by Nathan Natas 17 Replies latest jw friends
I saw a post on Reddit by "Big_Routine1112" announcing that James Penton died.
Well, there's always the resurrec... oh, nevermind.
As always, the person expressing the most profound grief and dismay WINS!
"He was my friend"
"There will never be another of his ilk"
"I have rent my outer garmets"
"I have soiled my inner garmets"
"O woe is me"
"Enoch, Elijah, Moses, and Penton; taken up in clouds"
Sad news. But thanks for telling.
Natas, what is your point?
The man was a scholar and an example for many JW's to do research.
Gorby
James Penton composed the most scholarly, most works cited history of the Jehovah's Witness cult that has ever been written. He helped many people out throughout the decades.
I think Nathan is just pissed that he won't be so fondly remembered.
I grabbed 2 of Dr. Pentons books..
I'm sure glad I did. Helped ne immensely.
Nathan Natas: I think I get your point. The older I get, the more I'm exposed to the deaths of people close to me—friends, family, people who influenced me, and even celebrities. The more I go through this process, the less deeply it affects me. Yet, socially, we're still expected to show grief, pain, and other signs of mourning.
So, a lot of people who, like us, feel something but not profoundly, end up expressing more grief than they actually feel, just to be accepted or to be part of some homage. And we see through it; it comes across as phony.
In the case of Dr. James Penton, the world certainly lost someone who helped thousand others have a critical, rational mind. But once I'm done writing this message, I'll go about my day like any other. Such is life.
Maybe OP can't comprehend others having those sincere feelings, so imputes his own cynicism/disillusionment.
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6445094853410816/historian-former-jw-jim-penton-dies A more comprehensive account from his own words and how to get his books.
Blondie,,, great work as always.
🙂
Dear everyone,
Gorb asked it first:
Natas, what is your point?
My point is that not everyone thought as much of the Reverend Penton as he did of himself. I was not one of his fans. He had an "xtians only" worldview and enjoyed hiding behind firewalls where he could mock atheists without fear of rebuttal, because his chosen site was "xtians only". Some of you might remember that I tracked down and met with "Timothy White," who wrote "A eople For His Name" in 1968. Tim told me that Penton had plagarized part of Tim's book; Penton denied this. I believe Tim.
OK, Penton's books have helped people. But really it wasn't PENTON who helped them, it was the FACTS that helped people see the TRUTH. Remember that when Penton left the JWs he sought to gather his own flock unto him. FLOCK THAT! We are free human beings not followers of men!
If you had to choose a person who was most helpful to the XJW community, who would you choose: Professor Penton or the subdued and nearly anonymous Atlantis?
I put Penton in a class adjacent to Juan Pinecone (he whose name must not be spoken).
You needn't agree with me, but I'll bet Farkel would have.
