Two Year Training Testimonies

[Freedom]

I managed to avoid going to the training. I did not experience much pressure to attend, but even if I did, I would not have caved in. I can say that in general, there is a lot of pressure for college graduates to attend, it seems like those who don't are looked down on and are a small minority.

When I was younger, I actually had the idea that I would be attending the training and that I needed to go. Gradually my mind changed about that over time.

There is a lot that I can say about it, but in order to be concise, I will just say a few things. The first problem I see with the training is that there is the implication that you can't be useful to the Lord or churches if you don't attend the training.

The primary thing that made me not want to attend the training was the realization that it bears no resemblance to how normal people live and interact in the real world. The training rules are a primary example of that. By the time someone graduates from college, they should now how to keep a schedule, dress for work and be a responsible individual. It's almost insulting that they give young people the idea that without attending the training they won't be able to function as a normal human being in life.

One rule that irks me in particular is the restrictions on contact with the opposite sex. That is completely abnormal and they really have no such right to impose those kind of rules. The reason that they can get away with it is because trainees have no problem agreeing to the rules without a single question or doubt.

When looking at the training from the outside, I think you would be hard pressed to find an example besides the training where people are willing to surrender so much of their freedom. Simply put, it's abnormal. Just thinking about it gets me upset. I'm so happy I saw past it all and decided not to attend.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Freedom

When looking at the training from the outside, I think you would be hard pressed to find an example besides the training where people are willing to surrender so much of their freedom. Simply put, it's abnormal. Just thinking about it gets me upset. I'm so happy I saw past it all and decided not to attend.

The reason for the excessive legalism was to train these future leaders that their spiritual life and service was nothing without LSM.

In the bi-annual trainings, all the parents and elders of these trainees were constantly reminded of the pitiful job they had done to date, and how much remediation work was needed to be accomplished by LSM / FTTA.

The Great Lakes Area eventually learned that the Trainers used their bully pulpit to poison the young people against the very leadership which had encouraged and financed their attendance in the FTTA. The trainees would return with suspicions directed at their parents, their elders, and the regional leaders, and had serious issues fitting into the church life and normal daily life outside of the FTTA.

[Cal]

The "training" model was something Nee invented and Lee perfected. It's an expression of their domineering natures in the context of backwards mainland China 70 years ago. It's an archaic, extremely flawed model, which produces short-term compliance and long-term stupidity.

The only reason it is still around is because to change it would be to admit something about Nee and Lee wasn't perfect and eternal.

Even the military and most sports coaches have abandoned the strict disciplinarian approach to leadership. There is a better way. Reasonable rules are fine and needed, but rules that exist just to show the trainees that they are being ruled, to break their wills, are abusive.

Every day the LRC becomes more of an anachronism. I feel sorry for the kids that grow up there. They receive a very warped view of life and God.

[awareness]

Originally Posted by Igzy

The "training" model was something Nee invented and Lee perfected. It's an expression of their domineering natures in the context of backwards mainland China 70 years ago. It's an archaic, extremely flawed model, which produces short-term compliance and long-term stupidity.

I understand it was said at a aha moment, when two Leebots were talking :

"Witness Lee goes fishing with a straight hook, you have to want to get caught."

If you go to their trainings you have definitely been caught ... at your own peril.

[awareness]

What happened to the video of the training? I can't find it.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Igzy

The "training" model was something Nee invented and Lee perfected. It's an expression of their domineering natures in the context of backwards mainland China 70 years ago. It's an archaic, extremely flawed model, which produces short-term compliance and long-term stupidity.

This quote is a bit harsh in tone, but useful medicine in that it lets us look at: 1) personality; 2) culture; and 3) effect. All worth considering.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Ohio

In the bi-annual trainings, all the parents and elders of these trainees were constantly reminded of the pitiful job they had done to date, and how much remediation work was needed to be accomplished by LSM / FTTA.

Seems a lot as the direction Obama's administration is heading in. You don't suppose Barrack learned his craft from LSM do you? I see many a parallel. Publicly speaking positive words, lack of transparency, etc.
Back to the quote of Ohio's, total disregard of parental responsibility. Remediation work is usurping the role of the parent.

[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Freedom

The primary thing that made me not want to attend the training was the realization that it bears no resemblance to how normal people live and interact in the real world. The training rules are a primary example of that. By the time someone graduates from college, they should now how to keep a schedule, dress for work and be a responsible individual. It's almost insulting that they give young people the idea that without attending the training they won't be able to function as a normal human being in life.

Very good observation. I would never have thought to put it this way. The real truth of the matter is that, despite their claim to be training these young people in "the proper human living", they end up producing a bunch of semi-robotic clones who cannot relate to the modern 21st century American adult. (I don't know so much about the other foreign Full-Time trainings, but I suspect they are much of the same) Dressing and conducting oneself in a professional manner is all well and good if you are selling a tangible product, but if the product is YOURSELF and supposedly the genuine and historic Gospel as found in the Bible, then people are quickly going to ascertain that you're just a well-dressed recruiter for some little-known religious organization based in Anaheim, California.

One rule that irks me in particular is the restrictions on contact with the opposite sex. That is completely abnormal and they really have no such right to impose those kind of rules. The reason that they can get away with it is because trainees have no problem agreeing to the rules without a single question or doubt.

This is mostly based upon the culture of early to mid 20th century China (Asia in general?). Again, if these young people were controlled enough to make it through a 4 year university without letting the attraction to the opposite sex make them so irresponsible as to not be able to graduate, then I can't see how they couldn't be trusted to make it another 2 years! It's nothing but blatant cult-like control over a very personal aspect of a young person's life.

I remember well when they attacked seminaries, stating that they would never have such institutions. Well, of course they don't! They have TRAININGS. A seminary by any other name is still....a seminary.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I remember well when they attacked seminaries, stating that they would never have such institutions. Well, of course they don't! They have TRAININGS. A seminary by any other name is still....a seminary.

It is definitely hypocritical. For the record, I don't have a problem with seminaries, and I think they serve a purpose.

One major problem with the training is that it is basically become something that you either attend, or you should expect to be ignored and looked down upon. In other words, the only way to have a future in the LC is to attend the training.

Those who grew up as "church kids" and didn't attend the training after college seem to be few far between. Since the training has been around since the 90's, those who would have attended when it first started are probably in their 50's now. Of the 30-50 age range, it seems like most have either attended the training or they are relatively new to the LC. I don't see very many who are of the age where they could have attended the training at some point but didn't.

When I was in college on interesting thing I noticed is that virtually all those who were involved in the college work were FTTA graduates. By that I mean, those who were participating in the work on campuses, doing the college conferences and trainings, etc. I always wondered about that, were those who didn't attend the training not good enough to serve with the college students or college work?

I'm sure there are many exceptions to what I have noticed, but I would be willing to bet that they wouldn't let someone who hasn't graduated from the training play any major role in the college work or any other kind of "work".