Posts by Terry

40

Politically Correct Wasteland

by freemindfade in

this was a comment i made from another post, but i would like to hear some people discuss this.

i know the social justice warriors will scream i'm some sort of trump supporter for what i say even though i don't agree with his ideas and no i am not voting for him... i accept this is a go to for them.. i think we have fallen into a pc vacuum.. criticizing someones religion = racism!.

telling someone to not be so sensitive = misogyny!.

Terry

To nobody in particular, I say:

Let's face it, Topics containing controversy seldom bring out a well-reasoned, insult-free discussion free of pejoratives and Ad Hominem.

I suspect it may sometimes be due to an inability to articulate the sense of what you're trying to get across.
This is especially frustrating when the person you are addressing simply will NOT take a moment to listen.

But, isn't there a significant difference between saying, "I disagree with you" and saying "You ignorant a-hole, you're completely full of sh** and I hope you die soon"?
:)
The anonymity of the Web bolsters a coward's courage.
Trolls and other catfish get their jollies by teasing a negative vibe out of a subject and spotlighting an individual for a pounding.

In the almost 12 years I've been on this Board, I've only tangled with about 4 posters with venom dripping from their yellow fangs :)

When I'm feeling good, I ignore them. If I'm depressed or in a bad mood I might engage them. But--guess what? It is NEVER a good idea to engage a bully or psychopath.

The best place to settle differences is PRIVATELY one on one using the Personal Message.
Guess what? Narcissists won't do that because they like to show off and drain away the dignity and respect necessary to actually settle things, and they get off on negative energy.

I'm still learning to bite my tongue and avoid controversy.
Being negative and personal is a sickness in Society. I've never seen it worse than it is right now.

Here's how it works:

If you don't exactly agree with me, then you are a worthless idiot. I'm going to publicly humiliate you!

That's not much of an argument!
_______________________________
Nobody can blame you for wanting to have a say your way. That's normal. If more than one person complains about HOW you have your say--well, what can it hurt to reflect on the critique and grab a handful of self-awareness?
Humility is the scarcest virtue there is. I know I hope to have a little some day myself.
I enjoy opinions and insights and feel bad when any of us is in an aggrieved state of mind. It will all blow over and be forgotten sooner than you think.

I'm pretty certain, this too shall pass.

8

IS DOUBT always an indication of moral failure---FAITH vs. DOUBT?

by Terry in

is doubt always an indication of moral failure-- faith vs. doubt?.

human survival depends upon a rigorous balance between perception and the means of testing first impressions.

nature’s own test is that of eater and eaten.. inside the food chain, predators blend with their surrounding habitat.

Terry

2+2=4 does not require a huge philosophical argument to prove.

Religious arguments are very dusty, creaky, and long-winded. In fact, religious Doctrine is so ramshackle, the religious Authority must censor critics because they can't risk using silly rebuttals to convince intelligent people. Criticism exposes false things.
If JW's had THE TRUTH they'd be eager to reason, argue, debate till the cows come home. They'd never shut down discussion and makr you as an Apostate. Why?

Because having the TRUTH, their arguments would make critics look like idiots immediately.
Instead, it's the other way round.

To destroy the possibility of being foolish, religious authorities seek to destroy the moral authority of critics. They label them pejoratively.

8

FREE AGENTS without responsibility

by Terry in

i was 11 years old and i was sitting at my desk in homeroom class when the student on my left, gregory, tapped me on my shoulder.. he held a folded note in his hand and was gesturing for me to take it.

he leaned toward my desk and whispered barely loud enough for me to hear,“pass this note to robbie.” robbie was the girl sitting on my right.. i took the note, unfolded it and read it just as gregory punched my arm.

a shout-whisper came along with the fist, “don’t read it, you moron!”i picked up my pencil and scribbled one word of my own and passed the note to robbie.. i had a crush on robbie and so did gregory bunn.

Terry

I can see Jehovah handing the Governing Body a bucket of water to give to the thirsty in the congregations and just before doing so, the GB pissing in the bucket!

Drink up!

8

IS DOUBT always an indication of moral failure---FAITH vs. DOUBT?

by Terry in

is doubt always an indication of moral failure-- faith vs. doubt?.

human survival depends upon a rigorous balance between perception and the means of testing first impressions.

nature’s own test is that of eater and eaten.. inside the food chain, predators blend with their surrounding habitat.

Terry

The dividing line between humans and animals is the ABILITY to QUESTION or own impulses. Animals totally rely on instinct. Pets are easily trained because animals grant unquestioning submission to any more dominant influence.
For a human being to roll over and show their white underbelly is bestial. Submission is surrender.
http://muslimvoices.org/word-islam-meaning/

"In Arabic, the word “Islam” means submission or surrender – however, it was derived from the root word “salam”. From this root word, you can also derive the words peace and safety. Many people feel that Islam implies some sort of enslavement to Allah, but others find it more helpful to define the word “Islam” as surrender."

8

IS DOUBT always an indication of moral failure---FAITH vs. DOUBT?

by Terry in

is doubt always an indication of moral failure-- faith vs. doubt?.

human survival depends upon a rigorous balance between perception and the means of testing first impressions.

nature’s own test is that of eater and eaten.. inside the food chain, predators blend with their surrounding habitat.

Terry

1 Corinthians 7:22

For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave.

______

We are so accustomed to this sort of language, we never stop to QUESTION whether being a sheep or a slave is a terrible debasement of human intellect.
The realistic thing to point out is this: We actually become sheep and slaves of---NOT GOD--only those claiming they represent God.

That is a HUGE claim and requires doubt to hurdle the possibility we are being conned!

8

IS DOUBT always an indication of moral failure---FAITH vs. DOUBT?

by Terry in

is doubt always an indication of moral failure-- faith vs. doubt?.

human survival depends upon a rigorous balance between perception and the means of testing first impressions.

nature’s own test is that of eater and eaten.. inside the food chain, predators blend with their surrounding habitat.

Terry

Is doubt always an indication of moral failure-- Faith vs. Doubt?

Human survival depends upon a rigorous balance between perception and the means of testing first impressions.

Nature’s own test is that of Eater and eaten.

Inside the food chain, predators blend with their surrounding habitat. Avoidance of death isn’t easy. Survival depends on distinguishing the vine from the serpent, the nectar from the flytrap, the twig from the mantis, the dappled shadows from the leopard.
Self-correcting Human intelligence removed mankind from the Food Chain by a rigorous balance between perception and doubt, cognition, and skeptical inquiry.

That required:SELF_TESTING, which is DOUBT.

The result of this self-correction? Homo sapien dominates all other species.

Before there was Science to create a Technology for medicine and genetic knowledge, the only way out of the ultimate doom of a brief existence was Superstition.

Man’s intellect and imagination have conspired to create a means of escaping even Death itself.

Religion, superstition, and ritual were mankind's first-draft of the means of ‘escape.’

Mankind has created the idea of a super-powerful Being who can rescue him. The price is total fealty, obedience, and unwavering loyalty. These three things are only possible when there is no Doubt.

Why?

Mankind is intelligent enough to know (even hiding this knowledge from himself) the Great Rescuer is imaginary. To counter his fear of death and dying, doubt cannot be allowed to destroy the delicate illusion or his superimposed ‘meaning’ of life would vanish in a cynical and empty purposeless existence.

As history has demonstrated, again and again, religion produces priests, shaman, Witch Doctors, gurus, Spiritual advisors, Popes and Governing Body leaders. Each of these claims to have a unique connection to the mind of God. For a price or a service, they will dispense the Secrets of eternal life and offer protection from death.

These self-empowered religious leaders must rely on Total Obedience for their power and livelihood. If they allow their congregation to TEST them, the authority can vanish with the first failure.
Supreme Authority only is possible with Supreme Control, i.e. (no doubting is allowed.)

The irony is clear. By seeking to escape death, mankind has fallen victim to a Con game.

Trading away skepticism and doubt, they fall victim to eternal servitude. If you doubt this, ask yourself, what does the phrase “A slave of Christ Jesus” actually mean?

Yet, some men and women have resisted both the ‘Leap of Faith’ and the headlong plunge into self-deception. These are thinkers, doubters, and skeptics who put the grand claims of the priests and prophets to the test. When the report is given, the Man of Faith resorts with Denial, Anger and Fear. How can doubt be allowed?

Well, it isn’t!

Who is hated more than any other group but the Atheist?

What is an evangelist other than a desperate storm trooper for an imaginary cause seeking to create an exclusive world entirely free of doubts by eliminating skeptical inquiry?

If they convert the planet, no whistleblower will be left to destroy the illusion of everlasting life.

Which world do you live in? What price do you pay for it?
The believer must live inside a bubble of constantly re-affirmed nonsense and ritual servitude.

The non-believer must live in a coercive society which demeans and reviles him.

Both worlds come at a price.

The True Believer dies with a smile, self-convinced Paradise awaits on the other side.

The non-believer dies knowing his only monument is the life and legacy he has already lived.

A religious believer can do many foolish and harmful deeds and yet have the slate wiped clean.

The doubter must own his deeds down to his last breath. He makes restitution or he dies in infamy.

The test of each person’s character is this decision between FAITH and DOUBT.

Who you really are as a human being determines which choice you make.

Dreamer or Realist?

Is there room to be a doubting believer or a believing doubter?

Revelation 3: 16
Young's Literal Translation
"So -- because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth."

The Bible says, "NO."

Don't you dare doubt or you may discover the delusion is inferior as a solution.

13

Last Night I was surrounded by Jehovah's Witnesses . . .

by Terry in

last night was the "body viewing" at the funeral home for the jw whose friendship and influence resulted in my getting baptised in 1963. we weren't just friends.

we had a david & jonathan bromance :) no seriously, we loved each other dearly.. it's only in the last 2 years he shunned me.

before that, he would sneak behind the curtain of stealth, so to speak, and we'd sit for hours each and every week chatting, reminiscing and sometimes arguing about the truth about the "truth.".

Terry

I've had a couple of days to reflect. What stands out is this. A chill comes over a naturally warm and expressive JW when surrounded by other JW's in any situation in which they can be judged and snitched out.

That says it all. It says they are aware they are amongst informers. It says they understand their personal free expression is severely dangerous under those circumstances. But it also says something tragic: they choose not to extricate themselves. They have made a transaction to diminish the human capacity to be real for a few promises and a false sense of community.

Hello North Korea!

8

FREE AGENTS without responsibility

by Terry in

i was 11 years old and i was sitting at my desk in homeroom class when the student on my left, gregory, tapped me on my shoulder.. he held a folded note in his hand and was gesturing for me to take it.

he leaned toward my desk and whispered barely loud enough for me to hear,“pass this note to robbie.” robbie was the girl sitting on my right.. i took the note, unfolded it and read it just as gregory punched my arm.

a shout-whisper came along with the fist, “don’t read it, you moron!”i picked up my pencil and scribbled one word of my own and passed the note to robbie.. i had a crush on robbie and so did gregory bunn.

Terry

I was 11 years old and I was sitting at my desk in homeroom class when the student on my left, Gregory, tapped me on my shoulder.

He held a folded note in his hand and was gesturing for me to take it. He leaned toward my desk and whispered barely loud enough for me to hear,
“Pass this note to Robbie.” Robbie was the girl sitting on my right.

I took the note, unfolded it and read it just as Gregory punched my arm. A shout-whisper came along with the fist,
“Don’t read it, you moron!”
I picked up my pencil and scribbled one word of my own and passed the note to Robbie.

I had a crush on Robbie and so did Gregory Bunn. His note had read,
“I really like you.” He signed it, “Greg”.
I had added the word “don’t” making it read,
“I really don’t like you.”

I was, you see, acting in my own best interests. Gregory Bunn had sought to use me as his agent acting on his behalf as a go-between. Obviously, I had my own agenda.

His 4-word message was 'technically' still there in the note:

“I. . . really . . .like . . .you.”

It was 100% transmitted!

The problem (for Gregory) was the additional word,
“don’t” had rendered his message 100% opposite of his intended communication!
_________

Imagine the conversation which followed.
“Did you give her the note?”
“Yes.”
“Were all my words still there?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“You’re welcome!”
______________________

Acting as an agent is tricky business if the agent corrupts the message--or worse--reverses the intended meaning!

Is there a lesson in this? Hmmmm?

The so-called Faithful and Discreet Slave has claimed to be Jehovah’s agent (mouthpiece, channel) since the time of Pastor Russell.

According to the Watchtower's self-myth, Jehovah passes THEM and them alone a note intended for the anointed all over the earth. We only see the note after their EXTRA nonsense has changed it.

“Did you deliver my message?” Jehovah might well ask.
“Yep, you bet--sure did!”
“Did you deliver it intact?”
“Every word was there!”
____________________

Obviously, if Jehovah were truly using Jehovah’s Witness leaders as a go-between, agent, or mediator and His divine communication was delivered dead wrong, the agent would be to blame, right?

Not so fast!
The problem is more complicated than that.

An agent acting on behalf of his employer can create liability ruining the reputation and good standing of that employer.

If a fast food franchise poisons customers, the corporation is sued for millions and the newspaper assigns blame to the Company NAME rather than the individual employees who may have violated health policies.

Whose name is on the religion called JEHOVAH's Witnesses?

Question: Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses excuse the FDS for poisoning millions of people around the world who eat the “Food at the proper time?”

Think about it--they have NEVER taken the blame!

Those of us who believed every word printed in the Watchtower publications have been fooled time and again can never lay the blame on the FDS because they point the finger of blame right back.
The FDS seems to want us to pick and choose what to believe while threatening to DF anybody who actually exercises that choice.

In effect, they tell us, "You shouldn't believe the stupid or wrong stuff we print--we're only human!"
Jehovah's Witness members aren't really free agents. They are caught in a terrible bind. The MUST believe and act on what they print because THEY say it is a note being passed by Jehovah.
When they have scribbled in their own corrupt changes--Jehovah is misrepresented--but there is nothing any member can do about it until they leave and don't come back.

Pretty interesting Con-Game if you ask me.
_____________

Notice a similar situation in the Catholic Church. It is not called Faithful and Discreet Slave channeling Jehovah's Truth. It is called Magisterium.

"Christ has instituted the Magisterium to communicate His saving truth, the faithful should respond in docility and joy to the Church’s teaching out of love for Christ.

Infallibility is a charism whereby the Holy Spirit protects the Magisterium from teaching error on matters of faith and morals. The Church exercises this charism when she teaches definitively, whether in a solemn manner (i.e., through the extraordinary Magisterium) or through the ordinary and universal Magisterium."

13

Last Night I was surrounded by Jehovah's Witnesses . . .

by Terry in

last night was the "body viewing" at the funeral home for the jw whose friendship and influence resulted in my getting baptised in 1963. we weren't just friends.

we had a david & jonathan bromance :) no seriously, we loved each other dearly.. it's only in the last 2 years he shunned me.

before that, he would sneak behind the curtain of stealth, so to speak, and we'd sit for hours each and every week chatting, reminiscing and sometimes arguing about the truth about the "truth.".

Terry

I posted this on Friday and it didn't appear here until Monday. That is some traffic jam. At the time, it looked as though it was not uploading, but I guess there is simply a long queue into which it goes.

This chapter in my life is now closed and I'm finally relieved. When you're around these people it is easy to become confused about them. It is that tiny hidden compartment inside their mind where they are controlled which offsets everything else.

I've often said it reminds me of those ancient seafaring maps where the known explored areas end and the unexplored and mysterious begins. The words "Here there be dragons" would appear.

I think it applies to JW's too.

13

Last Night I was surrounded by Jehovah's Witnesses . . .

by Terry in

last night was the "body viewing" at the funeral home for the jw whose friendship and influence resulted in my getting baptised in 1963. we weren't just friends.

we had a david & jonathan bromance :) no seriously, we loved each other dearly.. it's only in the last 2 years he shunned me.

before that, he would sneak behind the curtain of stealth, so to speak, and we'd sit for hours each and every week chatting, reminiscing and sometimes arguing about the truth about the "truth.".

Terry

Last night was the "body viewing" at the Funeral Home for the JW whose friendship and influence resulted in my getting baptised in 1963. We weren't just friends. We had a David & Jonathan Bromance :) No seriously, we loved each other dearly.

It's only in the last 2 years he shunned me. Before that, he would sneak behind the curtain of stealth, so to speak, and we'd sit for hours each and every week chatting, reminiscing and sometimes arguing about the truth about the "Truth."

That ended, as I said, a couple of years ago and it was probably partially my fault. I had posted excerpts, thoughts, and reports on our conversations without naming him explicitly. After all, his name is John and that's pretty anonymous. But--I was wrong! Someone saw my name and the name John and put 2+2 together and came up with Johnny Santa Cruz.

He was ratted out!

To save himself (and his family's reputation, I suppose) he fabricated a reason for chatting with me. It was a reverse on Theocratic Warfare Strategy, you might say.
His front was this: I had contacted him (wrong!) and asked if he'd help me come back into the Organization (Wrong!).

He might have gotten away with that if I hadn't written details of the specifics of these conversations! When pinned down, he resorted to lies. Apparently, I was just a lying apostate making the whole thing up!

You can imagine how easy to believe that was! But, can you imagine how heartbroken I was?

I became deeply offended that he "missed his moment" to step out and step up. Well, I became embittered that my oldest and dearest friend saved his own skin.

It goes deeper than that. I won't justify my feelings except to make this statement:

I had my 'integrity' tested as a JW by going to prison in 1967. I feel like I showed what I was made of. But what about Johnny? This was his moment of integrity. In my thinking (angry as I was) I thought, "What a hypocrite for him to be holier than thou while lying about me."

Anyway, if this strikes you as pettiness on my part, I'll have no problem agreeing with you.

Suffice it to say, I still loved Johnny and thought about him almost every day.
_________

Johnny worked at Mt. Olivet Funeral Home as one of the Funeral Directors. Ironically, that is where his "viewing" took place.

I was dreading it.

First of all, who wants to see their best friend dead in a box?

Secondarily, I would be surrounded by JW's who have known me for 30 to 40 years.

In their minds, they have remained true to Jehovah while I got my sorry ass kicked out, and now I'm a mentally diseased Apostate.

But I would not go A.W.O.L. for the world. Johnny was my friend and I simply felt compelled to attend!

I was in for a shock!

________________

Before the evening was over, a dozen familiar faces from the past had not only hugged me and expressed joy at seeing me, we had long conversations filled with sweet memories and no recriminations whatsoever. I was wary at first. Were they strategically "love-bombing" me?
I soon dismissed that notion. You can feel when you're loved--you really can. This wasn't phony.

Johnny's widow I've known since she was 15 years old. She told me how much she loved me and how Johnny had kept repeating for the last two years, "I want to talk to Terry so bad. . ."

But he dared not risk it. He had been solemnly warned, you see.

I developed a sense or intuition about what was going on. This is my conjecture.

These folks, these JW's have been in it to win it for at minimum 40+ years. They have seen all the crazy changes over and over again. They have, no doubt, privately whispered amongst themselves, "What is going on with this religion?" But, having sunk so much of their life into this 'investment' they couldn't bring themselves to leave now. It is the Gambler's Fallacy of sunk costs and doubling down when you are on a losing streak!

While none of them said so, it was obvious to heart and mind, these JW's are weary but firm. They take everything with a grain of salt. And consequently. . . in this private family viewing of my best friend, there was a conscience truce.

We all silently agreed to be what we once were: beloved humans sharing a common bond--in this instance--it was Johnny rather than the Watchtower doctrine.

_____________

The funeral is this Saturday--tomorrow morning at 9:30 A.M.
I will attend. Afterward, we are all gathering at Johnny's house to memorialize him with an exchange of "Johnny stories' most of which are larger-than-life but genuinely true.

I left the Viewing lighter than air. My heart was filled with more happiness than I've experienced in many years. It was a semi-fiction, I acknowledge as far as the "bond" because--let us face it--the Organization will not tolerate friendship between active JW's and Apostates. It is chalk and cheese with a penalty attached.

But, for those two hours. . . I was in paradise at last.