Posts by Alive!

36

I have too much crap!! How to declutter/dehoard.....

by Muddy Waters in

some areas of our home are very nice, tidy, clean.

and other rooms are just junk and clutter and clothes and papers.... omg.

and now that we are getting older, we realize that we face a time of transition -- and this is hard to cope with too, as we believed the lie that we would never get old, etc.

Alive!

I'm a purger! Grrrrr it feels good!

Do it :-)

37

My experience with the people in my hall

by Freeandclear in

i've been awake now for about 6 months i'd guess and a member here for a couple of weeks.

it's been eye opening to read other peoples experiences on here and i appreciate all of you.

i've noticed in many, seemingly most, of your comments that you were not treated well at your hall or you have had very negative experiences in the "org" so i thought i'd like to share mine.. in all my time as a jw i have to say for the most part i always loved the people.

Alive!

I generally felt the same as you did about those I attended meeting with and knew as a JW and I like you was a bit naive' about people and glossed over what was really going on behind the scenes. In time, I realized that I was projecting my own good will and good intent onto others and the feelings I had about my experiences were based in emotion and how I was seeing things. The lifelong relationships I had with people were really quite one sided.

Once you get serious about the holes you are seeing in the doctrines or want real answers to your questions and speak to anyone about them, you begin to realize that they too have the same questions and these questions scare them. These once lovely people take on a whole new demeanor once you go off the carefully crafted JW script that is dependent on everyone speaking their lines and moving as directed.

This reflects my own experience to the 'T'.

I was brought up in a non witness family, where gossip and speaking badly of others was the ultimate NO NO - so this isn't about me trying sound like a 'goody' - it was simply ingrained into me that judging others, talking behind people's backs etc was not on the agenda, ever.

The worst part was being 'a go to' for people wanting to download - so quickly did a need for a confidential chat turn into malice. Would steer the conversation back to talking in a positive way, but the damage was done - and sometimes in a group situation, I was not in a position to walk away, and I tended to crumple under the powerful personalities who wielded their own brand of authority, the elders wives, the elders themselves...

I was a convert - I can honestly say, over the years the 'poisonous' spirit that is often lurking in those congregated throngs worldwide convinced me that I could not bring anyone 'into the truth' from non JW friends or family - because then the 'game would be up'

Now when you get to that point - you know something is wrong, very wrong.

And it all trickles down from the top of the power pyramid.

Towards the end of my life with JWS, I realised I'd actually started picking up these bad ways, although I wouldn't initiate a gossip session, my shock reaction to hearing the hissing was getting dumbed down... I didn't want it anymore. Was so tired.

75

Witness Punk and Metal Band Names

by Luther bertrand in

here is what i would name my band(s) let see if you can list some funny ones as well.

here is my list:.

local needs.

Alive!

Freddy and the Dreamers?

475

What is the alternative to JW?

by Formerbrother in

i mean this with all due respect, i would like to hear from genuine people who think jw have it wrong and then what is the truth?.

im not talking about silly little quibbles here and there.. is jehovah real?

the the bible is word?

Alive!

Former brother......

A good point is made by several here, you are not 'saved' by a religion that claims ownership as the only path to Christ.

I was entirely ignorant of the bible - JWs guided me with their doctrinal perspective and whilst I felt 'gut twists' of discomfort over some of the presentation style and the strange words and explanations coming from Brooklyn, I saw this 'brotherhood' and began to trust that 'this is the way'.

With the Watchtower at my shoulder, my study conductor prayed in earnest and I prayed with thanks and beseeched to have 'these truths' reach my heart.

Truths which were not truths the proclaiming FDS tells us later- and yet if I had rejected those truths which were not truths during my study, I could not have progressed to baptism.

Now, there is something seriously wrong with that.

If you are sincerely interested in exploring Christian based thought, then have a look at the hope of universal reconciliation.

Just think on it. You can google universal salvation/reconciliation and find much to meditate over.

The word 'salvation' is about healing....

To me, a fundamental clue towards our hope and purpose is in 'we are made in his image'.

So as someone said earlier, laziness in taking responsibility, respecting those made in our image and respecting each one in their own journey is missing the point of Jesus words and teachings 'who really is my brother?'

So many elements of the WTBTS fit the 'warning' scriptures you know.....as many appear to be 'ticks' for...don't overlook how many elements 'tick' the 'BEWARE' box.

Keep searching :-)

25

Preaching? For what purpose? All JW's need to ask this question.

by park ave boy in

what is the purpose of preaching if not for converts?.

basically, preaching by the jw's is to make converts.

this in itself implies that jehovah's witnesses believe that they alone have the only acceptable way to god and that everyone else is just not worthy.

Alive!

@smiddy When I heard and saw Geoffrey Jackson answer the direct question put by Angus Stewart with 'that would be presumptuous' ...... I wanted to hurl something at the screen.

WE know how they control information - and how they call themselves the only channel on earth being used by God...I could t believe he said that with a straight face.

31

The Bread Illustration (Feb 16 Broadcast) - Massive Contradiction

by fizzle in

jw
friends

so... bro flodin puts poison onto the first loaf of bread and says that this pictures someone "sinning against the holy spirit".

he then puts the bread into the trash can stating that jehovah completely discards anyone "sinning against the holy spirit"... meaning they cannot ever be forgiven...he says that the pharisees "sinned against the holy spirit" because they denied indisputable evidence of the operation of jehovah's holy spirit displayed by jesus... therefore jehovah would completely discard them... no way back for them.. fast forward a little... we have the bible character stephen...acts 6:8 says: now stephen, full of divine favor and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.so stephen was showing indisputable evidence of the operation of jehovah's holy spirit.now we come to the bible character paul (saul)... he was a pharisee.paul would have seen stephen in action... witnessing the indisputable evidence of the operation of jehovah's holy spirit first hand!yet paul not only waged war against all christians but he personally approved the killing (stoning) of stephen.according to the bread illustration paul should have been discarded by jehovah at this point for "sinning against the holy spirit"... he would have been put in the trash can... no way back at all...but what happened according to the bible?

jesus appeared to him on the road to damascus... he became one of the most zealous apostles in bible history with jehovah's full support!so what on earth is the bread illustration all about?

Alive!

Fisherman,Paul had all the ancient scriptures, he could have been guided by Holy Spirit and Jesus teachings - but NO, he did some terrible things....despite being a witness surely to truly anointed men and women....and what changed him? A library of dodgy books, false prophecies?NO.... All out supernatural phenomena.He experienced full, non- negotiable communication from the throne of God.But then again, Peter saw the Lord, listened to his words ( guess that would be 100% HS inspired?) and still managed to deny - and was forgiven.
Frankly, I suspect the WT leaders should be trembling given their history and disgusting words of 'judgement' on those who don't align with their dodgy 'teachings'.
Anyhoo - it's a journey, theirs, ours and everyone's.......

37

It's Too Late to Return to Jehovah!

by naazira in

jw
friends

yes friends it is too late for most of you to return to jehovah's org.

based on the new garlic bread parable in this month's broadcast with the illustration using loaves of bread.

it is obvious that the doors of the arc has been closed shut by jehovah's hand for some of us.. according to the new parable that can be found on jw tv.

Alive!

Offensive presentation of the worse kind.

49

A philosophical question .... what does the word God mean to you personally ?

by Finkelstein in

to myself it means to seek knowledge and understanding of are selves and the world in which we live.. unfortunately history has shown whenever one tries to connect to god and of his knowledge through men who say they themselves are connected to god through spiritual wifi ie.

gb members of the jehovah's witnesses for example, one usually ends up finding a accumulation of only man's acquired knowledge.

over thousands of years of trying to connect to a god(s) for help and answers, mankind has eventually relinquished himself to seeking answers through scientific investigative acquired knowledge of the world in which we live in.

Alive!

Lol @bonsai.

Nice come back - 'I want to live forever!'

He He. Tres amusing.

49

A philosophical question .... what does the word God mean to you personally ?

by Finkelstein in

to myself it means to seek knowledge and understanding of are selves and the world in which we live.. unfortunately history has shown whenever one tries to connect to god and of his knowledge through men who say they themselves are connected to god through spiritual wifi ie.

gb members of the jehovah's witnesses for example, one usually ends up finding a accumulation of only man's acquired knowledge.

over thousands of years of trying to connect to a god(s) for help and answers, mankind has eventually relinquished himself to seeking answers through scientific investigative acquired knowledge of the world in which we live in.

Alive!

Bonsai - who told you that mortality sucks?

49

A philosophical question .... what does the word God mean to you personally ?

by Finkelstein in

to myself it means to seek knowledge and understanding of are selves and the world in which we live.. unfortunately history has shown whenever one tries to connect to god and of his knowledge through men who say they themselves are connected to god through spiritual wifi ie.

gb members of the jehovah's witnesses for example, one usually ends up finding a accumulation of only man's acquired knowledge.

over thousands of years of trying to connect to a god(s) for help and answers, mankind has eventually relinquished himself to seeking answers through scientific investigative acquired knowledge of the world in which we live in.

Alive!

I was agnostic for many, many years, before I really started delving into the question of what's it all about Alfie.

Something in me, really vibrates or resonates to the call towards 'God'.

Rather than think of the concept of 'God' as mere superstition leftover from primitive beliefs, I find myself asking, how did we come to conceive of such heights of beauty, nobleness and exquisite desire for something outside of ourselves and yet in ourselves.

Although we drift towards chaos and decay, through thousands of years we have the written legacies of beautiful minds and hearts yearning for something utterly glorious.

I remember when I first really thought about 'Paridise Lost' - a theme that is found throughout different cultures, times, religions and histories.

I'm not here to lay out my own search and current resting place on that one in order to preach, just to answer the OP - rather than view the whole picture as mere superstition, I see it as a 'clue' to a universal story....which is tied up with God.

A story of good versus evil, a messiah, saviour - and hope, a restored and glorified creation where time is finally experienced in its fullness.

And finally, if we really are made in God's image - complete annihilation or eternal torment for such a creature seems would be obscene, if Father God truly exists.

And that the life of a poor Jewish carpenter should have caused such an uproar on this planet for the past 2000 years ( in wonderful ways and terrible ways) harmonises with his original story and words...

For a species who have no business doing anything but reproducing, eating, surviving - mankind certainly has lived, thought and projected hopes in ways that beg questions.