alias

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Posts by alias

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  29

  Anyone ever went from Athiesm to Theism?

  by Silent_Scream in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if so, how'd that happen?.

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  alias

  If anyone is interested in learning more, by all means check out the statements and lives of those men and make up your own mind about them and about what they had to say.

  Thanks, Ding, for affirming the usefulness of doing our own research in our search for answers.

  I am particularly interested in reading Lee Strobel's experience in 'The Case for Christ' to learn more about his Atheism-to-Theism journey and have the book he wrote about it (which I plan to read over the next few weeks).

  The church he is affilated with is popular in our area, and although I'm not looking for a church, I am interested in reading about people's experiences and perspective on the BIG QUESTIONS — undoubtedly the reason why I've been lingering around here on-and-off for a dozen years.

  alias
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  21

  "You're Stumbling Me"

  by Ding in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the wts sometimes turns the "stumbling" concept into a manipulative weapon.. the biblical concept of "stumbling" is that if you know someone else has a weakness you shouldn't do something that will cause him to cave in to that weakness.

  for example, if you have a friend who is trying to fight alcohol addiction you shouldn't invite him to go somewhere where everyone else will be imbibing.. i think it's perfectly legitimate for a friend to tell you that he has a drinking problem and that he'd really appreciate it if you would refrain from serving alcohol while he's over.

  but i think it crosses a line if the friend tries to manipulate you into swearing off alcohol altogether because the mere thought of you drinking booze will stumble him.. but some jws try to get others to refrain from doing things "so you don't stumble me.

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  alias

  Ding,

  Good observation.

  And so a conscientious JW gets caught between the rock and hard place of "don't stumble anyone" and "don't enforce personal views on others" and tip-toes around in the congregation constantly moderating their behavior between guilt and free will.

  alias
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  16

  Divided Households... Can anyone relate?

  by garyneal in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as some of you may know, ours is a 'divided household.

  ' a term use by jehovah's witnesses to describe households where one spouse is in 'the truthtm' and the other one isn't.

  in some of them (like mine) the 'unbelieving spouse' (ubm) may actually express a faith in the god of the bible and in christianity and perhaps even go to church.

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  alias

  Yep.

  Hubby is invested in this belief system and attends meetings.

  I do not.

  Thankfully, we've grown to a place where its not a huge issue in our relationship anymore.

  My parents and his whole side of the family are active JWs.

  alias
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  14

  Catching the Manipulation in Sunday’s Watchtower Article

  by Butterflyleia85 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  inspired by many on jwn board, my goal is to every sunday study the article and find the manipulative parts.

  if you would like to join me that would be great!

  we can then find them together and then find what the scriptures or insights truly means with research, our own understanding, or maybe how it should be interpreted to ones self.

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  alias

  Butterfly,

  Good catch. Usually you see the manipulation couched in terms like:

  surely....

  do we not...

  My sensitive nature has often taken those subtle things as how I "should be" thinking or behaving.

  Reading between the lines and doing things whole-souled honestly has costed me so much in this relgion. I've internalized enough subliminal messages for a lifetime.

  Interestingly, my husband, who doesn't read between the lines the way I do, has a very different experience as a JW.

  Thanks for your review.

  alias
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  12

  Musings on the joys of field service

  by rebel8 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:applybreakingrules /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:usefelayout /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> </w:worddocument> </xml><!

  [endif][if !mso]> <object classid="clsid:38481807-ca0e-42d2-bf39-b33af135cc4d" id=ieooui> </object> <mce:style><!

  st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } [endif] [if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><!

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  alias

  I dreaded door-to-door FS. Every time.

  The worse, nauseous feelings washed over me as we'd park the car at the end of the street and get out.

  Anxiety and panic filled me so much that by my early 20s I stopped doing it all together.

  I began writing letters so I could "get some time in" and please men.

  And fought the cognitive-dissonance of a loving God expecting me to act against my nature for "hours".

  Busy-work for sure... it's all JWs have to feel productive in life. Even if the whole morning is wasted driving around and finding nobody at home. A 3-hour morning gets tallied on a small paper slip and one's inner self is let off the hook.

  Return visits and studies were a HUGE relief.

  alias
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  66

  Was The Internet The Clincher For You To Mentally Leave The Organization?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think it was for me.. i knew a lot of the history of the bible students, russell, rutherford and the "old light".

  .

  once i could see all of the overwhelming evidence right in front of my eyes, there was no ignoring the reality..

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  alias

  Was The Internet The Clincher For You To Mentally Leave The Organization?

  Yes, and as an exercise for my own reflection, because:

  1. My fading out was facilitated by my association, experiences, and learning about the nature of people on pro-JW boards in the late 90s.

  2. I was forced to take off my rose-colored JW glasses when I started developing critical thinking skills and learning more about the authentic history behind the organization, not just the white-washed experiences printed in the literature and touted from the platform.

  3. After I got over the concept of "scary apostates" online, I realized that in many cases, the only thing I have in common with former-JWs is the experience with the religion. People who leave JWs move on with their lives in some form, many still deal with the embedded remnants because of how being a JW has impacted their lives, sacrificed resources, strained family relationships, etc.

  I've learned a lot by listening to people's experiences and viewpoints, and particularly by healthy discussions by former JWs of every persuasion.

  Thus, the Internet has been a real-time learning medium to explore, experience, and form new thinking (mental) patterns.

  alias
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  43

  New Field Service Policy - jw's assigned to neighborhoods

  by skeeter1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am looking for confirmation on the following:.

  jws are now being individually assigned to smaller territories, and they are told to consistently work that same territory over & over again.

  the reason is that the watchtower wants the jws to build relationships with the people in that area.

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  alias

  My point: The scriptures explicitly say that Jesus sent them out 2 by 2. Not individually! And yet he said that this preaching of the good news would still be accomplished!

  So the circuit overseer who made everyone work alone (and everyone who makes others do it against their will and better judgment) can be called on their "unscriptural" mandate.

  It was hard enough working in pairs in the "ministry"... I'd NEVER canvas alone in the area, even if I was giving away free candy bars.

  So glad to be done with all of that.

  alias
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  33

  What do you think the cover title will be of the Jan, 1st, 2014 Watchtower?

  by cyberguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  .

  here?s mine (he-he): armageddon, it?s closer than you think!

  1914 and the "gentile times.

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  alias

  "You've waited 100 years....a few more won't hurt."
• 
  70

  Acceptable and unacceptable dress for visiting Bethel

  by smiddy in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i just came across this on another thread with pictures/photos ,is this for real ?

  i couldnt beleive my eyes or ears?.

  the control that this organization has over it`s members... is ..is ... well it`s a cult !!

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  alias

  Wow. I remember visiting Bethel multiple times and always having to dress 'for meetings.'

  The office causual and dress pants on women look smart and fine and carry a respectful approach. The push to wear clothes as one would be attending a meeting (and creating a brochure about it) just pushes it to the extreme.

  If there's any credit out there for trying to do the right thing whole-souled...

  It's personal integrity and being right within yourself. I hear ya.

  alias
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  7

  Loosing loved ones to death while still a witness

  by man in black in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  just wondering,,, have any of you lost family members or friends to death while you were still a jw ?.

  if so, how did you feel about it while still a witness, and perhaps how did your viewpoint change after leaving, thinking that soon everything .

  you were taught about the "coming new order" would become reality ?.

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  alias

  man in black,

  I am so sorry to know your mother passed away. Please check your PMs -- I sent you a message.

  alias