Posts by TerryWalstrom

21

The Watchtower leaders are afraid of our elephants

by TerryWalstrom in

in the 1960's, when i was most active as a jehovah's witness, it was a different, more relaxed religion.

we were filled with confidence about our "truth" because we were skilled in rebuttal, overcoming objections, and we encouraged tough questions to test our mettle in the door to door work.. when an anti-dub book like "30 years a watchtower slave" was released, we all couldn't wait to read it and comment about it.it was seen as a pathetic effort at spite--never as a serious threat to our confidence in what we had.. so--what was different about the jw religion and our skillset back then from the watchtower world of paranoia and enforced loyalty today?i think i know.. we were like boxer george foreman before ali knocked him out.

we were mike tyson before buster douglas introduced his face to the canvas in that ring in japan.we were bullet proof.. not until you have a bone-shaking reckoning do you lose confidence and wonder, "wtf just happened?

TerryWalstrom

Pretty sure that whatever the case, they'll want a membership of just hard-core True Believers.

__________________

Accretion.

The smart ones wake up and leave (or are driven out and shunned) which leaves the less smart. Being less smart, these remainders are easily controllable.
The constant sifting and shifting leaves the Watchtower members dumber and dumber-er.

The dumber the membership is, the more maneuver room the puppetmasters are given room to shuck and jive.

The ideal version of the Jehovah's Witness religion would be a once a week check-in by tablet or PC with a pledge payment and a Check YES on "Are you still brainwashed?"
The GB

21

The Watchtower leaders are afraid of our elephants

by TerryWalstrom in

in the 1960's, when i was most active as a jehovah's witness, it was a different, more relaxed religion.

we were filled with confidence about our "truth" because we were skilled in rebuttal, overcoming objections, and we encouraged tough questions to test our mettle in the door to door work.. when an anti-dub book like "30 years a watchtower slave" was released, we all couldn't wait to read it and comment about it.it was seen as a pathetic effort at spite--never as a serious threat to our confidence in what we had.. so--what was different about the jw religion and our skillset back then from the watchtower world of paranoia and enforced loyalty today?i think i know.. we were like boxer george foreman before ali knocked him out.

we were mike tyson before buster douglas introduced his face to the canvas in that ring in japan.we were bullet proof.. not until you have a bone-shaking reckoning do you lose confidence and wonder, "wtf just happened?

TerryWalstrom

I choose to see all the downsizing as twofold:

1. Squeezing money out of assets to afford lawsuits.

2. Reinventing the religion ala Worldwide Church of Gawd

39

What happened to Marvin Schilmer and his Blog against the JW's?

by TerryWalstrom in

https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspoturl=https://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2013/07/complete-donation-what-happened.html.

TerryWalstrom

I would hate for it to be either a lawsuit brought by the Watchtower or the awful thing that happened with Farkle.

39

What happened to Marvin Schilmer and his Blog against the JW's?

by TerryWalstrom in

https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspoturl=https://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2013/07/complete-donation-what-happened.html.

TerryWalstrom

https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=https://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2013/07/complete-donation-what-happened.html

21

The Watchtower leaders are afraid of our elephants

by TerryWalstrom in

in the 1960's, when i was most active as a jehovah's witness, it was a different, more relaxed religion.

we were filled with confidence about our "truth" because we were skilled in rebuttal, overcoming objections, and we encouraged tough questions to test our mettle in the door to door work.. when an anti-dub book like "30 years a watchtower slave" was released, we all couldn't wait to read it and comment about it.it was seen as a pathetic effort at spite--never as a serious threat to our confidence in what we had.. so--what was different about the jw religion and our skillset back then from the watchtower world of paranoia and enforced loyalty today?i think i know.. we were like boxer george foreman before ali knocked him out.

we were mike tyson before buster douglas introduced his face to the canvas in that ring in japan.we were bullet proof.. not until you have a bone-shaking reckoning do you lose confidence and wonder, "wtf just happened?

TerryWalstrom

Make the Sign of the JW with your middle finger, at least. . .

31

I Just had a CLOSE ENCOUNTER of the Dub kind

by TerryWalstrom in

i just frightened a jehovah’s witness lady half out of her wits!.

i just frightened a sweet jehovah’s witness lady half out of her wits.... .

she took off like a sprinter at the sound of a starter pistol!.

TerryWalstrom

It was rather unsettling to become a source of terror!

31

I Just had a CLOSE ENCOUNTER of the Dub kind

by TerryWalstrom in

i just frightened a jehovah’s witness lady half out of her wits!.

i just frightened a sweet jehovah’s witness lady half out of her wits.... .

she took off like a sprinter at the sound of a starter pistol!.

TerryWalstrom

edvip20002 hours ago

@Terry

Nice read, but i'm trying to understand why you wanted to put an end to the conversation (you know you were). Pulling out the "cult" card almost always means run to the exits, and you certainly knew this would happen

My feeling is that you thought the language barrier presented an extra hurdle in trying to reason with this woman - you really didn't think you would have any success anyway, so you pulled out the big scary conversation stopper just for fun.

____________________________

Communication was a problem.

Her accent was thick.

Mainly, I was unable to determine the proper way to proceed.
In speaking to active JW's there is a tendency to throw the kitchen sink at them like a shotgun blast.

She struck me as intelligent, kind, devoted, and perhaps vulnerable.
Maybe I'm wrong about the 'vulnerable' part because she was, after a bit, protective of her self.

I'm at a different Starbucks today.
I had never seen her before and doubt I'll see her again.

We are always wiser the next day.
I should have asked her personal questions rather than doing a soliloquy. That was my biggest failure.

7

Church of God pastor writes what could be to some a helpful synopsis of Ray Franz "Crisis of Conscience."

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue92/crisiscn.html .

a 'crisis of conscience' opens eyes part 1.

he continues on page 346: .

TerryWalstrom

This is essential and just as true today (if not more so) than when R.F. wrote his book:

In reference to a Judicial committee:

"An inquisition, in the religious sense, is an inquiry into individuals' personal convictions and beliefs.

"Historically, its aim has been--not to aid the individual, or to provide a basis for reasoning with him--but to incriminate, to convict as heretical.

"The initiating cause for the inquiry often has nothing to do with the individual's being disruptive, malicious or even being particularly vocal about his beliefs. Mere suspicion is the only sufficient cause to set in motion the inquisitory action. The suspect is viewed as, in effect, having no rights: even his personal conversations with intimate friends are treated as something the inquisitors have full right to delve into."

44

My "best" friend (active JW) has just died

by Terry in

jw
friends

johnny santa cruz and i met around 1959 at a movie theater in fort worth, texas.. the purpose of that meeting was to create a fanclub for horror movie director william castle.

a week or so later, johnny stopped me as i was walking home from elementary school.. "hey--i think i know you.

weren't you at the william castle fanclub thing?".

TerryWalstrom

I never had a friend like that Terry. You were blessed. I know this is 3 months from your original post, but I just found it. My condolences.

TB-

__________

Thank you. I have now a tenuous connection with two of Johnny's kids on Facebook. It warms me. They really love their Dad and miss him.

He was one of a kind. Not a day passes that I don't evoke him in constant thought. I have flashes of anger that we missed out on what older people most need--a constant companion with whom you can relive the glory of youth.
But the past has passed. I have to be real and that doesn't come easily if you think more about yesterday than you do today and tomorrow.

31

I Just had a CLOSE ENCOUNTER of the Dub kind

by TerryWalstrom in

i just frightened a jehovah’s witness lady half out of her wits!.

i just frightened a sweet jehovah’s witness lady half out of her wits.... .

she took off like a sprinter at the sound of a starter pistol!.

TerryWalstrom

I have three Starbucks within bicycling distance and I triangulate locations for variety's sake. I like to sit outside because I'm a fresh air and sunshine addict. (Yes, I will die in agony of cancer.) JW's come and go and it is easy to spot them. For some reason unknown to me, there hasn't been any effort to blacklist me or post a WANTED DEAD or ALIVE poster. I think this is for a very good reason.

My persona is not confrontational. I speak quietly and don't push. With the exception of the Asian lady, nobody has made a fast getaway before--although, now that I think about it--there have been some abrupt endings.

Honest Dubs have secret worries and inner questionings. What I say to them is spoken without cynicism or bluster--it is stated matter-of-factly.

I know for a fact, at least 2 young JW's within the last year have definitely had their Wake Up Call as a direct result of our continuing conversations. A 21-year-old JW calls, texts and visits with me often.
He is an invaluable inside source for me as far as getting the pulse on young Dub's thinking within the Congregations he attends.

I would enjoy a "Gotcha" with a smug JW as much as anybody else. However, I think it is counter-productive. Why would anybody I have humiliated want to return for a chat?

Slow and steady wins the race. In the case of activism, the "win" should never come at the cost of somebody's mental health.