Posts by Terry

24

GETTING THINGS STRAIGHT. Who invented the "FDS" as a prophetic identification of the GB? WHEN?

by Terry in

15 july 1906 issue of the watch tower russell stated maria russell was the first who in 1894 "called attention to matt.

24:44-45, applying it to me at a meeting at allegheny and in another meeting with the new york church.

i demurred that i had not thought of the passage thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although i could not deny the force of the argument....i urged great moderation in the making of any personal application" (p. r3811).

Terry

Imagine the excitement!

Adventists, Bible Students, Russellites, Age to Come believers and a bevvy of other like-minded wackos (good people, but eccentric!)

found themselves sharing ideas, speculations, debates over the Return of Christ. How could any ONE leader take the lead?

Ellen White and Pastor Russell were each--in remarkably different venues--top contenders for the prize.

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Ellen White had 'visions' and Pastor Russell had, um. . . what?

Russell had money, a successful publishing corporation, a sales force (colporteurs) and newspaper columns with his sermons in them.

He had a lovely, intelligent wife and a UNIQUE interpretation of scripture: THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE "prophecy"!!

Prophecy?

This imaginative interpretation of the parable as a PROPHECY turned things completely around for Russell!

Most old-fashioned, conservative Christian males were rather uncomfortable with the idea of a WOMAN as a teacher.

Russell's money, his gimmick (Pyramidology), his publishing empire, his INVISIBLE JESUS, (borrowed from Barbour) and his DATE SETTING (borrowed from Aquila Brown) were too wonderful to ignore.

BESIDES--he had a PENIS!!

24

GETTING THINGS STRAIGHT. Who invented the "FDS" as a prophetic identification of the GB? WHEN?

by Terry in

15 july 1906 issue of the watch tower russell stated maria russell was the first who in 1894 "called attention to matt.

24:44-45, applying it to me at a meeting at allegheny and in another meeting with the new york church.

i demurred that i had not thought of the passage thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although i could not deny the force of the argument....i urged great moderation in the making of any personal application" (p. r3811).

Terry

Remember the setting---the time and place in history of Russell and his publishing empire.

The events of the GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT were fresh in the minds of people fooled by William Miller's public preachments and proofs.

Many more predictions followed by various would-be 'prophets' and each equally failed.

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The 2nd Advent people were stubbornly refusing to let go!

These people had a real taste for being right!

They loved the idea of being able to predict accurately a DATE CERTAIN!

There was a kind of De Facto competition as to who could present the most believable prediction and explanation.

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The best flim flam came from around the time of a man named BARBOUR who accepted a suggestion that the word PAROUSIA might

be just the clue necessary!

We all know about that word--don't we?

Parousia was a gimmick explanation.

1874 had been predicted and failed.

HOWEVER--USING 'PAROUSIA' the failed prediction could be inflated into a SUCCESS!!

"Jesus DID return in 1874--you just couldn't SEE him literally because he was INVISIBLE."

Hahahahahahahahahahah.

But, they weren't laughing. A lot of people LOVED IT.

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24

GETTING THINGS STRAIGHT. Who invented the "FDS" as a prophetic identification of the GB? WHEN?

by Terry in

15 july 1906 issue of the watch tower russell stated maria russell was the first who in 1894 "called attention to matt.

24:44-45, applying it to me at a meeting at allegheny and in another meeting with the new york church.

i demurred that i had not thought of the passage thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although i could not deny the force of the argument....i urged great moderation in the making of any personal application" (p. r3811).

Terry

A strong case can be made for Maria Russell studying Ellen G. White's leadership success among the ADVENTISTS, applying it to the "faithful and wise servant" scripture for her own (and husband Charles) purposes.

applying it to the "faithful and wise servant" scripture for her own (and husband Charles) purposes.

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Maria Ackley (Russell) was the driving force behind the invention of Russell's theology as a modern day "inspired" prophet!

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At the death of Russell, Rutherford was all about preserving Russell's image, importance and "source authority".

She co-wrote, edited and oversaw Russell's earliest successful writings (Studies in the Scriptures) and defended him against

accusers (fraud, misrepresentation) by traveling around the world on his behalf. She believed in EQUALITY FOR WOMEN.

Unfortunately for her, Russell did NOT.

She spilled the beans on his mental cruelty and obtained a decree of permanent separation. *Note: not a divorce. Rusell hid his money and cheated maria out of her Alimony.

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But, how could he, Rutherford, steal that for himself?

The only means that could possibly work was by absorbing the "source authority" for his own agenda.

Historically, Rutherford was a despot who ruled with an iron hand and dominated his readers. But, why would these date-setters accept his despicable personality and agenda in the first place?

Who were these people?

THEY WERE WHAT WAS LEFT after yet another Great Disappointment (Russell's death, 1914 non-Armageddon).

I assert these were person's disaffected with mainstream society and mainstream doctrine and mainstream religion!

These were rabid revolutionaries loaded for bear!

Rutherford's angry tirades against Government, Religion, Clergy and Societal Norms APPEALED to their radical psychology.

They were not primarily date-setters, but, easily manipulated revolutionary misfits disaffected and dedicated to strong leadership.

Hitler found similar people to dominate and lead in Germany years later.

Rutherford used what worked for Catholicism: the doctrine of Magisterium.

When the Church presents some doctrine as definitive or final, it comes under this protection, it cannot be in error; in other words, it is infallible. This is true even if the Church does not use the solemn ceremony of definition. The day to day teaching of the Church throughout the world, when the Bishops are in union with each other and with the Pope, and present something as definitive, this is infallible. (Vatican II, Lumen gentium # 25).

Rutherford did not call his source authority by this term, of course! He magnified the Maria Russell definition into his own version.

Russell, UNLIKE Rutherford, did not believe in ORGANIZATION.

Rutherford used "faithful and discreet slave" magesterium to build ORGANIZATION.

24

GETTING THINGS STRAIGHT. Who invented the "FDS" as a prophetic identification of the GB? WHEN?

by Terry in

15 july 1906 issue of the watch tower russell stated maria russell was the first who in 1894 "called attention to matt.

24:44-45, applying it to me at a meeting at allegheny and in another meeting with the new york church.

i demurred that i had not thought of the passage thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although i could not deny the force of the argument....i urged great moderation in the making of any personal application" (p. r3811).

Terry

15 July 1906 issue of the Watch Tower Russell stated Maria Russell was the first who in 1894 "called attention to Matt. 24:44-45, applying it to me at a meeting at Allegheny and in another meeting with the New York Church. I demurred that I had not thought of the passage thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although I could not deny the force of the argument....I urged great moderation in the making of any personal application" (p. R3811). in the same issue, Russell declares himself (with professed humility) to be "God's mouthpiece" with the unique role of disseminating God's truths as his "agent"

A FEMALE received this amazing NEW LIGHT! She convinced her MALE husband of the force of its logic! (Remind you of the Adam and Eve scenario?)

"I claim nothing of superiority, nor supernatural power, 'dignity or authority; nor do I aspire to exalt myself in the estimation of mv brethren of the household of faith....No, the truths I present, as God’s mouthpiece, were not revealed in visions or dreams, nor by God's audible voice, nor all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870, and particularly since 1880. Neither is this clear unfolding of truth due to any human ingenuity or acuteness of perception, but to the simple fact that God’s due time has come; and if I did not speak, and no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out" (p. R3822).

29

Greek Mythology influence on New Testament

by Magnum in

a few days ago, i was in a book store, and i picked up a book providing a brief overview of classical mythology.

as i examined the opening pages, i read about tartaurus (place of punishment) and hades (god of the underworld).. it seems so odd that tartarus and hades would be mentioned in the new testament, and yet they were part of greek mythology which predated the new testament.

why would bible writers have used such terms?

Terry

The historical setting of the New Testament is in the Roman Empire.

The Romans were enthralled with the culture, language and religion of the Greeks.

GREEK was the way educated people displayed their sophistication in the Roman Empire.

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While it is true that the Romans did speak a form of Latin known as vulgar Latin, it was quite different from the Classical Latin that we generally think of them speaking (Classical Latin is what we usually learn at University). Vulgar Latin is the language that the Romance languages (Italian, French, etc.) developed from. Classical Latin was used as an official language only. In addition, members of the Eastern Roman Empire were speaking Greek exclusively by the 4th century, and Greek had replaced Latin as the official language. (http://listverse.com/2008/05/05/top-10-myths-about-the-romans/)

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Early Christians were certainly strongly influenced by the Greek philosophers such as Socrates (the model for Jesus), Plato, and Aristotle.

Neo-Platonic academies, schools, and traveling teachers were everywhere.

Paul of Tarsus grew up in a hotbed of Greek culture and religious ideas.

The Hebrews/Jews had seen their culture and language smothered by the conquests of Alexander the Great. Greek subsumed Aramaic and Hebrew.

THE SEPTUAGINT was a GREEK translation of the OLD TESTAMENT.

What is beneficial about Greek?

The Greeks had a word for everything. The vocabulary was specific to a degree and depth Hebrew never was.

16

"Big Eyes" the story of artist Margaret Keane

by designs in

the tim burton film is ready for release.. www.thewrap.com/big-eyes-premiere-finds-audience-howling-at-christoph-waltz-and-amy-adams-dueling-artists/.

.

Terry

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/scandals/286849/1/HOW-A-JEHOVAHS-WITNESS-participated-in-one-of-the-great-art-FRAUDS-of-the-20th-century

40

After all, JWs were RIGHT!

by abiather in

1) science and technology appeared as a savior to mankind, yet the overall result points to the opposite direction.. http://aeon.co/magazine/science/why-has-human-progress-ground-to-a-halt/.

2) john kerry warns of catastrophe if climate change is not tackled.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/article4295230.ece (times, saturday 13, 2014).

Terry

The Watchtower Corporation is run by gunslingers who target practice by shooting at the broadside of a barn.

After they empty their smoking pistols, they walk over to the bullet holes in the walls.

Then, they remove from their pocket a piece of chalk and proceed to draw a tiny little circle around each bullet hole.

Finally, to every half-wit and Rube who walks by they call out:

"How's that for accuracy?"

The unwitting Country Bumpkin stares at the tiny chalk circles and sees the hole dead center.

And guess what? They are mightily impressed!

The GB fire round after round wildly, but always manage to make the target seem miraculous AFTER the fact.

45

can an unhappy married woman vent?

by sowhatnow in

i continue to be saddened by the fact that i am married to such a selfish man.. i want to know if i am the only wife who has no say when it comes to using the house she lives in for activities including other people.. .

let me explain.. yesterday my daugher who is 35 got a new puppy for my grandaughter who is 13. today my daughter and son in law are going to help my uncle at a job, and my granddaughter wanted to spend the day here, my daugher said shed bring her and the puppy over, i laughed and said 'your dad wont have that, ill have to go to your house'.. after all it will 'upset' the 2 cats they will hide all day [like they do anytime someone including my grandchild is in my home] .. i already knew that he would not like it if she brought the puppy over, [weve had dogs so its not like he hates them].

he doesnt care if his grandaughter would have enjoyed playing with the puppy over grandmas house, where she likes to be for a change, and that fact that id like to see what my cats would do when they saw a dog for the first time in thier lives.. maybe id have liked to play with the puppy .. when i said to my husband that my daughter said she wanted tp bring them over he said.

Terry

I married four times.

I divorced four times.

Finally--when it was too late--I figured out what was going on. That's a long learning curve.

I'll simply share my conclusions and you can take them or leave them as you are moved to do so.

I've been to a dozen therapists and fought all of them. Why? Being a man I could never shake loose of the singular

notion I AM RIGHT. But, guess what? I seldom was.

When your fundamental premise is wrong--you'll build everything else on top of that foundation.

Good luck and be strong! What follows is my life's take-away wisdom.

1.Sooner or later, every evolved creature has to decide what their own nature amounts to.

Are we trees or dogs? Dogs pee on trees, so better choose wisely.

2. In every relationship, if it is going to last, somebody has to eat the shit sandwich. Why?

Because the one who loves the most will be dominated by the one who loves the least. So then, why

choose that diet in exchange for longevity of a relationship? Your choice.

3. Rule of thumb: People treat us the way we ALLOW them to treat us. People who don't set (and defend) boundaries

are begging to be run over.

4. The number one signal of a doomed relationship is the presence of contempt for the other partner.

con·tempt kənˈtem(p)t/ noun . . .the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.

5. What we reward, we get MORE of. What we punish, we discourage. Be very aware of your reward/punishment behavior.

6. In the end, we get the life we allow ourselves to settle for. The only way out is to searchingly ask and answer the one question which matters: WHAT DO I WANT OUT OF LIFE AND WHAT IS STANDING IN MY WAY. Most often, we are what is standing in our way.

7. Understand the principle called: THE SANCTION OF THE VICTIM.

What is it?

Good, able, kind and reasonable people act as their own destroyers by giving passive consent to the will of others heedless of--and indifferent to their destruction. No manner of injury done to us by others can succeed if we choose to withhold our consent. We must see we could put an end to our outrages by pronouncing a single word aloud. We must not fear to speak it.

The word is “No."

61

THE IMPONDERABLES TOPIC (Enter at your own risk)

by Terry in

i suggest taking this slowly .

.. consider the difference between taking a poll about an upcoming election and the actual vote itself on the day of the election.. the information gathered about what the vote will be is provisional.

the vote on the day of the election is actual and official.. it is the one that counts.. now, carefully ask yourself what the specific difference--if any--there is between the poll information and the election result as an identical knowledge of.

Terry

We'll just have to ponder that one . . .

45

HELP ME COMPILE A LIST OF DISCARDED WORDS AND PHRASES from the WTS

by Terry in

jw
friends

in fort worth, texas around 1959. gradually i became aware of the argot.

special, private language).

jw's had these phrases they used over and over again.. upon first hearing, these words and phrases stood out as odd, weird or awkward.. however.

Terry

Thanks Donny--the check is in the mail!