Posts by Brock Talon

22

Escape from Paradise: a new book by Brock Talon

by Brock Talon in

after a one year gestation period, as well as an extended labor, i am finally happy to announce the birth of my latest book: escape from paradise.. cigars all around!

like any new parent, i need to get some much needed sleep now.

zzzzzzzz.

Brock Talon

Simon - Thank you very much.

Kairos - I hope you enjoy it.

TableForOne - Thanks for the "faith" in me.

-

I have to say, I'm a bit nervous about what my very first review will look like. I can only hope it's from a fan.

Brock Talon

22

Escape from Paradise: a new book by Brock Talon

by Brock Talon in

after a one year gestation period, as well as an extended labor, i am finally happy to announce the birth of my latest book: escape from paradise.. cigars all around!

like any new parent, i need to get some much needed sleep now.

zzzzzzzz.

Village Idiot - I thought about putting the cuddly animals in my picture of paradise, but I didn't want to totally rip off the Watch Tower people. Besides, once I went there, I'd have to show couples with baskets of fruit, and waterfalls, etc. and that was too hard for my cover artist to do. Besides, if even if I did all those things, non-JWs who might want to read the book would be saying to themselves, "What the *@%#! is that all about?" and then run for the hills.

3rdgen - Yes, my "baby" does have my voice and my eyes... poor thing. I hope it will grow up to have a nice personality though...

Muddy Waters, NewYork44M - thanks so much for the well wishes. Appreciated greatly.

BlackFalcon98 - You are welcome. The fun I've had with "Journey" encouraged me to continue with "Escape." It's been readers like you (and those on this post) all that have made writing so satisfying.

I'd also like to thank Simon for administering the best JW / ex-JW site in the world. Without this site, there wouldn't be either book.

Brock Talon

22

Escape from Paradise: a new book by Brock Talon

by Brock Talon in

after a one year gestation period, as well as an extended labor, i am finally happy to announce the birth of my latest book: escape from paradise.. cigars all around!

like any new parent, i need to get some much needed sleep now.

zzzzzzzz.

Brock Talon

After a one year gestation period, as well as an extended labor, I am finally happy to announce the birth of my latest book: Escape from Paradise.

Cigars all around!

Like any new parent, I need to get some much needed sleep now. zzzzzzzz

Video promo

Kindle edition

Paperback edition

--
Brock Talon

52

Bible's mention of physical beauty- why?

by Magnum in

for years, as i've read through the bible, i've wondered why bible writers were concerned about physical beauty (see references below)?

i realize it's human nature to be interested in beauty, but why did they see fit to record in the so-called "word of god" the fact that some of the people they wrote about were beautiful?

looks are not supposed to matter according to jw doctrine (and probably the doctrine of many christian-professing sects).

Brock Talon

Magnum,

I believe the Bible writers are trying to establish motive for incidences that will occur in their stories. Most of the people you mention that are described as beautiful (whatever that meant at the time) later had things occur that was related to their appearance. Sarah was kidnapped by a King for her beauty. Rachel was preferred over her less attractive sister. Saul was looked on as a tall dark and handsome "leading man," so therefore could rightly be a king over his people.

Like it or not, people are motivated by looks. It's just human nature. The Bible writers would actually be remiss if they failed to explain why people did what they did. When physical appearance played a part in the story, they mentioned it.

As a writer myself, it makes perfect sense to me.

Brock Talon

23

JWs - A View From Outside

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

i never was a jw (i make this point in - almost - every post) but having been brought up ('raised' for our us cousins) in a non-conformist fundy sect with 'rapture' aspirations, it wasn't that different.. i still have extended family members in it, or in that mindset, but we rarely discuss religion.

in particular, my sister and bil lost their son (my nephew) some years ago when he was just 13. their comfort is that he is in a 'better place' and i don't want to challenge that to them.. i keep up with all things jw here in this forum and maintain my academic interest and these are just my thoughts as an outsider, for what they are worth.. ime, those people who have heard of jws tend to lump them in with mormons and other crazies and have no knowledge or interest in them - other than to warn neighbours when they are about.. where i live should be prime 'witnessing' territory but they rarely come round, even in the recent leafletting campaign.

they are not as effective as the people who regularly call with the latest menus from the local curry/chinese/kebab houses.. on the occasions when jws have called, despite invitations to come in and have a cup of tea, etc., none has ever wanted to engage in conversation, far less progress to an invitation to a kh meeting or start a bible study (and i always present myself as an 'imterested householder').. my conversations with people in general and friends in the real world lead me to conclude that few people have heard of jws, those that have regard them as a minor irrevelant nuisance and that there is no interest in their message or beliefs.. a few months ago i did a 'drive-past' of the million pound seafront property in bangor, north wales that wt recently bought for use as a 'translation office' (ha ha!).

Brock Talon

Joe Grundy,

I've been thinking quite a bit about this issue. That is, I've been contemplating just how important and impactful to the world the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and its attendant Jehovah's Witness faith is. Your first post takes the position that it is a minor cult and of little size and concern. But I'd like you to just consider the numbers, just by themselves. (The legal ramfications of Jehovah's Witnesses are not considered... things like religious freedom issues fought in courts, etc.)

I am putting these thoughts into the prologue of my new book, "Escape from Paradise". Here is an excerpt from it for your consideration:

--

"At the time of this writing, Jehovah's Witnesses claim over 7 million active followers as tallied during the only holiday they observe: their annual "Memorial of Christ's Death". That means that with over 7 billion people on Earth, Jehovah's Witnesses average 1 out of every 1,000 of the population. This average includes China, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, and other populous, yet Bible adverse, parts of the world. If you take into account those associated with the religion (the total in attendance at that "Memorial"), like inactive members, non-Witness spouses, and those newly interested, the number becomes an incredible 1 out of every 400 people on the planet that the Watch Tower organization has influence on!

The impact of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society becomes even more remarkable when you consider the number of ex-Jehovah's Witnesses there are. Nobody is certain as to how many that actually numbers to... millions? Tens of millions? Well, it's for these unnumbered and unnamed that I write. While I will not presume to speak for these people, I do want to tell my story in honor of them, because many can't or won't speak for themselves. I believe that in most cases, my story will be their story, and it's not a pretty one either."

Brock Talon

44

Find What Your Social Status Was in the Congregation

by Mary in

jw
friends

ever notice how the "happiest people on earth" are also the most class-oriented?

the social structure in the congregation is more complex than the blueprints of a nuclear warhead, but just so that you "remember your place", see if you can find where your niche was/is:.

1. at the top of the social order of things within the congregation is of course, the presiding overseer and his family.

Brock Talon

Mary, this is an interesting summary of the "social order of things" in the typical Witness congregation, but it got me thinking that there are social status standings above the "Top of the heap" you mention, that is, once you leave the actual congregation itself.

For example, circuit, district, branch and zone overseers. Also missionaries, Bethelites and of course the Governing Body.

When I was at Bethel, I once heard a guy there say he came to Bethel because he hoped it would eventually lead to his being a missionary. Well, Brother Sydlik heard his comment and was incensed by it. He told that guy, "Brother, there is no higher form of service in Jehovah's organization than Bethel, unless you are anointed and then die and go to heaven!"

So, because of that comment, while I was there I considered myself at the very top of the social status in Jehovah's organization. Period. After all, Brother Sydlik said so, and he was Governing Body.

No wonder my crash was so great when I left Bethel to go to college. I went from that so-called highest of highs, to your #8, the lowest of the lows.

Brock Talon

46

Does money buy happiness and a longer life? You decide...

by Brock Talon in

i poured over time magazine's sep 8-15 2014 edition article "who we are" and put together this spreadsheet on the results from their poll.

i found the statistics quite fascinating.. most people would say that "money doesn't buy happiness", but this poll seems to me to indicate the exact opposite of that.

it also correlates education levels with higher earning that result in that happiness.

Brock Talon

DesirousOfChange,

I don't think the "happiness" scale went exactly like that. The "very happy" was at the top of the scale. After that, I believe they had choices for "happy", then "neither happy nor unhappy", then "unhappy", "very unhappy"... it was something like that.

So, you cannot infer that if you were not "very happy" then you were "unhappy". Maybe the highester earners were 41% "very happy" and 59% "happy"... who knows? Time magazine didn't give all the numbers for the rest of the scale.

Had they given that to us, then we could have seen numbers like "what percentage of highest earners were at least happy or higher"... Or, "how many of the highester earners were very unhappy"... or "how many of the lowest earners were very unhappy"... etc.

That would have been interesting to see as well.

46

Does money buy happiness and a longer life? You decide...

by Brock Talon in

i poured over time magazine's sep 8-15 2014 edition article "who we are" and put together this spreadsheet on the results from their poll.

i found the statistics quite fascinating.. most people would say that "money doesn't buy happiness", but this poll seems to me to indicate the exact opposite of that.

it also correlates education levels with higher earning that result in that happiness.

Brock Talon

New Hope and Happiness,

I agree with you. It is more complicated than that. A nurse on minimum wage can have a more meaningful life than someone earning obscene money. No argument there.

A nurse making minimum wage can also live longer than someone earning lots of money too.

But the statistics in the Time magazine survey say that on average, that is simply not likely.

I have to keep pointing back to the statistical averages in the survey. Not the exceptions. If you or your loved ones are the exceptions, then congratulations. The survey shows thre are people in that exception category. But that doesn't mean that on average the more you make the happier you are is not accurate. It just means you've beaten the odds.

--

I bring up all this because I want to shatter the Jehovah's Witness notion that going out in service, going to meetings, praying, studying the Bible, etc. alone makes for happiness. But this simple survey shows that on average, happiness and longer life come from other things. The Bible isn't even in the equation. For example, making money was tied education.. I don't know how, it just is. I realize that correlation is not causation, but that doesn't mean they are not related.

Higher education, longer life, less drug use, less criminal involvement.... these things are all related to more money and greater happiness somehow. Again, I don't know how, they just are.

Many, many years ago I left Bethel because I wanted a more fulfilling life than just churning out lots of Bibles and books. I wanted to go to college, stretch my brain on other things. Yes, I wanted to make more money too and buy a house, buy a car or two, have a retirement account. Invest. Start a small business, etc. I have found that by doing these things, I not only have more money, I am more happy. In my particular case, when I was a broke pioneer or a broke Bethelite I was not happy at all. Those unloving jerks made me feel like crap because I wanted to leave Bethel and do more with my life. But to me, when I read a survey like this, it vindicates the suspicision I have held all along.

Now that I have taken hold of my own career, financial life, pursued higher education and all those other things, I am one of those people in the survey that would say "I am very happy"...

I wouldn't have said that if I had stayed a Jehovah's Witness doing the things that were supposedly "spiritually meaningful" in my life.

Brock Talon

46

Does money buy happiness and a longer life? You decide...

by Brock Talon in

i poured over time magazine's sep 8-15 2014 edition article "who we are" and put together this spreadsheet on the results from their poll.

i found the statistics quite fascinating.. most people would say that "money doesn't buy happiness", but this poll seems to me to indicate the exact opposite of that.

it also correlates education levels with higher earning that result in that happiness.

Brock Talon

There is this interesting idea most of us have that says "more money is not always better". For example Tiki said it this way: "An excess of money though does not necessarily equate with happiness and satisfaction." Others have said it in other ways too. I even thought this myself... until I poured through the survey I referenced in Time magazine. Now, I'm not so sure about that, at least, statistically speaking I'm not so sure of it.

Yes, I can see scenarios where there are miserable wealthy people. We've all seen them. Heck, you almost can't observe most Hollywood people over any period of time to not see it. But that's not what I am talking about. I would like to focus on averages, not the outliers like the Hollywood elite. Or the welfare recipients. I'd like to talk about the majority of the people in between. I would even include most "normal" high income earners, not the rock stars, athletes, movie stars etc. I think those "famous" people are statistical anomolies. What about the relatively unknown executives that make millions from careers they have been working at all their lives? What about small business owners who built great money-making machines that they now get to enjoy? I think most of these people get great satisfaction and happiness from their work.

The survey itself belies this notion of "more is not necessarily better". Going back to the survey and looking at it from a purely statistical viewpoint (see below) that is, speaking on average, the more money one makes, the happier one is. Period.

There was no "leveling off" of this either. I observed this "leveling off" idea in an earlier survey a few years ago. It basically stated that once you made X dollars per year, you were pretty much as happy as you were going to be.Well, this new survey doesn't completely agree with that. Yes, this survey shows a big jump in happiness between the lowest and middle quintiles, so the line starts to level off, but it never really completely levels off. It always goes up, just not as drastically near the top.

So, the more money one makes doesn't linearly affect your happiness at the same rate, but one is still more happy. It's not like the guy who makes $500,000 per year is twice as happy as the guy who makes $250,000 per year. But I suspect he would say he is just a tiny bit happier... and probably lives a tiny bit longer too.

I know, it doesn't sound fair. I know, it's not the politically correct thing to say. But it seems to be the reality, at least, if we can trust Time magazine surveys.

Just look at the figures below: Going from the simple 5 groupings in the survey, each one not only was happier when they made more money, they also lived longer. I almost wish they had another Top %1 group to see what they would have said regarding being happier than the Top 5%, and to see if they lived longer than the rest of the Top 5%.

I suspect they would.

46

Does money buy happiness and a longer life? You decide...

by Brock Talon in

i poured over time magazine's sep 8-15 2014 edition article "who we are" and put together this spreadsheet on the results from their poll.

i found the statistics quite fascinating.. most people would say that "money doesn't buy happiness", but this poll seems to me to indicate the exact opposite of that.

it also correlates education levels with higher earning that result in that happiness.

Brock Talon

Flipper, thanks for the shout out on the book! I completely agree with your sentiments by the way. I just wish I had the gumption to grow a garden though... So, in lieu of that, we do buy organic foods...

Anyway, this is one of those rare threads where I can agree with pretty much everything that was posted. (Not that it's important to always agree with everyone...)

It seems most of us ex-JWs have learned our lesson about money and see it more or less honestly: it's important, but it's not all-important. It can be a priority, but it's not the top priority. We should think about it, but not consume ourselves with thoughts about it. It can buy things we need and even "protect us", but in the end just having more or striving for more won't necessarily make us happier.

One of the things I have been doing the last few years is to start to think about simplifying my life. As a result, I've been starting to get rid of things, rather than accumulate them. I want to use everything I own and if I'm not really using it, I'll get rid of it. My wife and I cleaned out our kitchen of so many little appliances and gadgets and dishes we never use, we couldn't believe we had them all. They took up boxes and boxes. What the heck were we thinking when we got all that stuff? I also cleaned out my closet of old clothes, suits, ties, shoes, etc. All of this stuff went to charity and my home is now less cluttered with "stuff" I really didn't need.

Six months ago, I sold my beautiful torch red Corvette for the same reason. I'll admit, I still think about that car from time to time, but I didn't really need it. I put aside the money from its sale for other things more important to my family and got rid of an extra car to wash, do maintenance on, insure, register, etc. That car was really my mid-life crisis car, and that crisis has been over for quite some time now... so why was I holding on to it?

Basically, I want to own things, not have things own me.

Brock Talon