Posts by Alive!

98

Beards - September 2016 Watchtower

by Listener in

the issue of whether beards are acceptable or not is addressed in the september 2016 watchtower - well sort of.

it is as clear as mud as to whether they are allowed in places like australia, usa and britain.. 17. what are some factors that may affect whether a brother wears a beard?17 what about the propriety of brothers wearing a beard?

the mosaic law required men to wear a beard.

Alive!

Just imagine having to sit through this, read this and actually walk away feeling joyful and light in heart and spirit.

Just reading the excerpts feels like applying a spiritual vice to my mind.

Madness. It's madness.

45

JWs in denial, so sad

by Simon in

i had a couple of jw sisters call at my door today.. they started with the bizarre "can we read you a scripture" and read about "death being no more" and asked what i thought of that.. i said it sounded like a mix of disney and dumb.. they then launched into how god was going to put an end to death and wasn't that wonderful?.

i said it would have been more wonderful if he'd not created death in the first place.. they thought man created death by disobeying so i questioned why god couldn't have just forgiven them.

apparently "because he loves us" is supposed to be a satisfactory answer to why he kills us.. i asked how loving it was to kill hundreds of thousands of children in tsunami's, disease and so on.. at this point, they gave up on the 'god is love' and switched to the bible being true no matter what because it was an old book and moses had written the first chapter (says the book).. when i suggested it really wasn't that old and that most of the bible myths were copies of older stories from before it was written they questioned if i studied the bible and theology.. then i told them i was brought up as a jw so knew it was all crap.. now it was game on, they immediately switched to play defence questioning why i'd left (and i think they'd already taken a step back away from "the evil" obviously emanating from me).. not much time to say much before they cut and run so i told them i'd left because i found out it was all based on lies and that the watchtower was corrupt and covered up things like child abuse.. oh no, you're thinking of the catholics one of them said (some disdain in how she said "catholics" as though "we're so much better than them").. "well, i challenge you to do a search for the australian royal commission and you'll see the testimony the watchtower leaders gave and the damning evidence that they covered up abuse and reported none of it to the police.".

Alive!

Quite disturbing that the 'it's all lies' claim appears so many times - I WATCHED it LIVE - I heard the way the leaders tried to mislead the ARC representatives, under oath and in a court of law - there was very little that was open, candid or transparent in their demeanour and choice of phrasing - although I had already heard and detected 'manipulative' speech and underhanded phrasing through the literature, it really bowled me over to hear such words come from the actual GB member and of course senior Legal Personnel/Brothers from the Society.

I felt a little sad for the elders under question - they were absolutely out of their depth in the face of honest and forthright questioning.....so many 'oh my goodness' moments - I'm glad I had already 'seen' the light, if I had watched the ARC proceedings in state of absolute trust and faith in the organisation, I'd have had a breakdown.

Oh wait a minute - I DID have a breakdown, but that was a couple of years before the ARC rolled out. Sheesh. I was heartbroken.

24

Why it's a waste of time talking to JW's

by Phizzy in

i believe it to be a waste of time talking to, reasoning with, jw's if you expect any kind of quick result.. many of us when we first wake up think that 'coz ttatt is blindingly obvious to us, it will soon get through to our jw loved ones.. this simply isn't so for a couple of important reasons.

the first is that, if someone believes something is true, or the truth, to them it really is, without doubt, true.

so whatever you say must be wrong somehow.. the second problem is that jw's simply do not have to use, or pay any attention to facts and logic.

Alive!

This past weekend hubby and I bumped into a couple of witnesses in our age group on two separate occassions in very relaxed circumstances (unplanned) we chatted, laughed and enjoyed each others company over coffee - we've shared some good times in the past and in the past shared some fellow feeling over life's problems, I love these people - but really, as I reflected overnight, their world is tight, they are supported, their children and lifelong friends are an essential fabric of their lives.

We didn't talk about religion. I miss the freedom to have people like these in my life - without the GB breathing down our necks, publishing articles and broadcasting pronouncements which are designed to agitate and separate.

17

Type / Antitype article discredits many JW teachings

by Sanchy in

i was going over the type / antitype articles that were released in last year's watchtower articles and i've just realized how ironic it is those very articles can serve to demolish some of the most fundamental jw teachings.. take for instance the "questions from readers" section of the march 15, 2015 magazine.

after mentioning some "far-fetched" interpretations that others have applied to bible events, they go on to say:.

if such interpretations seem far-fetched, you can understand the dilemma.

Alive!

The different anti-types seemed so plausible at the time....

BUT the Revelation book never sat well with me when they 'squished' ancient prophetic scripture to fit in with a chain of events surrounding the society and early WT characters .....I was totally devoted during the times we studied that book - but each time I felt tingles of discomfort reading certain paragraphs.

It's so sad, looking back. If anyone had stuck their hsnd up and said 'this doesn't sound right, it feels entirely wrong' - the problem would have been theirs, not the writing departments.

To understand and accept the teachings was a sign we had 'spiritual insight'.

As I started waking up - I had to wonder, exactly who or what inspired the writers to publish so many false teachings and interpretations?

The problem was that we had no choice - so we couldn't grow at our own pace, but got dragged along with the thoughts of 'men' who were actually invisible strangers to us at the time - and still are, despite the public broadcasts.

91

My brother died last night

by LisaRose in

jw
friends

i found out this morning that my brother died last night, he was also an ex jw, 73 years old and died of heart disease and kidney failure.

it was not totally unexpected, as he had been in poor health, but it's a blow, especially as i just lost another brother two years ago.

there were six of us, now only four.

Alive!

I sent a little hug yesterday, I don't think my post went through - but just wanted to say take care dear.

29

Our thoughts on the latest JW Broadcast for the month of May

by Christian Gutierrez in

howdy guys!

this is our latest video on the jw broadcast in short form.

we talk about jw marriage challenges.

Alive!

DY

I'm confused - why would you, a mature woman engage in name calling criticism towards two young people who are trying to make sense of their world?

Even if there IS fault or reasons to question some of their statements from YOUR point of view, it seems harmful to use abusive and shaming language towards young people.

As older women we have an accountability to be patient and tender with the young - these young folk are someone's daughter, son.....sorry, but I had to speak up.

Let them be.

They were speaking from THEIR observations and experiences, all of which I have observed myself....from time to time, I also have seen and observed situations they described.

Of course, any observation is at risk of being a generalisation....but this is THEIR story - their experiences from a young persons point of view....any caring active JW would do well to listen up and listen hard.

Think of the raw courage they had as a couple to leave their warm and cosy spot as beloved, popular pioneers because they knew something was very wrong.....

23

Thankful for my babies

by BeautifulMind in

i hope everyone is having a good day/night.

so i was just reflecting on how happy i am to have my babies, despite the orgs.

not so subtle requests that married couples not have babies in order to further serve the org.

Alive!

I'm sure it is 'nicer and easier' for some to pick and choose in the way you describe.

But hardly in keeping with a sense of loyalty to the leadership's directions, who are 'god's mouthpiece' - you know?

We were taught that self sacrifice and obedience strengthened our Christian character and faith ...... I am aware that on 'ground level' many in the congregations pay scant attention to the latest pronouncements of the FDS, choosing life styles and making choices that don't really sync with a faith that believes the end is truly nigh...I wonder how it will go when the forewarned instructions demanding obedience which such may seem 'unreasonable from a human standpoint' quote are delivered.

Do you think the split in the congregations between those who are faithfully obedient to the FDS and those who 'pick and choose' will become very apparent?

It truly seems to me, many seat warmers are made up of those who simply choose a highly social and connected network - whilst an internal desire for the truly spiritual and for TRUTH is somewhat diluted? What do you think DY?

23

Thankful for my babies

by BeautifulMind in

i hope everyone is having a good day/night.

so i was just reflecting on how happy i am to have my babies, despite the orgs.

not so subtle requests that married couples not have babies in order to further serve the org.

Alive!

DY,

A true believing JW obeys and follows the words and 'encouragement' of the FDS.

THAT is the nature of true JW faith.

So really, we now have a situation it seems where in these far more 'urgent' times of the last days ( compared to previous decades) where 'apparently' people's lives are at stake as to whether they worship Jehovah under the direction of the FDS or not, where obedience to 'Jesus's brothers' is the hallmark of a true Christian identity - where edicts are issued warning that in the future, JWs might be asked to obey instructions which may seem unreasonable 'from a human standpoint' - you are explaining that in your congregation 'smart' folk pick and choose?

Smiling here. Wow.

23

Thankful for my babies

by BeautifulMind in

i hope everyone is having a good day/night.

so i was just reflecting on how happy i am to have my babies, despite the orgs.

not so subtle requests that married couples not have babies in order to further serve the org.

Alive!

By the way - hugs to you lovely Mothers here - cherish your beautiful children XXX

But those who once spread the wrong food at the wrong time have hurt many lives.....

23

Thankful for my babies

by BeautifulMind in

i hope everyone is having a good day/night.

so i was just reflecting on how happy i am to have my babies, despite the orgs.

not so subtle requests that married couples not have babies in order to further serve the org.

Alive!

We were proving our faith by waiting for the new system - no family or children for us....and we watched as the generation now living DID pass away before 'the end' and watched all the next generation born ins have babies, babies, babies.

A childless marriage. Thanks for the encouragement dear 'guardians of doctrine'....perhaps when you are not too busy looking at sale and purchase agreements, you could stop on by and sit with a weeping woman past her childbearing years for whom it is too late.