Oh thank you--all you kind and interested people!
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts when you finish.
And, I especially thank you for helping me publicize my book.
You can use this link if you'd like:
My Review for Terry's new book, "I Wept by the Rivers of Babylon, A Prisoner of Conscience in a Time of War"
by AndersonsInfo 30 Replies latest jw friends
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poppers
Good luck with your book, Terry. Your consistently well thought out posts here make me confident that your book is entertaining, enlightening, and well written. You are one of my favorite posters, and I wish you much success. I'm sure it will help many people.
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Terry
Good luck with your book, Terry. Your consistently well thought out posts here make me confident that your book is entertaining, enlightening, and well written. You are one of my favorite posters, and I wish you much success. I'm sure it will help many people.
Thanks very much. I took some style chances in this book!
I wanted variety. I wanted a "look" to it. I put some Easter eggs in the writing for those who care.
It can be enjoyed (if that is the word) on multiple levels if one cares to transition into tertiary considerations. Otherwise, it can be seen as simple and straight-forward, too.
The main thing, I wanted to get people who might not otherwise think about JW's from a completely different angle--to stand over HERE instead of over THERE.
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nonjwspouse
Thank you for your contribution to the enlghtenment of so many things.
Your work is a work of love for those who are trapped, or struggling to be free fromthe trap. IMO There is no greater mission in writing than to inform and help others.
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Terry
Very kind comments, I thank you.
THE MOST DIFFICULT thing to do as a writer is to break through preconception.
Jehovah's Witnesses are given Pavlovian response mechanisms on purpose.
If you are a non-JW or ex-JW you cannot usually expect to be heard. There is no neutrality or provisional hearing.
I aimed this book toward being fair in tone. I think the sensisitivy of JW's is very sharp and tender.
I did not let them off the hook--but--I wanted the presentation of material to be as close to non-threatening as possible.
I went out of my way to give the rank and file as much benefit-of-the-doubt as I could without simply viewing them in a black or white presentation.
I open the book with a couple of strong analogies that create a resonant (I hope) thread running throughout the book.
1.Testing absolute certainty (A wrecking ball) and (Galileo and the Church)
2.Rain dancing
By the time I've piled up some tools of thought and presented examples of other Christian denominations facing the same problems I feel
the reader (if they've come that far) is able to use reasoning and rational analysis to SEE the next part: specific historical examples and personal testimony.
If just one person comes forward and says: "This helped me" I can die a happy man.
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life is to short
Thank you Terry, you are one of my favort posters here, I will ordering you book soon. Looking forward to reading it. All of your writting is so great here on JWN and I know you have helped many to learn the TATT, thank you for all of you you do.
LITS
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Terry
I know for a fact, even the most loyal Jehovah's Witness is not blind and stupid. As long as one cell in their head is still active the JW is curious
about why certain things "just aren't right" even though the GB and Jehovah's spirit are "guiding" the Organization.
But, the fear of disloyalty hinders their ability to put it all together.
Sometimes you have to jump-start the engine in their brain!
Then, the light bulb blinks on and WOW! Things suddenly come together and make sense.
It was my job to make sure I made that possible.
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yadda yadda 2
"Once a former believer sees the Truth about the Truth and leaves (or is kicked out) I try to turn them toward public service, which I believe, is the purest form of "true religion" in visiting the sick, the down-hearted, the hopeless and abandoned among mankind---instead of making idiotic promises created by cartoonists in Bethel!"
I love that Terry!
If you feel you've rather lost your purpose or direction in life after leaving the JW's (or any religion), you only need to realise that the highest religion and purpose in life is to do what you can to alleviate the suffering of others, and at the least don't do anything to cause suffering. There are many organisations and causes, local and international, you can get involved in towards this most noble and important of purposes.
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Terry
Yesterday afternoon I drove my dear friend Quentin to visit our mutually adored Julia from our teen years.
Julia, like Quentin, is in truly deplorable physical condition. However, when the three of us get together it is transformative.
I watched years drop from both their faces. A serenity and glow of well-being radiates from the two of them. I can't see my
own face, of course, but I can feel a contentment like no other.
This three or four hours together does more for our spirits than a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
I made a little video of Julia rubbing Quentin's neck and vice-verse. You'd think they'd died and gone to heaven:)
It is quite difficult arranging these excursions for various reasons it is unnecessary to go into. Suffice to say, the reward has such
lasting benefits it is worth any and all efforts to bring about. Why? The little things like human contact and conviviality have so much to do
with making life worth living it is sad we all stay too busy to consider what we are missing.
I've been working on putting one more person into this mix who lives about fifty miles away. I'm not going to stop till I make it happen. Why?
Because I know there will be an explosion of happiness when the critical mass is reached. Talk about love-bombing!
If each of us could find one small deed just once a month I gurantee the world would improve immeasurably in no time at all.
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whathappened
I will get the book for sure. Terry is such a good writer and I read all his posts here on JWN.
