Daily Archives: June 11, 2013

Growing Up as a Zealous Jehovah’s Witness

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My friend James wrote this book:

Deliverance at Hand!: The Redemption of a Devout Jehovah’s Witness is James Zimmerman’s fascinating story of growing up as a zealous Jehovah’s Witness. It is a gripping account of the unique difficulties and all-consuming nature of belonging to an insulated, apocalyptic community. James is held up as a shining example for other youths in the religion, is given unprecedented privileges, and spends his youth proselytizing. He may very well have knocked on your door.

But as he matures, fissures begin to form in the bedrock of his fundamentalist Jehovah’s Witness belief system. Is the bible the literal, infallible word of God? Can the story of Noah’s ark really be true? Are these the final days before Armageddon? Will the Witnesses soon inherit paradise while the nonbelievers are destroyed? Is the day of deliverance truly at hand?

As James’ doubts grow, so does his predicament: Leaving a religious community that teaches its members to shun former members would have deep and painful ramifications. He must make the decision between intellectual honesty and his way of life.

At this point I think you can only PRE ORDER it but go ahead and do that!

Bob Alberti. Would you look at that face!?!?

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Bob Alberti is a friend of mine in Minneapolis (actually, he was even my student for a few weeks). I was rather startled to see is very scary face staring at me from the Internet this morning (see above). All I can say, is if you run into this guy, watch out! His snark is very, very sharp.

From the Star Tribune article featuring Bob:

A recent study declared Minneapolis parks the best in the nation. We also have another fine natural resource: technology pioneers/comedians who go on the Internet and smack down snooty New Yorkers. Which brings us to Bob Alberti.

…

“When I was a kid, I went from living in Queens, where my mother was cruel and wouldn’t let me swim in the overflowed sewers in the streets, to living on a lake in Minnesota, and I knew what I liked better.”

“I am a professional insult comedian.”

Bob invented two things before he started his career as a Vilification Tennis master: He invented gaming and he invented the internet!

Check out the story.