hello and thanks to everyone for participating on this forum it has really been of much value, for those of you that post here know that your words are not lost you never know who is reading your expressions, lives are being changed and nonsense challenged.
i’m not much of a writer so excuse my untrained writing style and grammar but i want to share my story to help anyone who is visiting here to see that we are real people, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who have come here for answers, there is no agenda, just searching for truth.
i hope my story will help others as so many here have helped me..
hello and thanks to everyone for participating on this forum it has really been of much value, for those of you that post here know that your words are not lost you never know who is reading your expressions, lives are being changed and nonsense challenged.
i’m not much of a writer so excuse my untrained writing style and grammar but i want to share my story to help anyone who is visiting here to see that we are real people, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who have come here for answers, there is no agenda, just searching for truth.
i hope my story will help others as so many here have helped me..
Thank you so much for your well written story.
Realising that Russell had heavily drawn on his numerology style prophetic 'utterances' from pyramids etc was a shake up.
Wouldn't that be consulting with demons, I asked as I read the accounts.
And how did Rutherford manage to divine from scripture a resurrection of the old prophets in the 1920s, to live in a luxury mansion built for that purpose? With Rutherford caretaking until they 'arrived'? Surely that could only be demon inspired?
I'm not writing about 'Demons' to offend the sensibilities of atheists - but if we are going to be all boots in regarding 'belief' - then there has to be conceded that only 'Demons' would have inspired this abstract idea.
The WT doesn't seem to be at all alarmed by this 'dabbling' by the founders of the religion. But, I'd get disfellowshipped if I stood up and said it kind of points to demonic interference.
I'm not obsessed with 'Demons' by the way - just using the scriptural measuring line for what is Christ inspired and what isn't....
Isnt it all crazy??? :-)
okay so here goes...this is my first time on here.
i'm lost and confused and am feeling very hopeless.
i was dfed in september and i am still wrapping my head around everything.
I liked Cofty's thoughts - wise advice.
You probably can't help thinking over the big questions, it's a rare situation where someone can just switch off from believing to 'what now?' as it affects every aspect of our life and importantly, from a mental health aspect, it feels like a lost place as we try to grapple with feeling safe in our own identity.
And add to that the psychological trauma of being shunned by our own.
Nothing can fast forward you out of your current pain - but, if you can keep your discipline of work, self care and taking small steps to build a new life....then you will be your own best friend doing the best you can for the hurting you inside - and that gives you an inner strength that will give you a real future.....
Mop up the pain with distractions, healthy distractions that give you pleasure and some comfort and relief from the tears.
You'll find truckloads of support here from those who experiencing the same anguish.
did you know that job's family celebrated birthdays?
the word translated "his own day" at job 1:4 is the same word translated "day of his birth" in job 3:1. .
seems deceptive, does it not, to change that translation.
It's deceptive. Who could argue otherwise?
I'm not desperate to celebrate holidays, but I'm no longer in awe of the deceptive and changing tactics the Watchtower uses to play their 'argument'.
The piñata issue absolutely did it for me.
The piñata Is steeped in religious superstition and symbolism involving demons and 'evil spirits' yet apparently it is considered benign and nothing like the wicked Xmas tree, toasting, candles on cakes, wind chimes and all manner of modern day customs that no longer hold spiritistic meaning.
I wonder why?
since i just signed up and posted a few times without doing this yet, here is my story..
i think that i became a jehovahs witness because of my immaturity.
i had some quirky personality traits, and i joined finding that i fit in because, as i said to myself: these people get me.
"You are not big enough to accuse the whole age effectively, but let us say you are in dissent. You are in no position to issue commands, but you can speak words of hope. Shall this be the substance of your message? Be human in this most inhuman of ages; guard the image of man for it is the image of God. –Thomas Merton"
I like it.
Does this quote belong here on this thread?
since i just signed up and posted a few times without doing this yet, here is my story..
i think that i became a jehovahs witness because of my immaturity.
i had some quirky personality traits, and i joined finding that i fit in because, as i said to myself: these people get me.
Lol @ fukitol.
I think I may be stuffed.
dear jehovah's witnesses and on-the-fencers.. isn't it even a little bit obvious that the watchtower organisation doesn't have jehovah's blessing?.
if it did, why are your leaders, the governing body, asking you for your money and assets?
surely, jehovah would provide for the organisation without having to use your hard earned money and assets?.
Old Hippie,
I liked your practical response but here's the thing...
One of the things that made me leap towards the JWs was the lack of money begging, this was back in the late 80s and early 90s.
I boasted to non witness family about the low key voluntary donations , no plates, no tithing......no clergy class constantly guilting the flock into donating.
Come on - you remember? It was a big point of difference - one of our boasts. WE ARE NOT LIKE CHRISTENDOM, the day we ask for money is the day.....well, you must remember the rest....
So what's happened? I'm sure ain't gonna able to impress any newbie study with that little treasure these days......it's clear what's going on.
seems to be quite a few posters recently pulling down the beliefs of jw's as not biblical or truly christian.
maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, i really don't care.. in some important ways though mainstream christians often behave better than jehovah's witnesses; most don't practice shunning or impose lethal medical prohibitions on their members.
many are far more tolerant of the lgbt community and a few even make the awkward attempt to square the fact of evolution with their faith.. please note that i'm saying some, not all.. so i suppose it's fair to say that differing forms of christianity can be better or worse for individuals, families and the wider community.
Paul,
What do you think of the blood doctrine?
And how do you fit the prodigal son example with the religion's take on shunning, holding secret judicial committees etc.
Just interested.
the early apostles were always on the front line from scriptural accounts.. they led the ministry, enthusiastically speaking in high places, in market places to courts and kings relying on the 'power of the spirit' and constantly were in danger for their lives.
they put their very souls at risk.
they promised that they did not circulate amongst the early disciples with clever 'smooth ' words but with works of power.
The early Apostles were always on the front line from scriptural accounts.
They led the ministry, enthusiastically speaking in high places, in market places to courts and kings relying on the 'power of the spirit' and constantly were in danger for their lives. They put their very souls at risk.
They promised that they did not circulate amongst the early disciples with clever 'smooth ' words but with works of power. They suffers, went without and earned their own keep.
As Christ's brothers - they did not stock up on assets, but it would seem, they lived hand to mouth.
Can anyone show me modern day GBs ( since Russells time) who have died from refusing blood transfusions and/ or obeying God rather than men?
Did any GB member turn up at the nazi camps and cry at the gates 'let my people go or let me suffer with them?'
seems to be quite a few posters recently pulling down the beliefs of jw's as not biblical or truly christian.
maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, i really don't care.. in some important ways though mainstream christians often behave better than jehovah's witnesses; most don't practice shunning or impose lethal medical prohibitions on their members.
many are far more tolerant of the lgbt community and a few even make the awkward attempt to square the fact of evolution with their faith.. please note that i'm saying some, not all.. so i suppose it's fair to say that differing forms of christianity can be better or worse for individuals, families and the wider community.
Why would that be so, Paul?
