Posts by eisenstein

15

How Many of U Really Believed This?

by eisenstein in

jw
friends

i've been away from the forum for a while.

i've read some of your great posts while my roommate is on the forum, but haven't been able to write anything for a while.

but here goes.... how many of you really believed this as a jw or did you find it hard to sit with?.

eisenstein

Hi Everyone,

It's me. I've been away from the forum for a while. I've read some of your great posts while my roommate is on the forum, but haven't been able to write anything for a while. But here goes...

How many of you really believed this as a JW or did you find it hard to sit with?

Where the WTBTS uses the scripture in revelation: that God will put his thought into their thought, to devastate the harlot...rape her...make her naked...eat her fleshly parts...

I have always found this teaching very disturbing, because I would always wonder who would actually be the ones in "Babylon the Great" that this would refer to? I don't know if any of you have been the victim of violent rape or violent sodomy but, I cannot believe any compassionate God or the God of Love that I believe in would ever think of doing something like this, I don't think it could ever enter his heart.

I was reading an article in the New Yorker the other day, and it was about a man who was an Artificial Limb Maker, he had read an article in the New York Times about the war in Sierra Leone. He read about how many of the children there have been victims of this terrible war and how the war mongers have amputated hundreds of children. There was one story about a 13 year old who was kidnapped and taken to a psychiatric hospital and GANG RAPED. After this they partially amputated her arm. She was able to escape with her arm partially dangling. She ran back to her home and finally found one of her relatives, her aunt. Her aunt had to finish the amputation by using a broken bottle to sever the rest of her arm. Anyway, this Artificial Limb Maker was so touched by the story in the New York Times he felt he had to do something to help, he got involved with the government and was able to get many of the children out of the country and help make them artificial limbs, get them into foster homes, etc. He is now in politics trying to do something more to help.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that rape and devastation are such violent acts, I will not believe that Jehovah would put this thought into anyone. I find it just more disturbing propaganda promoted by a male dominating and domineering religion.

eisenstein

31

Ozzie's Weekend Poll #27

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

things are warming up this side of the pacific as we approach the summer season, so it's good to have a little relax and a nice cuppa.

time also to think of our poll for the weekend.

are you ready?

eisenstein

HaHaHaHaHaHaHa Ozzie,

Great post! and well while you are beginning to get the warmer weather we are beginning to get the colder weather here in USA. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I hope you have a great summer!!!

#5 only...Can I have a Big Gulp now? (extra large soda) hee, hee, hee

#10 only...Did I turn off the haligen lamp?

#14 LOL

and #20: Working with an elder who used field service to pry into your personal business e.g. "So how long has your mom been disfellowshipped?"

Edited by - eisenstein on 24 November 2002 15:55:1

21

No longer filling my spiritual needs...

by eisenstein in

i feel very sad today.

i see my old jw friends almost every day on my way to the subway, they are street witnessing.

i've talked to a couple of them about my doubts, etc.

eisenstein

Hi Jerome,

I understand what Robyn is saying. I also believe as you, that Truth is absolute and not relative. It's Religion that's relative. Robyn is right by saying it is up to US to develop a personal relationship with God. And I admire her honesty by telling me that if I still feel that the JWs have the "truth", go back there and give it another shot. I don't think this is a step I want to take, but it is a course. And each of us have to find our way, as Robyn said.

I bought a book on meditation a while back, and I was hesitant at first to buy it because, of all the hype I was taught as a JW. But, it is called: Wherever You Go There You Are, Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I found it very hard to just sit even for 5 minutes and meditate, to let go and just exist for 5 minutes. I mean..."I have to save the world!" LOL. But I think it was beginning to help me be more aware of myself and my surroundings and others. It's a good book, I've gotten over halfway through it. I have a long way to go, though.

I am a firm believer in the power of Jesus Christ. His love was absolute. And I think the closer we can come to him the better a person we will be.

Thanks Jerome and Robyn!!! eisenstein

21

No longer filling my spiritual needs...

by eisenstein in

i feel very sad today.

i see my old jw friends almost every day on my way to the subway, they are street witnessing.

i've talked to a couple of them about my doubts, etc.

eisenstein

Will Do!!! Robyn!

Thanks Robyn, for the hug and for your words of encouragement. Prayer does help, and sometimes I set my clock for 5am on Sundays to hear a sermon on the radio, that has helped some too. Maybe I will make it one day to the actual church and hear it live.

As for what I meant by being baptized with fire...well, it is a long story. I almost died trying to kill myself while I was in the hospital and had a spiritual encounter with a higher being. Also, during the same awful hospitalization I came to in an isolation room somewhere in the hospital feeling like I had terribly been violently and repeatedly raped. (It is not any new term the WTS has come up with, just something between me and God)

eisenstein