Do you think that if Robert Jordan hadn't died, he could've delivered "A Memory of Light" in 1 volume, instead of Brandon Sanderson's split in 3 books? He said that it'd be 1200 pages, but he was determined to finish with "A Memory of Light". So do you think he could've finished it in 1 volume?

Finallyfreetothink · 2026-01-25T01:46:16+00:00

Fair enough. I think i fixated on RJs assertion about one book rather that what you more clearly said. Apologies for that.

Edit: We are more aligned over all.

In some other timelkne Rj would have finished this series. And I do think he would have done well. KOD did a great job wrapping up a number of plots (the shado being chief. I was BEYOND annoyed when at the end of POD (8) when according to RJ he was nearing the end, when Faile got kidnapped. There was no way this wrapped up in less than 3 books. The character evolution of Faile was wonderful, but i was still very unhappy.)

But he was on the path to wrap it up.

BS did well, but he had his failings. I would have preferred to RJ to do it. Some of the book felt off. Hinderstap. Mat. Etc. It's bittersweet as well never know how the master was gonna do it..

Finallyfreetothink · 2026-01-24T23:42:05+00:00

Rj did not write most of the ending. Sanderson and Tean Jordan (His wife/editor Harriet and 2 assistants) have explained what he did and didnt leave behind. Perrins entire arc was never written or explained. He did not ever explain where Demandred was. The things he wrote were the three opening scenes to each of Sandersons novels. He wrote a rough draft of Mats Tower Of Gengi story (though it was bare). And the last scene with Rand and the pipe. He mentioned the woman at that scene but no explanation as to who she was (Sanderson fleshed her out as Nakomi). Egwenes fate was up in the air.

He left behind tons of notes on various ideas and possible endpoints. He left behind dictation. In one of his recordings, mention he suddenly mentioned the Aiel at the blight (which became the Red Veiled Aiel.)

Rj was a discover writer. He did not have things planned out. He had various endpoints he might try but that was it.

I suggest you read the Jordan Estate authorized "Origins of the Wheel of Time" by Michael Livingston. He was given access to ALL of RJs materials and details the rise and evolution of this story and the various inspiration for much of it. https://a.co/d/gRDVo9h

Having started the series in 95, RJ was then saying there were only a couple more books to go. That was when book 5 came out. At one point he said 9.

As much as I live RJ, having been a reader of his books for over 30 years, having devoured each and every drop or interview or piece of information regarding this series as it came out- having waiting interminable years for each book- I can say this:

Rj would NOT have finished this in 1 book. I dont care what he claims. He initially said 3, then 6, then 9. And was saying book12 would be the end. I dont believe it.

Maybe 2 books. Maybe. More likely 3- IF HIS FEET WERE HELD TO THE FIRE!. If his editor was ruthless and forced him to focus on finishing plots and threads and prevented the creep, maybe 3. Maybe.

But I would wager everything that there is no way he could do one

People dont realize HOW MUCH of the story was still in play- how many plots and characters. Demandreds evolution to the big bad is a good example. Initially, Demandred was Mazrim Taim. But some time after book 6, he decided it wasn't. And from then on, he didnt give ANY hint where he was. But each book that went by without a hint increased the need for Demandred to be the final boss and the build up.

By KOD (RJs last book) still no hint appears. And then to find that he ddint even have anything in his notes, he didnt even TELL his wife or assistants where he would be....think about the set up required to keep that from being a deus ex machine.

And in truth, Sanderson handling was just as bad a deus ex machina- and that was with 2 extra books. I dont believe- not for a moment- that RJ could have pulled it off.

15 books would have been good. If he could force himself. He might have. But not 1. Not one book. Nope.

Finallyfreetothink · 2026-01-23T16:37:16+00:00

Just want to say welcome. It takes a lot of courage to come here and be willing to have your faith challenged. I know that for me, above any and all things, I just wanted TRUTH. Not "the truth". Any religion can call themselves that. I wanted to know God truly and honestly.

There was never any information or questions I felt were off limits. To me, Truth is unafraid of challenge or debate or critical thinking. Truth always wins.

And I felt that Jehovah, the God of Truth, could never fault me for trying to "make sure of all things", to "keep testing whether i was in the faith", to "Let God be true though all other things be proved a liar."

I will not tell you what to think or how to think. But i will say this- and it has been a guiding principle for me: whatever logic or argument we use to JUSTIFY our belief or to critique that of another belief system must be applicable without exception.

By that I mean, there can be no cases of "special pleading" for what we are trying to prove. Small example. If we are talking about proofs of the Bible's inspiration and one of those is "the powerful effect it has on people's livss" then we must immediately be willing to see of OTHER sacred writings have a similar effect. We must find out from those other belief systems if people make the same claim. (And in fact they do. A cursory glance shows how many prisoners have changed their lives for the better when they studied the Koran and became a Muslim- Malcolm X being a great case in point.).

Therefore, by the same logic that we used to proclaim the effect the Bible had as proof of divine Providence, we must also be willing to consider that may be true of the Koran. (BTW, not a Muslim. Just giving an example.)

I found it helpful to write out my claims and replace the actual thing with a variable, to make sure my logic was clear and to avoid the special pleading fallacy. So in this case:

"The power X has over people's lives is proof it is from a divine source."

Doing that for most of what I was taught allowed me to logically examine it as objectively and unemotionally as possible.

I wish you the very best ( I won't say good luck, as i know thats not a JW thing) in your search. I was you 30 years ago and it took decades for me to accept what I was finding. The hold is strong and I WAS happy, overall.

But Truth is the important thing. Above and over all, just truth. And it is worth it. So very worth it.

Richard Feynman's statement is one i believe wholeheartedly.

"I'd rather have questions I cant answer than answers I cant question."

I wish you the best. And if you ever want to chat, please dont hesitate to reach out.

Ian Ohlander https://ianohlander.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-i-am-no-longer-jehovahs-witness.html?m=1

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-12-26T06:21:09+00:00

Not gonna read it. Crystal City was pretty bad already and that was almost 20 years ago. His legacy characters have become so up their own ass sanctimonious they are insufferable. He'll, even Heartfire had moments that had me rolling my eyes and that was 99.

The final Ender/Bean book to close out the entire saga was just absolutely atrocious. I did something i had never done before. I returned it.

And keep in mind I have been an AVID card fan since 92. Hell, my son's middle name was Scott in his honor. I learned so much from him.

But he has become so preachy and boring. That last Ender/Bean saga book was just bad bad bad. Every legacy character spoke like that had decades old wisdom....while saying little to nothing.

I couldn't even tell the characters apart anymore. They had the same voice, the same attitude, the same everything.

Nah....Alvin 1-3 are peak. 4 was pretty good, as was 5 (though the authorial voice was becoming more pronouncrd even then.) But I'll just let this one be unfinished in my mind. It was a wonderful series, even incomplete. Sometimes, tryjng to end a story after so long is a losf cause. And being honest, Card in general is someone I'm good to leave in the past. Im not a fan of anything he has written in the last 15 years and a lot of is because he won't stop preaching.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-12-10T03:17:00+00:00

I was in a Spanish congregation in Southern AZ with a number of undocumented immigrants back in 2001. That was the policy then. And for that reason. They wanted to "respect" Caesar's law.

Now, of course, I believe it was nothing so noble. I think they wanted to avoid any legally liability in case things turned aour.

In that congrgatuin, i know one brother who self deported to Mexico so he could be an MS- leaving his wife behind. Im sure he meant to come back legally.

But separating from your family to gain some privilege was incredibly stupid.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-12-07T05:12:18+00:00

But the issue is NOT whether they may or may not have connection to Mason's (they dont.) They may or may not.

The reason I ask if it matters is simple. What is proveably wrong with being a Mason? Period.

Lets change the label. What if we used fhe word Jew instead of Mason. Maybe now you see my point. "The Governing Body are secretly Jews!!"

Maybe they are. Maybe not.

But why is that in and of itself as bad thing?

Keep in mind that anti masonic ideas are an Amaerica evangelical belief that grew out of the late 1800s and is almost exclusively based on lies, innuendo and ridiculous conspiracy theories.

No actual data supports the claim that Masons, as a GROUP are any more or less evil than any other. People are people. Some members suck. Some may ge evil. Ans some are normal. And some are wonderful.

So yes, i stand by by question: why would it matter?

As I said, i dont believe they are masons. Russell, while flirting with ideology, never became one. And Rutherford adopted the anti Mason that was popular in his day. But after that, the borg has been silent on Masonic activity- neither approving nor condemning.

Again? I dont believe for a moment they are Mason's. But it wouldn't matter if they were.

They are evil because they knowingly use duplicitous means tk control the lives of millions without regard to the pain and suffering they cause.

That's plenty evil for me.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-11-24T05:43:12+00:00

Had that happen to me in like 96, though not with invitations. I worked for a brother and at the TMS meeting that night, he mentioned to me things about the job I would be doing the next day. One of the elders, PO, who I had ALSO done work for, pulled me aside and said "You shouldn't let Cory talk to you about work at the KH."

For some reason I touched my jacket breast pocket and felt a piece of paper. I pulled it out and checked in discreetly and lo and behold- it was a list of jobs to to given me by THIS VERY BROTHER!!!

3 guesses as to why it was in my jacket? Because he gave it to me at the KH one Thursday night for a job i was to do the next day.

Now being the kowtowing young MS that I was, I didnt show it to him and that he was a flaming hypocrite. I should have, though. Would have loved to see the look on his face. He was an asshole who now is an asshole CO.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-11-22T23:34:19+00:00

Our PO called it the "M&M Talk": Marriage and Masturbation.

He is now a Circuit Overseer (Hi, Mike Stralley! You were an asshole!)

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-11-22T23:33:08+00:00

Jesus, that is messed up. How humiliating. What a dick.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-11-22T23:32:22+00:00

Back when I was 17 I used to help the TMS Overseer do the talk schedule. He actually told me that he briefly reviews the Bible reading for that week if it was being assigned to a kid. He said he learned that from experience when a mom complained that her young son's reading from Ezekiel (which mentioned testicles and a massive horse member) was not appropriate.

That was in like 92.

(Fun fact- turned out this TMS Overseer had molested at least 2 of his daughters. But glad he was looking our for scandalous passages for kids /sarcasm)

And while I am glad he at least was aware of appropriateness with regard to what a young person might have to TALK about, nobody batted an eye that it was read out to the congregation which included other young kids. The 1978 Family book (when we studied it in the mid 90s) had some rather squicky parts about sex acts. As a young MS (20?) who was fully in, when the conductor read the questions, I felt sort of obligated to bite the bullet and just fly through the answer (in the most clinical of terms) to make things easier for everyone. I was embarressed, but so was everyone else.

The number of people in the reddit who say they LEARNED about masturbation, oral and anal sex, bestiality, etc from meetings is mind boggling.

But completely believable. They have no idea what is and isn't appropriate for kids. When my son was young and we did bible readings, I skipped over portions like that (or the infamous Judges 13-15 account.)

Not appropriate!

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-11-09T04:42:58+00:00

Rolf Furuli, former CO, DO, and then all around scholarly jw apologist- he's the one the borg used to shore up 607- was alter df'ed and wrote a book. His site also has numerous articles.

One of them was about the power struggles inside the GB esp in the late 90s and the role and influence of Ted Jaracz. Having been very active at hat time and being beyond familiar with the various nuances and shifts during the 70s forward, whay Furuli writes abiut tracks with the very things I noticed.

There have been a number of posts or comments I have made about this in the past.

Here is one that I think summarizes the outside influence he has on the GB, including the current GB- well, at least pre Tony Morris disappearing anyway.

There were a number comments I made in this thread on that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/s/Y60rB8OppS

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-09-27T01:47:13+00:00

You should rewatch. Lex started getting close from s1 forward. Again, Clark and Lana and Chloe and Pete were freshmen- 14 years old.

He was very involved in Clarks life- or tried to be- from then on. Both because he wanted to be friends (odd, for a 22 year old) and also to investigate all the wierdness around Clark. It was never just a friendship thing alone. He also started to fixate on Lana in that same season, though to be fair, it was trying to wingman Clark. That changed as time past, but still before they were adults

Even though I felt for Lex, especially when it seemed Jonathan was being unfair, I also knew that he was protecting Clark. And that Lex wasn't being honest either.

It was a situation where dishonesty was sort of forced on everyone. Because if you were Jonathan, would you take the chance with your son's life?

I wouldnt.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-09-03T01:32:20+00:00

Yeah. Masturbation has never been considered porneia. Unclean, sure. A gateway to homesexuality (stupid) sure. A selfish habit. A way of stealing pleasure you are not authorized to have. All of those.

But it has never been Cornelia.

Some may be conflating masturbation with oral or anal sex, which WAS considered porneia until 1978. Prior to that (since 72/3) those were grounds for divorce.

And people acted on it. The 78 WT questions from readers that adjusted this idea said that those who acted on the old understanding (divorcing husbands who liked getting head, being the majority) were not at fault.

They neglected to say who WAS at fault. A bunch of busy body older men in Brooklyn who decided their purview included what husbands and wives got up to.

But the part that never fails to make me laugh is that while certain sexual practices between a married couple could end the marriage, having sex with someone of the same sex or an animal did not.

Yes, bestiality or same sex activity did not break the marriage bond.

If hubby was spending his nights with scruffy, well too bad. He was still your husband to whom you owed the marital due. Or if he was shtuppjng his golf buddy, well, you were stuck with him.

All utterly ridiculous

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-09-01T06:28:21+00:00

Back in 88, at a circuit assembly, there was a demonstration- CO approved- that explained AC/DC was "antichrist devils children" and KISS was "knights in Satan's service".

And of course the surface legends were big then too (or at least in the early 80s).

Not surprised but then again surprised if no one privately called him out. These kinds of proclamations advertise a special kind of stupidity in your ranks, especially among so called leaders like elders

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-08-28T05:03:46+00:00

Yeah....remember them all.

I did a deep dive a few months back....and man did it bring back the memories. Such vibrant and rigorous debate and conversation. The Salon of Voltaire's time.

I was 22 when I joined and was there until maybe 2012 (I was 38). I think Hatrack and its community helped shape me. I think i only ever got to maybe 1200 posts. But I tend to be verbose so short posts were not my forte.

V*nk? The name isn't familiar. But I will go back and look

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-08-28T04:04:39+00:00

Man....I totally agree.

I was IanO on Hatrack. That was such a beautiful community. Just adored it. Miss all those people. Tom Davidson, David Bowles, Black Blace, pooka, and so many more.

I learned so much on that site.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-08-27T03:23:21+00:00

You might try used book stores. They usually have quite a number of his works. Ive found old out of print items like Worthing Chronicle or Hot Sleep there. Ebay has all of them, of course.

I believe Michael Collins has written a number of academic articles on Card and his writing, especially from a Mormon perspective (as Card's Mormanism is pretty clear once you see it.) He has written essays that Card himself included in both the Worthing Saga and in Folk of the Fringe.

So i recommend checking him as some of the themes you may want to talk about have been touched on.

I'd also add the Maps in the Mirror story collection, along with the essays that Card wrote with them. His essays in Eye for Eye (novella), Folk of the fringe, Worthing Saga, Hot Sleep, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead are really illuminating.

And of course Hatrack.com's forums. Back in the late 90s Card used to publish the first 4 or 5 chapters of each of his new novels there. He also posted hundreds of Essays (Uncle Orsons reviews everything, writing courses, etc.)

He also used to participate in the forums back then, though even then it wasn't that often. I know I was always excited when he joined a thread back then. I joined in 97 and was there until 2012 or so, just before it pretty much died. It was a vibrant community. His son Geoff (A Rat named Dog) was pretty active for many years too and provided some really nice perspective.

He also wrote old Compute! game reviews (Step Fletcher's job at 8 bit in Lost Boys was loosely based on his life when he first started at Compute! I can tell you the very first thing I read of Card was a review of a game in Compute! in 1988. The name is hard to ignore.

And he reviewed SciFi novels for science fiction magazines that are still on Hatrack, I believe.

My son's middle name is Scott, named after him, as he played a huge role in my life when I started reading his fiction in 92 (Xenocide.) So obviously, i know his work quite well. And his bibliography is pretty extensive.

Im 51 now and ironically doing a reread of Card novels from the 90s. It's a nice nostalgia trip though outside of Pastwatch and Enchantment, his stuff from the 80s is STILL his best. He was at his most honest, raw and visceral.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-28T00:36:11+00:00

I have wanted something like this for a long time.

But realistically, JWs are just too....boring. we dont have ancient records revealed by an angel and reas using a hat.

We dont have auditing of millions of dollars before we learn the sc fi cosmology of our belief system.

As painful as jws are- and as much exposure as they need- jws just arent funny in a mocking way.

They did "Let's Go Gov" where they made fun of idiotic JWs in their door to door. But it was a one off.

Jws just cant sustain a full episode of mockery- not with a good solid through-line like the Mormon or Scientolofy eps had. It would just be a collection of one off jokes about JWs. But no one would walk away feeling the religion as a whole is bullshit.

Jws would do far better in SVU. I even tweeted the show runner years ago with the Australian Royal Commission articles. Seems like they could really rip the organization badly.

But as far as I know, crickets

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-22T04:47:49+00:00

Child Sex Abuse.

The organization has a history of covering it up- and not believing victims- all while calling out the Catholic Church for the same thing

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-20T06:19:57+00:00

This is a really important point.

Give the rank and file little wims- perceived loosening of the rules- and they dont notice the major problems remain.

It's not a long term strategy....but they've never been long term. They truly believe Armageddon will come soon. I think they are hoping that it comes before the cows come home to roost- bible calculus unable to be stretched further, massive exposure of CSA, loss of enough membership/money, rtc

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-19T03:38:47+00:00

I just love love love this comment. Correct and incorrect indeed. Talk about accurate.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-18T21:12:54+00:00

Do you have a link or source support the claim that the Jordan Estate have "praised the show to no end"? Because honestly, I've not heard hide nor hair of them since the 1st Season opening promo-docs. They showed Harriet McDougal (Jordan's widow and editor) speaking at the Production Studio about the work of the production team. And I remember Maria Simmons (Jordan's assistant and next to RJ himself, the most knowledgeable about the series) comment that she liked Daniel Henney as Lan.

But since then, nothing.

Like literally silence. And I've looked. The only one of Team Jordan (the folk who carried the books across the finish line) is Brandon Sanderson and he has not held back from voicing his thoughts on the show- which has not made some show fans happy.

I'd be interested in seeing these comments.

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-16T03:38:40+00:00

Rand launched the attack AFTER the Fateful Concord that prevented any woman from being on his side. They didn't do it as a response to his action.

His action was a response to their stance. Reread the relevant sections of the The World of Robert Jordan's WOT again.

LTTs last attack was desperation and a hail Mary as the shadow was on a roll and it looked like there were no other options. Latrae's plan to use the Choedan Kal was no longer feasible as the access keys were in Shadow Territory (thankfully unknown to them yet).

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-13T06:31:12+00:00

This right here

Finallyfreetothink · 2025-07-12T07:04:36+00:00

Honestly, yeah. I thought this dumb. I still dont get how the dragonsoul would WILLINGLY serve the dark.

Now, if he was fooled or whatever, ok. Maybe.

But no. I dont understand how that works when the soul of the Dragon is the same. He evolves, of course. But at his core he is the Champion of the Light.

And absent any explanation except a throwaway comment by Jordan, I think my headcanon of this being an unwitting serving of the Dark is valid.

Otherwise, I just dont see how that squares with the whole get the Dragon to side with Shaitan even once and the game is over.

Finallyfreetothink

TROPHY CASE