georgieszendrey Wrote:
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> Have you checked out the historical account on the
> Walk
>
> EXPERIMENT IN END TIME APOSTASY:
>
> THE WALK of JOHN ROBERT STEVENS
>
> The History, Beliefs, and Spiritual Dynamics of a
> Christian Cult
>
>
> by Woodrow Nichols
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Welcome georgieszendrey. Yes, I think a number of posters have checked out the Nichols publication and it's probably worthwhile to mention it again as things get buried in the numerous messages on this forum. I don't recall any poster pointing out any discrepancies or inaccuracies on the part of Nichols. To bad the internet wasn't available back in 1980 when Nichols published. It's uncanny how the Nichols publication exposes the cult like characteristics that many researchers have concluded and identify as cultish such as (1) charismatic authority (the hook). JRS sounded knowledgeable enough and mysterious (godlike) enough to offer something new to the followers unlike other denominations. (2) Nichols also points out how The Walk also offered another cultish characteristic (utopian vision) of a transcendent belief system of personal transformation into Manifested Sons of God and resurrection life. (3) I think Nichols really nailed it in exposing the Walk's cultic system of control through rules of conduct (strict obedience to the leaders) through TLW Nazi hierarchy. And (4) Nichols also exposes the high demand or example of a totalism system that R. Lifton's research observed in China and Germany. While TLW example of totalism may not be as evil as thought reform (undue influence or mind control) as in North Korea, China, Russia or Germany, the destructive psychological effect on TLW followers has been well documented on this forum.
If you care to comment, what are your thoughts on the Nichols publication?
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have you checked out the historical account on the
> Walk
>
> EXPERIMENT IN END TIME APOSTASY:
>
> THE WALK of JOHN ROBERT STEVENS
>
> The History, Beliefs, and Spiritual Dynamics of a
> Christian Cult
>
>
> by Woodrow Nichols
--------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome georgieszendrey. Yes, I think a number of posters have checked out the Nichols publication and it's probably worthwhile to mention it again as things get buried in the numerous messages on this forum. I don't recall any poster pointing out any discrepancies or inaccuracies on the part of Nichols. To bad the internet wasn't available back in 1980 when Nichols published. It's uncanny how the Nichols publication exposes the cult like characteristics that many researchers have concluded and identify as cultish such as (1) charismatic authority (the hook). JRS sounded knowledgeable enough and mysterious (godlike) enough to offer something new to the followers unlike other denominations. (2) Nichols also points out how The Walk also offered another cultish characteristic (utopian vision) of a transcendent belief system of personal transformation into Manifested Sons of God and resurrection life. (3) I think Nichols really nailed it in exposing the Walk's cultic system of control through rules of conduct (strict obedience to the leaders) through TLW Nazi hierarchy. And (4) Nichols also exposes the high demand or example of a totalism system that R. Lifton's research observed in China and Germany. While TLW example of totalism may not be as evil as thought reform (undue influence or mind control) as in North Korea, China, Russia or Germany, the destructive psychological effect on TLW followers has been well documented on this forum.
If you care to comment, what are your thoughts on the Nichols publication?