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from Conqueror of Uranus Friday, January 25, 2008 - 02:32 (Agree/Disagree?) I read the crap on that link..... Skimmed through it actually, like in word-time back in the Bad ol' days. The only way any sane person could possibly stand to read a 15+ page GN is to read only the highlighted first sentence of a paragraph. As I hastily skimmed through it, I may be wrong on a few points, but the general gist was something like this. -Homes are operating on a scale too small to function fully. (fundraising, child-rearing) -Single-family homes can make a concerted effort to create a system where more of the nationals and local language speakers are free to do "God's work". ie; Move to a larger residence to facilitate communal living of several families. If not feasible, create several homes in close proximity to allow full cooperation. (a small scale revival of the "School system", perhaps?) -More control and management over unit homes by the regional board. Regional officers report in more detail to Zerby. (Why are we not surprised?) -Develop more effective fundraising strategies. (Zerby's 50,000 motor home, international flights and immigration on 1days notice, and multi-million dollar retirement home starting to hurt the purse, huh?) -More interaction between "Full-time" members. (In other words, don't hang out with the "Part-timers" and the evil Vandari.) That's about as far as I got before I had to grab a beer. I read the thing 3days before I wrote this, so I may be wrong. If you want accuracy and literal comprehension, read the damn thing yourself. I won't read another Fam publication for a year. (reply to this comment)

From rainy Friday, January 25, 2008, 03:32 (Agree/Disagree?) Well Done. What a shiner! Have a peanut-butter ball.(reply to this comment)

from aloha Monday, January 21, 2008 - 13:52 (Agree/Disagree?) If you can bear to read this "GN", you will see what this "Offensive" is: http://pubs.xfamily.org/text.php?t=3630 The date it all begins is of course Berg's birthday. They've all been in training for a few years for this big event. The top ranking Family members, the "FD's" are the ones who have to forgo "worldly" pleasures the most. All this does is make them more cut-off from society and feeling like they're the best missionary group in the world, with the closest relationship to Keysus, with leadership they feel they can trust because they prophesy and get sexy messages that are too "radical" for the lowly churches. (reply to this comment)

From heh Monday, January 21, 2008, 15:21 (Agree/Disagree?) More like it co-incides with the end of the court's influence over "Sammy" in the British Isles. heh, what a load of nonsense. (reply to this comment)

from Jailbird Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 22:21 (Agree/Disagree?) They're probably training their young people as spokespersons and waiting for "Sammy", the kid in the B.I. court case to turn 18 so that they can go to the media and deny everything that the Lord Justice Ward, put in his findinds without threat of the case going against them, or the judge ruling against them further. Some time back one young person in the group asked the leadership to clarify whether or not Berg raped his granddaugther(s), and other little girls in his compound. They responded that they wouldn't respond, because they couldn't lie about it in print or in any public forum because that would be calling Lord Justice Ward a liar and if "Sammy"'s grandmother produced this the judge wouldn't have looked kindly on it. They've made several steps to "consolidate" their finances etc., pulling the FAF funds out of the homes, which means they've been pulling it in to W.S., they may think that they'll attempt to sue people standing up etc., which will cost money, they could be up to a number of things, suicide, probably not. Zerby and Kelley have been trying to get their hands on every cent they can over the last two years, they're loosing a LOT of followers, both in the 1st and second generation, which means loosing money. Latest prayer requests are tat people should pray for their relatives to pass away so that members can get and then forsake the inheritence money. Very sad. ... They could re-victimize specific young people who have stood up. Look what they they did to Mene and others. Certainly they will attempt something of that sort as they've unusually quiet. But all of these "pushes" or offensives on their side throughout the years has usually resulted in mass-defections, especially of those who were leading the offenses. The entire British Court Case team left, including their W.S. scapegoats, etc. ... The only people who really can't defect, or can be trusted as spokespeople, are people like Borowitch, who have a lot of blood on their hands. But the minute charges are pressed or court procedings of any of their members begin, they generally try to reclassify the defendents so they're "former members" when the shit hits the fan or at the very least they take they out of their positions of responsibility, I.E. Abi Freeman in England. True hirelings. (reply to this comment)

from fragiletiger Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 17:58 (Agree/Disagree?) They have new, 'revolutions' every year or so. Probably just some 'Activated' push, to save lost souls, cuz Jesus is coming back really really soon, for real this time. (reply to this comment)

from rainy Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 17:16 (Agree/Disagree?) I really can't imagine it would be anything like a mass suicide; even in The Family we thought cults who did that were freaks and we laughed at them. The Family just needs to have these constant 'revolutions' (in actuality they are not revolutions at all, just more dictatorship) in order to keep up that level of excitement and desperation which is necessary to keep people on board. People will only put aside their personal feelings when they feel a lot is at stake. This stuff is just smoke and mirrors to keep everyone feeling that it's war-time and they can't afford to let their individual doubts come in the way, as that is the devil's inroad, etc, etc. Just more of the same. Similar to the book Nineteen-Eighty-Four where they regularly had everyone gathered together shouting out slogans. Keep them distracted with something "new". (reply to this comment)

From agreed Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 17:42 (Agree/Disagree?) I don't think the Offensive will involve a suicide pact. However, I would be wary about dismissing their ability to promulgate "new" "revolutionary" ideas. They themselves brag through their head honcho Peter to academics that they can turn on a dime. Yes, their "populace" laughs at certain notions because they are perceived as hysterical cult-phobic POV's. But before Loving Jesus came out, would you not scoffed at an "anti-cult" or "wolf" who claimed TF believed something like that, and said they were exaggerating, etc.? Many years before, I'm sure it was the same for FF'ing, when people were still just Jesus Freak hippies.(reply to this comment)

From rainy Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 17:45 (Agree/Disagree?) Quite a good point. *shudder*(reply to this comment)

From AndyH Sunday, January 20, 2008, 23:24 (Agree/Disagree?) I concur. Also, they may have had such a dedicated following at one point, but not so now. They've lost their grip. (reply to this comment)

From munchmoney Thursday, January 24, 2008, 22:30 (Agree/Disagree?) The Witnessing Offensive is just another Stupid revolution that the family is going to go through. Its a time of miracles and of a mighty reaping of the harvest. All the people in the family have been diligently memorizing all their Key Promises and Spirit Helpers so that they will be able to do all that the lord has promised to them in these LAST DAYS.. LOL but ya basically thats what the offensive is.. haha and dont ask how i know (reply to this comment)