was to it. That's when people lose perspective, and that's when they can become truly dangerous.
34. Then the Devil can just sit back and let these attack dogs go to work for him, railing against you for being this "horrible group," when he knows full well that it's not like that. But he's got this great excuse, this great smoke screen, this great cloak for his sins under which he can operate in secrecy, never having to expose the real truth that he hates you because you're of Me.
35. So you can't really judge any situation by the charges or the accusers. You have to look further and identify who I am for and who the Enemy is for. That's the only way you can tell. It's a common practice for people to have their one noble reason for doing a thing, when in fact that's one tiny portion that is serving as a mask for their true intentions.
36. Look at all the wars that have been fought. There is always some noble reason, some higher ideal, but beneath it is lust, greed, hatred, and thirst for blood. Nations will say, "They came into our land‚" or "They invaded this country," or lately it's been, "They need democracy!" But only a fool believes those excuses are the real reasons for the war. It's no different with you.
37. Your detractors have their excuses of the moment for why they're fighting the Family, and although they will eventually come to naught‚ new accusations will rise up in their place, because there is a power arrayed against you that is larger than any accusation or any group of people—the Enemy. You're suffering persecution for the good you have done, for your righteous works, and for that reason you will never be fully free of it.
38. But that's a good thing. That means that you're still a revolution! As long as I'm still your First Love and winning souls is your main occupation, the Enemy is going to continue to fight you.
39. Some of the radical doctrines I've given you have served the double purpose of drawing you closer to Me while also distancing you from the world. Some of these things that cause such ire in the hearts of your enemies are doing exactly what they were intended for. I want to drive you away from the world and solely into My arms.
40. Your David told you that power, popularity, and plenty are dangerous, and I said to beware when all men speak well of you. And because you, My Family‚ have been faithful to Me—and although you have strayed at times, you have always returned to your First Love—I am doing My part to keep you clean and pure from the world. I am ensuring that you will never have all men speak well of you, and you will never find total plenty and popularity and power in this world's corrupt System.
41. So many of these doctrines that cause the masses to look down upon you or fear you because you're so "different" or "strange" are in fact My answer to your prayers that I will keep you free from the pitfalls and snares that have quenched the fires of so many other revolutions. I am preserving you as a revolution by calling you out and making you separate from the world through the radical doctrines that they will never accept. Some day you will know that it couldn't have been any other way. Some day you will see the wisdom of My plan.
42. If you're waiting for the day when all the opposing voices will be silenced and you can go about your work in peace, you will wait forever‚ because that day will not come on this Earth. That's the Millennium you're thinking about. But before you can get there, you must "through much tribulation inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." So forget about being liked, understood, justified‚ or vindicated. I will do enough miracles for you to keep you operating freely and in relative peace, but it will never get to the point that you'll have no enemies, no detractors, or no adversaries.
43. In many ways that is the highest compliment you could receive. Of course, your enemies will not think so, and if you let them, they will go to great lengths to explain that‚ once again, "for good works we stone thee not…," so it's up to you whether or not you want to listen to those things. Your enemies can only condemn you as much as you listen to them.
44. So you can believe Me, that I'm with you and that we're going forth to conquer and to continue to bring in the sheaves before and during the final storm; or you can believe the Enemy, lay down your tools, and go jump back in the slime pits and live out your days in obscurity. The choice is yours. (End of message.)
*
45. (Jesus:) This Family is a revolution, and no matter what any of your enemies throw at you, you will continue to be a revolution so long as you follow Me. Remember what David said in "Mountain Men"? Those who you rise above hate you for it, because you dare to tell them there is a different way to live. You dare to tell them that they can live free, and they hate you for that freedom because they haven't the courage to live it themselves.
46. No matter what you could have done in the past, no matter how politically correct you could have been, because the Enemy is out to persecute you, he will do whatever he can and use whatever he can, whether real or trumped up, to attack you. Even if you'd never produced controversial publications or your art had never been sexy and radical, Satan and the Vandari would have found something else to persecute you for‚ because you are Mine. Satan hates you. In this world you shall have tribulation. But you need not fear, because if they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. Indeed‚ you are a part of Me when you are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
47. When you are tempted to think that without your controversial doctrines you would be home free of any troubles and accepted by the world today, remember that I am in control. I was in control then and I am in control now. I have allowed the controversies to propel you forward and to help you to become what you are today.
48. If I hadn't entrusted to you these controversial doctrines, you would not be at peace now. You'd be falling apart, and would either be part of or fast becoming part of the corrupt world System from whence you came. It is the radical truths I have entrusted to you, the freedoms I have given you, and the liberty in spirit that I have freed you with that makes you different, unique, and strong.
49. Regardless of your beliefs, if you are an active Christian, an active witness for Me‚ you are in for persecution sooner or later. No matter what you do, no matter how compromised you could try to be in order to placate and satiate the hounds of Hell, the Enemy will never leave you alone as long as you are a called-out disciple for Me. That's the truth. End of story.
50. Through the years, millions of My children have been persecuted for their beliefs—most without any hint of sex in their doctrine and beliefs. They were persecuted just the same. If it wasn't one thing, it was another‚ and that's because Satan hates Me. And because he hates Me, he hates those who follow Me. It's that simple. So long as you follow Me you will always be envied, feared, and maligned by Satan, and by anyone he can motivate to try to harm you.
51. Satan and I are not, cannot be, and will never be in agreement! That is fundamental. This revolution of the Family, this life–changing movement, this army, will not make peace with Satan—your mortal enemy—so if you don't like it, you'd better get with a different program. This movement will receive persecution till the day you return to be with Me. There will be no making peace with the Enemy. There will be no giving in to Satan's wishes. If you did that, you would be decimated and destroyed for sure.
52. Satan wants you to no longer be a threat to his kingdom. Satan wants you to be cold, dead, and lifeless like the established church system. As long as you are a part of this army you can expect persecution and need to learn to revel in it.
53. It's time to strengthen your faith and believe that you are being persecuted for righteousness' sake, attacked for your association and closeness to Me, no other reason. If you were dead ducks, you wouldn't even appear on the radar. But because you are like an incoming missile storm of terror on the Enemy's forces, he fires his anti-aircraft guns at you in desperation.—Because he knows that should you hit his position, you will obliterate his power. He fears you; therefore he must defend himself against you by attacking and trying to destroy you. But as long as you keep hitting him where it hurts, you'll defeat him.
54. You are destined to be winners! You are My secret weapons! You are feared in the private councils of the antichrists of this Earth‚ because you have the potential to defeat their plans completely. The Enemy is so afraid of you that he is desperately seeking for ways to cool you off and minimize the threat you pose to his kingdom.
55. But you are not getting colder; you are not turning back! We're moving ahead, full steam, full throttle, and with full spiritual firepower—a firepower that is going to destroy his kingdom in the long run. You are going to be a consistent thorn in the side of his power on Earth till My return. You, the Family, will be his greatest enemies as long as you stay close to Me. As long as you follow closely‚ I will use you to be a perpetual nuisance to his power, and in fact a dangerous threat to his world domination.
56. It's time to realize that you are not a passive, peace-loving, and gentle movement when it comes to coexisting with evil. You are a radical, active, fighting army that will die before it compromises again. You have regained your place at My side. You have fought to claim your calling, and part of that calling is to resist, defy, overcome and cast out the works of Satan till the day of My coming.
57. Step up to the plate and be recognized as one of Mine! All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. You are living godly, so expect persecution! It's going to come, and it's not something that's going to go away. I'm not going to abandon you. I'm going to keep you through it.
58. Beware when all men speak well of you—because when they do, chances are that you're not doing your job and you've cooled off and are no longer a threat to evil. Beware when you are not suffering persecution. You should be nervous, uneasy, and a little scared when all is silent on the persecution front, because it should make you wonder if you are really being as radical and called-out as you should be.
59. Expect persecution; it's part of the Christian life. The cooled-off sectors of organized Christian religion may not be getting it today, but one day, even their frigidity is going to glow as warmth before the sub-zero temperature of the Satanic kingdom that is coming. Even they will receive persecution. How much more should you receive it when you are the blazing hot fire that melts the ice palaces of the power of the Enemy!
60. He'll try to put out your fire, but he'll never succeed! That's My promise to all of you who blaze with My fire. He'll try to stamp out your fire by using whatever means he can, but I will always come through for you and use you to burn, singe, and destroy his works. He'll be the one who is running and terrified of you when you are fully energized with the power of the keys and loosed on this world. He's going to be the one who will be in defeat and in terror—not you!
61. So don't fear him who may kill the body, but after that has no more that he can do. Take up the white-hot sword of the spirit and fight back! You are winners, called to win since the foundation of the world. It is written into the very code of the universe that you will win. It is impossible for you to fail as long as you are on My side, for I will win. Do not be defeated, do not fail‚ do not give in to fear and the lies of the Enemy.
62. If you're godly‚ you will suffer persecution. That's a promise. It's a good promise, because with persecution comes growth, strengthening, and expansion. How do you think you're going to cover the whole Earth with the Word and My doctrine? How do you think you will become powerful and feared? It's not through twiddling your thumbs on the sidelines of the Christian arena. You will be thrust into the public eye through controversy. You will defeat the Enemy through his attempts to attack you. You will become champions by having a challenge and winning.
63. Don't expect peace—it's not coming. What is coming is increasingly intense spiritual war, all-out relentless war against Satan and his forces. From here on out, there will be persecutions. I will give you breaks in between, but I'm letting you know now to expect persecution, and learn to praise Me through it, because it's coming, and you will face it till the end of time. It is a fact of the discipleship life, so get used to it.
64. And don't expect to lose, either. You can't have a loser's mentality; you've got to have a conqueror's mentality. You are winners; persecution will only prove that to you time and time again. Don't worry if it seems like you never get a favorable presentation in the media. Don't worry if men speak ill of your good. Your fruits themselves will show the validity and righteousness of My cause.
65. Don't expect to be coddled in the cradling arms of this world's System. Expect to be rejected. Learn to love that rejection. Learn to love the turmoil you create in Satan's camp. Learn to love the fiery attacks against you, because it is when he attacks that you grow the most and become stronger through the struggle. Learn to relish the fight, for the fight is on! It is upon you. To the front‚ to the fray!
66. You are ready. My army is marching to the battlefield to win! Win through the power of the keys and the courage of the spirit. You are destined to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Expect to see the rewards I have for you. Expect to see miracles of deliverance and protection and witness, for the day of overcoming is here.
67. You are on the threshold of your greatest witness and greatest fruitfulness ever! Get ready to see the supernatural, because the fight is on‚ the war is heating up, and you are on the frontlines! Stand up to defend My Name, and be proud to be defamed and maligned along with Me. Take it as a compliment, for it shows you are doing the job and that you are obeying Me. That's it. Don't shy away from the battle—dive in with your sword swinging!
68. Believe in My power to keep you through persecution. Keep fighting; keep wielding the spiritual weapons of praise, prayer, brotherhood with your fellow soldiers, and the keys of the Kingdom.
69. The victory is yours. It is guaranteed. It may not always look like it, but the more Satan persecutes you‚ the more nails he puts in his own coffin. The more your enemies attack you, the greater you will shine and the greater your victory through Me will be!
70. Fight and win, for it is your destiny to be My shining lights in the deepest darkness, to tell the truth when the world is full of lies, to free those who have been bound with the chains of the Evil One. He will hate you for it, but I will love you for it! Get ready to see the days all the prophets have dreamed of. They are upon you. (End of message.)
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71. (Jesus: ) Right now you are My beggar bride, mocked and reviled by the world, and persecuted for your conviction to be Mine. But when that day comes that I return in My splendor and glory and put the crown upon your head that has always been yours, they will know not only of your love for Me, but of My great love for you. Together we will bring peace to the Earth, freedom to the oppressed, salvation to the hungry, and you will rule with My love and on My behalf. My power will be your power, and all of Heaven and Hell will see that I have loved you and rewarded you and vindicated you.
72. So rejoice, for your days of humility now are preparing you to rule with My love and wisdom‚ and your conviction to stay true to Me now despite opposition will be your glory then. (End of message.)
Copyright © 2005 by The Family International.

(reply to this comment
From
Wednesday, August 10, 2005, 16:58

(
Agree/Disagree?)

Weirdos!

As long as she sings that tune, she's right about one thing, "forget about being liked, understood, justified‚ or vindicated. "(reply to this comment

From roxal
Wednesday, August 10, 2005, 08:44

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)

Denial is a strong state of mind.

Denial will not let them see the whole or even the practical picture.
Deep rooted denial.
See how they come up with imaginary messages from imaginary beings to comfort themselves? They are so deep in denial; they have to make things up to keep feeding their state of mind.
Where is the hard evidence to back up what TF says?(reply to this comment

from Joey
Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 05:04

(Agree/Disagree?)

Screw the disclaimer sister!! Say what you feel and be proud of it! There are far too many comments made on this site that will pick apart an important piece for it's grammar and spelling. Firstly everyone may well have forgotten that we weren't exactly well schooled and secondly aren't we here to provide support. Those that are brave enough to write what they think and feel should be encouraged and be provided feedback not criticised for their spelling! There are a million places in the world we can go to cop a hard time, lets make this one a haven for the sleepless.

You have compiled an awesome article my dear and one you should be incredibly proud of! You have done something I haven't been able to do and that's to essentially rationalise in their own language the way the christian faith sees their actions. I'm no longer a christian by any stretch of the imagination and people find it odd that I know so much of the bible as I'm sure we all experience but what you've put together is a brilliant return fire using the enemies guns (metophorically speaking of course). I don't see them as enemies but exposing the lies that they live by each day using the bible is priceless.
(reply to this comment)

From vixen
Wednesday, May 04, 2005, 05:15

(Agree/Disagree?)
So, where is this 'disclaimer sister' and how do I go about getting my turn to screw her??? :-P(reply to this comment
From Baxter
Thursday, May 05, 2005, 05:54

(Agree/Disagree?)
Vixen, you are more in need of a shag than any white woman in the west country!(reply to this comment
From Ne Oublie
Thursday, May 05, 2005, 06:12

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
... and I take it you see yourself as the man to supply that need?(reply to this comment
From vixen
Thursday, May 05, 2005, 06:30

(Agree/Disagree?)
*rolls eyes*(reply to this comment
from Ace
Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 17:21

(Agree/Disagree?)
A big thumbs up for Banshee! what an excellent article! well done~! scripturally sound, (how refreshing) God was trying to get through to Berg in his dream "Strange Truths" - funny how he didn't listen huh? (never mind, he's roasting in hell now like a chicken on a spit pakakpakak!) I think TF is pretty familiar with the term "Penance" perhaps they have a "admitted" their "mistakes" of the past (like touching our private parts), but nobody went to prison for it, and sorry doesn't always cut it! (my friends said they were sorry in a victor camp, but they were still beaten senseless). So welcome to the world of penance! We are still suffering from the long term effects of our stolen childhood and the basic right of each child, by law to an education. For example, I am currently going through the embarrassment of a Maths assesment for College, I know I won't pass I haven't got a freaking clue about stuff I should have learnt in elementary school! so, what about financial compensation huh? and a system set up to helping those young people leave when they want to instead of having to beg, steal and borrow to make it out in the real world?! and hey, why can't the young people of TF come to this website if they want to?! doesn't that smell like control to you? Kelly, Zerby what are you afraid of? that they might find out the truth? if you were so confident that what you were doing was right, why worry if they want to come visit us and air out their concerns? I pray they disobey you and come here anyway, the truth of Jesus Christ will set them free! do you hear crumbling? oops I think their empire is collapsing round your earholes! BTW what makes you think you are a king? sounds pretentious, pompous and proud! pride cometh before a fall! That's not the spirit of our risen Lord is it? he was loving, righteous, kind, just, pure and a servant to all.
(reply to this comment)
from the boondock saint
Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 01:58

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
What's up with this talk about reconciliation? I agree with what Ricky said that the leadership of the Family are the real terrorists, fucking with little children's minds. Since when do people negotiate with terrorists?
(reply to this comment)
from Banshee
Friday, February 11, 2005 - 15:43

(Agree/Disagree?)


Just found this on Myconclusion.com. I thought you all might like to read the “correction” that I am receiving. I guess I just really need to get desperate and seek the Lord with tongues and weeping and knashing of teeth. Oh, wait…whatever.


Scribes and Pharisees?

Name: Aigo Shimonaka Age:22
Currently not a member of the Family but hope to rejoin ASAP, and still consider myself a member at heart.

This isn’t about the recent deaths of Ricky and Angela, as I think enough’s already been said on that topic to last this lifetime and most-likely the next as well. This is about yet another desperate attack to demoralize, divide and hopefully conquer.

Some of you people on the MovingOn site keep referring to Mama, Peter, their “entourage", and indirectly, the rest of us Family members and friends as the Scribes and Pharisees. (for details see disclaimer “scribes and pharisees” from Banshee. www.movingon.org)

Firstly, the Scribes and Pharisees never came to Jesus or the people they wronged and apologized–the Family has!-Countless times, by word of mouth, in written statements, GN’s, etc! And the Scribes and Pharisees hated Jesus, and finally crucified Him–we love Him! It was their disgusting stinkin’ hypocritical self-righteousness that Jesus couldn’t stand, not the fact that they had sinned. If the Scribes and Pharisees came before Jesus, repented of their ways and started living a life in accordance with Jesus’ New Law of Love, instead of self-righteously clinging to the Old decrepit Laws, then He would have heartily forgiven them, just like He has any one of us.

So you can go ahead and put a full-stop to your accusations, and do a 180 on your heel because there’s absolutely NO connection between the Scribes and Pharisees and Mama, Peter and the Family. It’s ridiculous to go into an in-depth rebuttle on each of those verses you have up there somehow trying to connect them to us. But let me just keep it short by saying that yes, those verses of course apply to us, but they also just as much apply to you as well.

“If you know these things, happy are ye if you do them.” John 13:17. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:” James 1:22, 23.

We don’t wanna be deceivin’ ourselves now do we? If you know the Truth, then you’re accountable as well! Take care that you don’t unwittingly (and accusingly) use the Scriptures against us without realizing you might just dig your own grave with it. (A wee bit late for that piece of advice) And for your own good, why don’t you take a closer look at those verses but this time, OPEN YOUR EYES!

Have you ever wondered if the very things you accuse us of, you may yourself be guilty of? It was the self-righteousness and hypocrisy that Jesus spoke of as the “weightier matters of the law". No, it’s YOU who are the self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees, not us! It’s you who are still self-righteously clinging to justice and the law and refusing to forgive no matter how many sincere, heartful apologies are given. If that’s not hard evidence of Pharisaical linkage, then I don’t know what is. I honestly don’t see how you can have the nerve to post such a shot-up, hole-riddled, and obviously non-factual statement.

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God", and the Family is not denying what has in fact happened. But honestly, what do you want us to do? Launch private investigations from the four corners of the Earth?? You’ve gotta be kidding! The guilty parties will like you said, have to stand before God and give account of those things. So I think we should just leave it there, forgive and forget, and let God do what you know you and we just can’t do!

As it says in Acts 5:38,39; “for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

Fighting against God? Hmm, not a happy thought. I’d watch my step if I were you!

These incidents of which you speak were few and far between(’cause I’ve never even heard of that sorta stuff happening, much less experienced it). The Family is moving on, and members have likewise come and gone, there’s no way we can track it all down. You’ve gotta be realistic! The best and only thing we can do right now is make sure it doesn’t happen ever again, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of ensuring that.

Do you recall what it says in Matthew 10:36? “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”

I never would’ve imagined this verse to apply to some of you of the second generation. But yes, you have successfully taken over the 10:36er scene, behind which your grandparents faithfully stood, and are now sounding the bugle call (by way of your web site) to any and all who would come to your aid. Don’t kid yourselves! Who are the bigots of today?–YOU, and all who take part by agreeing with you!

All I know is that the safest place on this planet is in the center of God’s will, and the Family is that place for me, preaching the Gospel and doing what He called us here to do! There is no way I will be convinced of the things you accuse us of, so my humble advice to you would be to save your precious self-righteous breath for people who might actually listen to you.

And just for the record, Angela was a martyr and I would like to add that I’d be honored to die for Jesus any day, and I’m sure there are many others of like-mind. Don’t think you can scare us by your violent threats and verbal barrage of garbage, because you might be in for a nastier ride than you thought. There’s still time to bail out, but you’ve gotta hurry. Like they say, If you can’t lick’m, join’m.

Think about it.

Aigo Shimonaka is a second-generation former member of The Family International

(reply to this comment)

From PeerSupport
Sunday, September 02, 2007, 15:36

(Agree/Disagree?)
How about, instead of you continuing to battle with words, scripture and 'intellect', just say sorry? It takes the better man to be able to admit to, and laugh at his folly. If you can not see that within yourself, that admitting and taking full responsibility of your actions is always 'good' and 'moral', then you are no good to Jesus, who was 'good' and 'moral', respectively.

A Christian is a follower of Christ, of whom wants to be like Christ, or Christ-like. Jesus walked for miles, talked to different people of different backgrounds, learnt what he could about different societies, he was an observer and only helped when asked of His help. As far as I can see, from various websites (The Family and Ex-Family), The Family have made no attempt to walk the path with Jesus, and get involved in worldly activities. And no, living in a different country does not mean you are communicating with various social demographics, especially if you stay within your communes only.

Flirty Fishing does not count either, as these activites have one goal and that was to convert largly male populations. This did not mean you sat beside them and learnt about their life, offered support and let them live their own life. Instead, you had to bring them in close to you and give them a set of rules and regulations to live by, away from their lives, family, loved ones. If you want to be truly 'special' to Jesus, why not you give up your communes, experience true fear in a blind path (FAITH), and give up all you hold so true, on your own accord and not out of coersion? (reply to this comment
From what a dimwit
Wednesday, May 04, 2005, 12:43

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(
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"Firstly, the Scribes and Pharisees never came to Jesus or the people they wronged and apologized–the Family has!-Countless times, by word of mouth, in written statements, GN’s, etc!"

I have never had an apology! Word of mouth? You can't be serious.(I wouldn't apologise to anybody through another person-thats pretty cowardly) In GN's? You don't mean the ones that call us bitter apostates in the same breath? Real love of God there for those of us who were abused, downtroden, humiliated and made to work for no pay as children, without healthcare and sometimes, parents.

"If the Scribes and Pharisees came before Jesus, repented of their ways and started living a life in accordance with Jesus’ New Law of Love, instead of self-righteously clinging to the Old decrepit Laws, then He would have heartily forgiven them, just like He has any one of us."

The new law of love was the pathway Berg found to allow for sex outside marrage and sex with children. This does not make any sense as Christianity came along and condemmed the Romans for just that, having multipule partners, homosexuality and child sex. I will self-rightously cling to the belief that sexually abuseing any child is WRONG. Please show the verse in the bible where child abuse is endorsed by Jesus. (So not only do you put your dick in his spiritual mouth, you put words there too-because I know the Bible says no such thing!)

"If you know the Truth, then you’re accountable as well!"

Thanks for the advice, but thats what I am already doing.I do know the truth about my childhood and who is to blame for my abused state. I am accountable to my conscience which will not allow me to let Karen Zerby and Peter Kelly get away with it. Unfortunatly Zerby relies on lying and being deceitfull. (Remember "Deceivers yet true" and other such writings?)

"Do you recall what it says in Matthew 10:36? “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” "

Yes I do recall the verse, but more importantly I recall memories where my own family were less than loving and were a "foe" unto me. I recall our bigger "family" who Berg replaced blood family with, many were unloving, false, selfish, proud, abusive, child rapists and power freaks.
(David Berg made my Dad give me up "for the Lords work" and replaced him with a sexual pervert as a subtitute-Yipee-NOT!)

"The Family is moving on, and members have likewise come and gone, there’s no way we can track it all down."

No one is asking you to do that. I suggest if thats how Zerby and Kelly see it, then they should openly say so and see if it is really true by doing all they can to aid the FBI investigation. They could at least provide a list of those they know to be following closely their perverted teachings and hand them and themselves in.

"The best and only thing we can do right now is make sure it doesn’t happen ever again, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of ensuring that."

Once again, the best thing you can do is plead with Zerby and Kelly to show themselves and take responsibility for their crimminal and immoral actions.

Get your facts straight and learn a little history. It wasn't TF thatdecided to change and "make sure these things didn't happen again". It was us growing up and leaving and telling our stories and exposing TF for what it was that scared Zerby into purging their letters. It was the fear of more court cases and time in jail.

Think about it!(reply to this comment
From lastly
Wednesday, May 04, 2005, 23:43

(
Agree/Disagree?)
'Have you ever wondered if the very things you accuse us of, you may yourself be guilty of?'

NO, I have never *wondered* about being guilty of sexually, physicaly abusing another human being, let alone an innocent child. (reply to this comment
From SeanSwede
Thursday, May 05, 2005, 00:26

(Agree/Disagree?)
Look PRICK! If the article doesn`t apply, than don`t bother to make any comments!!(reply to this comment
From pandora
Saturday, February 12, 2005, 09:49

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
It just goes to show how far off you are. "Angela was a martyr...I'd be honored to die for Jesus any day." Honey wake up and smell the coffee, Angela didn't die for Jesus, she died for your precious Mama Maria and her part in Rickys screwed up childhood. Please don't get the two confused. (reply to this comment
From alicespiteandmalice
Saturday, February 12, 2005, 03:43

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
"Firstly, the Scribes and Pharisees never came to Jesus or the people they wronged and apologized–the Family has!-Countless times, by word of mouth, in written statements, GN’s, etc!"

" “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God", and the Family is not denying what has in fact happened. [...] The guilty parties will like you said, have to stand before God and give account of those things."

oooh, wouldn't it be nice for all those child abusers and rapists out there to get off the hook with "heart-felt apologies" and the like!

- "hey judge, don't worry about me, I'll give account to God someday!"(reply to this comment
From xolox
Friday, February 11, 2005, 16:20

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)

"'All have sinned and come short of the glory of God', and the Family is not denying what has in fact happened. But honestly, what do you want us to do? Launch private investigations from the four corners of the Earth?? You’ve gotta be kidding! The guilty parties will like you said, have to stand before God and give account of those things. So I think we should just leave it there, forgive and forget, and let God do what you know you and we just can’t do!"

No we're not kidding! It's all well and good that you want them to stand before God, so long as the judge get his/her turn first.

If you realize that these things happened why is it you want to rejoin asap? And you mention the Law Of Love? Have you even read that publication? (The unedited version). Forgiving and forgetting is not an option, and weather it (invetigations) can or cannot happen, well, we'll just see about that. In the mean time you just go and rejoin. Just make sure you keep your Law of love paws off the little kids or we'll be comming for you too. (reply to this comment

From Banshee
Friday, February 11, 2005, 15:58

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)

Just wanted to add that this is such a perfect example of how TF mentality is, whether you are a current member, or a wanting-to-be current member. They take one thing said, and stretch it, or lump it together, and suddenly there's this big "conspiracy."

Aigo says, "people on the MovingOn site keep referring to Mama, Peter, their “entourage", and indirectly, the rest of us Family members and friends as the Scribes and Pharisees..."

Then Aigo even adds, "For details see disclaimer “scribes and pharisees” from Banshee." (Big shot out to you, Aigo, for sending people to read my article! Thanks, dude!)

Somebody correct me here, but...was there anything in my article calling for us all to start referring to TF/Zerby/Kelly/Aigo the "Scribes and Pharisees?" As far as I know, only I wrote that, and only as a comparison. I haven't heard anyone else use that reference in any other way or in any other article or comment.

They are all just so small-minded.(reply to this comment

From
Wednesday, May 04, 2005, 09:21

(
Agree/Disagree?)
I like to refer to her as the blind cunt, pervie zerby, sick fuck, child rappest endorser, hypocritical twisted piece of shit.
(reply to this comment
From movedon
Friday, February 11, 2005, 20:33

(Agree/Disagree?)
Yeah i was gonna say, in reading Banshee's 'scribes and pharasies' article you'd be disobeying "king peter's" advice by going on this website to read it. Haven't you read the latest advice Aigo? Don't start encouraging all your friends in the Family to go on this sight. Peter clearly states that he doesn't want family members on movingon.com. You might not have a clean slate for the upcomming Family Feast if you do. (reply to this comment
From
Friday, February 11, 2005, 20:03

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Agree/Disagree?)
It's so frustrating how they just won't listen.(reply to this comment
From dare2b
Friday, February 11, 2005, 21:39

(Agree/Disagree?)
Yes, but there has to be a way. I have had extended conversations with some TF leaders in the past. One kept repeating in essence, "we do this again and again, shoot ourselves in the foot." At least some, I think, have a capacity to recognise issues as such and that in regard to constructive criticism, "faithful are the wounds from a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." I am very concerned to sense the deep frustration of many here. If TF does not want to listen to me, it is of little consequence on my own personal level. I said plenty in my time. But yes, when the way they communicate comes across as arrogance and a brick wall, I have been there and it is extremely unhelpful. (reply to this comment
From
Saturday, May 21, 2005, 10:20

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(
Agree/Disagree?)
They have blatently told their flock to not listen to the critisisms many people have against TFI. So they feel they have not been in error or have the need to do something about it -but they won't openly say that to the public, police, FBI or their children.

Peter and Zerby are reliterating the time old excuse/response in that they are being persecuted. They need to come clean and tell them that past abusers are being looked for and if TFI were truly sorry for their past, they would hand them over now.

They can deny that they do this all they want but their actions and letters say otherwise.


(reply to this comment
from Tracy
Saturday, January 22, 2005 - 23:23

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)

Awesome article--very well written! I have often been reminded of one of the verses you quoted: Mt. 18:6--"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believes in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea." God WILL have His revenge, believe me. He does not tolerate hypocrisy and He WILL avenge his own. I do believe that!!! Thank you for writing such a clear, insightful post which COULD very well speak to some. After all, if God's word doesn't speak to them (as they profess to be Christians), what will?

I particularly like your last statement:

"You are not being persecuted for your righteousness; you are being called to responsibility for your unrighteousness."

I say, "Amen, amen, and amen!!!!"

Thanks again!
(reply to this comment)

from little sista
Saturday, January 22, 2005 - 22:47

(Agree/Disagree?)
Thanks for taking the time and effort to pull together such a well-written article! I think this is really one of the most powerful pieces of writing I've come across on the site so far, especially in terms of something that can be used effectively to speak to those still involved.


(reply to this comment)
from Jesse
Friday, January 21, 2005 - 03:54

(Agree/Disagree?)

Well done! Loved every detail. I'm telling my fellow ex's about it. Had an idea of writing something similar, yet now I can only nod and be proud that some of this stuff is sincerely logical and not emotionally driven. This is what makes people look up in this world. Educated stability.


(reply to this comment)

from rubengreen
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 00:58

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)

Im just writing to tell you that I somewhat feel your pain. I too was sexually abused when I was young by a family member. Although It was not covered up like what you went through. How do you deal with something of this nature? I don't think there is a curall answer to this question. I never said anything because I was afraid and ashamed I never made a big deal about it not because I think im better than anyone it just didn't happen that way. I don't think holding on to the anger and bitterness is an answer. You are right in the scriptures you quoted. But I think there is healing in forgiveness I have experienced this. Although it does affect me from time to time it doesn't affect me in the way it did before I forgave him. I have yet to verbally say this to the person that did it to me but I believe there is more healing when I do actually tell him. Maybe I will have full healing I don't know. All in all I feel weirded out by all this. When I think about it it's as if it's not even real like it was a movie. But then reality hits me. I'm rambling, well I think you shouldn't be mad at God (if you are). Remember there were two sides of the coin on one side you have the hypocrites( Saducees and Pharisees) and on the other side you have the man who was genuine and real and died on the cross (you know the story) Jesus. He did it for us so we don't have to feel the pain and embarrassment of the things that happened to us or even the bad things we have done or are doing right now. Don't deny his love for us it is true. It is all powerful and can conquer anything trust me I know! I'm not telling you that I'm perfect but I'm trying to be like him. He really knows how to love. I hope you don't take offense to this I'm just telling you how much I feel loved I hope everyone could feel this way. God bless, much love, have a great day.
(reply to this comment)

from brandywine
Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 12:42

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)

I just read your most recent posting and realized it was posted almost a year ago. I had never known of "Children of God" until I read this morning's paper which had an article about the murder/suicide of Angela and Ricky. What a tragic end to both of their lives. And what tragic lives they lived. I hope you are well and recovering from what must have been a traumatic childhood. My heart aches for you and all of the "Children". Your article was very well written in spite of your reservations about posting it. I have given up on puncuation (and spelling) and just don't believe in it anymore. You should write a book.
(reply to this comment)

from sailor
Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 14:41

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
Banshee, that was the best article that I have read off of this site in very long time. Excellent. I wish my parents would read that.
I love Zerby's logic here:
(pp 24:) "Some of the mistakes were…ones involving sexually inappropriate behavior or harsh discipline. It would have been so much better if mistakes hadn't happened. …But sometimes they do happen–-everywhere in the world, in every circle of society, not just in the Family."
That's like me telling a cop who arrests me, "But people in ever circle of society commit crimes." What a sound defense.
(reply to this comment)
From agreed
Thursday, January 29, 2004, 17:33

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Agree/Disagree?)

Now this is one of the best comments that I have read off of this site in a long time!(reply to this comment

from Nique
Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 01:08

(Agree/Disagree?)

Banshee, I just wanted to commend you on this article. It was both well thought out and well written and you should be very proud. Anyone who takes the time to read this article will see that. I look forward to the day when all of TF's victimizers are held accountable. For my part, I have already taken steps in that direction and will support any actions taken to hold child abusers accountable for their abuses.
(reply to this comment)

from anovagrrl
Monday, January 26, 2004 - 13:10

(Agree/Disagree?)

Really good stuff--Bravo!

My question: If Berg's writing regarding child sex was only "exploring possibilities," why do both his daughters and one of his grand-daughters claim he had sexual contact with them as children? Doesn't anyone have a problem with ignoring the evidence of this man's personal crimes against children? Like, it's OK for Berg to incest children because he's God's chosen end-time prophet? He didn't expect other people in TF to follow his example? Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot: Special rules for the elite.


(reply to this comment)

from porceleindoll
Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 19:23

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Excellent article, excellent use of the Bible vs. the crimes and beliefs the Family holds to.

Jules or Tim, I want to nominate this to go on the homepage of the site.
(reply to this comment)

from cheeks
Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 00:19

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(Agree/Disagree?)
i think the ultimate arrogance is by having Marc as their spokes person. The crimes he commited in TF are innumerable. To have him be the spokes person they are flaunting him in our face. Do they not have a clue? Most SGA's that had contact with him or had to live in one of his "homes" have left. And we hate him. Oh well, it will be easy to find him once we get the ball rolling.Marc your time will come!
(reply to this comment)
from DarkAngel
Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 19:37

(Agree/Disagree?)

Banshee ,you did a real good job. I'm with you on everything .Although I had the same toughts I don't think I could have express things so clearly and articulately as this

I pray that some members would read your article and wake up and let the scales fall off their eyes as they did mines ...

One less member from the Fam. is always great news and usually one more witness against them .

According to what I hear more members are leaving contrary to what Fam. pubs like to publish but as we know Fam. pubs are just the party lines so no great surprises here.

Yes the end is comming ,especially for the Fam. and it's not only thanks to a good flow of exposure by good people on this site and other sites but also that the Fam. really stinks and is dying due to her own weird doctrines ,so God is in the process of purging and cutting the branches that bear no good fruits and as it goes; those branches are thrown in the fire and are burned ;the only difference I think is that this time there won't be many lillys rising out of those ashes.

keep the articles coming.
(reply to this comment)

From oldtimer
Monday, May 10, 2004, 16:27

(Agree/Disagree?)

I really am an "oldtimer"--I am out 30 years next July (Yes, I left on my very own Independence Day). I am a SURVIVOR and I have closely followed the COG/FOL over the years. I even had a job take me to Venezuela, where I was slated to go, next, as a leader, had I stayed. Three people I ministered to left (over a period of a year. I will e-mail the story another time!).

One thing about "moving on"; away from a megalomaniac: you realize how unfortunately common they are, and how their followers become their nasty duplicates (which I admit I was, as long as I followed Berg and not the Bible).

Check this out--it's from a Google search on "cult leaders as plagiarists" It was written by somebody else a long time ago--DB claimed its authorship! See Berg's

http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/flatlanders.html#flat.

Then, compare to http://abbott.thefreelibrary.com/Flatland , regarding the original author Edwin Abott Abott, who wrote it in 1884(see http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Edwin_A_Abbott.htm,

as: Flatland: A Romance of many dimensions.

*See below for more information on Abott.


Anyway, what follows is a "cut-and-paste"

(with [] brackets mine)from http://rightcyberup.org/mckean.html#leader, and http://www.fwselijah.com/psychopa.htm :

(and its not even intentionally about Berg/Zerby-Peter et al--as I said, I found their type to be far more common than I ever imagined)

15 Characteristics of a Cult Leader


Trait 1: Glibness/superficial charm



  • Able to use language effortlessly to beguile, confuse, and convince. They are captivating storytellers. They exude self-confidence and are able to spin a web that intrigues others and pulls them into [their own]...life…most of all, they are persuasive. Frequently, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or disarm them emotionally.


Trait 2: Manipulative and conning [cunning? OK, both!]


  • Does[do] not recognize the individuality or rights of others, which makes all self-serving behaviors permissible. [a most common manipulation is]…the psychopathic maneuver, which is essentially interpersonal manipulation “based on charm. The manipulator appears to be helpful, charming even ingratiating or seductive, but is covertly hostile, domineering…”


Trait 3: Grandiose sense of self


  • Enjoys tremendous feelings of entitlement…[and]…believes everything is owed to him[her] as a right. Preoccupied with his/her own fantasies, he[she] must always be the center of attention. He[she] presents himself[herself] as the ‘Ultimate One’: enlightened, a vehicle of god, a genius, the leader of humankind, and sometimes even the most humble of humble. He[she] has an insatiable need of adulation and attendance. His[her] grandiosity may also be a defense against inner emptiness, depression, and a sense of insignificance…paranoia often accompanies the grandiosity, reinforcing the isolation of the group and the need for protection against a perceived hostile environment. In this way, he[she] creates an us-versus-them mentality.


Trait 4: Pathological lying


  • Lie coolly and easily, even when it is obvious they are being untruthful. It is almost impossible for them to be consistently truthful about either a major or minor issue. They lie for no apparent reason, even when it would seem easier and safer to tell the truth…[and are pathological liars, as they]…tend to create a complex belief system, often about their own powers and abilities, in which they themselves sometimes get caught up. It is often difficult to determine whether the lies are an actual delusional distortion of reality or are expressed with the conscious or unconscious intent to deceive…[and]…these manipulators are rarely original thinkers. Plagiarists and thieves, they seldom credit the true originators of ideas, often co-opting authorship…



Trait 5: Lack of remorse, shame or guilt


  • See those around them as objects, targets, or opportunities, not as people. They do not have friends, they have victims and accomplices – and the latter frequently end as victims. For [them], the ends always justify the means. Thus there is no place for feelings of remorse, shame, or guilt. [They] feel justified in all their actions since they consider themselves the ultimate moral arbiter. Nothing gets in their way.


Trait 6: Shallow emotions


  • Hiding behind the “mask of sanity”, the cult leader exposes feelings insofar as they serve an ulterior motive. He/she [(Zerby!)] can witness or order acts of utter brutality without experiencing a shred of emotion. He[she] casts him[her]self in a role of total control, which he[she] plays to the hilt. What is most promised in cults – peace, joy, enlightenment, love, and security – are goals that are forever out of reach of the leader, and thus also the followers. Since the leader is not genuine, neither are his[her] promises.


Trait 7: Incapacity for love


  • As the “living embodiment of God’s love,” the leader is tragically flawed in being able to either give or receive love… The leader’s tremendous need to be loved is accompanied by an equally strong disbelief in the love offered him by his followers…[and]…hence the often unspeakably cruel and harsh testing of his[her] devotees. Unconditional surrender is an absolute requirement…


Trait 8: Need for stimulation


  • [Exhibits] thrill-seeking behaviors, often skirting the letter or spirit of the law...[and]…live[s] on the edge, constantly testing the beliefs of their followers, often with increasingly bizarre behaviors, punishments, and rules. Other mechanisms of stimulation come in the form of unexpected, seemingly spontaneous outbursts, which usually take the form of verbal abuse and sometimes physical punishment. [They]...[have]has a cool indifference to things around him[her], yet his[her] icy coldness can quickly turn into rage, vented on those around him[her].


Trait 9: Callousness/lack of empathy


  • Readily take advantage of others, expressing utter contempt for anyone else’s feelings. Someone in distress is not important to them. Although intelligent, perceptive, and quite good at sizing people up, they make no real connections with others. They use their “people skills” to exploit, abuse, and wield power…[and]…are unable to empathize with the pain of their victims…


Trait 10: Poor behavioral controls/impulsive nature


  • Have difficulty regulating their emotions...like small children . Adults who have temper tantrums are frightening to be around. Rage and abuse, alternating with token expressions of love and approval, produce an addictive cycle for both abuser and abused, as well as create a sense of hopelessness in the latter…[and he/she]… believes himself/herself to be all-powerful, all-knowing, and entitled to every wish, someone who has no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for the impact on those around him[her]…[and]…generally this aberrant behavior is a well-kept secret, known only to a few disciples. The others see only perfection…


Trait 11: Early behavior problems/juvenile delinquency


  • Frequently have[has] a history of behavioral and academic difficulties. They often “get by” academically, conning other students and teachers. Encounters with juvenile authorities are frequent….Equally prevalent are difficulties in peer relationships and developing and keeping friends, marked control problems, and other aberrant behaviors such as stealing, fire setting, and cruelty to others.


Trait 12: Irresponsibility/unreliability


  • Not concerned about the consequences of their behavior, [they]…leave behind them the wreckage of others’ lives and dreams. They may be totally oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they inflict on others, something which they regard as neither their problem nor their responsibility…[and they]…rarely accept blame for their failures or mistakes. Scapegoating is common, blaming followers, those outside the group, a member’s family, the government, Satan – anyone and everyone but the leader…


Trait 13: Promiscuous sexual behavior/infidelity


  • Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, polygamy, rape, and sexual acting out of all sorts are frequently practiced by cult leaders. Conversely, there is often stringent sexual control of the followers through such tactics as enforced celibacy, arranged marriages, forced breakups and divorces, removal of children from their parents, forced abortions or mandated births. For [them], sex is primarily a control and power issue…


Trait 14: Lack of realistic life plan/parasitic lifestyle


  • Tend to move around a lot, making countless efforts at “starting over” while seeking out fertile new ground to exploit…[and]…the flip side of this erratic life planning is the all-encompassing promise for the future that the cult leader makes to his/her followers. Many groups claim as their goal world domination or salvation at the Apocalypse. The leader is the first to proclaim the utopian nature of the group, which is usually simply another justification for irrational behavior and stringent controls…[and]…the leader’s sense of entitlement is often demonstrated by the contrast between his/her luxurious lifestyle and the impoverishment of his/her followers…[and]…most…are supported by gifts and donations from their followers, who may be pressured to turn over much of their income and worldly possessions to the group…



Trait 15: Criminal or entrepreneurial versatility


  • Change their image and that of the group as needed to avoid prosecution and litigation, to increase income, and to recruit a range of members…[and they]… have an innate ability to attract followers who have the skills and connections that the leaders lack. The longevity of the group is dependent on the willingness of the leadership to adapt as needed and preserve the group…

Interesting, NO?

Oltimer

christos1252@hotmail.com

*1838–1926, English clergyman and author, b. London. He wrote several theological works and a biography (1885) of Francis Bacon, but he is best known for his standard Shakespearian Grammar (1870) and the pseudonymously written Flatland (by A Square, 1884, 6th ed. 1952).

(reply to this comment

From oldtimer
Monday, May 10, 2004, 15:23

(Agree/Disagree?)

Yes, I really am an "oldtimer". I was in the so-called Family from November 1971 through INDEPENDENCE DAY 1974! That was a critical 2 1/2 years for me, personally. But I HAVE SURVIVED. I am 30 years OUT next July! Wow.

But I have followed the activities of TF all along. I saw River Phoenix's brother on CNN Headline News about a week ago, and found movingon.org, and other ex-COG?FOL sites fairly easily with a GOOGLE search.

Here's a clip-and-paste from another search on "cult leaders as plagiarists (remember "flatlanders"? I guess too many people pointed out that it was written by Edwin Abbot:



http://abbott.thefreelibrary.com/Flatland

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from frmrjoyish
Friday, January 23, 2004 - 10:27

(Agree/Disagree?)
I for one would not hesitate to attack thier belief in Jesus! It is just as twisted, distorted and perverse as every other christian principle they claim to uphold. I am not a christian any more (if what i was raised as can even be considered christian), but I'm sure if you ran any one of their "prophecies", supposedly directly from the mouth of their "husband", or the "loving Jesus" revolution, by any sane and normal person who happens to subscribe to the christian belief they would be appalled. TF's beliefs are an offensive and blasphemous perversion of real christianity.
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from Sonderval
Friday, January 23, 2004 - 03:33

(Agree/Disagree?)

It may well have been written before, but I would disagree about 'with a better language grasp'. This is very well thought out, and very eloquently put, please consider sending it to the family as either email or letter, although we're all used to the kind of whitewash and bullshit they reply with they should know that we haven't given up and gone away.
(reply to this comment)

From xbytejp
Monday, January 24, 2005, 07:37

(Agree/Disagree?)

There's much talk of bringing those who have committed abuses to justice.

I'm curious though, is there a statute of limitations? I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to legal matters.(reply to this comment

From Clap, Clap!
Thursday, June 09, 2005, 17:06

Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5Average visitor agreement is 5 out of 5(
Agree/Disagree?)

After reading this article and all the comments,I just wanted to say how proud I am to be an x-member. Even after having to grow up in TF and be drilled on their sick beliefs, we didn't turn out that bad afterall.Most of you sound a hell of a lot more intelligent than the posts I've seen from current family members.

They're are two sides to this ongoing war (argument really), and I'm proud to be on the side that seems to have the most sense. I guess we really have something on them though, and that's the fact that we're not still in TF. We don't continue to be abused, lied to, misguided, manipulated and duped. Most of us grew up and grew brains as well, their attempts at hiding the truth from us forever weren't successful.

Again, I'm proud to be an x-member. Thank you to each and every one of you that spend time writting these articles, really, Thank you!

(reply to this comment

From Clap, Clap!
Thursday, June 09, 2005, 17:06

(
Agree/Disagree?)

After reading this article and all the comments,I just wanted to say how proud I am to be an x-member. Even after having to grow up in TF and be drilled on their sick beliefs, we didn't turn out that bad afterall.Most of you sound a hell of a lot more intelligent than the posts I've seen from current family members.

They're are two sides to this ongoing war (argument really), and I'm proud to be on the side that seems to have the most sense. I guess we really have something on them though, and that's the fact that we're not still in TF. We don't continue to be abused, lied to, misguided, manipulated and duped. Most of us grew up and grew brains as well, their attempts at hiding the truth from us forever weren't successful.

Again, I'm proud to be an x-member. Thank you to each and every one of you that spend time writting these articles, really, Thank you!

(reply to this comment

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