Posts by vienne

33

Former Elder, Pioneer and WT Writer Earns 9 Science Degrees - Jerry Bergman, Ph.D., BiologyJerry Bergman, Ph.D., Biology

by Sea Breeze in

jerry bergman, ph.d., biology.

biography.

jerry bergman has taught biology, genetics, chemistry, biochemistry, anthropology, geology, and microbiology at northwest state college in archbold oh for over 25 years.

vienne

Most of the "associations" listed in his CV can be joined by anyone by simply paying a fee. Listing one you founded that is not recognized by any other professional body is window dressing. I've read his work. Most of it is disappointing and he's been accused of inflating his credentials. I'd take anything he wrote with a grain of salt.

I'm not certain what the original poster's point is. That you become smarter after leaving the Witnesses? Giftedness is genetic. It can be cultivated beyond its genetic foundation by use. But leaving a religion, while it may open up areas one's previous belief closed, does not make you smarter. Also, giftedness implies that one can make more 'associations' - associate more factors and facts - quicker than others. But IF your friend reaches the same conclusions you do, but two days later, are you truly better than they are?

And MENSA? I belong to MENSA. It's fun or boring depending on the day and who you're with. But it does not certify you as anything. Stalin probably qualified for MENSA. He acted stupidly.

6

An animated walk through of Watchtower's history

by The Old Testicle in

170 years of watchtower history.

this video was made using material researched from their own publications as well as outside sources.. this wasn't produced to bash the organisation but provide a background to its origin and path to today.

the organisation's falls on the merit that this is factual and not sensational.

vienne

Way too much that is inaccurate. Russell was not swayed by Millerism and his doctrines do not come from that source. He admired Miller for forcing people to look at Bible prophecies, but there were others, some of whom Russell names, that came before and who were greater influences on him.

Wendell did not start the Second Adventists. Not even close. See Isaac Wellcome's history of the second adventists movement for details.

A minor point is that Sunderlin and Bender, who Russell sent to Britain and Ireland to circulate Food for Thinking Christians, were not colporteurs and were not called such. They were there to make business contacts and to arrange for the printing of the UK version of "Food."

The errors in this video are many, and though I may note more later, I have a paper to write due on Monday. So that's it for now.

On the roots of Russell's belief system, try this:

Penton draws on Schulz and de Vienne's books. [Rachael de Vienne was my mom, just for clarity here. And yes, I'm a bit partisan] Their Separate Identity books are on Amazon and Lulu and other book sites. Mom and Schulz both held PhD's and Bruce Schulz is B. W. Schulz, PhD, FRHistS [Fellow of the Royal History Society]

17

Ghislaine Maxwell on trial

by LoveUniHateExams in

ghislaine maxwell is on trial for grooming underage girls for sex and joining in, apparently.. her defence has recently finished, with maxwell declining to take the stand herself because she, in her words, 'doesn't need to as the prosecution haven't proved their case beyond reasonable doubt'.. that's for the jury to decide, ghislaine, lol.

.

doesn't it strike you as arrogant that she can't be arsed to stand up and speak in her own defence?.

vienne

Not testifying in your own behalf is a Constitutional right. It's not an automatic indication of guilt. I think she's guilty, but I haven't really followed this. Child abuse issues upset me.

Are our rulers corrupt. Yes, every one of them down to the local level. And those that may not be corrupt are dumb as rocks.

11

Dimwits running the show

by punkofnice in

i often found that there were some real dimwits that thought they were marvellous.

a sort of dunning kruger spectrum going on.. donkeys leading princes.

just like our corrupt and retarded politicians.

vienne

Back in the day my granduncle wore a huge [well it look huge to me as a young child] silver pocket watch. A gold ornament hung from the chain. It was from a history honor society. One of the old women in his congregation accused him of wearing a cross. He thought that was funny. I thought it was moronic.

23

Just how much of a dramatic FLOP is this NEW LIGHT?

by Terry in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1xpxxtqvys.

your opinion, please, on the above video.

1. before jesus, humans were judged either by the law (jews and converts) or by natural law (noahide law).

vienne

Vander,

You will find the discussion of E. G. Whites plagiarism interesting. An Inspired Prophet does not need to plagiarize from anyone. Also, in her earliest years' meetings were sometimes characterized by what a really conservative Christian would consider demonism, barking, crawling on all fours, head butting the rear end of the nearest girl. Lots to explore. SDA generated many disaffections and pamphlets and books presented as exposés . I haven't pursued this at length. I'm writing my thesis on Witnesses, not the SDA church.

23

Just how much of a dramatic FLOP is this NEW LIGHT?

by Terry in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1xpxxtqvys.

your opinion, please, on the above video.

1. before jesus, humans were judged either by the law (jews and converts) or by natural law (noahide law).

vienne

Speculating on something that hasn't happened yet seems unfruitful. And it seems to me at least, that this man, a Seventh-day Adventist, has as much or more to hide from as Jehovah's Witnesses do.

2

Anyone info William Schnell the German branch leader who sold out his Witnesses to tha Nazism?

by Witness 007 in

i read after the war how he wrote inspiring kingdom songs..."forward you witnesses!

" not revealing he was a nazi informant who under pressure gave up all his flock and basically shut down the german branch.

anyone have this info i lost it..

vienne

you're confusing Eric Frost and William Schnell. I believe the claim about Frost is unproven.

8

Renting to a Witness of the opposite sex...

by James Robinson in

i need a question answered.

i know of a situation where a single sister took in a single brother as a renter, so she could be his caregiver, as he was very along in years.. long story short, they were forced to get married.

i believe it was labeled under "appearance of evil" by the elders.. my question is: what do the elders base this on?

vienne

In that situation, they base it on stupidity.

20

The WT brings up the theme of fleeing

by Kosonen in

jw
friends

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-january-2022/those-seeking-jehovah-will-lack-nothing-good/.

this article explains what a modern time application to fleeing might involve in the prophecy jesus told about the last days.. that is a timely reminder.

i think it will become soon possible to flee to australia from the mark of the beast.

vienne

Amazing, isn't it? That someone with mental health issues can generate so many comments.

22

Request----Federal Post Office Inspector!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

atlantis:.

do you have a copy of a letter that was sent out by a congregation overseer, with a complaint from the federal post office inspector, concerning letters being sent out by jw's?.

yes, i have it, but very few people show any interest in the letters anymore.

vienne

We dealt with the USPS inspectors. It does not seem to be the role of a postal inspector to monitor letter content. Police? Yes, if it is threatening. And the letter here is not a WT society letter. Still interesting. I'd like to see the more recent Watchtower Society letters.