Divergent

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Posts by Divergent

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  9

  Who have heard of Bacha Bazi, a sick culture.

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  islam, i don't know about this religion.. the practice of bacha bazi , "boy play.. rampant sexual abuse of children has long been a problem in afghanistan, particularly among armed commander who dominate much of the rural landscape and can bully the population.. an american soldiers, lance cpl.

  gregory buckley told his father, from his bunk in southern afghanistan, he could hear the afghan police officers sexually abusing boys they had brought to the base.

  at night we can hear them screaming, but we're not allowed to do anything about it.

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  Divergent

  Again, depends on which interpretation of Islam. Take a look at the more progressive Islamic countries (eg. Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, etc.)
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  20

  Review of the November 15 study article - "Stand Firm in the Faith"

  by Divergent in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this study article poses questions that we should ask ourselves.

  don't have time to analyze the whole thing, so will start from paragraph 8:.

  8 do gods promises seem less real to me now than they once did?

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  Divergent

  This study article poses questions that we should ask ourselves. Don't have time to analyze the whole thing, so will start from paragraph 8:

  8 Do God’s promises seem less real to me now than they once did? For instance, God has promised to destroy the present system of things. Yet, are we distracted by the world’s array of entertainment options, thus weakening our faith in God’s promise? We might start to doubt that the end is really near. (Hab. 2:3) Here is another example. God promises to forgive us on the basis of the ransom. If, though, we became obsessed with guilt over our past mistakes, we could begin to doubt whether Jehovah has really “blotted out” all our sins. (Acts 3:19) Consequently, we could lose our joy in God’s service and become inactive.

  Totally irrelevant. I lost my joy & became inactive because it became evident to me that the organization does not have the truth

  
  
  

  9 Am I as diligent in God’s service as I once was? The apostle Paul showed that working hard for Jehovah leads to our having “the full assurance of the hope down to the end.” However, what could happen if we began to focus our efforts on personal pursuits, such as by taking a job that pays well but that interferes with our worship? Our faith could weaken, and we could “become sluggish,” doing less for Jehovah than our circumstances allow.—Heb. 6:10-12.

  This is ironic. The previous paragraph tells us not to become obsessed with guilt. Yet, this paragraph is designed to guilt-trip! Also, take a look at this sentence: "Doing less for Jehovah than our circumstances allow". The problem here is that we are never able to do enough for Jehovah! No matter what we do, we are always told to do more. If we are not pioneering, can we do more & pioneer? If we are auxiliary pioneering, can we do more & regular pioneer? If we are regularly pioneering, can we do more & become a special pioneer? Preach to more people, do more return visits, start more studies? Nothing is ever enough!

  
  
  

  10 Do I struggle to forgive personal offenses? When others offend or hurt us, we could focus on how we feel and then be tempted to tell them off or to cut them off by not speaking to them. On the other hand, if we forgive, we show our faith in Jehovah. How so? Those who sin against us owe us a debt, just as our sins put us in debt to God. (Luke 11:4) When we forgive others, we have to trust that gaining God’s favor by doing so is worth more than making them pay back their debt. Jesus’ disciples recognized that forgiving others requires faith. When he told them to forgive even those who had sinned against them repeatedly,they begged: “Give us more faith.”—Luke 17:1-5.

  So cutting people off by not speaking to them is wrong. This would mean that shunning is wrong!

  11 Do I chafe at Scriptural counsel? Instead of looking for a way to benefit from the counsel, we might be focusing on some defect in the counsel or in the counselor. (Prov. 19:20) We might thus miss an opportunity to bring our thinking into line with God’s.
  

  What if the defect in the counsel or counselor is valid? What if there is clear evidence that the counsel given is invalid? (blood transfusions, 2 witness rule, etc,?)

  
  
  

  12 Do I murmur against appointed brothers in the congregation? When the Israelites focused on the bad report of the ten faithless spies, they began to murmur against Moses and Aaron. Jehovah then asked Moses: “How much longer will they not put faith in me?” (Num. 14:2-4,11) Yes, the Israelites’ murmuring actually showed a lack of trust in God, who had appointed Moses and Aaron. Likewise, if we constantly grumble about those whom God is using to lead his people, is this not an indication that our faith in God has weakened?

  Moses & Aaron were able to perform miracles which proved that they had God's backing. What signs have the Watchtower leaders / GB performed to show that they have God's backing? What evidence is there that the Watchtower leaders / GB do not have God's backing?
  

  
  Paragraphs 16 - 20 offers some solutions for our problems. What are these? Personal study, meditation, prayer, association, meetings, ministry. Same old useless advice! Been there, tried that, done that, repeatedly, many times, didn't work! Ended up fading instead... LOL
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  9

  Who have heard of Bacha Bazi, a sick culture.

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  islam, i don't know about this religion.. the practice of bacha bazi , "boy play.. rampant sexual abuse of children has long been a problem in afghanistan, particularly among armed commander who dominate much of the rural landscape and can bully the population.. an american soldiers, lance cpl.

  gregory buckley told his father, from his bunk in southern afghanistan, he could hear the afghan police officers sexually abusing boys they had brought to the base.

  at night we can hear them screaming, but we're not allowed to do anything about it.

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  Divergent

  This is a case of culture before religion. As you would know, the majority of Muslims are anti-homosexual. In fact, the penalty for homosexuality is DEATH according to the Quran. However, Islamic practices vary from country to country, determined by various cultures. This is why even if the "holy book" prohibits it, culture may permit it. People choose what they want to follow, just like how there are differing practices in other religions. Another case of "it's not right, but it's ok" mentality
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  44

  Why do people follow demonstrably False Prophets?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  why does everyone just turn a blind eye to the false teachings of the watchtower?

  the bible warns us many times and in many ways not to follow false prophets - including the lake of fire.

  fundamentally why do the followers of the watchtower just ignore the very bible they claim to live by?.

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  Divergent

  Next time, every time, you set foot into a "Kingdom Hall" you are promoting the terrorism of others.

  Many here are still stuck & forced to go for the sake of family. It should read "If you donate to the worldwide work" instead
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  9

  Who have heard of Bacha Bazi, a sick culture.

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  islam, i don't know about this religion.. the practice of bacha bazi , "boy play.. rampant sexual abuse of children has long been a problem in afghanistan, particularly among armed commander who dominate much of the rural landscape and can bully the population.. an american soldiers, lance cpl.

  gregory buckley told his father, from his bunk in southern afghanistan, he could hear the afghan police officers sexually abusing boys they had brought to the base.

  at night we can hear them screaming, but we're not allowed to do anything about it.

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  2. 
  3. 
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  Divergent

  Those participating in this practice were themselves abused as children. They can't get back at those who abused them, so they do it onto others instead. It's similar to hazing / ragging where those who were subjected to abuse become abusers themselves. It's an endless cycle!
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  17

  The Appeal and Draw of the Watchtower

  by Saved_JW in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i first left the watchtower organization in 2008, a flood of emotions came back to me.

  betrayal, anger, resentment, deep depression from the relationships lost.

  emotions seemed to guide my viewpoint of others as well.

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  Divergent

  eyeuse2badub:
  The appeal and draw for me and my brothers was:
  it was our mother's religion and we HAD to go or get our ass whipped.

  Similar to my experience. I was born-in, taught that this was "the truth", and lacked exposure to other ways of thinking. Dissatisfaction led me to discover TTATT & break free as a young adult. This religion has zero appeal & draw to me. If I had not been born-in, there is no way that I would ever be a JW!
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  19

  Elder On Tablet During Prayer

  by jw07 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  during a prayer in the kh all our eyes are supposed to be closed, right?

  i've never been one to fully my eyes during prayers.

  i'll close them down, but just enough that i can still peep around at what's happening without being noticed.. there's something i've noticed a certain elder doing for the second time now.

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  Divergent

  RichardHaley:
  Attendants are to remain alert at all times even during prayer. This is emphasized more at larger gatherings like memorial and assemblies.

  
  

  True. However, I haven't seen this during congregation meetings, only during conventions, where the attendants are instructed NOT to close their eyes but to be vigilant & on the lookout for any suspicious activity / threats. Besides, the brother was looking at his tablet half of the time, so it wasn't likely that he was assigned to look out for the rest of the congregation
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  19

  Book Review: The Hunt for Vulcan: . . . And How Albert Einstein Destroyed a Planet, Discovered Relativity, and Deciphered the Universe

  by Viviane in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  i recently read this book and found it to be excellent.

  it's the story of how we never stop knowing, how science works (even when it doesn't), how gracefully math can describe the world we live in and more.

  the story begins with how sir isaac newton, author of pricipia mathematica and holder of the lucasian chair at cambridge, developed math to describe the gravity and the motion of the planets with no need god holding them in place.

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  Divergent

  That's not a proper Vulcan sign... lol
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  30

  The Captive Mind of a former bethalite.

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i see years of acute economic crisis ahead for the w.t.

  this is evident with letting go of " volunteer" bethalites throughout the world.

  but my thread is on the consequences to the individual, and the organisation of letting " volunteer" bethalites go.. so what happens to the captive mind of the former bethalite when they are let go from bethel?

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  Divergent

  truthseeker100:

  Don't ever PM me you got that!!.
  I am sure all of us would love to hear about your life experience. Did you learn about the witnesses as a result of a study session at a federal penitentiary?.

  Not hostile. Yeah. Right...
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  183

  JWs have more good points than bad

  by lsw1961 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).

  2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.

  this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.

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  Divergent

  Isw1961:
  This shows one should take JW teaching in its essence, not in its details (which means: accept Kingdom Message, at the same time choose between other teachings—for example, ensure your own material independence flouting their teaching on higher studies for which there is no punitive measures taken)

  
  

  "For which there is no punitive measures taken"... LOL

  
  

  True, you went for higher education while your dad is an elder, but it might not have been taken so seriously back then

  Why not consider the current situation. Ask yourself these questions:

  
  

  1. Is it possible to be appointed as a ministerial servant / elder if you go for higher education?

  2. Is it possible to remain as a ministerial servant / elder if you go for higher education?

  3. Is it possible to be appointed as a ministerial servant / elder if you send your children for higher education?

  4. Is it possible to remain as a ministerial servant / elder if you send your children for higher education?

  5. Is it possible to be appointed as a ministerial servant / elder if you encourage higher education?

  6. Is it possible to remain as a ministerial servant / elder if you encourage higher education?

  7. Would you be viewed as spiritually strong or spiritually weak if you go for higher education?

  8. Would you be viewed as spiritually strong or spiritually weak if you send your children for higher education?

  9. Would you be viewed as spiritually strong or spiritually weak if you encourage higher education?

  10. Would you be viewed as going against the direction of the organization / disrespecting the organization, if you go for higher education?

  11. Would you be viewed as going against the direction of the organization / disrespecting the organization, if you send your children for higher education?

  12. Would you be viewed as going against the direction of the organization / disrespecting the organization, if you encourage higher education?

  13. If you choose to go for higher education, would the elders meet with you to discourage you from doing so?

  14. If you choose to send your children for higher education, would the elders meet with you to discourage you from doing so?

  15. If you encourage higher education, would the elders meet with you in the back room for a "friendly chat"?