thanks for posting this info, ezekial3. wow.
I also appreciate the suicide reference - I was looking for that one.
I look forward to further insights regarding this book.
the following is quoted in it's entirety (excepting cited scriptures after each question) from the new release organized to do jehovah's will, pages 182-218.. .
questions for those desiring to be baptized.
part 1 elementary bible teachings.
thanks for posting this info, ezekial3. wow.
I also appreciate the suicide reference - I was looking for that one.
I look forward to further insights regarding this book.
(i dont mean the countries - grammar nazis, please dont flame).
i dont know how many of you attended a spanish speaking hall like i did but in my experience and from reading people's posts i think that there are some pretty big differences.
1. spanish congs are more liberal .
I've been in both, and I found spanish more enjoyable to be around. They seemed friendlier (friendship mattered more), more sincere. Less uptight in many ways. The worst ones, though, were the english/white brothers who had learned spanish so they could "shepherd" the spanish congregations. Most of them were so full of themselves it was sickening.
Re singing...I remember visiting mexico during the late 70's and going to a bookstudy at someone's house. I was so surprised when they started and ended with an enthusiastic song. I guess they weren't allowed to sing during the other meetings since JW's were classified as an educational group (or something like that).
I'd agree that the spanish congs. really do seem to like the songs more, though.
i was born into the jw religion for 16 years.
7 years after i left, i accepted christ as my personal savior.
best move yet!
enjoy your new-found freedom!
problem is, "hadEnough" is all of us!!!!
during a dinner conversation with a loyal jw, he mentioned that the society seems to be making stronger statements to jw's.
he mentioned the "keep on the watch" brochure, and how it seemed to be for jw's as well as the public.
he acknowledged the "personal questions" the society were asking us, in the brochure - how pointed and direct they are, even asking you to rank your physical and spiritual activities on a scale of 1 to 10. .
change is in the air! Can we hope for "new light?"
i just read an excellent article on the issue of mental illness and jehovah's witnesses by psychologist named jerry bergman.
the link is:.
http://www.premier1.net/~raines/mental.html.
I could write a book on this topic. In fact I just wrote a paper on it. JW's have very real and unique mental health concerns, and the fact that they are not allowed to seek external help is a crime.
The idea that you are depressed because you've committed a "spiritual sin" has prevented many from seeking help. Don't get me started.
apostate literature - i have read the lot.
you name it - c of c, gentile times reconsidered, thirty tears a watchtower slave, the orwellian world of jehovah's witness, apocalypse delayed, and the freeminds and watchtower observer sites, so on and so on.
and i have been reading the posts on this site regularly pretty much since it started, and hourglass before it.
fairchild - what a great analogy!
heroes and villains for the braindead.
in a typical action movie, suspense movie or western, there are only heroes and villains.
the heroes can do nothing but good and the villains can do nothing but bad.
Nice essay, Farkel!
hey cowboy: .
i felt compelled to warn you about valis.
he is always acting all girl crazy and all that on the board but he let something slip tonight in chat.
I was there too! Now you have your witness.
my parents went to the assembly this weekend.
they were telling me about disciplining children... the speaker was saying how all babies are born selfish and demanding for their own needs and not anyone elses.
the jist of the talk being about discipline, and training children ...ie taking them out for a good beating.. well, i don't know if any of you have ever 'just seen red!
good point, Avishai - I should have said "cute" story - as this is the wording used by those who related the story.
I certainly don't think its cute, its very sad.