| Author |
Message |
    
needhim
New member
Username: needhim
Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 68.254.37.96
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 9:32 pm: | 
|
what is slander |
skeza2505
Junior Member
Username: skeza2505
Post Number: 38
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 72.197.95.220
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 9:48 pm: |
|
"slan·der [slan-der]
–noun
1. defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
2. a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
3. Law. defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.
–verb (used with object)
4. to utter slander against; defame.
–verb (used without object)
5. to utter or circulate slander.
—Related forms
slan·der·er, noun
slan·der·ing·ly, adverb
slan·der·ous, adjective
slan·der·ous·ly, adverb
slan·der·ous·ness, noun
—Synonyms 4. malign, vilify, revile.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006"
So technically, nothing on this site is slander(as ChisO keeps calling it, which just further goes to show his lack of intelligence); "libel" would be the proper term here. |
danrepent
Intermediate Member
Username: danrepent
Post Number: 112
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 24.95.71.20
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 10:18 pm: |
|
Right, slander is like when someone is basically good and other bears a false testimony against him to his ruin.
Not many have to exaggerate truth to describe the Church in Indianapolis. What Mike and leaders need to do is just repent, it is that simple. |
graceisenough
New member
Username: graceisenough
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 71.101.175.244
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 10:44 pm: |
|
Chris O accused my husband of things he never did. Chris O never met him or me. Chris O was never directly or indirectly involved with anything in my life. Not until over three years later, some leader/s in indy told him half truths. Why would they tell a complete stranger anything about me? For the direct purpose of writing these things on factnet. Would you call that slander? They do this often. Do your homework, I'm begging you. Look at what they do to everyone who has come out and shared a testimony about their experience. They smear them. I know what I have shared is true. I know what Chris O told about us was not true. I now know that there are too many others with very simliar experiences as ours.
I don't know the dictionary definition of slander or libel and I'm not going to look them up. I do know what it feels like to be munipulated. I know what it feels like to live by man made laws. Best of all, I know what it feels like to be free In Jesus. I know what it feels like to be saved by grace through faith, not by works lest any man boast.
Needhim, this is for you and others like you. A friend of mine from this group once told us that her mother asked her if she was in a cult. To her mother she replied,
"If I was in a cult would I know it?" |
graceisenough
New member
Username: graceisenough
Post Number: 24
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 71.101.175.244
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 11:11 pm: |
|
If you were in a cult would you know it?
1. When we doubt, question, of refute any teachings by a man -- namely Mike Peters, does it feel like blasphemy to you?
Maybe someone is touching your idol.
You may want to ask yourself if Mike Peters is your god.
2.Ask yourself-- Could Mike Peters be wrong?
3.Is he infallible?
4.If you left Mike Peters teachings do you think you'd be leaving Jesus? (red flag!)
5.How many days can you go without reading or listening to a Mike Peters teaching?
With God's Word alone.
Test yourself honestly.
6. Could you be brainwashed?
7.If you are in a cult would you know it? |
joythruchrist
Member
Username: joythruchrist
Post Number: 60
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 209.9.208.7
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 12:05 am: |
|
Though I was never personally involved with these groups, Graceisenough and I have similar stories in that our husbands were maligned in this forum. Since we each clearly know the truth about our own husband, this tells me that Indy lies.
I have been told that I have no right or reason to have ever spoken in these forums since I was never there. They LIE about my husband publicly, and I am told that I have no voice here or any reason or right whatsoever to have spoken in his defense.
If the things said about my husband were true, I probably would have said nothing in this forum at all. Which is one reason I find it so curious that "Kathy" said not a word in defense of Mike's character...
The things said/written ABOUT Indy detractors are slander/libel. People who are sharing story after similar story of pain and abuse are NOT libeling Indy. Just how many witnesses with the same story are needed before it is to be believed that things are not right in Indy? What would it take to prove it all?
Not one single Indy detractor takes any pleasure in anything that has happened in this forum; of this I am sure. The fact that early on the Indy leadership proved itself to viciously attack anyone who speaks out against them with perversions of their past sins, and yet so many have chosen to speak out anyway, knowing they would likely be libeled as well, should prove to anyone that these stories are true. Why would anyone subject themselves to the wrath of Indy and having their names maligned unless they were telling the truth? These witnesses just want to see captives set free.
C'mon people, think about it. Do you think we are all just people who enjoy being verbally abused, or just maybe what we witness to is the absolute truth? The fact that the disciples were willing to die for their faith backed up their story, didn't it? Although I know it doesn't compare, seems to me that the COURAGE these people have shown in the face of knowing they would be attacked and maligned backs up their story as well. |
sofiarza
New member
Username: sofiarza
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 75.8.228.29
| | Posted on Saturday, December 23, 2006 - 7:06 pm: |
|
Yea, my experience is that they chew on garbage for a while and spit out whatever they see convenient, irregardless as to whether it hurts any one.
They get something on you, or suspect something and forget it..... you even start doubting yourself, if you dont' catch it.
Who does the bible say the father of liars are?
oh yea, I thought so. They bare fruit of this, many time over.
And the fact that so many are witness to it..... well, that just says it all.
The problem with deception is: you can't tell you being deceived.... hence... why it is so horrific..... I just pray for these people. It is only the power of God that can deliver these poor poor souls.
I prayed for Nancy B., Nancy and Bill, Tim & Danielle, Jane & Troy, Elizabeth & Vince, Sherry & Scott, a few more.... and they are out.... I didn't do anything in and of myself.... but they are out.... and stronger for it I believe...
Just pray people..... just pray
...sofia.. |
karl_b
New member
Username: karl_b
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2007
Posted From: 67.149.15.81
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 10:59 pm: |
|
My name is Karl. I was deeply involved with many of the people that have written the terrible things about the church in Westerville. I was Tim’s closest relationship. When you are reading some of the fact strings, the reasons why most of those that are accusing have written are obvious, but there still is a reason for me to write because truth is important no matter how people respond to it.
Fact One: Tim Dennis was never a part of the church in Columbus. In the four or five years Tim and I were closely interacting I can count the times on my hands that he and I were together with Dan and the church. Most of our interactions with Dan were lunches always on our request as we, Tim and I, and a few others tried to care about each other, and others we were involved with. Tim met Mike one time for a brief hello, that’s it. All the information he is writing about Indy is 2nd or 3rd hand or imagined.
To all who care, the folks who have written slanderous things about Dan and the believers in Columbus were never a part of the church there. They were involved in a small group that was trying to be like the church, you could call us the “Bears Paw group” if you want, but it’s absolutely untrue if you try to say we were a part of the church that is being slandered. The minimal interaction that came from the brothers and sisters in Westerville was sincere caring individuals reaching out to a few of the people they had previously known.
Most of the reasons why so many have written lies and false accusations about the these people are based on this very fact. They are bitter because of wise building practices which allowed time to reveal true motives, ambitions, and thoughts and attitudes of hearts. Many ambitious people wanted to be a part of a beautiful thing, but God in His wisdom allowed the things that took place to reveal the true motives of those aspiring to it. Since Jesus builds His Church on which the gates of Hell will not prevail, mixture must go, and when our little group was confronted by the circumstances of life, fiery trials, and the word of God thru sincere caring from the disciples in Westerville, the truth was revealed. Of this you can be sure, Jesus’ church looks like Truth. And most of those in the Bears Paw group wanted nothing to do with the truth.
Fact Two: Any pain and suffering incurred by the folks in the Bears Paw group was not caused by the teachings from the church in Indianapolis, the believers in Westerville, Mike, or Dan. They were caused by unrepentant sin and mixed motives of the hearts of the people in Bears Paw.
Because of my relationship with Dan and others in the church, we reached out for help. We needed to see the gross things that we participated in as what they really were- blatant sin. And the truth was revealed! The story could have changed right here if there would have been true repentance of these actions and life styles, but there was not! If there would have been true light walking as defined by the Apostle John, things could have been different, but there was not! As occasional outside help was offered, things started to become clear about most of our actions and bad building practices. God’s living word divides joints and marrow, and motives of the heart. Our little group tried hard to be grown up, but as you can imagine as you read the endless string of sinful actions listed below, there was never a real baby to begin with, no real foundation to build on. Hearts were revealed then, and now confirmed by what has transpired.
please see the next post |
karl_b
New member
Username: karl_b
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2007
Posted From: 67.149.15.81
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 11:02 pm: |
|
Without mentioning any names, I will just list some of the sins that all of us were involved in at the time. The truth exposed our impure motives, but most would have nothing to do with the truth. When truth is revealed and you don’t want it, there is only one thing left to do, destroy it.
I am crushed that some of you whom I had walked with for so long have turned out to be so vile, so full of blatant lies when all that was ever done to you was loving care for your souls and your(our) messed up lives.
Selfish ambition= wanting something for selfish reasons not for God or others, i.e. to be part of a group to advance themselves, to have religious friends, to be a leader, to be involved because their friend was involved so they should be, etc…
Jealousy=
Envy=
Covetousness=
All related and a majority of why what happened, has happened
Adultery= to be active in and unrepentant of sexual sin as Jesus defines it.
Hypocrisy and Lying= telling untruths, living one way and acting another around religious people.
Anger and Rage= Involved in hatred toward spouses and other Christians and pagans.
Multiple families had marriages that were no different than the world’s and on the verge of divorce. And to this day still are.
Tax fraud= stealing
Pride= unwillingness to submit to the Christ in one another.
Leaven= knowingly Un-dealt with sin
Bitterness= which has grown up to be a bitter root that defiles many
These were rampant before any Indy teachings or influence by Dan or the body in Westerville, and are still being expressed by those reporting to be cult slayers.
Fact Three:
Two types of people have emerged from this broken sinful experiment in church building.
Type 1. Those who went thru a hard, painful experience and asked God what is there for me to see, for me to repent of that will change how I live, how I relate to you and your people, how I can know you better. Show me myself and why what happened was due to sin in me….and then repented and now continue to live in humility working out there salvation with fear and trembling.
Type 2. Those who never looked inside themselves but always at others, blamed others for problems that were clearly in their lives long before, and became bitter, began slandering and trying to destroy so as to be justified in their choices to reject truth. In the end they have become worse than before they started.
Tim, please repent of bitterness, false accusations, and selfish ambition to be a leader.
It’s destroying all your credibility and of course any relationship you may have had with God. Your searching out others to slander is vile. Tim what happened to you!
Sofia how did you get involved? We really have a relationship with God when we deal with the inside of ourselves, the secret places no one sees but you! Do you remember your vision for me, first the dark painful valley, then seeing few would go up the mountain with me to joy and wonderful freedom… the dark valley is waiting for you, the pain is our own vile hearts, don’t be afraid, it really isn’t vomiting when you love the light!
Elizabeth, Godly people loved and cared for you in a distressful time, why do you attack them now? Truth will be our judge, is it worth losing the truth for whatever you are trying to gain? Losing a friend can hurt, but should it result in murder? |
baxter
Member
Username: baxter
Post Number: 60
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 208.53.138.227
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 11:25 pm: |
|
Karl, I agree with you, truth is truth. As I read your posts, I must say that your words do not resonate in me as “oracles of God” spoken from the spirit of God, they sound more like the “oracles of Mike”. Have you “worked” your way to the “inside” group yet? Sorry they “got” to you. |
speakingtruth
Intermediate Member
Username: speakingtruth
Post Number: 334
Registered: 4-2006
Posted From: 209.9.208.7
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 5:32 am: |
|
It's a sorry story. Sounds like another one here trying to take on the image and likeness of Mike Peters again rather than our Lord Jesus Christ. May God's Grace continue to expose the real nature of Mike's clones or wannabe clones. He has an uncanny but familiar gracelessness. The smell of a cult which all Christendom near or far should be aware of and beware of this insult to our precious Lord's Grace.
We all do become like unto what or who we worship...
We may all know this verse in Jer 17:9-10:
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings."
But I found it revealing that it follows this passage in verses 5-8
Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Those who trust in a mere man, be it Mike Peters or any other, will always find themselves in a dry and parched desert and wilderness. But those who look SOLELY unto Jesus Christ will find Life and Life more abundant and will know Truth and be FREED!
Our prayers continue in this matter as God continues to bring more witnesses to the perversion founded in Indy.
denny.elslager@gmail.com |
danrepent
Intermediate Member
Username: danrepent
Post Number: 127
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 204.13.236.244
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 11:57 am: |
|
The Church in Indianapolis must be really really desperate now! Karl B., welcome to factnet. Mike Peters called this place many things; one of terms he used was “spiritual pornography”. I didn’t think you would show yourself here and I don’t expect you to carry on a dialog with others in this forum, so I’ll make my point and move on.
Karl, whatever “sin” I was in I dealt with it by the Blood of Jesus Christ. No, I do not have to repent of the sins you listed, because I am not in sin for writing about this cult. I did sin this week though and I repented, but it was not the ones you listed. I am not a leader gathering up people like you think. Most folks on here have come to their own conclusions.
I do not understand the fascination that Mike Peters and his constituents have with me. I am just a normal “Joe Bob” on the street who walked into this cult thinking this thing was the return of Jesus Christ on earth, and soberly let down when they were worse than traditional Christianity. Truly, Mike Peter’s church system is all HYPE. Sure, I was not considered part of the Church, but neither were you. Is that why you recruited us from our Church in 2000? You were the one who started that home church group with the teachings of Mike Peters, without Dan Z.’s permission. It got you burned, didn’t it? When people in our new little group saw the teachings of men in Mike Peters’ doctrine, you all said they were in sin and did not know God. You lived right next door to a wonderful Christian family. What happened when he did not fall down and worship at Mike’s feet? If you are going to confess my sins for me, confess yours by name concerning what you did.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that you may not be judged.
Mat 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull the splinter out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye.
And for the record Karl, you and I were relatively close in the beginning. After I moved up there in 03’ this shifted to another brother. I don’t like how you made it sound like you and I were best buds the whole time. A lot of the stuff I noticed happened when we were not spending time together, plus you and your family were on the black list for a while.
Another thing, why did you mention “murder”, what does that have do with anything? |
cult_fighter
Member
Username: cult_fighter
Post Number: 95
Registered: 4-2006
Posted From: 40.0.40.10
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 1:37 pm: |
|
Karl:
Let's play the "Devil's advocate" (appropriate term) and assume that Tim D is as evil as you say he is. For the sake of the argument, let's say Tim is Adolph Hitler Junior.
Even IF that were true, it doesn't change the now MOUNTAINOUS amount of evidence and testimonies building up against Mike Peters and his cult!
1. It doesn't change the FACT that every time someone steps forward, recounting their horrible experiences in this cult, some Peterite (often Mike himself) will immediately blast him/her with 15-20 year-old confessed sins, usually strongly embellished and exaggerated.
2. It doesn't change the FACT that Mike has personally harmed or ruined many marriages. It doesn't change the FACT that he wrote many secret emails to the wives of other men's wives, often signing those emails with "love, mike" or worse, with "hugs & kisses" (xoxoxoxo).
3. It doesn't change the FACT that Mike would openly encourage other men's wives to withhold affection from their God-given husbands. He would tell them their husband was a "pagan".
4. It doesn't change the FACT that Mike & his gang would tell some children that their "Daddy HATES Jesus" -- when the only problem with that father was his disagreement with Mike's teachings.
5. It doesn't change the FACT that with his "Physical Phamily" teaching, Mike openly encourages his followers to cut off love and contact from extended family members. Thanks to this hellish teaching, there are many broken-hearted grandparents and other family members all across the country.
6. It doesn't change the FACT that Indiana Families Against Cults (the best known cult-fighting ministry in Mike's home state) considers Mike's group to be a dangerous, controlling cult.
7. It doesn't change the FACT that there are NO current pastors or churches in Mike's local Indianapolis area who will speak positively of him or his group. None, nada, zero!!
Is that enough FACTS for you, Karl? I could go on and on! So even IF Tim is as bad as you say he is (and he isn't), WHAT would that change?
Please also STOP with the cultic exaggerations! "Murder", "slander" ????? |
baxter
Member
Username: baxter
Post Number: 61
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 208.53.138.226
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 3:56 pm: |
|
Two types MAY have emerged from anyone who has been associated with the “lording over” of MP, but, it looks more like this…
Type 1. Those who went thru a hard, painful experience (imposed by the leader and his band) and asked god (aka Mike Peters)
what is there for me to see, for me to repent of that will change how
I live, how I relate to you (Mike )and your (Mike's) people, how I can know you (and your teachings and expectations of me) better. Show me myself (as you--MP--and your band see me) and why what happened was due to sin (as you declare sin) in me, and
then repented (conformed to the teachings of the group) and now continue to live in humility (as you whip me into spiritual submission and a broken and bruised spirit) working out their
salvation with fear and trembling (of MP and his band of mighty men or should I say mostly--women).
Type 2. Those free to live as God wills, free to fellowship with God’s people in love and kindness and encouragement. Free to show kindness to everyone, especially to the household of faith. Free to hear GOD and discern HIS will. Free to express their JOY and enthusiasm. Free to share the gospel with those they meet without having to refer to the Church in Indianapolis. Free to invite someone to their home as the Spirit leads without having to “seek equipping” first. Free to do something ALONE if they should choose. Free to love their enemies. Free to do something for someone without first having to “seek equipping”. Free to have a close intimate friend without it being scrutinized by the leaders. FREE IN CHRIST! |
graceisenough
Junior Member
Username: graceisenough
Post Number: 35
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 71.101.54.90
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 6:34 pm: |
|
Amen to freedom!!!! (To what Baxter said)
Karl-
Hi to you too! I would be willing to talk to you one on one. I have alot I could say here but I think it would better to talk one on one. I really don't want to do any mudslinging here (or anywhere).
Since you accused me of murder, I will address that here. I am concerned for you. Do you realize the actual weight of using that word? I don't think you realize how exposing those types of comments are to what kind of mindset you are under.
If you choose not to talk to us one on one, that's up to you.
I hope the best for you and your family.
Remember that you don't need the appraoval of man to be part of God's Church.
With Love, Elizabeth
enelson8735@yahoo.com |
cult_fighter
Member
Username: cult_fighter
Post Number: 96
Registered: 4-2006
Posted From: 40.0.40.10
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2007 - 3:02 pm: |
|
I don't know if any of you saw this, but this past weekend The History Channel played a few very alarming shows about Cults, including a TV movie about the Reverend Jim Jones. As I watched, I got a chill, thinking about how similar these cult leaders (in their early days) were to Mike Peters. I thought especially how similar Jim Jones was to our own Mike Peters. NO, I'm not saying Mike is like the blood-thirsty killer that Jim Jones became in 1978. I'm saying he's a LOT like the Jim Jones of 1971 -- the man who started what seemed to be a very good evangelical church, in the same city that Mike is from! Take a look at the following list of "Ten Similarities" and see if you don't agree. Peters' followers, I invite you to tell me where I'm wrong!
MIKE PETERS & JIM JONES: 10 Similarities
1. Both Mike and Jim set up their first "church" in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2. Both Mike and Jim are/were untrained preachers from similar denominations, Mike from the Church of Christ, Jim from the Disciples of Christ.
3. Both Mike and Jim initially started their churches with a genuine interest in sharing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Both Mike and Jim are/were motivated by acquiring personal power over their followers.
5. Both Mike and Jim put a great emphasis on forcing their followers to openly confess their sins. These confessed sins are then used to punish followers whenever they get out of line.
6. Both Mike and Jim have/had unquestioned authority over their followers. Among their followers, criticizing Mike or Jim is equated with blaspheming Jesus Himself.
7. Both Mike and Jim have shown tendencies to have closer relationships with their female followers than with their male followers. Jones was having sex with many of his female followers. (No such evidence against Mike.)
8. Both Mike and Jim claim(ed) to be prophets of God, personally receiving God's commands for their followers.
9. Both Mike and Jim claim(ed) persecution whenever criticized by outsiders. Jones called his media critics "hatemongers", while Peters calls his critics a "hate group".
10. Both Mike and Jim have moved their groups geographically. Jones moved his group from Indianapolis to San Francisco, while Peters moved his first followers from Vermont to Indianapolis. Of course, when the media scrutiny got too much for Jones, he and his group left the country, moving to Guyana, South America (and tragedy). While Peters has not made such an exodus, in the past he has warned his followers to have updated passports for their entire families. |
scannyd
New member
Username: scannyd
Post Number: 24
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 24.95.71.20
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2007 - 7:59 pm: |
|
You know Cult Fighter I watched a show a few weeks ago on the history channel concerning cults too. Many of the things you stated hit me as well. It alarmed me how many similarities there were. The one thing I was wondering about was they were saying that many of these leaders had bad childhoods. Do any of you know if Mike has had a similar experience? What was his childhood like? It seems to be some sort of control issue stemming from not having control as a child.
Any thoughts would be welcome
Danielle |
cult_fighter
Member
Username: cult_fighter
Post Number: 97
Registered: 4-2006
Posted From: 75.2.7.133
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2007 - 11:41 pm: |
|
Clearly, from his "All Affection", part 3 teaching, Mike does NOT like his parents:
http://www(dot)yourkingdomcome(dot)com/allaffection.htm
He says he couldn't even let his parents bounce their grandchildren on their knees. Sounds like some very deeply rooted dislike for his parents and everything about them! |
scannyd
New member
Username: scannyd
Post Number: 25
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 24.95.71.20
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 9:18 am: |
|
I recall that too, and some other teachings that warn against family, and when you are in the group there is always pressure to stay away from family. Like they are evil or something. I remember getting asked all sorts of questions whenever I would spend time with my mom. It was so funny because the whole time I was trying to get her to see my way. It did work out for the good but only because God did the working not me.
The other thing that catches my attention is that alot of these people's parents are Christians. They still shun them even though they believe in Jesus. Strange behaviour.
Danielle |
cult_fighter
Member
Username: cult_fighter
Post Number: 98
Registered: 4-2006
Posted From: 40.0.40.10
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:37 am: |
|
YES, how could I forget? Both Mike and Jim are/were very big into disconnecting their followers from extended family members. In the case of Mike Peters, amazingly, he calls CHRISTIAN family members "pagans". Why? Because they belong to an "attendance-based" (read: non-Peterite) church.
In the case of Jim Jones, the estrangement from extended family members is what led to the mass murder/suicide. Congressman Ryan was leading a group of family members down to Guyana to investigate the cult. Because Ryan didn't like what he saw, before he could report the abuses, he and some family members were murdered at the airfield. This led Jones to order his followers to drink the poisoned Koolaid, leaving over 900 dead.
THIS is what happens when cult-members believe their leader is speaking directly from God. |
joythruchrist
Member
Username: joythruchrist
Post Number: 67
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 209.9.208.7
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 7:06 am: |
|
From "anonymous":
=========
Cult_fighter, I watched that video on History Channel, "Decoding the Past - Cults." I highly recommend this for everyone reading this thread. Buy the video if it doesn't play again.
There are so many similarities it's scary... especially with the character comparisons between Mike Peters and Jim Jones. I'll state a few.
JJ would isolate children from their parents. MP isolates children from their parents and grandparents by applying "withholding affection." I've seen it by MP and church members and MP attests to this in his teaching.
JJ had secret fascinations with sex. MP has said the weirdest and most perverted things I've ever heard about sex. MP's statements have forever ruined in my mind some scriptures he has superimposed on his observations about sexual matters. I am too ashamed to repeat the most outrageous here. And don't forget the "xoxoxo" secret emails which have already been outed.
If anyone has the tape called "For Young Men about to get Married", listen to it. I doubt that MP3 is online. The tape had a warning label which stated, "Not for mixed company" or maybe children neither. This tape was virtually required listening "for men only" about to be married. IMO, it was too personal and it layed the groundwork for other Church Members to be in the private life of your bedroom. A-sexual matters become sexual matters with Mike Peters. It is bizarre.
With JJ and other cults, members become hostile to the "outside world" or isolated from it. Google search "Spiritual Pornography" a term MP thinks he invented. The first sight that shows up in google for me says: '"Spiritual Pornography" is a term used by International Churches of Christ (ICC) leadership for material critical of the Movement.'
Woman aren't allowed to attend college or work, even though some now older women have Bachelor or Master degrees in Engineering, Nursing, Mathematics, Economics, you name it. These women got their degrees before joining the Indianapolis Church. Young men are headed to occupations or higher education with older church members. The bible says, we are "in the world but not of it." In the Indianapolis Church, they build their own world.
Through the Doctrine of Aloneness members are conditioned to be afraid to go anywhere alone. When I became a former member, it has taken me several years before I stopped asking someone to accompany me.
Several of the cults had their own organizations where cult members worked for little or no wages. Lordin Engineering (shepherded by MP's Lordin Enterprises) which briefly debuted in the early 1990's, had similar experiences where employees went months without pay.
One thing I had in common with the former members of all the cults in this video, I ignored the warning signs and yellow flags while I was there. |
cult_fighter
Member
Username: cult_fighter
Post Number: 99
Registered: 4-2006
Posted From: 40.0.40.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 10:52 am: |
|
Wow, joythruchrist, YOU were there, I wasn't. Your testimony of these clear similarities between Jim Jones & Mike Peters has much more weight than mine.
I will say, however, that I think I have to withdraw one of my "Top 10 Similarities". In my above posting, my similarity #2 was "Both Mike and Jim are/were untrained preachers from similar denominations, Mike from the Church of Christ, Jim from the Disciples of Christ." I've been informed that Mike was "trained" at Lipscomb University, a Christian school of the Church of Christ. If this is true, then I was wrong and I humbly apologize. Sorry, Mike!
We can thus substitute Scannyd's point:
2. Both Mike and Jim put an emphasis on dividing their followers from extended family members. |
joythruchrist
Member
Username: joythruchrist
Post Number: 68
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 209.9.208.7
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 4:10 pm: |
|
Just to clear things up... No, I was never there. That was something I posted from someone who would like to be anonymous.
joythruChrist@gmail.com |
stoflet
New member
Username: stoflet
Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2007
Posted From: 71.124.4.95
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 12:04 am: |
|
My name is Andy Stoflet. I am from Richmond, IN; I have never been a member of the CII, nor do I know anybody, but I did read about this group in the Indianapolis Monthly. This is scary and I don't think I have so much as scratched the surface of getting to know the CII. This sounds a lot like Animal Farm in how a seemingly good idea can become something terrible.
I am scared to think of this being another Jonestown. The wife of Jim Jones and the children buried in a cemetery in my home town and I pass it everytime I go to my relatives graves. Luckily, I was not born in time to witness that event (I was born in June 1979).
I sent an email to a christian group that has an ENORMOUS amount of information about cults and biblical information called Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry www.carm.org telling them about this group. I also told the group about the Indianapolis Monthly article along with the links that are the magazine. |
danrepent
New member
Username: danrepent
Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 65.60.228.88
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 10:43 am: |
|
Great idea stoflet. |
stoflet
New member
Username: stoflet
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2007
Posted From: 74.140.41.128
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 12:55 pm: |
|
Thanks. I am on the group's email list and last time I checked there was about 50,000+ members subscribed to the email, so everyone here would reach a wide audience, which would be real helpful if he were to spread to other places or just move to another town. |
word1948
New member
Username: word1948
Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2007
Posted From: 68.58.127.165
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 4:37 pm: |
|
Stoflet, I was under the impression Jones himself was buried in Richmond. If not, do you know where he was buried? |
stoflet
New member
Username: stoflet
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2007
Posted From: 74.140.41.128
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:33 pm: |
|
I thought it was Indianapolis. If it was in Richmond, IN; I am sure it would be in the same cemetery as the wife and children. I am sure that a relative would have pointed it out by now to me. A little note, the wife is buried under her maiden name. I will look this up. |
stoflet
New member
Username: stoflet
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2007
Posted From: 74.140.41.128
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 8:21 pm: |
|
According to religionnewsblog.com he was cremated and his ashes are in the Atlantic Ocean. I also found out on wikipedia that he was born around Lynn, not all that far from me and did live in Richmond for quite a while. |
graceisenough
New member
Username: graceisenough
Post Number: 13
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 71.101.58.228
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 9:47 pm: |
|
Hey Andy,
Thanks for caring enough to do this. I want to prevent others from going through what I went through with this group. The more the word gets out the better I think. I will also check the link to the site you mentioned. |
stoflet
New member
Username: stoflet
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2007
Posted From: 71.124.4.95
| | Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 11:30 am: |
|
My main reason for doing this is because I am scared to have another "Jonestown" involving someone in my area. I don't want another grave pointed out to me and have it be a "Peterstown" or whatever grave, so I am ready to stop one before it gets too bad. |
baxter
Junior Member
Username: baxter
Post Number: 28
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 198.172.201.243
| | Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 4:06 pm: |
|
Stoflet,
Exactly, graceisenough and the rest of us here all want the same thing...to see Mike Peters exposed. I have heard him pray that prayer about others over time. It's time for the light to shine on him. And if there is any doubt in your mind Chris O, whom I actually think is Mike's scapegoat, I DO have actual experience with Mike Peters. You on the other hand were of no real account in the group there, so I can't understand why you would be the spokesperson, you have your own "issues" to deal with which must be the reason you are in a vacumm all by yourself and not sitting at Mike's feet. Although I do think you don't post anything except at his word and with his approval.
I have seen Mike do this or that and come back with the scenario that would best suite his purposes. He really has successfully cut off reality to the people under his command. It's tragic, INDEED. But Mike, do NOT think that because you are deceived and deceive others that you are going to escape. There is one bigger than us both whom you cannot deceive. So I suggest you take a real long hard look at what you think you have accomplished and get off your high horse and repent. |
graceisenough
New member
Username: graceisenough
Post Number: 14
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 71.101.58.228
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:53 am: |
|
I personally know of another wife that Mike Peters has been emailing and the husband has asked Mike again to stop. We'll see what happens...... I would walk away from all of this tomorrow if I thought it was over and no one was being hurt by it. That is not the case. As long as I am hearing current accounts of Mike's marriage wrecking practice I cannot turn a blind eye. "Counselling" wives secretly without the husband knowing or what's even worse with the husband asking Mike to leave his wife alone. I have never met a true shephard that would insist on being in contact with so many women without the husband being invloved. The time I was under Mike's teachings I thought this was exceptable only because I was under his anti-marriage lies. When you are brainwashed to reject anyone that disagrees with Mike you will include rejecting even your spouse, your parents, etc. I have done this myself and seen this happen all too often. The damaging effects of cutting people off is the exact opposite of the grace expressed by Jesus on the cross. This is so clear to me now but it took a miracle for me to wake up. Let's pray for that miracle for Mike and all his followers. |
baxter
Junior Member
Username: baxter
Post Number: 29
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 128.241.44.207
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 3:00 pm: |
|
It's been brought to my attention that my last post is not "clear" as to whom I am addressing. So I am going to clarify things here. But before I do, I want to add that I too feel a responsibility to do what I can to help see that Mike's manipulating lies are exposed and his ways made apparent to those in his group and those who can still be sucked in to his spiritually, mentally, and emotionally destructive ways. Thanks, Elizabeth!
And now...Stoflet,
Exactly, graceisenough and the rest of us here all want the same thing...to see Mike Peters exposed. I have heard him pray that prayer about others over time (that God would expose the darkness). It's time for the light to shine on him.
To ChrisO: And if there is any doubt in your mind Chris O (whom I actually think is Mike's scapegoat), I DO have actual experience with Mike Peters. You on the other hand were of no real account in the group there, so I can't understand why you would be the spokesperson, you have your own "issues" to deal with which must be the reason you are in a vacumm all by yourself and not sitting at Mike's feet. Although I do think you don't post anything except at his word and with his approval and even WHAT HE wants said.
I have seen Mike do this or that and come back with the scenario that would best suite his purposes. He really has successfully cut off reality to the people under his command. It's tragic, INDEED.
But Mike, do NOT think that because you are deceived and deceive others that you are going to escape. There is one bigger than us both whom you cannot deceive. So I suggest you take a real long hard look at what you think you have accomplished and get off your high horse and repent. The work you are doing is NOT authored by Jesus, the Christ! |
danrepent
New member
Username: danrepent
Post Number: 15
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 65.60.228.88
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 11:49 pm: |
|
Top Ten reasons why Chris O will not be back:
1.) Factnet
2.) Indianapoliscult.com
3.) Indianapolis Monthly Article
4.) Lies, lies, and lies exposed and documented
5.) Unchristian behavior on the internet completely documented
6.) Mike Peters is using him to post anyway
7.) It is an embarrassment to the cult to have this man blow his top on multiple occasions (also documented)
8.) Testimonies like Rob W. and Gene F.
9.) Chris O didn’t get that promotion to become a new satellite cult group leader
10.) They have been proven guilty over and over again and they still continue to do the same things |
baxter
Junior Member
Username: baxter
Post Number: 30
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 207.195.244.64
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 7:42 pm: |
|
Here's the scenario. A group of people who claim to be so close, so tight, you can't tell one from the other. Accountability is in escapable. Knowing this, no one comes or goes without the whole group knowing.
A stranger walks into their midst and begins asking questions. "Is your leader here or is he out of town?" "No he's not out of town" says the unknown man as he fumbles with his blackberry. "Oh wait, I'm sorry, he IS out of town."
The leader, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the intruder, had not cued his disciples in on discussions that had taken place between the leader and the intruder since those discussions were on a "need to know" basis and not openly discussed with disciples. Forced to "save face" he communicates to his disciple (via blackberry) to tell the man that he is indeed "out of town".
Disciple readily responds. Did the leader ask his disciple to LIE? Is the disciple's conscience so seared that he does so without realizing what he has been asked to do? Did disciple do this without question? Would that be acceptable to ask that of their children? Each other?
Hmmm, I wonder if this sort of thing ever happens in Indy?
Christ.myrighteousness@gmail.com |
|
