written 31 July 2021
A few business items to get out of the way
I'm not trying to get published in any science journals. I'm not trying to win awards. Therefore, I'll do my best to include references when I use or borrow material that isn't my own, BUT! I won't guarantee the citation style rigidly adheres to any specific style guidelines. Right now, I'm attempting to keep everything styled more or less according to the Chicago method. It seems the simplest. I know from experience that my brain can get caught up in the mundane minutiae of background BS. But what is ultimately important here is the content, not the Ps and Qs. Fair warning: I will be paying the fewest possible dues to proper, stuffed-shirt, elite, privileged ideas of “correctness”. I promise that if the content is not original I'll tell you where it came from. I promise if I found a resource helpful, I'll tell you where you can find the same information. I'll try to do it in the simplest, easiest way I know how. But I'm not spending hours on bibliographies.
If I quote the Bible, unless I state otherwise, it'll ALWAYS be the King James Version. I don't have to give reasons, but here's the main one for me right now: there's a Hebrew and Greek dictionary and index that's made for the KJV, in which I can look up original word meanings. I don't know if something like that even exists yet for the New International Version. I don't 100% trust the NIV, since several versions/editions have come out, and I'm not 100% sure about that process or the sources used. I think, given a decent dictionary, plus Strong's dictionary, I am able to understand or find out the meanings of the sometimes archaic words used in the KJV. I don't mind the extra work. It's easier than ever, given the availability of the internet. I don't even have to open an actual book.
Along those lines, I use the e-Sword application for Windows and iPhone to do my Scripture studying. As far as I know, it's free unless you want it on your Mac or iPad – and I have a strong opinion about that Apple policy when I think about it – then you're forced to pay for something that GOD said should be freely given. (Human greed.) We highly recommend that app – you don't have to have internet to use it once it's downloaded and installed. Basic use is easy to learn, and there are more powerful tools available should you want to delve deeper into the program's abilities.
Let's see, what else?...
Sometimes I may post some old writings from the past years just to highlight the process I've been through. I'll do my best to let you know if something comes from the archives. I plan to date articles with their creation date instead of the date we post them.
The Glossary: the definitions there are the ones I mean when I use those terms. Some of this stuff is subjective and people mean different things by the same terms. I'll try to be as clear as possible.
By choice, I will not use group jargon. I also choose at this point not to go in-depth to describe the group's doctrines or beliefs. I don't want to ever advocate for or perpetuate their agenda again. However, I have to describe some things to give background information for my experience getting out of it. Currently I'm balancing those two things by posting (in the near future) a page of online resources documenting what the group is about, their history, and other ex-members' experiences. It's frankly overwhelming to think of trying to explain the group on this blog at this point. Not enough time has passed yet since I was enthusiastically believing and participating in those concepts and practices for me to comfortably talk about them in depth. But I will point you to places you can learn about the group.
I DO NOT ENJOY the fact that people are going to be hurt and distressed when they read the content here, because that is NOT MY PURPOSE.
IF your feelings are hurt by anything you read, toodle-oo! Take it or leave it. I won't be hateful when I write but I'm kind of done bubble-wrapping everything so people won't get upset. I will not shy away from the truth that's in the Bible. For most of what I believe, GOD said it first. Go take it up with Him. I also won't apologize for relating my experience. Facts are facts, reality is reality, and I still hold a heart-full of compassion toward and appreciation for people while acknowledging how their ignorance and willful denial of truth led me and others to have significant life challenges.
On commenting: As I understand it, you have to sign in to SOMEthing in order to comment on our blog. Here are the steps:
- Click the gray "word bubble" at the bottom of whatever article you want to comment on. This will expand the comment window.
- I recommend signing in first, before you type your comment. You can sign in using your Google, or Facebook, Twitter, or Disqus accounts. (If you don't want to use an existing Google, Facebook, or Twitter account, there's a place where you can sign up for a new Disqus account.)
- Once you're signed in, click in a box that says "Start the discussion," or "Join the discussion." Or click on "Reply" to reply to someone else's comment.
- Once you're finished, click the dark gray button that reads "Post as [your username]." If you have a long comment, I recommend typing it up somewhere else then copying/pasting AFTER you've logged in. I don't know if there's a time limit on your login, but this should avoid being timed out.)
- Click the down arrow by your username and select "Logout" to finish your session.
If you have something to say, share it! I promise my husband and I both will read every single comment. We reserve the right to ignore or delete or block or whatever if you're a jerk or a spammer or an advertiser. We are making a conscious choice to do our best NOT to be part of the so-called “cancel culture.” We don't enjoy being silenced by someone just because we hold a differing opinion or belief than theirs. So we're going to try not to do it ourselves. Hopefully none of that will be an issue.