To everyone who reads here:
We have had remarkable success here with this BB, insofar as its purpose of exposing, explaining and helping those of us who were involved with the Geftakys Assembly. We have gone through various phases and periods since our inception, and despite the fact that it has been about 3 years since the beginning, our daily hits remain quite high, showing that for one reason or another, people still frequent this forum.
I would like to take this time to make a few statements and observations regarding our present state, and what I think is healthy and prudent for the future.
The Big Picture:The BB was to help each of us understand and identify what we were involved in---a cult/abusive church. It was also to serve as a resource for those who were/are just beginning to figure things out. George was an evil man, and much of what we learned and practiced was wrong, from a biblical sense. I think we can say, "mission accomplished," as far as this goes.
The other purpose for the BB was that we could learn how to avoid becoming involved in the same type of thing in the future, as many people go from cult to cult, or from believer to unbeliever. In other words, hopefully by reading here, people would gain some discernment skills, and maybe some common courage. The "no rules" format was intended, by me, to allow people to say what they really thought, and disagree with someone in real-time, which is so critical for avoiding cultic people and groups in the future. Learning to stick one's neck out and let someone try to chop it off is important, as any soldier will tell you. Learning to chop off the neck of a snake is also important, for obvious reasons.
The last thing this BB was intended for was to become a snare, or addiction for people. Had I been presented with the possibility that this board would actually serve to permanently fixate people on their Assembly identity, or their reaction to it, I would never had agreed to do it in the first place.
Sadly, I have seen for some time now that this is exactly what is taking place.
What I am about to say is direct and straightforward. I really don't care what reaction I get from it, or likes or dislikes what I have to say.
I think the current climate here is unhealthy and wrong. It makes ALL OF US, including me, look like fools. Furthermore, it is living proof that several of us haven't gotten over the very issues that allowed us to become willing sychophants of George.
Let me be more specific: One of the main failures that allowed George to operate in the manner he did for so many years was the incorrect thinking on the part of virtually all of the men who were with him in the early days. Several of the key players are among our most prominent posters, namely Tom, Al, and Margaret. Mark goes back a long time, as does Dave Sable. These people were all around decades ago, and at one time or another learned that George wasn't who he said he was.
They collectively made a feeble, largely ineffective attempt at helping others at the time. That's my opinion. Several people left when the Iron's left, which is good. However, George continued on with even greater strength. Tom's departure was hardly noticed, same as Mark's. Yes, there was no Internet then, I understand that, but when there was an Internet none of them did anything about it.....with the exception of Mark, who posted on the Rick Ross site, which is where I found him.
At the core of this ineffectiveness lies a pathological reluctance to admit personal wrongdoing. That's my opinion. The current flap over Tom's egregious slander of "Skeptic" is clear proof that this mindset is alive and well in him.
Dave hits and leaves.
Mark did much the same thing with Romans 14....although to his credit he did apologize publicly when a good deal of pressure was put upon him in a sustained manner. Sadly, he has returned to backing and supporting a person who is clearly in the wrong...which is exactly what we all did with George.
Margaret, who is hardly involved at all in this side of things, but who nevertheless seems to carry a good deal of influence with Mark, at the least, also suffers from the same malady, which is really surprising to me.
Case in point: In her most recent post she says,
So it seems to me that Tom's guess was not particularly out of line. And here's the grandma part--In my day, (quavery voice here, sonny) it was the person whose communication was vague that did the apologizing and said, "Oh, I'm sorry I left the wrong impression. What I meant to say was...."
Okay, grandma's had her say.
Margaret, as a full grown adult, you did much to establish George, and support the most bizarre practices imaginable. I fully understand that you have repented of this....that's not the point I'm trying to make. The point is that whatever wisdom you should have as a Grandma notwithstanding, your above statement is wrong, and totally belies the fact that even you still have the Assembly mindset deeply ingrained. The fact of the matter is that "in your day," you encouraged allegiance to George and Betty and questionable use of coffee. "In your day," you also supported apologies from people who did no wrong, but who were perceived to have done wrong by the leadership. Exactly what you are doing here today, albeit on a much, much smaller scale.
Tom's "guess" was totally out of line, and grew even worse, and you know it. You may be a grandma, but you're not blind. You are falling back into the old, "protect the leader," mindset.
Tom, you act so wise, so knowledable, so theological. However, the facts is that you are attending classes taught by people half your age. This should make you humble, yet you are so proud that you can't even admit you read into someone's post what wasn't there. You have never, to my knowledge, admitted a single mistake on this board, let alone even say, "I'll try to do better."
I could go on and on but this is the heart of the matter.
The advice and practices being given here is not healthy, and is actually counterproductive for anyone who might visit here looking for help. The old threads are far more beneficial for that.Somehow, Tom, Dave, Mark, Al (not recently) and Margaret (to a much lesser extent) have fallen into their old leading brother way of relating to one another. They support eachother despite the facts, and take it upon themselves to teach, correct and instruct everyone, as if they themselves have come so far.
This isn't good for them, and it's not good for us, especially if we actually take to heart what they have to say.
The sad fact is that if this forum and the website weren't provided for them, at great cost initially, they would have still been off in seclusion and George would still be in fine style. In spite of their proud, enlightened carriage, they came on the scene AFTER the heavy lifting was done, with the notable exception of Mark Campbell, and in some cases were discouraging and negative about starting this endeavor in the first place.
So, here is where we are currently, in my opinion.
The BB isn't effective in it's intended purpose. The exception to this is if someone goes back and reads old posts. The current culture, promulgated by the people listed above, teaches through action that false spirituality and vapid God Talk is OK, but truthful, straightforward communication is bad. That's Geftakys 101, folks.
The current culture protects the LP's, even if they are flat-out, undeniably wrong. That's Geftakys 101B.
Weak leaders are afraid to say the hard thing, take a hard stand or tell the truth if it's controversial, hence someone like Lenore getting to furthur her self deception at our expense, but "skeptic" being called a slanderer almost immediately! That's Gnats and Camels, folks, Geftakys 102.
Sure, it's not on a grand scale, like when George did it, but it stinks nontheless, and it's bad for those who spend too much time here.
Tom and Dave. It seems to me that you guys don't think you have anything to learn here. You have never indicated such to the best of my recollection. Certainly each of you takes on a superior, "advanced in the journey" tone whenever you post. Yet, the sad fact is that you are both behaving in the same George-enabling way that made you so effective for him at one time, and so ineffective at stopping him when you realized your error. The advice you dispence is laced with this attitude, and despite repeated attempts to point it out, you ignore it.
Mark, I owe you a great debt of gratitude for your tremendous help and contribution that you made initially, but I am saddened to see you revert back in recent months. You do have the ability to admit your mistakes, and have done so, so am confident that you will "snap out of it," by and by.
Margaret, you are doing a good job on the website. Nuff said here.
The Bottom line is that I recommend that we post some comments about this here.
I also beg and implore that any lurkers or one-time member might chime in here with their opinions.In the final analysis, it may be wise to shut this board down, or at least to vacate it. I certainly intend to do so in the near future....again.
The only reason I returned was to stop Mauldin from running rings around you, and to let you know about David G.
I certainly didn't expect to be called a slanderer for telling people to verify the info! BTW, it turned out to be true.
I can take it as well as dish it out, for those of you who don't know me.
Brent
