* Nothing is, or is as it is, unless someone says and judges it to be so. Who then is (or who is it we say is) the judge, including the final judge?
* If we ever experienced a problem anywhere, it came about, in some degree, due to certain wrong assumptions, either co-present with, or just prior to the given problem's actually taking place.
* Unless you believe in God, the One, and or the infinite, every assumption is contingent.
* PROCESS (or if you prefer spirit, or activity) PRECEDES IMAGE. Image may, to some extent, (and sometimes almost perfectly) represent process. But process is always superior to and always more real than image. If process precedes image this might suggest also that mind precedes matter and energy.
* Everything we believe, or say we know, is based on a factual or value judgment. Both kinds of judgment always entail the other to some extent, and nothing can be known or exists for us without them.
* No fact or purported fact is true or false without someone to assert and believe it to be such. If an assertion or claim is deemed true or false then, and we are thorough, we should ask who is it that says so (or has said so), and what criteria are (were) they using? There is no such thing as "faceless" truth or reality -- at least none we are capable of knowing.
* You can't escape reason. If you aren't rational yourself, someone else will be rational for you; nor do their intentions toward you need to be friendly or benevolent.
* Every point of view and opinion has its truth to it -- even the most abhorrent and unacceptable to us. This said, we are naturally inclined to assume that some opinions have much greater truth to them than others. Even so, what little truth there is in any point of view must, at least at some juncture, and certainly with respect to issues of heated controversy, be justly and reasonably respected. Why? Because we would not be honest (and therefore not truthful) if we didn't.
*Ultimately, and when all is said and done, thought without heart is nothing.
* Most, if not all, of society's very worst problems arise from (certain) spirit people and those who listen to them -- whether the former comes in the shape of "God," angel, devil or what have you. It is these people who are most the source and cause of real unhappiness. If then you chance to have contact with such, while having (one assumes) overcome their lures, deceptions, and pretenses of benevolence and higher knowledge, I recommend that this (i.e., "unhappiness" or "unhappiness itself") is what you call them. Blame them for (most) everything wrong; for it is it is they who have been and are the ruin of everyone and everything (that is, if anyone is or could be said to be so.)
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Wm. Thos. Sherman - AUTHOR PAGE - at amazon.com, including available book titles
and
THE LIBRARY OF EARLY AMERICAN LITERATURE (with me as series editor) or see also List of titles.
Note. Of late I noticed the LEAL link (just above) takes one to amazon.com main page; to get specifically to the LEAL titles there,
click the link a second, or if need be a third, time. (My apologies, I don't know how or why of late this strange problem arose.)
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We have said that, if religion is taken away, neither wisdom nor justice can be retained: wisdom, because the understanding of the divine nature, in which we differ from the brutes, is found in man alone; justice, because unless God, who cannot be deceived, shall restrain our desires, we shall live wickedly and impiously. Therefore, that our actions should be viewed by God, pertains not only to the usefulness of common life, but even to the truth; because, if religion and justice are taken away, having lost our reason, we either descend to the senselessness of the herds; or to the savageness of the beasts, yea, even more so, since the beasts spare animals of their own kind. What will be more savage, what more unmerciful, than man, if, the fear of a superior being taken away, he shall be able either to escape the notice of or to despise the might of the laws? It is therefore the fear of God alone which guards the mutual society of men, by which life itself is sustained, protected, and governed. But that fear is taken away if man is persuaded that God is without anger; for that He is moved and indignant when unjust actions are done, not only the common advantage, but even reason itself, and truth, persuade us. We must again return to the former subjects, that, as we have taught that the world was made by God, we may teach why it was made.
~ Lactantius (c. 250–c. 325), On the Anger of God (ch. 12)
[It has been customary over the website years to review some key and important point that ought to be repeated. This then is what we will do again here; though with some extra thrown in.]
* The opinions of the pathologically fearful are not to taken seriously; no matter how great the number of such persons.
* When the devil plays or impersonates the role of God with someone, that someone comes to think God is a cheat, and or else that he is someone of dubious character.
* Appearances can be deceiving. (Or have you forgotten already?)
* Great power by no means implies great or moral good. It is not too difficult to comprehend this except when it comes to dealing with spirit people putting on heavenly airs.
* If you were a cordial neighbor of Jack the Ripper (or someone like this) yet without knowing that's who he was, you would end up experiencing seemingly unaccountable feelings of bleakness and depression This often times (or more often than they think or are aware) is why and what causes people pronounced despondency; namely they (knowingly or unknowingly) allow into their lives, whether directly or indirectly, persons who are stained with heinous guilt of the darkest dye; this perhaps after being assured the given disease carrier was "all right despite what some say of him."
* Who is it that tells us they will save the world yet who have not the least conception of real or quality happiness, including genuine compassion for the helpless and needy?
* So much time, trouble and expense is spent trying to win over the opinions of others and whose opinions, when you stop to think about it, do not really mean all that much in the first place.
* We might sometimes feel bad because someone or something we love is no longer in the spotlight or limelight. Yet if we are bothered by such a thing, it is only fitting that we ask who or what now IS in the spotlight, etc.? As likely as not, it will probably be someone or something that we ourselves do not so enthusiastically take to or are impressed by. But and then, to each his own.
* You cannot have merits rightly awarded when no actual and fair contest is permitted.
"Oracles": 2024 -- last updated 13 July 2024 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2023 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2022 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2021 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2020 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2019 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2018 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2017 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2016 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2015 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2014 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2013 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2012 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2011 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2010 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2009 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2008 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2007 (.pdf)
"Oracles": 2003-2006 (.pdf)
"Oracles" COMPLETE, 2003-2022, at archive,org:
https://archive.org/details/wts-oracles
Note. Aside from the poems written by myself (i.e., those formally included in Poems by WTS), or material cited or presumably as being from others, there is no copyright on the contents contained in the "Oracles" and they may otherwise and therefore be freely copied, disseminated, or plagiarized as much as anyone cares to do these things.
To Contact me you can write or call:
William Thomas Sherman
1604 NW 70th St.
Seattle, Washington 98117
206-784-1132
wts@gunjones.com
Secondary email addresses:
williamthomassherman@gmail.com
gunjones1@yahoo.com
My pages on:
* Scribd
* FaceBook
* YouTube * 2nd YouTube channel (mostly for popular music)
"Lee's Legion, 2nd Partizan Corps" on Face Book
ALL SERIOUS INQUIRIES ARE GUARANTEED A REPLY.
Unless you are sending spam, or a general advertisement, or a private subscription I personally signed onto, you are guaranteed an answer from me at any of the above e-mails.
If by chance you encounter any problems accessing a .pdf via a given link below, try: Right click "Save as..." to download the .pdf to your PC instead.
* Christ and Truth, FIFTH edition (.pdf) ~ last updated: 1 Sept. 2023
* Peithology: The Nature and Origin of Belief, SEVENTH edition (.pdf) ~ last updated 11 July 2024
* A New Treatise on Hell, fourth edition (.pdf) ~ last updated 25 May 2019
See also A Spirit People Primer,
and, very importantly, my personal "Narrative" (.rtf zipped) ~ last updated: 1 Jan. 2014 and in .pdf -- and most recently "Appeal of 2008, and Re-Introduction to Sherman 'Narrative'"
* Calendar and Record of the Revolutionary War in the South: 1780-1781, TENTH edition ~ last updated: 11 Dec. 2018
* Poems by WTS (.pdf)~ last updated 28 Dec. 2023
Translation of Silvae by Publius Papinius Statius (45-96 A.D.) (.pdf)
Miscellaneous
"Single-handedly,
Fought both the League of Horror
And the Organization Against Freedom
For over a Decade,
AND beat them -- MANY times!"
This is my recommendation of things and people sundry which others may have missed. For some these will already be well known, but for others less so. It is for these last that the suggestion is proffered.
Since its inception, posting the "recommendation of the week," although much fun along the way, has also become a bit of an inconvenient chore requiring a regular schedule. Meanwhile, but more importantly, since I effectively (aside from the above mentioned exception) receive no feedback on them (or on this website generally), I can't think it warrants the personal investment any longer to keep it going. In addition to lack of feedback, I simply don't have the extra money (I feel) necessary to explore different music, movies, books etc. -- in turn necessary to maintain the span, color, and variety of the selections, taking the list as a whole. Consequently, unless and until I do ever finally get feedback and or "somehow" come
into some funds, the "recommendation of the week" at present (as of August 2009) has been discontinued.
Otherwise and as an expedient, what I intend to do in future in its place is post or mention music, movies, books etc. among my regular "Oracles;" as inspiration moves me or of unusually special interest comes up; something, of course, I already have, to some extent at least, been doing for some time.
Your Choice
* These and more great tunes can be found at
The Contemplator *
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Well, I would be certainly if I wasn't being black-balled, blacklisted, and my communications routinely tampered with. This is pitiful I know, and I have put off doing this literally for years. But now is the time for it to be known that if anyone will send me money I'll take it. And if truth be told, the more money I have the more of a wallop I can put to these Hell people (certainly they don't want me having any, and have and will gyp and short change me just about whenever they can.) So please consider giving to this website if you can at all possibly afford it. Proceeds also go to assist the Institute for Ben Turpin Studies. So far I have sold only one book at my "Bookshop;" so it is not at all impossible that even if you try what you might send won't be allowed to get through to me. If this happens -- oh well, thanks anyway! (Also, by the way, if you try to send money, whether by Pay Pal or otherwise, and for some reason I don't receive it or am prevented from doing so please report this to Social Security; because interference of my receiving such or other funds or donations goes clearly against Social Security's understandable wish that I no longer be a dependent on them if possible.)
Also, my e-mail for sending donations through Pay Pal is: wts@gunjones.com
* Monies received as of the present and latest date for either this website and or the Turpin Institute: $25.00
gunjones.com is an angelfire.com hosted website
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* List of previous Weekly Recommendations *
"Thank yoou, Mr. Feelix!"
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of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their
sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in
general and became slaves."
~ John Peter Zenger (1697-1746)