Posts by ezekiel3

40

Why did the WTBTS not sue Ray Franz?

by Gill in

jw
friends

if ray franz had been lying in anything he said in both of his books, c of c and in search of christian freedom, surely the wtbts would have sued him.

why did they take no legal action against him?.

could it be that this legalistic corportion realised he had lied about nothing?

ezekiel3

I would be thrilled if the WTS sued Franz. And I dare say Ray would be too.

What an opportunity to air dirty laundry and prove Ray was railroaded.

However the MO for the WTS is "head in the sand". No wonder they keep their followers the same way.

36

The Atheist's Book of Bible Stories - new - The Long and the Short of It

by RunningMan in

and there were giants in those days genesis 6:4

there is a simple principle of physics that has changed the way i look at the universe.

it has also prevented me from being taken in by a huge array of common legends and misconceptions.

Astonishing Discovery Re. JWD Forum Psychology!!

by GetBusyLiving in

jw
friends

it's possible to make outlandish assertions, incredibly rude comments, condecending replies, and overall act like a complete jackass on this forum as long as you throw one of these ( .

"getbusyliving, get your head out of your ass you disgusting pig .

"the bush administration has no interest in iraqis oil reserves .

ezekiel3

I am really moved by GetBusy as a heartwarming and insightful poster

61

Astonishing Discovery Re. JWD Forum Psychology!!

by GetBusyLiving in

jw
friends

it's possible to make outlandish assertions, incredibly rude comments, condecending replies, and overall act like a complete jackass on this forum as long as you throw one of these ( .

"getbusyliving, get your head out of your ass you disgusting pig .

"the bush administration has no interest in iraqis oil reserves .

Born In, the Difference

by wanderlustguy in

jw
friends

born in, what difference does it make?

i was thinking about this one a lot over the last few weeks.

what difference does it make whether you were born into a cult or were brought in as a teen or adult?

You touched my heart. I still believe that those who joined as adults and then raised children as JWs have no idea what they have done and will never relate to their children's concept of religion and spirituality.

EZ3 of the born in class.

64

Becoming a woman...

by Rubyvixen in

i remember when i was around the age of 10 or 11, there was a book that jehovah's witness parents used in family bible study that had two versions (one for male, one for females) or maybe there was one and it just had chapters and i am remembering wrong.

i do remember vividly having to endure the rather male dominated view of what happens when a young woman enters adolescence and what a young woman has to look forward to in her 'duties' as a loyal wife and mother serving her husband *gags*.

does anyone remember that?

ezekiel3

And this (notice the complete lack of scriptural references):

***

yy chap. 5 pp. 35-36 Masturbation and Homosexuality ***

Chapter

5

Masturbation

and Homosexuality

ISN’T it remarkable how the bodies of boys and girls develop during adolescence so that they can either father children or give birth to them? Along with this physical transformation of your body, there is usually a change in your attitude toward the opposite sex. An attraction grows, and often boys develop a keen interest in girls, and girls in boys. But, at the same time, you may have a certain wonderment and curiosity about your own rapidly changing body. How should you satisfy this curiosity? Should you experiment with your sex organs? Is there anything wrong with rubbing them in some way until the excitement is climaxed?

2

This practice is called masturbation. It is very common. One authority on the subject says: "Every serious statistical study that we have shows clearly that . . . at least ninety-five per cent of boys and young men between thirteen and twenty-five years of age pass through periods of habitual masturbation of varying lengths." As for girls, this source says that "forty to fifty per cent are found to actually masturbate." Some people say that these figures prove "normalcy" and that the "absence of masturbation in a healthy youth is a matter of concern."

3

Now, what do you think? Do you agree that, because in today’s world masturbation is a very common thing, this makes it a natural, normal function of the body? Lying and stealing are also common today. Yet you wouldn’t say this makes them natural and proper, would you? The "common" cold is quite universal, but this certainly doesn’t mean that you want it, does it? Then what about the claim that masturbation is harmless?

4

From a physical standpoint, the majority of doctors say that occasional masturbation is harmless. Like most psychiatrists, they say that damage comes only if the practicer has feelings of guilt that cause mental and emotional disturbance, these, in turn, producing physical upset. But doctors and psychiatrists are imperfect humans, subject to error, and their views change. There is, though, a source of counsel that young people can turn to that is stable and free from error or misjudgment. That is God’s Word. And if we want, not just longer life, but everlasting life in God’s favor, we should seek his wisdom and counsel. He can do for us and for our happiness what men could never do.

64

Becoming a woman...

by Rubyvixen in

i remember when i was around the age of 10 or 11, there was a book that jehovah's witness parents used in family bible study that had two versions (one for male, one for females) or maybe there was one and it just had chapters and i am remembering wrong.

i do remember vividly having to endure the rather male dominated view of what happens when a young woman enters adolescence and what a young woman has to look forward to in her 'duties' as a loyal wife and mother serving her husband *gags*.

does anyone remember that?

ezekiel3

Yep the book was Your Youth - Getting the Best Out of It.

Here is a quote for the young ladies, any other requests from thsi book will be happily provided:

***

yy chap. 4 pp. 33-35 Moving into Womanhood ***

STRIVING

FOR EMOTIONAL BALANCE

17

The physical changes of adolescence may bring emotional changes. Even as a young girl may feel full of energy one minute and exhausted the next, so too her emotions may tend to fluctuate widely. Periods of brightness and joy may be quickly followed by periods of gloom and depression. You may find yourself wondering if you are really normal or just what kind of person you are turning out to be. Especially in the modern industrial society, with its shifting sets of values, adolescent girls are subject to tension and uncertainty.

18

It would be easy to give in to this instability, become withdrawn, introverted, or become very independent and assertive. Some girls do give in to displays of rudeness, flashes of bad temper or coarse speech. Others begin to make a pretense of being something they are not, becoming superficial. But this does not help; it only worsens matters. Now that you are coming out of childhood, it is a time to make a serious personal effort to cultivate the fruits of God’s spirit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness and self-control.

19

Cultivate, too, habits that contribute toward stability. Instead of letting your room become messy, keep it orderly and neat. Strive for regularity in sleeping and eating habits; your developing body needs all the help you can give it. The more you can do along these lines, the more calm and stable you will feel, and this will help to moderate your emotional experiences.

20

By all means do not let this period of transition cause you to pull away from your parents. They can provide the solid help and reliable firmness you need to lean on so as to keep your balance during this time of change. While you are subject to much "peer pressure"—pressure from others of your age to be like them—realize that they themselves are changing. That is why what pleases them today may not please them at all tomorrow. To be overly concerned about what they think of you will only increase your problems. That is why, too, when you have personal, intimate questions, your parents are by far the better source of information. They can give you a much fuller, more balanced answer than your schoolmates could ever give.

21

Just as early showers are followed by pretty flowers, so, too, if you learn to weather the storm and take things in your stride, you will find the way to stability and confidence. While you should be concerned about keeping yourself physically well and clean (by good diet and regular hygiene), you need to concentrate—not so much on what you are on the outside—but on what you are on the inside. The adornment of a "quiet and mild spirit" produced by the ‘secret person of your heart’ is what will make you truly attractive—in the eyes of God and of humans.—1 Peter 3:3, 4.

61

On a macro level, the Witnesses are pretty harmless

by logansrun in

jw
friends

warning: this post may be damaging to your biases.. it seems to me that the "danger" the witnesses pose to larger society is, well, pretty damn small.

just think about it: the witnesses are almost not involved in politics at all, except the occassional "freedom of religion and speech" issues they take to various courts, issues i am happy to support the witnesses in, even if i strongly disagree with their beliefs.

you will not see jws supporting banning abortions or gay marriages or a whole host of other civil liberties and freedoms that evangelicals rally around like the village people searching for frankenstein's monster.

ezekiel3

the reason the organizations is so dangerous, is BECAUSE at a macro level people think it's harmless.

Couldn't say it better myself.

You might compare JWs to the military, EXCEPT

The military will still talk to you if you quit.
They tell you in advance that they are going to de/reprogram you, no deception there.
The military does not sign up 11 year-olds to do life service.

7

Jehovah's Witness Tragedy

by Kenneson in

jw
friends

near tukombo in malawi a lorry carrying 52 jehovah's witnesses, who had just attended kingdom hall, crashed into a bridge on the liuzi river.

police say it was overspeeding; the driver was taken in for questioning.

4 jehovah's witnesses died and 19 others were in critical condition at hospitals.. http://www.nationmalawi.com/articles.asp?articleid=12097.

ezekiel3

We can all take solace that those who died will be cloned in the new order.

Very sad.

61

On a macro level, the Witnesses are pretty harmless

by logansrun in

jw
friends

warning: this post may be damaging to your biases.. it seems to me that the "danger" the witnesses pose to larger society is, well, pretty damn small.

just think about it: the witnesses are almost not involved in politics at all, except the occassional "freedom of religion and speech" issues they take to various courts, issues i am happy to support the witnesses in, even if i strongly disagree with their beliefs.

you will not see jws supporting banning abortions or gay marriages or a whole host of other civil liberties and freedoms that evangelicals rally around like the village people searching for frankenstein's monster.

ezekiel3

Some people are better off in a cult.

Good post. You have a point. Sadly many JWs are exactly where they want to be, even if it was proved that they live in a fanstasy.

This does not negate the point that these people need help. While some are lost causes, there are thousands of JW children drowning their future in a baptism pool.

Other people are trully dispairing and lost in this world. They need help to identify cults (not just JWs) that would capitalize on their distress.

"From a distance," says Bette, everything looks great.