Terry

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Posts by Terry

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  30

  How the Good work of Russell became the curse of the Watchtower today

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the greatest benefit to come from jehovah's witnesses was the introduction of honest investigation into the.

  claims of christianity based on the bible.. exposing error was the gimmick.. replacing doctrine or ritual with door to door activity was the greatest failure to follow truth where it leads.. .

  mainstream religion in pastor russell's day was set in stone.

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• 

  Terry

  Disillusioned JW Thanks for your kind words. Without knowing it active and faithful Jehovah's Witnesses today
  are in a copycat organization of Catholic hierarchy rejiggered and jerry-built as wave after wave of wacky opinions come and go under the banner of WE SAY SO and WE ARE ALL YOU'VE GOT!
  
  Each iteration of Watchtower President (and eventual Governing Body leader) has a crack at the guessing game called NEW LIGHT.
  
  An investment counselor whose advice resulted in bankruptcy after bankruptcy would be fired. His suggestions prove themselves right or wrong by real-world results.
  Getting it wrong is the best proof there is of ERROR.
  
  However ...
  Religious dependency cultivated by a cult is a psychological problem and not a logical problem.
  Goebbels said it best on behalf of the Nazi Reich self-promotion:
  
  

  "Tell the masses a lie often enough and for long enough, sooner or later they will all believe it. "

  ~ Joseph Goebbels
  
  The strangest change to policy and doctrine is the GB setting themselves up as a substitute for Christ (i.e. like the Pope who is the vicar of Christ (i.e. "stand-in.).
  JW's have a POPE and do not realize it.
  
  The anointed GB are OUR MEDIATOR and not Jesus Christ!!
  
  Ask any JW the following question: "If our Mediator is the Faithful Slave (anointed), why do we not end our prayers in THEIR NAME instead of Jesus? Isn't that jumping the shark?"
  
  
• 
  6

  What Happened to Jehovah's Witness Young Men - and WHY did it Happen?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lo9jtmhf4b1-j9cn0enojshyw0rogv-qswxnrme-k6e/edit?usp=sharing.

  _____within the last 6 months, i was contacted by one of my fellow jw's incarcerated with me and about 50 other bros. in the late 1960s.

  we served time as convicted conscientious objectors in seagoville federal correctional institution.surprise surprise!

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  Terry

  Excellent analogy: disarming a bomb.
  
  There appears to be a line of demarcation, a trip-wire, a no-fly zone.
  On the one hand, how could an intelligent human being living inside a cult half a century NOT notice the constant revisions? The awkward analogies and lame, ham-fisted excuses - never-ending self-praise by leaders???
  
  Yet I do understand many of my fellow travelers are humble, simple folk - unquestioning and meek.
  NOT STUPID but passive and yielding to what appears to be the vested authority of the one living and true God.
  
  The extraordinary BURDENS, PRESSURES, and goading of the Governing Body mark a striking contrast to the words of Jesus:
  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
  
  Here is a stark true Truth and a bitter one, indeed.
  Telling somebody, "Did you know your Mother is a whore?" (even if factual )- it is cruel and vicious truth with no purpose other than inflicting a wound from which they may never recover or escape becoming embittered.
  
  A 75-year-old man whose entire life, friends, family, support structure, and heartfelt loyalty are bound up in a life of religious devotion, service, and self-sacrifice is NOT BEST SERVED by such a revelation as "YOUR RELIGION IS A CULT, your leaders are liars, your friends will shun you, and you will be condemned as a mentally diseased apostate if you acknowledge these facts openly."
  
  It is too late for me. My eyes are open. But should I "save" the others by reverse witnessing?
  It is a heart-wrenching decision I do not take lightly!
• 
  6

  What Happened to Jehovah's Witness Young Men - and WHY did it Happen?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lo9jtmhf4b1-j9cn0enojshyw0rogv-qswxnrme-k6e/edit?usp=sharing.

  _____within the last 6 months, i was contacted by one of my fellow jw's incarcerated with me and about 50 other bros. in the late 1960s.

  we served time as convicted conscientious objectors in seagoville federal correctional institution.surprise surprise!

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  Terry

  I find myself whipsawed (if you are familiar with that expression).
  Whipsawed: subject to two difficult situations or opposing pressures at the same time.

  My natural desire is to tell the Brothers how I've traveled, met extraordinary people, lived a creative life in Art and music, and how I've written books, articles, liner notes for music venues; remained healthy, fit, and adventurous WHILE THEY have languished in a mental prison wasting away like pork chop left on a table to rot.
  
  I went from janitor to Beverly Hills.
  I've been to London, Paris, Spain. I've composed over three hundred pieces of music.
  In other words: I DID SOMETHING rather than "wait on Jehovah."
  I want to shout: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
  
  I love these guys and they are good-hearted, stolid, completely abused, abandoned, and over-worked.
  But I can't stand here with my fists on my hips like Superman with the wind blowing my cape demanding admiration for leaving the Watchtower ever-ending world of hopeful despair.
  
  As an EX-JW, I can only feasibly be seen as demonic: a condemned and aberrant criminal "dead man walking."
  I would like some suggestions for this task I've set before me.
  My generation isn't overlapping: it is dying off. These guys are circling the drain and I must figure out what - if anything - is possible for me to do.
• 
  4

  The Washington Post response to my letter

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.c-span.org/video/?443445-1/qa-lillian-cunningham.

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  Terry

  Media in general approaches stories concerning Religion by simply accepting a PR statement or by
  chasing a titillating story of abuse.
  Religious sentiment and push-back are "hot potato."
  The GB has cynically steered rank and file members into becoming Martyrs for PR purposes (proving the point by the end result: persecution.)
  JW Brothers refused ALTERNATE SERVICE freely offered by the LAW only because the GB declared they must.
  Would you suggest Jesus remain behind bars for two years or would you want him out in the community at a hospital?
  That's really the insidious bottom line.
• 
  6

  What Happened to Jehovah's Witness Young Men - and WHY did it Happen?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lo9jtmhf4b1-j9cn0enojshyw0rogv-qswxnrme-k6e/edit?usp=sharing.

  _____within the last 6 months, i was contacted by one of my fellow jw's incarcerated with me and about 50 other bros. in the late 1960s.

  we served time as convicted conscientious objectors in seagoville federal correctional institution.surprise surprise!

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  2. 
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• 

  Terry

  
• 
  6

  What Happened to Jehovah's Witness Young Men - and WHY did it Happen?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lo9jtmhf4b1-j9cn0enojshyw0rogv-qswxnrme-k6e/edit?usp=sharing.

  _____within the last 6 months, i was contacted by one of my fellow jw's incarcerated with me and about 50 other bros. in the late 1960s.

  we served time as convicted conscientious objectors in seagoville federal correctional institution.surprise surprise!

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• 

  Terry

  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lo9jTMhF4B1-j9cN0enojsHYw0ROgV-qSwXnrMe-K6E/edit?usp=sharing

  _____
  Within the last 6 months, I was contacted by one of my fellow JW's incarcerated with me and about 50 other Bros. in the late 1960s. We served time as convicted Conscientious Objectors in Seagoville Federal Correctional Institution.
  Surprise surprise!
  We were going to be able to use ZOOM for a REUNION!!
  
  My heart soared like an eagle - until - I reminded myself I haven't been a JW for a long, long time.
  In fact, I would be Public Enemy #1.
  What to do?
  I had profound feelings bubble to the surface and ethical self-questioning commenced.
  I decided I would get the names and phone numbers and email addresses of each of them. I would contact them personally and get to know them as human beings again.
  
  One by one I would walk them through their experience and my own after we were paroled.
  We'd discuss what a shock it was to be free again but facing a few short years until 1975.
  I refused to lie to them about my status if asked.
  Not one of them did ask, oddly enough.
  
  Yes, by SHARING what it felt like as co-equals, I'd give them a chance to know me as a human being BEFORE suddenly
  facing the fact of my leaving, being Disfellowship, and gradually re-examining WHAT HAPPENED to us and why.
  
  The link at the top is information I researched and compiled.
  
  At some point in our newly developed bonding and renewal, I would evaluate exactly where each of them was in regard
  to OPENNESS, skepticism, self-questioning, and curiosity.
  If they felt damaged and were hanging on by their fingernails - I would email them my research.
  If not - I would not shake them up with a slap in the face. No. I would not harm them psychologically.
  
  A person who has remained absolutely "FAITHFUL" to the Organization for the last 50+ years simply could not
  handle such an assault on their cognitive dissonance.
  
  All this began about ten months ago.
  The best-laid plans of mice and men go astray.
  My old friends were heartbreakingly wonderful human beings who have been through hell.
  We still LOVE each other in a way that only a Band of Brothers who have come through the Valley of the Shadow can bond.
  
  Most of them are physically wrecked. They haven't had colorful lives.
  They stayed in the rut. Empty lives creatively. Most but not all.
  They have heard "Wait on Jehovah" a few too many times.
  Regarding 1975 without wincing is very embarrassing for them.
  But are they ready for my research and my hissing stick of dynamite? Nope. Not yet.
  
  Only one Brother has read it. Without push-back or blinking or argument. He is my Rock.
  The really smart ones are wary of being sniffed out and will hardly tip their hand to me for a while. I must be patient.
  
  I am posting this (above link) research to get YOUR OPINION and SUGGESTIONS if you'd help me with it.
  
  I need it to be possible for them to get through it without horror.
  I've re-edited it many, many times taking out stinging condemnations and accusations.
  You know what I mean.
  I'm trying to be NEUTRAL and stop editorializing with a ranting screed.
  
  Read it and reach out to me with your thoughts. Okay?
  
  
  
• 
  4

  The Washington Post response to my letter

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.c-span.org/video/?443445-1/qa-lillian-cunningham.

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  Terry

  My letter to Lillian Cunningham was as follows:
  
  

  
  

  What is my interest in all of this?
  I served time in Federal prison from 1967-69 as a 'neutral' Jehovah's Witness as a result of a conviction for violation of the Universal Military Training and Service Act.
  I was privately counseled by my congregation leaders not to accept alternative civilian service. I was further counseled not to reveal I had been influenced in any way by other than my own conscience. This same deliberately invisible influence was carried out as a coordinated policy nationwide.

  During the Vietnam war, 5,000 draft-age men turned in their draft cards rather than be conscripted. These were protests. 200,000 men were accused by the Federal Government of being Draft Offenders. 25,000 were indicted. Out of the 25,000, only 8,750 were convicted. Out of the 8,750 who were convicted, only 4,000 were imprisoned. Most of these, with some exceptions, were young men--Jehovah's Witnesses, like myself, who surrendered our loyalty to an organization and its leaders claiming to speak on behalf of the only true God.

  Five years before my appearance before a draft board, the Watchtower Society had quietly and unceremoniously changed the official interpretation of Romans 13: 1,2 rather quietly, flip-flopping back to the traditional plain reading Christendom had held for two thousand years!

  In fact, the JW texts I was operating from had not been updated to include this change. I found out the hard way!
  The Watchtower headquarters would not provide me with a membership card nor a letter attesting to my ministerial status. I later found out this was only provided in special cases where a "special Pioneer" was involved who spent 100 to 150 hours monthly knocking doors.

  I had the legal right to serve alternate service working in a hospital--had it not been for the private counsel of my JW elders in strict accord with their covert (by this time) policies on Christian neutrality.

  This policy too, like the previous Romans 13: 1, 2 policy, was reversed many years later. Apparently, the malleable nature of Watchtower ‘truth’ repudiates its value as the divine mind channeled by an Almighty.

  First Amendment champions? I think not!
  
  I would argue the actions of Jehovah's Witnesses against their own interests, and the interests of their local community, as well as nationally, were coerced by fear of ex-communication in extremis, or at least insidiously coaxed into their beliefs through loyalty and disinformation.
  

  This religion is fraudulent in premise and has a historical track record of trampling on human rights.
  ...
  I included snippets and links to the Australian Royal Commission and the Walsh Trial transcript.
• 
  4

  The Washington Post response to my letter

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.c-span.org/video/?443445-1/qa-lillian-cunningham.

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  Terry

  
  
  https://www.c-span.org/video/?443445-1/qa-lillian-cunningham
• 
  2

  Disputin' with Putin

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  --war is hell--.

  --war is hell--.

  --war is hell--.

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  Terry

  DISPUTIN' with PUTIN

  ____________________________

  WARFARE GUMBO in a large brass pot

  Carve it up!

  .....Stir it slow

  ...........serve it hot!

  Russki scalawags sleepin' on a cot

  ....Hear em' rip

  ........Let em' snore

  ............Let em' rot!

  Sips from a cider jug: four and ninety-six

  Drips from a leaky tent (out in the Styx)

  Hoist up yer banners

  watch yer manners - stay alert

  "Yes Sir and No Sir" or you're in a heap o' hurt

  
  

  Death comes knockin' and she won't be chased away

  Till the end

  ......when it counts

  ............on That day

  Drum some thunder as you march in men!

  Rat-a-tat

  .....rat-a-tat

  ..........rat-a-tat

  Eyes wide wonder let the fights begin!

  Make ‘em pay

  .....make ‘em bleed

  ..............All their kin.

  
  

  Listen for a trumpet blast,

  they'll come fast!

  We'll keep a fightin' till the final wretched gasp

  Cries and a wailin'

  From the Widows for their men

  As we watch laughing at the beauty of our Sin.

  
  

  --War is Hell--

  Stagger with the crippled

  and blink with the blind

  --War is Hell--

  Battle with a bottle take a final sip of wine

  --War is Hell--

  Martyr lies moulderin' beneath a funeral wreath

  Where there's

  Weeping and

  Wailing and

  Gnashing of teeth . . .

  
  

  There is a story

  every dead man we must tell:

  We must tell:

  War is Hell

  War is Hell

  ______

  

  Terry Walstrom poem
• 
  34

  Re: Use of revised New World Translation

  by pixel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this letter will be read this week.

  you read it here first!.

  re: use of revised new world translation .

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  Terry

  Can we connect a couple of dots on this subject?
  
  ♦Link to Court Documents♦ Court Case Website- https://bit.ly/3IOX7f9 Index # 523464/2021 King's Supreme Court
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vQ8RPLaeE8