Posts by TerryWalstrom

58

Do You Ever Wonder Where Certain Posters Are?

by minimus in

jw
friends

do people simply leave because the site has given them what they wanted?

are they now infrequent lurkers?.

did they go back to the watchtower?.

TerryWalstrom

I think I've been on this Discussion group since about 2003 and I've seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go.
I've gone through many life transitions in that time and ever so often I go "radio silent" because--well, I get tired of all things JW. Then, something like Leah Remini happens or the release of a book and I've fired up again.
It would be interesting to have a roll call of who has been here for more than a little while.
The days of Alan Fuerbacher, Narcissos, Little Toe, Hillary-step seem long ago to me now.
Sigh.

26

Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

by TerryWalstrom in

of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

TerryWalstrom

The one thing most fair-minded scholars can agree upon is that the traditional presentation of Jesus to the world has too many finger-prints on it to be naively accepted "as is."

The Evangelicals simply posit infallibility from the assertion of Authority and that doesn't fly in Modern times.

Skepticism is in mother's milk.
The Jesus Story was really tasty to Romans after so many wars with its pacifism and Prince of Peace conversation rather than nationalistic demands for more tribute and acquisition.
Largely, it was women who were drawn to the message of Love and who spread the influence of a Good God rather than a terrifyingly quixotic one. No further sacrifice because Jesus made the best one for all time--now that's economical!

The Community of goyim Christians outnumbered the Messianic Jewish contingent & separated itself into a much louder and more influential story that succeeded in crowding out the parochial and exotic hermetic Shemetic strain.

How much of the Jesus story isn't improvised?--that should be the question.

2

Let's Talk About Writing

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

let's talk about writing.

for me, writing is sort of like jazz.. writing is "thinking inside the moment".

improvising and surprising an audience--is good jazz.. have you ever heard "bad" jazz?ha ha ha--of course you have!

TerryWalstrom

Excellent point! Self-centered writing keeps the reader on the outside of the experience.

If it isn't important in Value to a reader--it isn't important enough to read (no matter how much I felt it while writing.)

How do you write "valuable" things others will read and feel as strongly as the writer?
Be entertaining. Surprise them. Build an expectation which changes how they think by challenging (but not threatening) their viewpoint.
Or...
Become a tour guide to your experience through empathy, vicarious role play. Let the reader walk in your shoes for a few minutes. Make it a thrill ride or a guilty pleasure--but make it funny or sad in a real and sympathetic surrounding.

Words are music if you play the melody in them.
For me--it's Jazz. If my reader taps their foot--my writing is sweet music.
"Welcome to the Sing-Along."

2

Let's Talk About Writing

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

let's talk about writing.

for me, writing is sort of like jazz.. writing is "thinking inside the moment".

improvising and surprising an audience--is good jazz.. have you ever heard "bad" jazz?ha ha ha--of course you have!

TerryWalstrom

LET'S TALK ABOUT WRITING

For me, writing is sort of like Jazz.

Writing is "thinking inside the moment".
Improvising and surprising an audience--is good jazz.

Have you ever heard "bad" Jazz?
Ha ha ha--of course you have!!
That's like asking--"Have you ever read BAD writing?"

Great writing is seduction!
Seduction is offering an exciting stimulus toward a satisfying response which teases your inclinations to enjoy life more.
Who doesn't crave that arousal?

(Arousal is a magical word--don't you think?)

Don't we often associate jazz with seduction?
Let's say "yes" and see what that means.
The excitement of seduction is partly being off-balance and putting you on your toes (or your back).

Not really knowing where it's going...is arousing...moment to moment...leading someplace that might just be wonderful.

(Note: This is still about writing--so, calm down!)

When you first meet somebody on a blind date--that's like picking up a book for the first time. Those first few seconds should make your heart beat a little faster.
A smile? Yes! (Opening paragraph)
Appearance may be pretty important--but wait!
"Don't judge a book by its cover" is good advice.

Listen first.
Listen for that seductive tone...is there insinuation toward sweet surprises?

A good writer grabs you with a little humor (to break the ice) and a welcoming smile (an inviting setting) followed by that elusive miracle: a CONNECTION!

A terrific writer establishes the electrifying moment of connection in a literary 3-way menage a trois:

1. Your mind and your body
2. Your body and your desires
3. Evocative words as a gateway to the first two: imagination.

Writing is background music for "possibilities" and as you enter this new world and explore its frontiers you are taken out of yourself in a good way.

50 Shades of Gray sold 125 million copies in a genre where 40 thousand copies are considered a triumph.
Here is why, in my opinion. That rather shabby book was all about Seduction

Everybody wants to lose control and turn it all over to somebody else more powerful who can turn the pain into orgasmic pleasure.

And guess what?
A 2nd-rate writer achieved that. (Even a cheap thrill is still a thrill).
Here is a secret: there's no such thing as a good writer or a bad writer--there is only the
EFFECTIVE writer and an INEFFECTIVE writer.
Many a man has said, "There's no such thing as bad sex".
What the man means is "effective" sex. (FEELING IT).
.
A writer offers an Uber ride to someplace you want to go where you'll experience BIG FEELINGS.

That's worth the ride--no?
_______

When I write, I'm thinking out loud RIGHT NOW.
I don't prepare a damn thing. I hear it when you do--for the first time. That's pretty much the only way I can write.
Why?
It's the most surprising and satisfying way to find out
what I'm thinking. Because you see, I don't know what I think until I write it down.

Often I'll do that and then read it, turn up my nose and delete it.
I post it publicly and later take it down--I hate it.

Spontaneity is the only writing that works for me. I actually FEEL what I'm writing--or I don't.

All the other kinds of writing don't interest me.

Your mileage may vary.

26

Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

by TerryWalstrom in

of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

TerryWalstrom

And the debunking video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MH5Gt797vc

26

Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

by TerryWalstrom in

of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

TerryWalstrom

It's fascinating how everybody draws water from the same well over and over and it tastes different every time :)

Eisegesis

26

Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

by TerryWalstrom in

of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

TerryWalstrom

Question: Before I invest time watching the video, in what way is this not just another crazy conspiracy theory?

Reply: I'd say it comes down to Occam's Razor. It's a simpler explanation for Jesus Christ which matches the known facts.

26

Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

by TerryWalstrom in

of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

TerryWalstrom

Another view:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar's_Messiah?fbclid=IwAR1jTfvcN69SjeQE6cn0IiqWRTKmHtj_Svgvpg20HioSzaLyaFYi1PGDXeA

______________
Wiki:
"Caesar’s Messiah is a 2005 book by Joseph Atwill, which argues that the New Testament Gospels were written as wartime propaganda by scholars connected to the Roman imperial court of the Flavian emperors: Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. According to Atwill, their primary purpose in creating the religion was to control the spread of Judaism and moderate its political virulence. The Jewish nationalist Zealots had been defeated in the First Jewish–Roman War of 70 AD, but Judaism remained an influential movement throughout the Mediterranean region. Atwill argues that the biblical character Jesus Christ is a typological representation of the Roman Emperor Titus.

Atwill's theory contradicts the mainstream historical view,[1] which is that while the Gospels include many mythical or legendary elements, these are religious elaborations added to the biography of a historical Jesus who did live in 1st-century Roman Palestine (Judea),[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] was baptized by John the Baptist and was crucified by the order of the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate.[9][10][11]

26

Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

by TerryWalstrom in

of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

TerryWalstrom

Of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things. We hear about them,
look into them and laugh.
However, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.
Watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UqG8w7ezUQ&t=268s

11

Jehovah's Witness core Doctrine has changed over time. Has Dogma changed?

by TerryWalstrom in

first things first!let us define our terms: doctrine and dogma.doctrine: a codification of beliefs, taught principles, or positions.

dogma a set of principles laid down by an authority (in this case, the governing body, acting as the faithful slave of christ) as incontrovertibly true.

_____in the catholic church, dogma never changes but doctrines have over time.this sets me to wondering.

TerryWalstrom

Maria Russell has been attributed by the Watchtower as having asserted that the
Faithful and Wise Servant ss the doctrine of empowerment (she included herself with her husband for the logically mystical reason the two are one.)

Russell kept the money, the property, the power and made all decisions.

Rutherford made all the decisions as he transformed the shell of leadership into yes-men of his selection.

Knorr and his bosom companion F. Franz made all the decisions until lunacy and a brain tumor sputtered to a halt.

Franz (having failed utterly at his 1975 fiasco) was voted up into the GB leadership--BUT--after a committee coup wherein the power was diluted into a voting group.

Fast forward through eruptions of GB apostacy (Ray Franz) and the purge.
Modern times have brought the spooks out of the dark old house of GB-dom into the artificial light of studio broadcasting.
They've taken a scythe to so many tenderly held beliefs, it is like Gettysburg after Sherman.
The "responsibility" of ownership of power has been magically unplugged from GB members for purposes of shielding them from a direct lawsuit.
Like Santa himself, the GB have "helpers".

Lawyers run this engine and the inmates of the sanitarium await sacred pronouncements like the press watching for white smoke at a new Pope's appointment.

I would say this: DOGMA in this religion is as slippery as KY jelly and used for the same purpose.