It sounds like you’re reflecting on some intense and surreal experiences from the Church of Bible Understanding (COBU), formerly known as the Forever Family—a group founded by Stewart Traill in the 1970s that’s often described as a high-control Christian commune or cult. Their internal lingo and practices were indeed unique and manipulative, drawing from Traill’s teachings and the group’s dynamics. Based on accounts from ex-members, here’s a breakdown of the terms you mentioned, pieced together from a dictionary of COBU-specific vocabulary. Note that some details (like “green” as a color) might vary from your recollection—ex-member reports sometimes cite “brown” instead, possibly due to evolving practices or memory differences over time.
- Half wife (or half-wives/sister-wives): This was an honorary title Stewart Traill gave to certain young women in the group who received his “special attention.” It essentially treated them as partial spouses, offering perks like private outings, dinners, or gifts, but without actual marriage or intimacy (which was often discouraged for others as a sign of lacking “zeal”). Traill positioned this as a form of spiritual or emotional support only he could provide, while forbidding real relationships for most members under the guise of them not being faithful enough.
- Colors (orange, green/silver, black): Members were categorized into a color-coded hierarchy, often determined through group meetings where people “voted” or judged each other based on perceived faithfulness or sins. You’d sit in taped-off sections on the floor during gatherings corresponding to your assigned color:
- Orange: Represented living a basic “Christian life”—sort of the entry-level faithful status.
- Green (or sometimes reported as brown): Tied to living “for the flesh” (human desires or weaknesses), a lower/mid-tier judgment implying you were slipping but not fully lost.
- Silver: For the “bolder” or more committed members, seen as a higher status.
- Black: The lowest, for those deemed to be living in outright sin or rebellion. Traill himself claimed “gold” as the top color, symbolizing his supreme authority. These labels were fluid and could change based on confessions or group votes.
- Trip (or being on a trip): This referred to a state of “broken fellowship,” where someone was seen as spiritually off-track, often after repeated confessions of sins (real or induced through group pressure). It wasn’t a positive “trip”—more like being sidelined or punished.
- Trip apartment: A designated living space (often in communal housing) where those labeled as “on a trip” or having broken fellowship were banished. It was supposedly for reflection or penance, but ex-members describe it as a more relaxed spot with less oversight, ironically making it preferable to the main areas. This clashed with the group’s biblical claims about forgiveness, as people could be stuck there indefinitely.
- Upper or lower color: This built on the color system, with “upper” colors (like silver or gold) indicating higher spiritual standing or boldness, and “lower” ones (like black, brown/green, or even orange in some contexts) marking lesser faithfulness, sinfulness, or human weakness. Group votes during meetings could elevate or demote someone, creating a competitive, judgmental atmosphere.
- Ghoul: This doesn’t appear in standard COBU dictionaries from ex-members, but it might have been slang for someone seen as spiritually dead, creepy, or parasitic within the group—perhaps an extension of lower-color judgments or “black” status. If it’s a specific memory, it could be a localized term in certain communes.
These practices, including the voting on colors and statuses, were part of Traill’s control mechanisms, fostering division, guilt, and dependency on his interpretations. If you’re an ex-member working through this, sites like freefromthegrip.com (run by survivors) have more stories and resources. If you meant something else or want details on other aspects, let me know!
10 web pages