Larc Well put. We need to be more positive about each other and less critical (or at least more tactful). We all have our horror stories to tell and our grievances, but this does not justify lambasting each other. I still do not understand what the commotion is about. PS Would anyone like to hear my story??? We should do a book of all of our stories (it could be a best sell)
Jerry Bergman
JoinedPosts by Jerry Bergman
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70
Lust For Glory Alienating The Majority?
by Englishman inif i had ever been a victim of abuse, and the offence had been perpetrated by a member of the jw religion, then silent lambs would be the best thing ever to appear, both on tv and in person.. if i had a close friend or relative who had gone through the same trauma, then i would feel almost the same emotion.. now i do not know, obviously, what percentage of persons on this site have been victims of abuse by jw's, but my guess is that this percentage is relatively small.
so whilst most of us feel very empathetic to abuse victims, not that great a proportion of us have experienced it personally.. however, i do know that many of us have suffered trauma because of other forms of abuse by this organisation, including disfellowshipping which has caused many to be rejected by their loved ones.
whilst it is not possible to measure this form of abuse against that of child abuse, it is nonetheless a type of abuse that most of us are familiar with on a personal level, it's also a type of abuse that is still going on for many who post here.
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JW Author Firpo Carr: What's His Agenda?
by Room 215 ini've only now become aware of the existence of one firpo carr, apparently a liberal jw apologist with several dissenting views and an afro-american jw grievance agenda.
do any of you know where he stands and how he's regarded by jws?
is he a sort of black greg stafford?
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Jerry Bergman
Of interest:
Jehovah's Witnesses: The African American Enigma--A Contemporary Study (Vol. I)
by Firpo W. Carr
Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours Only 4 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).List Price: $14.95 Price: $14.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details.
Edition: PaperbackSee more product details Product Details
- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: STIR Inc. (Scholar Technological Institute of Research, Inc.); ISBN: 0963129368; (June 2002)
- Average Customer Review:
Based on 2 reviews. Write a review.
- Amazon.com Sales Rank: 889,070
Editorial Reviews Book Description
More than any other religion in recent history, Jehovah's Witnesses have quietly and positively impacted the black community. Yet, some are concerned that the needs of African Americans, and Black Witnesses specifically, have been overlooked. Others argue that the predominantly white Governing Body is insensitive toward black plight.This book deals squarely with these and other issues facing today's black Witnesses. Dr. Firpo W. Carr, an active Witness himself for over 35 years (and full-time minister for over 20 of those years), has traveled to black communities in major cities across the United States--from Harlem to Oakland--in an effort to carefully study and critique black Witnesses. The results have been discribed as "riveting."
Though the focus of his study was in the United States, he traveled to Cuba to study black Witnesses and their history on the Communist island. Fidel Castro elected to air Carr's 45-minute lecture on racism nationwide.
On both ends of the sociopolitical spectrum Carr's works have been widely accepted and admired. Legacy, "Africa's leading magazine on social issues," the original Black Panther Party, and many others have recognized and published Carr.
Customer Reviews Avg. Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.A Must Book for Every Witness and nonWitness to Read, August 27, 2002
Having read Firpo Carr's last book on Black Witnesses, I found his latest book better than I expected. Gone is the lashing out at "apostates" and in is reasoned discussions about real issues that concern the Watchtower today. Carr does criticize "apostates" in this book, yet he clearly has a number of disagreements with the Society and would technically therefore also be an apostate. I have never known a person who openly tried to change the Watchtower (and I have known many, including Ron Frye, Jim Penton, Don Nelson, Raymond Franz, Jerry Bergman, Barbara Anderson, Greg Stafford, Bill Bowen, and many others) that was able to stay. Sooner or later they all left due to pressure (or were forced out). Carr has argued, in my opinion effectively, for many needed changes in Watchtower policy including a more realistic stand on a number of issues facing Blacks in the Society. The Watchtower is the only White mainline church that the majority of members are minority (see Kosmin and Lachman One Nation Under God Harmony Books. NY). As Carr noted, one Black member on the governing body is progress, but to be truly representative of the Watchtower membership over half of the members should be minorities. Carr is advocating some fairly drastic changes in the Watchtower and, although he may be a rare exception and not end up being forced out, this will surely cause him problems. It is obvious that he has read much apostate literature, which alone could cause him problems. I wish him luck (sorry, good fortune). Also, his information on the Watchtower's connection with certain radical Black power groups and the radical Nation of Islam may upset some. The suggestion that Jesus was a Black man and other ideas may also not settle well with some.Reviewer: A reader from Eastern USA -
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Are JW lawyers crooked?
by Jerry Bergman ini have heard much about crooked watchtower lawyers on this site and wondered if anyone had anything to back this up?
i have my own experience (extremely bad) and was wondering about others.
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Jerry Bergman
I have heard much about crooked Watchtower lawyers on this site and wondered if anyone had anything to back this up? I have my own experience (extremely bad) and was wondering about others.
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Greg Stafford's New Book Has Shipped
by AlanF intoday i received greg stafford's new book three dissertations on the teachings of jehovah's witnesses.
for those who don't know, stafford has been a staunch defender of the watchtower society's teachings for at least six years, on the net and in print.
his previous book, jehovah's witnesses defended (1998, 2000), is a milestone in pro-jw literature.. the new book is a radical departure from stafford's previous book in that he strongly questions the society's doctrines about blood transfusions, the basis for the claim of spiritual authority by jw leaders, the necessity for christians to believe the society's 1914 doctrine, and issues of "legalism" including the propriety of requiring "time" in the field ministry to be reported, and even the supposed scriptural basis for the society's ban on celebrating birthdays and christmas.
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Jerry Bergman
Some professors routinely make emotional statements like calling someone's else's work garbage. This means little unless they can defend their conclusion. Name calling judgments are common but worthless, especially in the Darwinists controversy. What is needed are facts.
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Greg Stafford's New Book Has Shipped
by AlanF intoday i received greg stafford's new book three dissertations on the teachings of jehovah's witnesses.
for those who don't know, stafford has been a staunch defender of the watchtower society's teachings for at least six years, on the net and in print.
his previous book, jehovah's witnesses defended (1998, 2000), is a milestone in pro-jw literature.. the new book is a radical departure from stafford's previous book in that he strongly questions the society's doctrines about blood transfusions, the basis for the claim of spiritual authority by jw leaders, the necessity for christians to believe the society's 1914 doctrine, and issues of "legalism" including the propriety of requiring "time" in the field ministry to be reported, and even the supposed scriptural basis for the society's ban on celebrating birthdays and christmas.
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Jerry Bergman
I always liked Mat Alfs but lost track of him. Does anyone out there know what he is up to??
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Lust For Glory Alienating The Majority?
by Englishman inif i had ever been a victim of abuse, and the offence had been perpetrated by a member of the jw religion, then silent lambs would be the best thing ever to appear, both on tv and in person.. if i had a close friend or relative who had gone through the same trauma, then i would feel almost the same emotion.. now i do not know, obviously, what percentage of persons on this site have been victims of abuse by jw's, but my guess is that this percentage is relatively small.
so whilst most of us feel very empathetic to abuse victims, not that great a proportion of us have experienced it personally.. however, i do know that many of us have suffered trauma because of other forms of abuse by this organisation, including disfellowshipping which has caused many to be rejected by their loved ones.
whilst it is not possible to measure this form of abuse against that of child abuse, it is nonetheless a type of abuse that most of us are familiar with on a personal level, it's also a type of abuse that is still going on for many who post here.
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Jerry Bergman
I hesitate to jump in here because I do not understand fully what happened. I can tell you that I met Bill Bowen and heard him speak this summer and was extremely impressed with him. He was very articulate, well spoken with clear concerns but he was not unreasonable or off the wall. He had a good understanding of the issues and was able to deal with his situation very well, to say the least. We are all imperfect and the key is do we learn from our mistakes.
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Edward Chitty, Governing Body - Former
by waiting inthis quote is from jerry bergman, phd.
i have seen quotes where his opinions are quite belligerent against the wtbts.
however, due to my childhood background, this quote is quite curious.. i have read inuendos about homosexuality amoung governing body - but have read no details nor explanations.
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Jerry Bergman
Sorry
I just read your post (I am rather new on this site).
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Edward Chitty, Governing Body - Former
by waiting inthis quote is from jerry bergman, phd.
i have seen quotes where his opinions are quite belligerent against the wtbts.
however, due to my childhood background, this quote is quite curious.. i have read inuendos about homosexuality amoung governing body - but have read no details nor explanations.
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Jerry Bergman
I first heard it from a Bethelite who I have found to be accurate in his information. Actually I ended up with several sources, and therefore I felt the account could well be accurate (note my wording was tentative). So far I know of no information that goes against this claim, but if good credible evidence exists against it I will gladly revise the conclusion
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JW Author Firpo Carr: What's His Agenda?
by Room 215 ini've only now become aware of the existence of one firpo carr, apparently a liberal jw apologist with several dissenting views and an afro-american jw grievance agenda.
do any of you know where he stands and how he's regarded by jws?
is he a sort of black greg stafford?
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Jerry Bergman
Why is he not disfellowshipped??? From his writings, it is clear he is an apostate. Have any of you read his books on the Witnesses???
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Jerry Bergman, Ph.D. (psy) - JW insights
by AhHah inthis site also contains articles by ken raines, who seems to have developed the site.. url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/.
url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/story.html (ken raines).
url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/papers.html (j. bergman).
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Jerry Bergman
The first time I read these items was the day I responded (I have not been on this site very long so have not read most of the posts yet). The issues are still real. Any responders????
Based on 2 reviews. 
A Must Book for Every Witness and nonWitness to Read, August 27, 2002