One of the things that screams the loudest to me about meeting and this group is the lack of honesty. That may not be true with everyone & maybe it isn't fair to make a blanket statement. However, I was raised to respect the workers (they WERE closer to God, the anointed to God, etc) & honesty was something held in high regard in my family. It was very hard to understand how these people I'd held in such high esteem all my life could have lied about the founder, etc. I tried at first to make excuses for them, until I could no longer not face reality. Then when we tried to talk to them I heard them again tell or say things that I KNEW to be untrue.

By all means we need to be honest! There are emotions we all have had to deal with & maybe still are working through & it's hard to not let that show through sometimes. But again, when something was as important to you as my salvation was to me--how do you not have strong feelings? I don't like it when I feel someone has deceived me in any situation but from a spiritual standpoint? Like I told someone recently who is still in--I have NO respect for this group until they at least come clean & be honest. Hiding facts, faults, being secretive--I don't find that the Bible condones such. Honesty, forthrightness, dealing with issues & problems is Biblical.

Some things were kept from the "babes" and the "not-raised-in-it's." (Actually, this "protection" is NOT limited to these 2 classes alone... these things are hushed up quickly with the intent that NO ONE but those directly involved and effected and responding will hear hide nor hair of it. Generally speaking, those who DO know, then, are those at the "higher" levels...because when there are such problems, people usually go to a worker oran elder and/or his wife... certainly to an "oldie" to the system.) This is done in order to keep up the appearance of "all’s well with the world." It is also done because quick denial allows those who know (but don't want to know) to "forget" quickly. The desire is not to "rock the boat" with unprofitable (read here, "damaging to the 2&2 facade") gossip.

[If they were] to punish someone publicly they would draw attention to the crime... 2&2's like to say that "these things" only happen in "false religion." They like to use it as part of their "proof" that their way is "God's Way."

About t.v.'s...one of the friend's children told me that they have a "small" t.v. 'cause it is easier to hide. He was about 8 when he told me that. Imagine!! What kind of message is that child learning?

I was crushed when I learned that so much I was told and expected to believe was a lie!

I agree that the "man founder" issue is NOT the main problem however, the fact they have lied to us *IS* one of the problems. The cover-up of Irvine is/was one of the first downfalls of the group! His excommunication and the cover-up of that fact led the group into being secretive, vague and dishonest, in my opinion.

The truth isn't the priority in "the truth"--maintaining the status quo of the system is. The system is revered above truth. However, if we don't align our lives with truth--we're living fiction, a fairy tale. As we get additional truths, we must correct our perspective.

"Does the Sabbath exist for man, or man for the Sabbath?" Does the truth exist for the friends or the friends for the truth?

I cannot stand dishonesty & as far as I can see that is the biggest fault in the group. They lied about the founder in the very beginning & I continue to see lies to this day. Like another ex 2x2er said to me, "My sin was in being too honest." I've also heard that workers have told others who had questions to not be so honest. That really blows me away.

Surely complete honesty is the first requirement of any preacher of the gospel, and I certainly would be reluctant to seek spiritual guidance from any person or group with a proven record of deliberate deception.

Now that the friends are learning the truth about the history and it’s cover-up I wonder if, in time, the workers will start being honest and tell the truth?