Terry

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Posts by Terry

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  2

  Don't Spread Rumors (just spread pandemic)

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  once upon a time.... there was a laboratory

  and in that laboratory, there were sloppy controls on contamination.. among those contaminants were experimental viruses.. .

  and lo, these viruses were being engineered on purpose to become super-viral - even being 'taught' how to crossover from animals to human beings.

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  Terry

  When you wear glasses and think you see through the smudges accurately you
  may be lazy. If you're looking through a dirty window with smudged glasses and think you are seeing accurately, you may be delusional.
  But if close your eyes and pretend to see ... you may make a good living as a journalist.
• 
  2

  Don't Spread Rumors (just spread pandemic)

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  once upon a time.... there was a laboratory

  and in that laboratory, there were sloppy controls on contamination.. among those contaminants were experimental viruses.. .

  and lo, these viruses were being engineered on purpose to become super-viral - even being 'taught' how to crossover from animals to human beings.

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  Terry

  ONCE UPON A TIME...

  There was a laboratory

  And in that laboratory, there were sloppy controls on contamination.

  Among those contaminants were experimental viruses.

  And Lo, these viruses were being engineered ON PURPOSE to become super-viral - even being 'taught' how to crossover from animals to human beings.

  Scientists call this by an odd phrase: GAIN of FUNCTION.

  Big Pharma could earn billions of $$ if it got the jump on the "next big pandemic", you see.

  Perish the thought such "gain of function" experiments would become a form of chemical warfare!

  So?

  So although it seems absolutely unthinkable humans would engage in strenuous efforts to create a SUPER VIRUS - you see, for the Big Pharma ... not so awful at all.

  Funding for "gain of function" came from America in the same way money is laundered by drug lords.

  All seemingly legitimate.

  For years, Dr. Ralph Baric, a virologist in the U.S., has been collaborating with Dr. Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Virology Institute, sharing his discoveries about how to create super viruses. This gain-of-function research has been funded by the NIH (Nation Institutes of Health).

  The world-famous Dr. Fauci has grinned, dodged, and weaved direct questions about his own support.

  Never mind all that, for a moment.

  Focus on this one news item, if you will.

  Wuhan Institute of Virology is known to conduct experiments on the kind of virus that has killed nearly 3 million people worldwide so far since late 2019. Yes - Covid 19. China dragged its feet on an international investigation.

  Apologists for China (the source of America's manufacturing business) quickly made life a living hell for anybody having the balls to speak out publicly saying:

  "I'm not saying that I am certain that COVID-19 stems from an accidental lab leak, but it would be absolutely irresponsible and could only be politically motivated to say that it's not even worth having a full investigation".

  The "scientists" who did the apologizing were on the take not wishing to risk funding loss.

  And Politically? Whoo whee wow!

  Fuggedaboutit!

  Note just this one fact.

  Right after the Covid spread of infection was first discovered in Wuhan and BEFORE it reached any other part of the world - an ASTONISHING thing occurred,

  and it was the following...

  Wuhan’s politically ambitious mayor, Zhou Xianwang, was eager to protect the local party congress he had scheduled for January and the pot-luck dinner for 40,000 Wuhanese he hoped would get him into the Guinness Book of Records.

  Yeah.

  On January 1, his police silenced the nervous doctors.

  Don't spread "rumors" (just spread pandemic).

  This Wuhan Mayor gathered a world record breaker gathering among INFECTED persons who - right afterward - went on a holiday ALL OVER THE WORLD to visit relatives every place you can think of.

  However --- politically speaking -- there is very little BIG BUSINESS support for punishing China as THE guilty party and further straining relations.

  After all - CHINA IS OUR MANUFACTURER of just about everything U.S. businesses depend on for supplies, accessories, parts, technology etc.

  (Even masks and toilet paper...shudder... gasp!)

  So?

  Don't be too hard on these politicians, Big Pharma, Big Businesses,

  Banks, etc. who want to let China, Dr. Fauci, and gain-of-function researchers off with a pat on the wrist.

  What's more important than $$$$$$$$?

  During those first days in Wuhan, a major misconception circulated — that the virus did NOT spread easily between people.

  Remember?

  The World.Health.Organization. repeated it.

  Dr. Fauci repeated it.

  Our most "reputable news" outlets repeated it. ***

  Gosh.

  Don't blame them for not investigating.

  Is that really what journalists are supposed to do? VERIFY?

  Fact check?

  Heck no. Their job is to do as they are told.

  ***Who Owns the Media in the U.S.?

  About 15 billionaires and six corporations own most of the U.S. media outlets.

  The biggest media conglomerates in America.

  These billionaires demand their employees print stories a certain way and in none of those instructions shall anything cost those billionaires a nickel in losses.
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  24

  This Discussion Board

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when you look back the last 20 years , what a transformation!

  back then witnesses were putting out poetry and most were singing the praises of the organization.

  slowly and gradually, negative thoughts were allowed to be expressed about doctrines, elders and congregation life.

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  Terry

  PRE-internet it was virtually impossible for a 'woke' JW to comprehend how many others of their mindset were merely treading water in local congregations.
  PRE-internet DF'd persons were in that 'sunken place' alone and troubled by isolation and vulnerable to depression and self-doubt.
  Then the internet was born and the light grew brighter and brighter ...:)
  
  Of all the forums and discussion groups that sprung up like mushrooms in a dark forest after the rain - only THIS ONE had the spark of fellowship and articulate individual spokesperson who clarified and comforted the aching misery of EX-JWdom.
  Suddenly the dank and fetid rot of this Organization was laid bare like roadkill.
  
  Some extraordinary folks have passed through here over the years. I showed up around 2006 and I've posted well over a thousand Topics.
  I've seen them come and go: all unique - but - all suffering the same cognitive dissonance and anger issues to a greater or lesser degree.
  I had soooo much anger I was unaware was inside me!
  My posts were machete swings.
  I outgrew that- and it was a huge unburdening spurt of personal growth ever afterward.
  We start out with an ax to grind or a Big Question to ask and debate to engage in before we gain steady footing in reality.
  THIS FELLOWSHIP is made possible by people who really truly care what happens to others.
  jehovahs-witness dot com is an OASIS and a refuge in a wasteland of cult morbidity.
  
  
  
  
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  26

  The Anointed Apostate: the Remarkable Sister Pettifog

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  (on the anniversary of my jw best friend's death, i've reached into my archive to replay this incident in his honor)

  the remarkable sister *pettifog*.

  this morning i arrived on my bicycle at the local starbucks early and took up a seat at the outdoor table in the fresh air.. that’s when it happened--a group of 3 older ladies at one of the other tables outside rose to leave and one of them walked over to my table and spoke directly to me.

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  Terry

  It's been 40 years since I was inside a Kingdom Hall.
  An old ex-JW friend of mine (just before he died) accompanied me five years ago to our old Kingdom Hall. At least, we tried.
  It was gone!
  The plot of land was still there, of course. A different building now stood in its place.
  We simply stood blinking at what wasn't there (if that's possible.)
  A peculiar nostalgia of sadness swept over both of us.
  We exchanged memories that made us laugh until we succumbed to tears.
  Those people were dearest 'friends' as well as spiritual Brothers and Sisters.
  Except ...it isn't REALLY true. They were NOT actual friends.
  Friends don't cut you dead in an instant.
  
  It was all inside our skull bone like a flash of weather formed out of nature itself.
  The sound of the ocean in a seashell.
  BELIEF is living your dream and the 'fellowship' is a shared delusion.
  If you've ever been in love/infatuation - it's like that: so vivid, visceral, and robust inside your chest but nothing more than a downpour - here and gone.
  
  We stood there and looked at reality: there was NOTHING there and I'm not lying if I say this: there never was.
  Not at all.
  
  Even that friend is gone now. Quentin Roberts.
  
  The big difference is that he was a TRUE friend every waking moment of every day and when he passed on - the silence of the phone that doesn't ring haunts me without letup.
  
  I'm very grateful we undertook that little trip. I cherish it.
  
• 
  26

  The Anointed Apostate: the Remarkable Sister Pettifog

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  (on the anniversary of my jw best friend's death, i've reached into my archive to replay this incident in his honor)

  the remarkable sister *pettifog*.

  this morning i arrived on my bicycle at the local starbucks early and took up a seat at the outdoor table in the fresh air.. that’s when it happened--a group of 3 older ladies at one of the other tables outside rose to leave and one of them walked over to my table and spoke directly to me.

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  Terry

  "I want to personally thank you and all the other posters on here for posting your experiences and helping many to wake up to this evil religion." -hoser-
  
  I want to thank you for taking the time to read it and comment. Much obliged!
• 
  26

  The Anointed Apostate: the Remarkable Sister Pettifog

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  (on the anniversary of my jw best friend's death, i've reached into my archive to replay this incident in his honor)

  the remarkable sister *pettifog*.

  this morning i arrived on my bicycle at the local starbucks early and took up a seat at the outdoor table in the fresh air.. that’s when it happened--a group of 3 older ladies at one of the other tables outside rose to leave and one of them walked over to my table and spoke directly to me.

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  Terry

  The other day I got an email from my High School here in Ft. Worth informing me of the REUNION. I had to laugh. I graduated in 1965!
  I typed a quick reply.
  "Dear So-n-so,
  Who in their right mind would imagine after 56 years anybody would wish to attend a High School reunion? They're probably all dead anyway. Thanks anyway."
  
  This set me remembering, of course... (cue the harp glissando)
  Inevitably I thought back to who I was at age 18. I was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and not much more than that.
  How did I let that happen? - I wondered redundantly.
  
  Eventually, I traveled that well-worn path back in time and bumped into this memory of the anointed sister at the Kingdom Hall.
  I thought I'd look this one up and I found it.
  
  Anointed? No - you're probably mentally ill.
  The Governing body covering their ass again - that's what that's all about.
  We all watched the Memorial figures for the countdown back then.
  The numbers of partakers should diminish like sand running out of an old hourglass.
  Nope.
  Started back up and up ...
  Huh?
  Gotta explain that somehow, right?
  Makes me wonder how all those anointed newbies felt when they weren't celebs any longer.
  It's curious psychology.
  Mildred Pettifogg (aka Boots Richardson) would really be pissed!
  
  
  
  
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  12

  "New light": how and when did this idea start?

  by psyco in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how and when did the "understanding" of the progressive ("new light") understanding start?.

  anybody knows?.

  thanks!.

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  Terry

  Question:

  "New light": how and when did this idea start?

  
  Answer:
  "7th Day Adventists' Ellen White", that's the answer to your query.
  
  Ellen White taught that the believers should not consult non-Adventists regarding new light for the time of the end, for God would reveal new light directly to His remnant church. She said: "If God has any new light to communicate, He will let His chosen and beloved understand it, without their going to have their minds enlightened by hearing those who are in darkness and error."
  
  "Ellen White indicates that “new light”—which means better understanding of truth, not different doctrines—will be discovered if we will only spend the time and effort to study line upon line, precept upon precept."
  
  "Throughout their history, Seventh-day Adventists have looked forward to discovering additional truth. Ellen G. White, one of the church's principal founders, kept this hope alive, stating, "Truth is an advancing truth."
  
  She encouraged believers to search for additional light, for "there are mines of truth yet to be discovered by the earnest seeker."
  
  In speaking of "truth" she always meant truth as given by God through His divine Word."
  
  "

  Crucial Questions.

  In practical terms, if the "new light" was "not present in earlier times" and if God did not reveal our "present truths" to the "prophets and disciples of old," by what criteria can today's believers determine whether this "new light" is really light or darkness?
  
  Is the ordination of women as elders or pastors (which some are now calling a "moral imperative") new light or no light? To name some other current examples the church faces, how can a Christian today know whether approval of homosexual practice is new light or no light? Is the assertion that our earth is millions of years old new light or no light? Is speaking in unintelligible ecstatic utterances new light or no light? Are suggestions that we eat unclean meats, drink alcohol, and wear adornment new light or no light?

  Thus the reinterpretations raise fundamental questions about how we may know what is new light and about the very character of truth itself.

  When any group or individual claims to have "new light," we must evaluate it. It is essential to study what divine inspiration has revealed about the nature of new light. What new light can we expect just before the second advent? Will it change the way we look at Scripture and how we interpret it? In what areas can we expect to see a development of new light? These questions will help us focus on some key aspects of this important topic."
  _______
  Charles Taze Russell came in contact with some of the writings of Ellen G. White, who had developed the system known as Seventh-Day Adventists. Many of the ideas of Ellen White fascinated him, especially the idea of soul-sleeping and the annihilation of the wicked. He began to formulate a doctrine of his own, beginning with the idea that “hell” meant only the grave. This was the beginning of Russell’s doctrine.
  ___
  shorturl.at/owGNP

  
  
  
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  6

  IF it quacks like a duck ...? WHAT IS IT?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a question: "what does identity mean?

  " if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck have feathers like a duck: it is a __?___.

  hans christian anderson taught us this lesson in the famous story of "the ugly duckling" (**spoiler alert**) the ugly part of the duckling was misleading to observers who later discover it is a swan.

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  Terry

  The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.
  
  Magazine ADs in the early years of my life used a kind of reverse "guilt by association"
  with a half-naked model standing next to an automobile, a sports hero eating a box of Wheaties, or a rich celebrity wearing some trendy item of fashion thus implying that
  the Product = the user's beauty, cash, success.
  
  Removing criticism, silencing nay-sayers, threatening dissidents was very much a part of being a JW and now in Society at large by politics, media, and corporate technocrats.
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  23

  Did Jesus Have A Dog?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a preteen asked me , “did jesus have a dog”?

  i thought the question was hysterical.

  why wouldn’t jesus have a dog or pet cat or sheep?

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  Terry

  
  
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  6

  IF it quacks like a duck ...? WHAT IS IT?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a question: "what does identity mean?

  " if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck have feathers like a duck: it is a __?___.

  hans christian anderson taught us this lesson in the famous story of "the ugly duckling" (**spoiler alert**) the ugly part of the duckling was misleading to observers who later discover it is a swan.

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  Terry

  I remember my earliest conversations with my best friend (who just happened to be a Jehovah's Witness, whatever the hell that was ...).
  Johnny kept saying things that "bumped into" my understanding of how things are.
  These weren't arguments. Not at first.
  These were challenges.
  I could either ignore these dissonances or question them, you see...
  
  Challenges (bumps) continued.
  The idea was to erode my view of reality. (I don't mean Johnny saw it this way. It is what JW's are trained to do and it's the "life-saving" work of any evangelist :)
  
  Pretty soon his persuasions wore off my edges and I started to smell like his ideas.
  IRONICALLY, JW's have reverse engineered the Ant Trickster strategy.
  THEY RUB OFF ON YOU and get you to infiltrate the Kingdom Hall where
  THEY CARRY YOU OFF as their mental slave.
  
  Ontologically, words and their meanings are CHANGED (tampered).
  Different use of words leads to a different understanding of "meaning" itself.
  
  A VIRUS hijacks and takes over and so does religion and so does a political ideology.
  
  GENDER issues and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS too.
  CENSORSHIP and WOKENESS too.
  
  The world I grew up in no longer exists untampered, un "bumped".