Critique of the Critics

[John Richeson]

Someone sent me a link today which moved me and made sense based on my experiences in the last 8 years since being out of The Way in 2000. It is an ex-Scientology member who disagrees with Scientology but also disagrees with the methodology of the anti-scientology movement and critics of which he was previously involved. The next day I saw an article which helped me understand the cowardice behind some anonymous Internet postings and describes the reason why I thought it best to use real names on The Way corps site..Check these out: A Critical Look at the Critics Cruelty Hides in Shadows of Cyberspace Quote: "My main contention with the anti-Scientology movement is the tendency of its "members" to reproduce and mirror the same kind of cultic aspects they blame on Scientology; the exaggerations and myths creating a phobic reaction; the dangers it poses to civil liberties; the personal attacks against dissenters; etc. These are fairly well documented on this web site." Quote: "This is the vexing problem with the Internet. Although a fascinating forum for the coherent exchange of views, offering everyone a chance to express themselves, it is also an undisciplined venue for the bigoted, the small-minded, the malevolent among us to hide in the shadows of cyberspace to vent their bile." In my opinion this appears to be true in the interactive forums of some groups in which I have been involved in regarding critics of other ministries, religions, cults, whatever the label. Some, NOT ALL, members of the critical groups themselves begin to take on characteristics of the abuse they suffered while in the group. Is it possible that those who have been "spiritually abused" can tend to become spiritual abusers? In fact I know of many members of anti-? or ex-? groups who have been mistreated by SOME of the very group members themselves, most of whom remain anonymous. It is a fact that can not be denied. It helps me to understand a little bit more about why I have been criticized for starting this Way Corps social networking site. I was amazed to see the backlash against me for starting it! For example look at some of these actual quotes about me written on another forum: Quote: "I think that Richeson should be ashamed of himself for doing this sick thing..." Quote: "PATOOIE! You're all a bunch of fakes...how dare you socialize with all your warm feelings and hugs and kisses...when in reality, you were a part of an insideous cult that destroyed people's lives!!! ...but Richeson doesn't want a "gripe site"?" Quote: "Heck...why would anyone object to a waycorps website?...I mean, all you have to do is ignore the fact that this ragtag bunch ruined people's lives by the score...destroyed marriages, turned people into dysfuntional "cult heads", drove some to suicide...taught lies, manipulated and used people... ...but who wants to focus on the "negatives"...let's all get together and "reconnect" with our old cult pals and remember the "good times" (in spite of destroying people's lives, they still had a really good time!)... I wonder if the Youth for Hitler have their own reunion site. Maybe John R. can pick up a few pointers..." At first I was angry and began to react in a similar manner as my accusers. But I understand a little better now and I hold no animosity towards them. In fact the above web links helped me to better understand. I am glad I have had a chance to broaden my perspective beyond my previously held thinking. Unless we treat each other with dignity and kindness and fairness we will have anti-anti-anti-anti groups ad infinitum. Will we ever get beyond the "us and them" mentality? Life is so much bigger than that!

[David Bailey]

"Adversity."  "Life is not fair." Like I said. It is not. Boo Hoo. Ha! I laugh at that those. If I hadn't, I would be dead.

I thank my Father God  and His Son Jesus Christ, the Bible, people I met in the way ministry including the man that started this site, music, rock and roll, country & western, guns, moonshine and all the wonderful people I have met up in these hills... to be continued. 

[Susan Propst]

John, I think you've done a great thing by putting together this site.

[John and Janet Ruiz]

It's alive! I can't get the mustard up to start a blog, so I gafilch on yours as I peruse.

Visited tonight with some friends of many, many years now and was again encouraged by the enthusiasm with which we (at these incredibly advanced years) are living life. Maybe we're just too dumb to know when to stop or maybe too smart to slow down knowing the ol' gears may lock up. Whatever the motivation we just don't seem to know when to quit, and that's a good thing. : )

[John Richeson]

"If we were all the same, we would be boring"

Yes, Cindy, I agree with you on that point. Hope and I used to call it "Stepford Believers"

Nothing wrong with having differences. The point is that we need to treat one another with dignity and respect. Words DO hurt. Anonymously hiding behind a keyboard can embolden some to be bullies. Hiding behind reclusiveness in a christian or non christian group can be just as bad.

IN MY OPINION....man wasn't mean to be reclusive and stay out of touch or stay in their comfortable little world. I believe we were meant to say "Hi, neighbor, how are you? What can I do to be of help to you?" Today the "online neighborhood" has broadened substantially.

It is easy to be isolated. Anyone can do that (boring).

It takes more work to open up to our fellow man and to our fellow Christian believers and treat them with dignity, regardless of differences.

I do not mean to falsely keep this thread alive with my ongoing comments on my own thread. But seriously, in all our years in the ministry this is the biggest problem we have seen across the board. Namely, people treating each other like crap, possibly at the lowest time in their lives. How cruel!

[Cindy Kuchmy Kelley]

I like this site, too. Reading "the way living in love" by Elena Whiteside, I see there have been conflicts all along. Whether to build a church here, or there, whether to take the Ministry to the Wierwille farm, choices of Board of Trustees members, and more recently.... bad choices of board of Trustees Members (you know what I mean). In this world, there will always be conflicts. They call it diversity. (If we were all the same, we would be boring.) We are sons of God and chosen for a specific purpose in the Body. So, whether you are with TWI (or in a spinoff like CFF, CES, STI), or anti-TWI, or not with TWI but know some that are, we're all equal in the eyes of God and he loves us equally. Labels don't mean a thing. We're all people after all.

So what, John if they criticize you. You are getting people to put aside the labels and get down to a person to person dialogue and come to a personal understanding of each other - where people live, what they do for a living, what their children are doing - with pictures! What their pets are doing - with pictures! And we all can laugh with each other and the world can be a better place in our little corner of it. God Bless You!

[David Bailey]

You got it!

[John Richeson]

David ya dang hillbilly from Tennessee by way of England! I told you you would like this site. You had hardly been online much before and had dial up to boot. You owe me big time for connecting you to the whole world from your remote location where moonshine is more popular than email. (Just kidding bro.)

I have know you since 1978. I know you have gone through some very tough times and still do. When you say "life is not fair" you are not just speaking a coined phrase. I know you speak from the heart and from past pain. You are tough when it comes to adversity. Yet you always seem to remain thankful and grateful. That's cool and is such an example to me.

See you in Nashville for a little March Madness - March 11-14. My brothers have already reserved all the rooms. Bring Moonshine.

[John Richeson]

Emil - we disagree on some basic things regarding what we have been taught and some of the validity of who taught it to us. I saw that early on in this site when I made attempt to disprove some of your logic. My bad. Sorry for being an ass. I own it. Leftover habits are sometimes carried over and slow to change. Somehow I think we both have changed somewhat in our understanding of one another and others too, at least on this little forum.

Regardless of who's right and wrong it is important to have respect for each person when it comes to differences and to always be open for dialogue with an air of forgiveness and understanding rather than with my preconceived notions. Thanks for helping me understand that in a big way.

Hey I know something we agree on. The verse you just quoted:

John 13:35 - By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

[John Richeson]

Emil, John, David, Thanks for the insight

John, sorry I deleted your original fabulous post from yesterday by accident as I explained to you by email. I can't believe my fingers slipped and actually clicked on that little X on the corner of your post. It was the devil trying to supress the truth. Either that or my big fat fingers are not suited for a keyboard.

You have "been there and done that" in online forums. You know what you are talking about. It is obvious. It was even more obvious when Hope and I met you and Janet in San Francisco a couple years back. You are a fair person and logical and level headed, qualities I aspire to. Dare I say a pastor? Ok for you non-pastor fans how bout a kind, nice, person who makes you feel good to talk to. A guy you feel comfortable with immediately because he is seeking to build you up rather that tear you down. Yet even you have been hurt by words from anonymous posters. Something wrong in that type of system as I see it.

Interestingly, from day one, even back as far as Waydale I used my full name and made my cell phone and personal email available openly in my profile and posted it too.

I can handle criticism and hurt and disagreement. But what I do not like is when there is no avenue to really reconcile when anonymous posters are hiding behind their mask. At times I have tried making reconciliation by asking the poster to call me so we can talk. They almost always refuse. "No thanks, "Why should I talk to you?" one critic said.

They would rather carry on endless email debates while hiding behind the curtain. This is nothing new. It has been going on since the 1950's. Certain people did this even before the Internet.

Take a look at THIS LINK to see what I mean.

[David Bailey]

WOW! I could really get annoyed here. But then my blood pressure would go up, I'd start to feel sick, yucky, depressed, anger would start to bubbly up and then I would end up in the same boat I was in many years ago!
I can understand why some people feel p....d off, but for crying out loud people, "Life is not fair" repeat "life is not fair." it sucks sometimes. Oh poor me, I've been hard done by, you just don't understand! Yes I do, but what can I do about, should I call all my friends and have them feel sorry for me. Hell no. I am reminded of a song that Sammy P. wrote that applies to me and I'm sure many other people. Shake off the dust and keep on trucking. John is a great and wonderful friend of mine, and what he has done with this site is Heaven sent in my opinon ( for what that is worth).
Since John & Hope forced me to join, (just kidding) My life has taken on new meaning and many wonderful colors, I have re-connected with long lost friends and I am still connecting. My darn phone rings off the wall...Ilove it. So in closing, to all the peeps that don't like this site Get Over It! God bless you all. DB