Posts by formerout

160

Why ? Why? WHY???

by rune in

jw
friends

this topic has been rolling around in my head for some time.

i don't expect that i'll write it perfectly as it needs to be articulated in different ways for different people...but i will do my best.

and worst of all, i am not expecting any kind of response that will satisfy me.

formerout

Hey Rune,

Those three questions are sort of intertwined so I will only give one answer.

I have questioned all those things many times as I'm sure many have. The act of questioning them in fact makes us reach out for answers to them, despite the fact that you profess to not even wanting to ask the questions, never mind getting the answers. Humans can't help it.

Sure, some people ignore the thoughts but they are always there. I think Dansk has some valid points. I certainly don't feel quite so enlightened as Dansk, but I think I am on a journey in that direction. That journey began with realizing that I DID NOT know everything. It seems like a contradiction but it is more of a human truth: The more we think we know, the less we learn; the less we learn, the more ignorant we become. By acknowledging our ignorance we actually become the most enlightened.

When it comes right down to it, unconditional love is the ultimate guide. It won't immediately stop all crime, harm and wars but I honestly feel that we have made great strides in the last millenia, and especially the last century, towards becoming a better species. Besides the amazing scientific discoveries mentioned by others here, look at what we have learned about the human mind: Positive reinforcement yields, (for a job well done, no matter how small it may seem to be to us), better results in our children than does negative consequences (for a misstep, no matter how large). Even fifty years ago the vast majority of people thought it worked better the other way around (in my family it still hasn't been learned..lol).

It is better to live with hope, pride and optimism than to live with fear, guilt and pessimism. I don't know why but it just seems to be true every time I turn around.... and I've done alot of both sides, believe me.

Brad

31

Non-JW teacher needing advice

by Teacher in

hi there, i'm new to the board and have turned here for advice.

i am a new teacher and have a child in my class who is a jw.

as i know nothing about the religion i thought i would ask here.. i am aware that he will not be able to take part in re or religious assemblies or christmas activities.

formerout

Little1,

I did invite XQ to start a new thread on it, and he did prior to your post. However I do not agree that it was a war or that the thread was hijacked. My suggestion to move it to another topic and XQ's willingness to do so, was out of respect to the Teacher. IMO enough had been said about cults that she could see the extreme measures that parents will take to prevent their children from learning about theories other than the WTBTS' teachings.

I strongly believe that teachers should be aware of what their JW students have going on in their minds when they come to school. By having this insight they can better be equipped to present ALTERNATIVE teachings to what the WTBTS is teaching, and they can do so in the least threatening (to them) way possible. The teachers are certainly NOT going to get the WHOLE story from the JW's are they?

Once again kudos to this teacher and all others that show the extra effort to really relate to their students.

Brad

27

something in crisis of conscience i didnt know about... that shocked me

by candidlynuts in

on page 164- 166 , in the chapter titled " double standards" subheading " two sorts of weights for measuring".

the administration of the headquarters of jehovah's witnesses many decades ago decided that, because of the exsisting law, jehovah's witnesses in mexico would present themsevles , not as a religious organization, but as a "cultural" orginazation.

the local corporation there formed " la torre del vigia,was so registered with the government of mexico(footnote).

formerout

It is shocking, to be sure. Are you aware of the other major hypocritical situation that happened in Mexico?

While the "brothers" in Malawi were being beaten up, raped and even killed due to their stance against signing up for military duty, the "brothers" in Mexico were bribing corrupt Mexican Gov't officials by paying them $25.00 for an illegal card that stated that they had already done their (I believe) one year of service in the military.

The greatest blame does not of course fall on the "brothers" in Mexico. The real guilty party was the WTBTS head honchos, since the brothers were just following their orders.

Very sad that they could be so hypocritical, at the expense of the people in Malawi. I still remember when I was a little boy and I would ask my mom to pray for me and she would ask "Jehovah" to help the brothers in Malawi. It hit home even more when I found out the bigger story.

Brad

9

"Kids say the darndest things."

by formerout in

jw
friends

i have personally been reading a lot more of the "serious" posts lately and thought it would be good for me (and hopefully others) to share a bit of humour.

i will start by telling a funny little story about what my six year-old daughter said this weekend:.

i played touch football this fall on weekends.

formerout

The "stinkies" one was hillarious. Keep 'em coming.

Brad

9

"Kids say the darndest things."

by formerout in

jw
friends

i have personally been reading a lot more of the "serious" posts lately and thought it would be good for me (and hopefully others) to share a bit of humour.

i will start by telling a funny little story about what my six year-old daughter said this weekend:.

i played touch football this fall on weekends.

formerout

Monkey Princess,

Very cute. It's funny how a child can repeat (or in my daughter's case just take a different definition of the word) and it can make it so funny. I can picture a small child saying what your son said and having everyone within earshot realizing how funny it was. Thanks for sharing. It has remeinded me of a few other ones from my kids.

Avishai,

I wonder why your daughter has begun to hate your impersonations. Just a "terrible two" thing maybe? I love to impersonate people as well. My kids just love them all, from my old man with a cane routine (no offense intended to any actual old men with a cane.... all done in good taste.. teehee) to other recognizable cartoon characters... it seems like kids just like a bit of a change from the ordinary, when done tastefully. Thanks.

Brad

46

J.W. Congregation Cleared of Abuse Charges

by Kenneson in

jw
friends

.

the following article comes out of minnesota and is entitled "annandale church isn't liable in abuse suit.".

i'm off to work now, so don't have time to comment, but would like to post it before i leave.. http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4655055.html

formerout

I know this may not be a great amount of encouragement to those frustrated by decisions like this one but it has empowered a lot of us to become more vigilant in our endeavours. It has also undoubtedly made a lot of non-JWs question the JW religion more than they would have in the past. Remember that most people do not take to heart too much of what is said by or against the Witnesses. Things like this draw attention to them, in a not-so-bright light.

Decisions made by Judges that seem, by the general public even, to be outrageous sometimes accomplish more than if their decision had given a victory for the original complainants.

Brad

9

"Kids say the darndest things."

by formerout in

jw
friends

i have personally been reading a lot more of the "serious" posts lately and thought it would be good for me (and hopefully others) to share a bit of humour.

i will start by telling a funny little story about what my six year-old daughter said this weekend:.

i played touch football this fall on weekends.

formerout

I have personally been reading a lot more of the "serious" posts lately and thought it would be good for me (and hopefully others) to share a bit of humour. I will start by telling a funny little story about what my six year-old daughter said this weekend:

I played touch football this fall on weekends. My kids have come with me to the games, weather permitting, every time they have been with me. Other parents on the team have brought out their kids as well. It was great for them and me.

We had our year-end awards and dinner party on Sunday. My kids were with me this weekend too so they came. (No booze for Brad this year.. :) ) The league administrator was on stage talking about the year and thanking people. My kids had been playing but stopped to listen to what he was saying. (The 3 of my 4 kids that were there are 7, 6 and 4.) It was cute to see them respecting him enough to pay attention, all on their own. (We were at the back of the hall, so if they had continued to play, no one would have noticed.)

After speaking for a couple of minutes to the approximately 175 people, he said, "And it would be good for all of us to recognize the Referees for the good job that they have done all year."

My six year-old daughter tapped me on the arm. As I bent down to better hear what she was going to say she looked over the room and said, "But daddy, I don't recognize any of the Referees here." What a little doll.

Post your favorite story/stories about the darndest things that your kids have said or done.

Brad

69

The Kingdom of God (The "Good News" will be preached)

by Ray of Light in

my alias is "ray of light" and i have some information to post regarding the kingdom of god.

i will present some scriptures along with some reasonings to ponder over.

jehovah, the god of abraham is a loving god, and humans are created in his image.

formerout

BrownBoy,

You Said: It is only when man chooses to kill that He must impose the same penalty of death, in order to have justice served.

The Jehovah's Witnesses' belief is that God imposed death on Adam and Eve when they ate the Apple, not when they first murdered. That sounds like a pretty mean God to me, and your statement contradicts their teaching. It might do you some good to completely erase all JW teachings from your mind before you start making prophecies. Otherwise you are going to continue to contradict yourself and you won't get any followers that way. That seems to be what you think you are: A Leader.

I have known many other delusional people and you don't really mean any harm, but you'll have better luck getting followers from people who haven't already EXITED a cult. People don't usually make BIG mistakes twice.

Brad

69

The Kingdom of God (The "Good News" will be preached)

by Ray of Light in

my alias is "ray of light" and i have some information to post regarding the kingdom of god.

i will present some scriptures along with some reasonings to ponder over.

jehovah, the god of abraham is a loving god, and humans are created in his image.

formerout

Ray,

I feel for you if you indeed did suffer a tragedy. I hope that doesn't sound insensitive, but you seem to be contradicting yourself a bit and I don't believe everything I hear when it sounds suspicious. What do you say regarding Shamus' revelation that you are in fact Brownboy?

If you are truly coming here to try to help those here, it is appreciated. However unless you come with an open mind it doesn't make it sensible. Most here had a closed mind for years/decades and have learned that a closed mind is the biggest problem. Doubts should be welcomed as a healthy check as to the validity of one's beliefs. When you or any other human on this earth refuse to do so, the reaction is quite simply, "Sorry, been there, done that."

Brad

69

The Kingdom of God (The "Good News" will be preached)

by Ray of Light in

my alias is "ray of light" and i have some information to post regarding the kingdom of god.

i will present some scriptures along with some reasonings to ponder over.

jehovah, the god of abraham is a loving god, and humans are created in his image.

formerout

Ray of Light,

You can pretty much just read what I said in my last post so as to determine how much I value your need for proof and your own insult of FMZ. You're probably gonna take a shit-kicking here anyway. Don't take it personal. Take it as a chance to expand the mind.

Brad