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Introduction to The Story of the So-Called Veterans of Truth | 
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Introduction to The Story of the So-Called Veterans of Truth |
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In March 2006 a new pro-2x2 website was published, having the dubious title From the Beginning: The Story of the So-Called "Veterans of Truth". Initially, the name of the author of this site was witheld, but after I noticed the many similarities between this site and the statements made on the Truth Message Meetings Board (TMB) by someone using the nickname "Mildly Curious", the author later identified herself on the TMB and on her website as Prue Phillip. This site is devoted to defending the 2x2 way of life by attacking what she calls "VOTs" (Veterans of Truth). The term seems to be a pointed reference to the original Veterans of Truth website started in 1996 for the purpose of disseminating information about the 2x2s (the archives are hosted here). The purpose of the original Veterans of Truth, as quoted from their site, was as follows: Even though the original Veterans of Truth did not advocate people leaving the 2x2 Fellowship and only sought to inform, the term "veterans of truth" appears to have elicited such a reaction from Prue that she designed the entire theme of her own website around those "self-titled" Veterans of Truth. Straining awkwardly in her effort to assail this term, Prue designates her own verson of VOTs as "apostates who are in the business of self-justification". Certainly this is a sensational definition but what does it mean, really? Why is the justifying of self given such a negative significance by Prue - don't most people try to "justify" (i.e., explain) to themselves and others why they believe what they believe? Such a description is highly ironic since the entire content of her site is one long, contorted attempt to justify the practices and principles of the 2x2 Fellowship. Apparently, anyone who is not a professing member of the Friends & Workers is an apostate, and therefore a "VOT". This especially includes the Roman Catholic Church (although this did not prohibit her from making use on her site of a picture of Michangelo's 1511 painting The Creation of Adam located on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican). In that fresco, Michangelo's Adam lazily lifting his finger in a listless attempt to reach God is indicative of the site's indolent examination of facts. In short, this site is a rare entity - for rarely have I encountered a more pretentious and incoherent promulgation of ideas that are so perpetually askew. Its content is made all that much worse by Prue's manner of writing which is, like Tolstoy's Anatole, that of a supercilious consciousness of her own [perceived] superiority. A few of my favorite examples of such intolerant hauteur include "[VOTs] saw the example of Christ as saying nothing in particular about how they should live"; "VOTs want to pull others down to their own level"; and "[VOTs have] cavalier attitudes toward the gospel". Prue's site obviously has the potential to be an occasion for initiating discussion among ex-members. Unfortunately, it would also be a source of embarassment for sincere Friends and Workers throughout the world who strive to serve God to the best of their ability, but without all the sanctimonious rancor. Specific issues raised on her site will be addressed and published here at PTO as time allows. This will be a collaborative effort with Rob Oxenbridge, of Elijah's Voice website. - Clay Randall, May 21 2006 **UPDATE 2/16/11: Bert has taken down his website "The Story of the So-Called Veterans of Truth" and created 2 new ones: The First Christian Church and The New Covenant. In a message to me at the Truth Meetings Board he wrote, "Clay, without going through your links... aren't these relating to my old VOT site? I pulled it down. Parts of it will reappear in my new Q&A site..." For now, I plan to leave these articles up until Bert gives me a clear and convincing repudiation of his statements. |