The Christian Arsenal
Christianity, Cults & World Religions
Way International
Way International
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Religion: Way International
Category: Cult
Founder/Leader:
Victor Paul Wierwille, was born December 31, 1916 on his family's farm in New Knoxville, Ohio. He studied at the University of Chicago, and received a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Although his followers referred to him as "Doctor," he had no earned doctorate. His bogus doctoral degree was purchased from Pikes Peak Bible Seminary, a diploma mill.
Wierwille entered the ministry and served as pastor of Evangelical and Reformed Church (United Church of Christ) in Van Wert, Ohio until he resigned his position to avoid dismissal. He had begun to reject much of his traditional Christian beliefs after claiming that in 1942, "God spoke to me audibly, just like I'm talking to you now. He said He would teach me the Word as it had not been known since the first century, if I would teach it to others…”
The current leader is Rosalie F. Rivenbark, installed as third president after resignation of Craig Martindale, who was under accusation of sexual misconduct. The Way has experienced several splits in recent years.
Foundational Documents:
The Way traces its roots to Wierwille's radio broadcast, the "Vesper Chimes," which first aired on WLOK in Lima, Ohio on October 3, 1942.
The primary publications are: The Way Magazine, Jesus Christ is Not God, The Bible Tells Me So, God's Magnified Word, The Word's Way, The Rise and Expansion of the Church.
The Way’s view of the Gospels really belongs in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). They are useful only as background learning material. The Way teaches that the real guidance is to be found in the Pauline Epistles and the book of Acts. Wierwille taught that the Christian Scriptures were originally written in Aramaic. No other group believes this. A consensus exists among Theologians that, with the possible exception of Matthew, its books was written in Greek, with only a few words in Aramaic.
God is...
It rejects the biblical description of God. Scientology does not define God or a Supreme Being. Everyone is a "Thetan," an immortal spirit with unlimited powers over its own universe. However everyone is not are aware of this particular fact.
Jesus is...
The Way traces its roots to Wierwille's radio broadcast, the "Vesper Chimes," which first aired on WLOK in Lima, Ohio on October 3, 1942.
The primary publications are: The Way Magazine, Jesus Christ is Not God, The Bible Tells Me So, God's Magnified Word, The Word's Way, The Rise and Expansion of the Church.
The Way’s view of the Gospels really belongs in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). They are useful only as background learning material. The Way teaches that the real guidance is to be found in the Pauline Epistles and the book of Acts. Wierwille taught that the Christian Scriptures were originally written in Aramaic. No other group believes this. A consensus exists among Theologians that, with the possible exception of Matthew, its books was written in Greek, with only a few words in Aramaic.
The Holy Spirit is...
Wierwille denied the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. To circumvent obvious biblical references supporting the deity of the Holy Spirit, the Way arbitrarily provides two different meanings to the term Holy Spirit (pneuma hagion) in the New Testament. Wierwille argued that in some texts the term should be translated capitalized and in other verses with all small letters. According to Wierwille, the term Holy Spirit (capitalized) is another name for God the Father (just like Bob is another name for Robert). The term Holy Spirit refers to an impersonal force that is given by the Father (Holy Spirit) to empower His believers. Thus, Holy Spirit is the gift (inanimate force) and Holy Spirit (God the Father) is the giver (Receiving the Holy Spirit Today, pp. 1-5).
Method of Salvation:
Rather than emphasizing salvation through faith in Christ, Wierwille artificially separated "faith" from "believing." He taught a very mechanical view of faith in Christ - a mere intellectual or mental assent to biblical, historical facts. He also redefined repentance as just confession and belief. Thus, salvation does not involve repentance of sins but only doing " the will of God" (The Bible Tells Me So, p. 18; Jesus Christ Is God, pp. 238-57). Like Jehovah's Witnesses, the Way also teaches that the soul is the body's life force which is in the blood and that the dead cease to exist (Ibid. pp. 258-90).
Death and Beyond...
When a person dies, they remain without consciousness until Jesus returns and all of the dead are resurrected. This state is often called "soul sleep."
Other Beliefs:
The Way not only teaches that Jesus Christ is not God, but also has instruction on tithing, the law of believing (whatever one believes will happen to one, whether bad or good), and the accuracy of the Bible (as translated by Way leaders). The Way also teaches its followers to receive an impersonal power (called “holy spirit,” “power from on high,” or “Christ in you”) by inhaling, and through speaking in tongues is the only proof that one is born again.