Posts by FairMind

32

What do you think is going to happen in the future...

by Country Girl in

our planet is chanigng so much.

there are wars, there is pollution, there is over pupulation.

what do you think is going to happen in the future?

FairMind

I'm of the opinion that the world's near term future is very bleak (I agree with RR though that ultimately God's kingdom will prevail). The many things mentioned in the various posts on this topic such as terrorism, pollution, nuclear proliferation, etc. are facts of life and out of control. The one factor that mankind has no control over however is the world's "oil supply". Oil is a finite resource and is in the opinion of many experts (do a Google search on "Peak Oil" or try this link http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/) going to very rapidly become far too scarce to meet human needs. The soon-to-be end result is a disaster (war, starvation and world chaos).

I know this sounds like doom and gloom but simply check out the rising energy costs and one can see that something is afoot. And, who really believes that the USA invaded Iraq because of Saddam Hussein or weapons of mass destruction? Maybe the real reason is a jockeying for a controlling position over most of the world's known oil reserves. Of course the other world powers (Red China, North Korea, France and so on) are not going to quitely stand by when they also have a stake in all of this.

FM

19

How much harm has your congregation caused you?

by avishai in

jw
friends

it covered up my bro's molestation, etc., etc.

FairMind

My present congregation has caused me no troubles other than enforcing the dictates of the WTS regarding restoring privileges (seems that I have displayed apostate tendacies). The PO in my former congregation worked to help break up my first marriage and tried to influence my current wife to not marry me. Much more could be said on other matters as well.

Dustyb, I would disagree with you as to who is to blame for the two problems you mentioned (alcoholism and masturbation). Seems like those are things we choose to do to ourselves.

FM

46

Draw Close Jeh, Since the elder is out I have to conduct tonight, any sugg?

by DaCheech in

.

since the elder is out i have to conduct tonight!.

any suggestion on subtle little comments i can get away with when we study page 143 thru 147?

FairMind

Hey! What's everybody so heated up about? DaCheech is not going to do anything self distructive. I know exactly where he is coming from and it is fun to fantasize about making leading comments. We all know where those comments would really lead, not to opening the eyes of others but to receiving the iron fist of organizational discipline for ourselves.

Everyone is free to make choices in life. There is a lot that is good about WT teachings and there is a lot that is not so good. This can be said about all aspects of life, all other religions, political organizations and the world in general. We need to look at it all and individually choose what we feel is the best for ourselves. We, not others, are responsible for all of our choices.

FM

33

"Live life each day to the fullest" - What does it mean to you?

by gumby in

first off...ss inspired me to write this.

i don't think he'll mind me saying this cuz i'm patting him on the back for it.. in a pm he said " live life each day to the fullest...what do ya thing gumby"?.

i didn't know how to answer him.

FairMind

Living life to its' fullest to me means many things. My focal point is that there is a God who loves mankind and that his reminders are for my current and everlasting benefit. So, I try to live my life in harmony with his will as "I" understand it. We have been given much, look at the wonders of creation and look at how wonderfully we are made.

Living life to its' fullest means allways striving to do my best; at my job, with my family, etc. It means enjoying the marvels of the great out-of-doors through regular participation in physical activities such as hiking, biking, running, etc. It means helping those I love attain their goals. It also means giving some of myself to help those in my community who are less fortunate than I am.

I love life and I love the freedom to enjoy it in ways that bring me happiness and that I feel are in harmony with God's will.

FM

22

The End

by Annanias in

.

FairMind

I certainly enjoyed annanias' post regarding a position played in the game of football. However, I disagree as I beleive in the center fielder! I think the correctness of my viewpoint shoudl be obvious to everyone.

FM

57

Did you personally know one of the 144,000?

by badboy in

jw
friends

were there any in your congregation?

FairMind

I have personally known at least four brothers and sisters who claimed to be of the annointed.

1.) The pioneer brother that studied with me in the 70's sincerely believed he was heaven bound. He and his wife sacrificed much because of the 1975 teaching. When nothing happened they felt that they had misled many people and quit pioneering, He (at 40 years of age) went to college and was elected the class president. His wife became a corporate executive. As far as I know they have not returned to the WTBTS but are doing QUITE WELL.

2.) There was another brother (an elder) who believed he was of the annointed. This elder was a "hanging judge" and eventually was prohibited from serving on Judicial Committees.

3.) An elderly Czechoslavakian (spelling?) sister.

4.) A ding-bat sister (early 30's) who suddenly began professing to having the heavely hope. She was a pioneer and (to my way of thinking) thought whe was holy, holy.

FM

23

What Would You Tell a Prospective New Poster About JWD??

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was talking to 2 someday to be ex jws about the forum and they want to join.

i did let them know that not everyone is as sweet as they are.

i mentioned that most here are very nice and that a few have issues.

FairMind

As an active JW, I'm in complete agreement with ezekiel3. I especially like to read the posts regarding the insane and unjust treatment many have received at the hands of the elders and at the direction of NY. These simply confirm to me that my suspicions and feelings regarding the WTBTS have been and are right on target. I would tell prospective members of this forum that that those that post here have attitudes that come in a variety of flavors. Here at JWD you can enjoy the posts that at appeal to you and you can ignore those that don't (fair enough, right?)

FM

43

Do You Still Think & Act Like A Witness??

by minimus in

jw
friends

one of the criticisms i see on this board, especially if one points out a similarity between jws and jwd or other similar discussion boards, is that a person is still seeing things in the eye of a jehovah's witness.

what's your take on that?

?

FairMind

I suppose in many ways I still think like many other JWs (I'm still active). I still believe in and pray to Jehovah. I still believe we are in the last days based on visible evidence and not a date. I've long since stopped judging or criticizing people who are not JWs. I've lost faith in the WTBS (again based on what I've seen and experienced) and no longer believe that they or any other organization I know of can legitimately lay claim to exclusive use by God. I know that true Christians are obligated to preach the Good News of God's kingdom "as described in the Bible" bur feel that this is not the real motive behind what the WTBTS has it's members doing.

In a nutshell, I'm confused, but I don't think that giving up on Jehovah is the answer (giving up on the organization, yes).

FM

14

I just finished Crisis of Conscience...

by Badger in

thanks to ray franz for writing it.

parts of the book have been talked about on the board before, but holy $#!+...seeing page upon page of evidence kept my jaw in a constant drop.... a few thoughts.... >franz seems to have little malice for the org, and it shows in the book.. >i looked at it with a very skeptical eye (as i do everything) and tried to see it from the perspective of a witness who sincerely believed.

i was still floored by the callousness of the comments of these people.. > control really does seem to be the watchword for these folks, and they've trained the rank and file well.

FairMind

I agree, COC was an eye opener! I believe that when Ray Franz wrote this book his "heart" was still very much involved with the WTS. His second book ISOCF, show us that Ray Franz is a spiritual man who did not give up on God after he gave up on the WTS.

I also throughly enjoyed Jim Penton's book Armageddon Delayed which is a mostly objective book focusinn on the history of the organization. It is not quite the insider book as was COC but I foud it equally hard to put down.

FM

4

JW's do the Teaching on God's Behalf.............

by Funchback in

10/1/2004 wt, page 7:

"one who is meek humbly accepts god's standards in all aspects of his personal life; he does not insist on going by his own views or by other people's opinions.

he is also teachable, willing to be taught by jehovah.

FairMind

Blondie has provided documentation of the WTBTS' illusuion that JWs are being taught by the Bible (first) and then the FDS. The reality is that JWs are not to believe the Bible "directly" but are to believe only the interpretation given by the FDS. The WTS' is very sly in the way they make statements that do not measure up to what they really mean.

FM