Divergent

Joined

• started 56 topics
• posted 1,194 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Divergent

• 
  3

  Reasons for some brothers not to use technology for the cult ?

  by SlappySlap in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  and what if a brother or sister refuses to use internet only because he got to struggle with pornography and decides to cut off his right hand (technology) and throw it away because it causes him to sin ?.

  would he be considered unspiritual for living according to what he thinks to be right or must he take the risk to be tempted or even to sin just to be in line with the ‘’organisation’ ?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  How about Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) as an excuse?
• 
  44

  The smug arrogance of "having the truth".

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  has anyone noticed that witnesses (from the top down) seem to have a quiet form of smug arrogance toward all non witnesses?.

  perhaps it comes from being told how "special and unique" they are but they end up looking down on all normal members of the community because they are not witnesses.. so any form of "love" they show those in the territory is also limited as long as they accept the message...otherwise they are viewed contemptuously as "worldly" and therefore of little value...after all,they will be destroyed right?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  This smug arrogance is also applied toward others WITHIN the congregation. If you are not pioneering, not a MS, not an elder / elder's wife, not a Bethelite, etc. then you would be looked down upon! (Unless you are very rich, of course. Double standards always apply!)
• 
  12

  Today's Text - Brainwash Your Children!

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with the increasing number of young ones leaving "the truth", it is critical to brainwash them regularly from young!.

  monday, may 16. the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.—prov.

  13:20.. a child could drift away gradually on a spiritually dangerous path, being tempted by harmful association or degrading entertainment.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  More and more young people are waking up & leaving "the truth". INSTEAD of acknowledging organizational faults which cause young ones to leave, the organization puts the blame on parents & encourages them to brainwash their children more!
• 
  12

  Today's Text - Brainwash Your Children!

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with the increasing number of young ones leaving "the truth", it is critical to brainwash them regularly from young!.

  monday, may 16. the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.—prov.

  13:20.. a child could drift away gradually on a spiritually dangerous path, being tempted by harmful association or degrading entertainment.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  With the increasing number of young ones leaving "the truth", it is critical to brainwash them regularly from young!

  Monday, May 16

  The one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.—Prov. 13:20

  A child could drift away gradually on a spiritually dangerous path, being tempted by harmful association or degrading entertainment. To prevent such a situation from developing, act quickly if you recognize potential weak spots. Work at fortifying Christian qualities that your children have but that may need to be strengthened. (2 Pet. 1:5-8) The regular period for family worship is an excellent time for you to do that. In outlining this arrangement, the October 2008 Kingdom Ministry stated: “Family heads are encouraged to shoulder their responsibility before Jehovah to ensure that a meaningful, regular program of family Bible study is followed.” Are you taking full advantage of this loving provision to shepherd your children? Trust that your children deeply appreciate your putting priority on taking care of their spiritual need.—Matt. 5:3; Phil. 1:10. w14 9/15 3:10, 11

  In other words, teach your children that everyone who is NOT a JW is stupid, any non-JW association is harmful, and any "worldly" entertainment is degrading. Brainwash your children to follow the cult unquestionably from childhood, get them baptized at a young age instead of allowing them to make their OWN choice when they are more mature, and do not hesitate to shun them if they choose to leave. That's how you do it!!!
• 
  19

  Today's Text - Draw Close To God... (BUT HOW???)

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's where i stand at the moment: i neither categorize myself as a theist, atheist, or agnostic.

  i'm a freethinker and do not have a specific belief at the moment, unless something comes along which is 100% conclusive & convincing.

  which brings us to tackling the elephant in the room, something that today's text has failed to do:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  punkofnice:

  I challenge god to answer my prayer in a tangible way to prove I'm not praying to the wrong deity.

  I made that same challenge too before I faded. Nothing happened!

  
  

  Heaven:

  Isaiah 45:7: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." – KJV

  Proverbs 3:11-12: “The Lord punishes everyone He loves. He whips every … [person] He receives.” – NLV.

  Matthew 10:35: “For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—“ (NIV)

  I have zero interest in any god who does this crap.

  Me too! One thing I've learned to do is to stop trying to justify things which cannot be justified & stop making excuses for God!
• 
  32

  The Congregational Make Up Research Project: WTB&TS wants to know you.

  by oppostate in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  we have a bethel speaker on the english side.

  they're pretty regular up here since it's only three and a half hours drive from nyc.. but this is a special kind of visit.. it turns out he's involved in doing a special research project and the christian congregation of jw's wants to know us better.. in order for the broadcasting to address issues more meaningful for families, they want to know the demographic make up of the congregations.. he spoke with the secretary about young single publishers and couples 20-35 y.o.

  how are they employed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  Thousands are waking up & leaving, as proven by the organization's own statistics published in the yearbook!

  IF the organization had not been so dogmatic on man-made rules & teachings which make no sense BUT instead focused on being an organization that is based on genuine love & helping those in need, then they wouldn't be in this shit which they are in now

  Poor advice to stay single, not to have children in this "old system", not to pursue higher education, not to pursue good careers & but instead seek "kingdom interests" first, etc. has resulted in millions of JW's finding themselves in situations where they are poor & broke, childless, old & lonely with no one to support them, dissatisfied & disillusioned, etc. Many have woken up & left while many of those who remain do not have the circumstances & means to give much support to the organization. The floodgates have opened & the organization is now crumbling from within!
• 
  19

  Today's Text - Draw Close To God... (BUT HOW???)

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's where i stand at the moment: i neither categorize myself as a theist, atheist, or agnostic.

  i'm a freethinker and do not have a specific belief at the moment, unless something comes along which is 100% conclusive & convincing.

  which brings us to tackling the elephant in the room, something that today's text has failed to do:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  Magnum:

  I agree about the lack of interaction. Supposedly God used to perform miracles. Why'd he stop? It's not fair. The Hebrews got the parting of the Red Sea; we get Stephen Lett.

  Exactly. What's the point of going from door to door with an unconvincing message that people don't bother listening to? If God REALLY wanted people to listen & didn't desire any to be destroyed, wouldn't it make more sense for him to grant his witnesses the ability to perform convincing miracles that people CANNOT deny?
• 
  19

  Today's Text - Draw Close To God... (BUT HOW???)

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's where i stand at the moment: i neither categorize myself as a theist, atheist, or agnostic.

  i'm a freethinker and do not have a specific belief at the moment, unless something comes along which is 100% conclusive & convincing.

  which brings us to tackling the elephant in the room, something that today's text has failed to do:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  Half banana:

  As a JW, I heard others talk about being so pleased that they had an intimate relationship with Big J, talking to him all the time and relying on him for everything...I felt deficient, just couldn't get the hang of it, I never felt close to a spirit Thing even as a pioneer. Yep it's insane!

  You know what I realize about these ones? That they are just trying to convince themselves that they have a personal relationship with God & that everything that happens - good or bad - is due to God's will. Something good happens? A blessing from God! Something bad happens? God is not to blame (although he allows it!). God is thanked for good things that happen out of pure coincidence & not blamed for bad things which happen in the same way! JW's are trained not to give in to doubts & negative feelings, so EVERYTHING that happens automatically HAS to be right - even if it's not, they would find a way to justify it!

  As.a JW, I was trained to look at only one side of the picture. Now that I see the other side, things are starting to make more sense!
• 
  19

  Today's Text - Draw Close To God... (BUT HOW???)

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's where i stand at the moment: i neither categorize myself as a theist, atheist, or agnostic.

  i'm a freethinker and do not have a specific belief at the moment, unless something comes along which is 100% conclusive & convincing.

  which brings us to tackling the elephant in the room, something that today's text has failed to do:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  Spiral:

  I realized after growing up "in" that when things went well people thought Jehovah was communicating with them. Well, doesn't everyone think that of their God?

  I came to the conclusion that if there was a God who was both powerful enough and sophisticated enough to create the universe as we know it, he would be a better communicator. Supposedly, he can create planets and universes and creatures that love to communicate, but he can't even get his message straight to his followers. Then, he sends out confusing messages to them as a test to see if they can figure it out and "follow" him correctly.

  That's just insanity. You can't "grow close" to that!

  Spot on! I don't see the need for God to keep on testing us while NOT giving us enough proof & assurance of his existence, love, & care, then destroying at Armageddon any who fail the tests (which happen to be the majority of mankind who are unconvinced of God's unconvincing message - is it their fault???) while at the same time NOT desiring any to be destroyed!

  Sounds insane? But yet that's what many believe!
• 
  19

  Today's Text - Draw Close To God... (BUT HOW???)

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's where i stand at the moment: i neither categorize myself as a theist, atheist, or agnostic.

  i'm a freethinker and do not have a specific belief at the moment, unless something comes along which is 100% conclusive & convincing.

  which brings us to tackling the elephant in the room, something that today's text has failed to do:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Divergent

  Anders Anderson:

  God does interact with you. You just have to listen! You're not trying hard enough!

  
  And you got it all backwards: "for whoever approaches God must believe that he is"
  So first you should start believing, then you can approach God, and then the voices in your head will take over

  Oh... so THAT was what I was doing wrongly! LOL

  Yeah, I DID believe... for more than 20 years as a born-in. As a JW, I never felt any genuine & true personal relationship with Jokehova. All the time, it was just me wanting to believe & convincing myself that it was real. Thanks for the brainwashing, mum & dad!

  
  

  On a more serious note: yeah, normally friends communicate with each other. One person just talking to an invisible, unheard imaginary friend can not be called communication.

  Exactly. Everything is totally ONE-SIDED & there is not a single shred of interaction. I remember quite a number of arguments saying that you can just simply pick any object or thing & pray to it & get the same results. LOL

  
  

  And a collection of ancient letters from that 'friend', written by 40 guys I don't know either, that doesn't help either. Just because there are books in the library doesn't mean I'm friends with all those writers...

  Yup. Not to say that those writings are OVERWHELMINGLY CONVINCING anyway! If the author of the Bible was REALLY God, I'm sure he could do better!

  Result of reading the Bible: 40,000+ different Christian denominations. Great job, God!!!