Maxwell Conferences

[crawfishgirl]

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

I really wonder what went wrong with Steve initially. He's obviously a control freak, but this goes way beyond that. Even strict and controlling parents want their kids to be successful and *happy*. To become this extreme, tightly-wound and terrified of the world, I wonder if he has an undiagnosed mental illness. I wish there was a way to get him the treatment that he seems to need, to start the healing process for him and the family that he has damaged.

[nokidsmom]

I really wonder what went wrong with Steve initially. He's obviously a control freak, but this goes way beyond that. Even strict and controlling parents want their kids to be successful and *happy*. To become this extreme, tightly-wound and terrified of the world, I wonder if he has an undiagnosed mental illness. I wish there was a way to get him the treatment that he seems to need, to start the healing process for him and the family that he has damaged.

Agree with all of this. Unfortunately, to get any treatment he would have to acknowledge that he has a problem and there's absolutely no way he's going to do that. And the family is too brainwashed to stage an intervention.

[AllisonWndrland]

It is much worse than I thought with the Maxwells. Kudos to you, Sprocket, for attending. Teri's depression and lack of support breaks my heart. The abuse of their kids breaks my heart. Any outside contact provided to the children is helpful in showing them that there are people willing to help them.

I don't mean to thread jack, but I can't start a new post, so I have to ask on a Maxwell thread. Does anyone know why the Maxwells don't present in Kansas? I checked their schedule for the past few years and they just don't travel in Kansas very often. Geographically speaking, I am close to the Maxwells. Going to one of their presentations would be simple if they would damn well stay in Kansas! There are at least three churches in my area that would fit well with the Maxwell cult.

[thekate]

Thank you for sitting through that, Sprocket, and I'm sorry it made you upset. It's all just so, so sad. :( Just one thing for FJ-ers who might attend future conferences and want to leave messages like your dollars - in addition to writing 'Freejinger is watching you' and the URL, would it be a good idea also to say something about how many of us sympathise with the 'children' and would be happy if they left the cult? I think that if we just say 'Freejinger is watching you' then they can easily just dismiss us as being of the devil (particularly as the 'children' have been taught explicitly that the outside world is literally evil), whereas if we say something about how some FJ-ers are sympathetic to those caught in the cult of Steve, then it might make things sink in a bit more?

Just an idea I'm throwing out there, really. It's the end of a long day so I might not be thinking very coherently.

I question the wisdom of using cards that say "Freejinger is watching you" also. I think it serves to reinforce that the world is out to get them and that they all need to hunker down. Plus, if one were on the receiving end, it would freak a person out (and cause them to go running back to daddy as protector?). I understand the need to put Steve on notice, but I think the greater good is helping the children know there are options and a softer approach would be more successful. Flies, honey, vinegar, and all that.

[jockosmom]

Sprocket - thanks for taking one for the team. I'm sorry it was upsetting for you. I'm sure it would be upsetting for a lot of us to sit and listen to Steve's gabble.

What I was wondering was - what seemed to be the reaction of the audience? You mentioned you looked around to see what the ladies' faces were showing during the "Daddy tapes" part and no one seemed fazed. What about when Steve talked about how kids shouldn't have friends? Did anybody react at all? Did anybody stand up and walk out during any part? Was there a Q & A - even a canned one with pre-chosen questions?

The part about no friends and no sports really is the limit, IMO. I mean, my god, JESUS HAD FRIENDS!

[twin2]

You don't build memories by "doing fun stuff". What's a good idea for building memories for a 4-6 year old? Laying concrete. They cherish the pictures of their little ones laying concrete.

I had chores growing up, cutting grass, doing my laundry, dusting the living room, whatnot. I have very little memory other than I did them. But you know what I do remember. I remember all the Easters my parents used to take us down to Chicago to see the sites. I can tell you each of the museums we visited for each trip. I remember each long weekend our family used to take each summer with the family of one of my dad's business colleagues. I have memories playing with my cousins up at my grandparents cabin in the summers. I remember the pool party I had for my 10th birthday. I remember the time when I had the lead role in a play that my 6th grade reading class was doing. I remember my dad sneaking in at the last minute to watch me, even if that meant he had to take of work, drive a half hour, sit through a 20 min play and drive a half hour back to work. I remember how happy it made me to see him in the back of the room while I was up on stage.

Fuck you Steve.

[anniebgood]

Oh heck, I wish they would come to SoCal. I know of 3 IFB churches within 2 miles of me, with large parking lots for Uriah. I even have a frumper I drug out of the bin in the garage. I'd even wear a turtle neck with it.

We are Free JInger. We are everywhere.

[mystikchick17]

One thing that always struck me about the Maxwells—and it's a major factor, I think, in what makes them more dangerous—is that unlike many fundies, their hate is well hidden. Outwardly, they seem wholesome, godly and generally harmless. They're handsomely packaged to appeal to on-the-bubble fundies. But scratch just a little below the surface and their (Steve's really) true colors show. He's a dictator and not a benevolent one either. Pol Pot, Stalin, definitely. He's exercised a level of mind-control, and physical control, that would have him under watch by Amnesty International if he ran a country. No one will EVER convince me that his family went along with his vision based on free will. No. Fucking. Way. Underneath his bland exterior lurks an evil being. He is truly dangerous and I seriously doubt his family will ever escape, even after he's dead. They're that broken.

Thanks, Sprocket. And I'm with you. I just want to cry.

This. All of this. When I first started reading them, I thought "ok, they're beliefs are fairly conservative, but they look so happy and it must be nice to have that kind of closeness as a family."

Then you do some digging. You read the old Mom and Dad's Corners. You start to look a little more closely at the smiles and realize they don't reach the eyes more often than not. You start to realize that this man is absolutely off his fucking rocker. But it takes time and a questioning mind, which the people they're going after don't always have. I applaud you, Sprocket, for putting yourself through that. It makes me want to weep, too.

[emmiedahl]

Maybe the Maxwells will go to Canada through the Pacific Northwest! There are a lot of FJers here and I can host an after party!

[Justme]

I agree with the "Free Jinger is watching" can sound creepy and "stalker-ish".

Thank's, OPer, for the feedback. I wish Teri would take her girls and run to her sister. :( At least the guys are able to earn a living. They can lie low and eventually, Stevie will be gone.

[Buggaboo]

I didn't read the schedule, but I doubt they'll come to NY. We're a blue state. But a lot of people don't realize that the farther north you get in this state, the more red it gets. I'm a lonely blue splotch in a solid red county. :( Anyway, I guess I should count my blessings that they wouldn't come here.

[GeoBQn]

A lot of this is common knowledge to people who follow them. I had a vague idea based on what I had read here, but it was completely different hearing it come out of his mouth and imagining myself as one of his children and hearing this day in and day out. Thins that are bad: Friends, team sports, friends, Andy Griffith, TV (he calls it "the beast"), and flying. Steve used to have an air plane that he loved and it was his passion. Upon realizing that it was a passion, he got rid of it and hasn't flown in 20+ years. According to him, you have to give up every single thing that you like (because it may become a passion and the only thing you can have a passion for is Christ) and "turn your heart to your children and family."

This reminds me of the Moral Orel episode (seriously, I recommend it for all FJers) where Orel learns that all of life's pleasures come from the Devil, so he decides to give up his biggest pleasure of all--pleasing G-d.

Is it possible to contact the ministers of the churches in advance of speaking engagements? They might think differently about hosting if they have more information, like quotes from the website.

[Deleted01]

Yes, yes, YES! Also, I'd absolutely love it if a Christian FJ-er could have a conversation with some of them and ask penetrating, knowledgeable questions about theology, showing how the Maxwells' interpretation of the Bible is twisted. I think having a normal Christian ask them questions about that sort of thing would make the message sink in more than if it was an ebil heathen.

I could totally pull that off...and not let my Catholicism slip, even. I have fundie-approved clothing and I speak Christianese fluently.

[NurseNell]

Free Teri!

The Maxwells are completely wasting their life, Earth is not heavens waiting room, its a place to enjoy and learn. Its OK to have hobbies and friends and things that you enjoy. If they believe God made everything, theyre wasting Gods creations by not using them, and surely he would have wanted his creations to take advantage of all the world has to offer.

I wonder what Teri's sister thinks? Her sister Tami seems like what Teri would be like were it not for Steve.

[mirele]

Sprocket, thanks for taking one for the team. I've seen cult leaders up close and personal and it can be quite unsettling, especially if they're surrounded by their family/followers.

Y'all tell me if I'm off my rocker...but I'm thinking the churches hosting these Maxwell events ought to be informed, in a terse and sober fashion, that the ultimate end of the Maxwells is to remove families from the church because the church isn't as perfect as the head of the family. I think there's a way to approach these churches and point out that the beliefs of Steve Maxwell regarding the family and the outside world would endanger families' participation in the local church. This isn't an attack on the church's beliefs, just pointing out that the Gospel of Steve Maxwell can lead to families isolating themselves completely from the body of Christ.

[freejoytoo]

The UK is too heathen for the Maxwells! :dance:

There fundies in my city centre who hand out religious tracts and bellow Bible verses but fortunately everyone thinks they are crazy. I had to serve one of them when she came into a shop I worked at with her kids.

[ILoveJellybeans]

I think the best thing to do is try and educate the followers of his cult, teach Teri and the kids that the world isnt evil, and that there are people who are good Christians and still enjoy all the wonderful things the world has to offer.

[anniebgood]

So what was the audience reaction when they said get rid of everything that isn't family? If these people are members of this church with a huge youth program, Sunday School and mixed services, how can they swallow the bullshit about being separate and giving their lives up solely to God? If Steve wants to do this so much why doesn't he join an order of silent monks where all they do is work and meditate on the Lord?

Steve of course won't see his power as bad, after all God does speak to him personally. Well guess what Steve, God speaks to me and tells me that I've done a pretty good job as a wife, mother, sister, and daughter and I have managed to do all that with and without a man. I lost my dad at 11, gained an alcoholic stepdad, married a man whom I'm still married to, but have managed to have pretty good relationships with non related other men and women all through my life and I haven't lost sight of God.

He is blind to the damage he has done. I hope one of the children escapes and manages to survive in the world of color.

[twin2]

Sprocket, thanks for taking one for the team. I've seen cult leaders up close and personal and it can be quite unsettling, especially if they're surrounded by their family/followers.

Y'all tell me if I'm off my rocker...but I'm thinking the churches hosting these Maxwell events ought to be informed, in a terse and sober fashion, that the ultimate end of the Maxwells is to remove families from the church because the church isn't as perfect as the head of the family. I think there's a way to approach these churches and point out that the beliefs of Steve Maxwell regarding the family and the outside world would endanger families' participation in the local church. This isn't an attack on the church's beliefs, just pointing out that the Gospel of Steve Maxwell can lead to families isolating themselves completely from the body of Christ.

This is a good point. I looked up the next church they are going to. It appears to have a large number of youth groups/ministries from elementary through high school. This includes VBS, Sunday School, youth groups (where they seem to plan the dreaded F-U-N activities). They even have a youth and family minister their to assist families with issues. This is all stuff Steve preaches against. Makes me curious if the churches are really aware of what this stands for. I think that most likely these things are arranged by a few members of the congregation who see the nice, shinny blog and don't dig deeper. Makes me wonder how much the pastors of these churches know.

[NurseNell]

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

I really wonder what went wrong with Steve initially. He's obviously a control freak, but this goes way beyond that. Even strict and controlling parents want their kids to be successful and *happy*. To become this extreme, tightly-wound and terrified of the world, I wonder if he has an undiagnosed mental illness. I wish there was a way to get him the treatment that he seems to need, to start the healing process for him and the family that he has damaged.

We know he was in the Air Force, which is the most lenient of the Armed Forces. It wasn't like he was exposed to a lot of discipline , not like in the Marine Corps. Was he enlisted or an officer? If he was a pilot he was an officer. He was stationed in Thailand. I cannot imagine he didn't have sex with some Thai women. If he didn't he's the first military man there who didn't. When I was in the military all the Marines serving in Viet Nam went on R&R there, unless they were married. Then they met their wives in Hawaii. When did he meet Teri? It would seem there had to be some event that triggered him to become the way he is.

The one good thing is that unlike Jim Jones and other crazy cult leaders Steve has control over only his immediate family.

Elizabeth Munck is one of the luckiest girls in the country! Sure would love to know what woke her up.

[Sister Mozz]

And to lighten it a little: Steve! Dude! JESUS HAD FRIENDS.

Seriously! My parents are into isolating themselves because they're so much better than the other Christians out there :roll: , and my mother has totally said to my face that Jesus not did have a sense of humor, never told a joke, and never used a skit. And churches waste her time when they do these things, therefore she will not go. I guess she's never read Jesus' parables, because they seem a lot like the Biblical equivalent of a skit to me. Or when Jesus sent Peter to find money to pay their temple tax from the mouth of a fish, because that seems pretty humorous. She really thinks it was Jesus and all these people walking around for 3 years and never cracking a smile?!

She would probably get along just fine with the Maxwells! :o

Edited because I felt one of my points was not in good taste.

[NurseNell]

I think the best thing to do is try and educate the followers of his cult, teach Teri and the kids that the world isnt evil, and that there are people who are good Christians and still enjoy all the wonderful things the world has to offer.

Teri's own sister Aunt Tami has no doubt tried. If they can't see by Tami's example that one can be Christian and have fun then why would they listen to anyone else?

[YPestis]

Another FJite on the Maxwell trail! It's kind of nice to see the Maxwells through a pair of new eyes. The rest of us are jaded from years of listening to their sermons. The report only confirms what I kind of suspected, and it reinforces what they write in their books. Friends are bad, bad bad! Any mixing of their children with nonMaxwellians are bad as it can taint their speshul snowflakes. Having fun or having hobbies are bad for your soul and you should replace it with useful activities like chores and bible reading. At least the Maxwells are consistent. I remember first reading their books on these things and I was bewildered by their isolationist stance. I couldn't imagine how anyone could believe it.

The dollar bill thing is a great idea, although maybe instead of 'we are watching', put down 'we can help' and FJ link so if the kids see it, they may wander onto the site. Heck, maybe we should sticky a "Read This" thread geared towards fundies! You know, with a list of abuse resources and stories from FJites that contradicts fundie teachings. It would be immensely satisfying to me to see a Maxwell kid escape that cult. That would probably be the only way Sarah can every get married.....

[asinglevoice]

This speaks volumes to me about what kind of experiences Steve has had in his life, and also that he is an extremely fearful and paranoid person, so much so that I TOTALLY agree with whoever said that he probably has a mental illness - a very, very serious one.

I mean, I don't know who he thinks he's kidding anymore - he doesn't ban television, friends, attending college or whatever else just because he has some deep-seated religious conviction that his kids will be tempted to drink and watch porn; he does it because HE'S been tempted to drink and watch porn and believes that it was those things that led him to it. He doesn't believe that platonic relationships between males and females cannot exist due to hormonal reasons because that's what the Bible says - it's because I'm 100% convinced that Steve has been (or, through his paranoia, believed himself to be) unfaithful to Teri. I don't for one second buy that cock-and-bull story that his female coworker came on to him over a business lunch, or that he was just so overcome by a "feeling" of "spiritual adultery" or whatever - I think that he realized HE was the one attracted to his coworker.

The man is a paranoid control freak in a very, very serious way and it is going to end badly for him and his family.

[Jana814]

Can't agree with you more. When I read that she had broken off the wedding, I honestly thought that Anna Marie's family got a hold of her family and said "tell her to run as far away as possible."