Posts by blacksheep

50

Interesting quote - October 1, 98 WT

by Dawn in

jw
friends

if we want to worship god acceptably, we must know the truth.

this is an important issue.

our eternal happiness depends on it.

blacksheep

"The Crisis of Conscience iis a most interesting book but I have some difficulty with anyone who has been converted in at least an intellestual sense for most of his life and then suuddenly goes from one form Christianity to some other form of Chriustianity."

Hmm...so how do feel about the thousands upon thousands (probably millions) of JWs who went from one form of "Christianity" (of course "false Christianity") to another form of Christianity (JW, i.e. "true Christianity)?

Further, it seems to me one who exchanged one form of socalled Christianity for another isn't in a "spiritual vacuum." I think you'd have more luck with calling me, an ex-JW who's basically an agnostic, in a "spritual vacuum." I'm far from it, btw, but just trying to follow you interesting logic.

49

Reasons Why We Like or Love Jehovahs-Witness Discussion

by minimus in

jw
friends

every once in a while we get disturbed or annoyed over something that takes place here.

for a change, let's express reasons why we're happy to be here.......i'll give one reason amongst many.

there are so many enlightening posters here!

blacksheep

I really love the fact that this is a forum whose members *really* can relate to the JW impact on my life. As most of us here might experience, it's really hard to find people to talk to who know the in's and out's of this cultic experience and are attempt to productively move on with their lives. In that past, a lot of people I spoke with might have had a very minimal understanding/contact with JWs. Some of them said, "Oh, I knew "x" was a JW. She is so nice and polite." They saw only the surface "goodness" that JWs try relentlessly to show the rest of the world. I was always reluctant to drag in the details of the REAL truth because generally it sounded like sour grapes, and/or they'd think I had a persecution complex.

Anyway, had this forum existed 20 years ago, I think I'd experience a lot less pain. And I would have left a lot sooner.

12

Embarassment: At the Door - No. 1

by Amazing in

jw
friends

we have all had some bad moments at the door ... i have had my share ... so, i thought i would share mine in a series of short post: .

i was working in a territory with a group, going door to door.

we broke up and worked individually.

blacksheep

I was embarrassed every time I went out in field service. But I recall an elder (for those of you who read the thread on "dumbest things you were counseled on," this was the same elder who "counseled" me regarding anorexia), relating one of HIS most embarrassing field service moments.

He opened his discussion about concern for the future. He looked down at the woman's mid section and said, "I am sure, as you are expecting a child, you are very concerned about what the future will hold for your baby."

You probably all know where this is going. The woman said flatly, "I'm not expecting a baby." Needless to say, Br. Sensitivity didn't get to much further in his presentation at that door.

12

GB on a Self Self-Destruct Course

by frankiespeakin in

jw
friends

the governing body continues to surround itself with yes-men.

protected inside the walls of watchtower's brooklyn bethel, they have practically no contact with the real world.

which means that the aging members of the governing body have little or no contact with anyone that can offer them corrective criticism.

blacksheep

I recall reading something years back saying that people who are dominated by a controlling group tend to develop highly intuitive skills: they become used to reading situations and taking appropriate action for simple survival.

I think the GB is a group that has traditionally been in the "control" class. I think they enjoyed that role in the past. But, IMO, this is part of the reason they have failed to develop the intuitive skills of reading a situation and taking a good survival stance. (Case in point: pedophiles).

IMO they are losing a grip. Their real control is dwindling (in part thanks to the Internet), and they are lost. They are acting rashly and generally inappropriately.

91

Do You Vote and/or Get Involved In Politics Now?

by minimus in

jw
friends

just curious.....

blacksheep

"To me, this recall is a complete end run around the democratic process."

What's the democracy in letter a loser stay in office to completely destroy the state? Since when did Democracy become currying favors with special interest groups who are financing you? Since when did democracy allow for breaking the law (as in allowing illegal immigrants driver's licenses).

Democracy is about letting the people decide. Sounds like a a significant group of the people don't want Davis to govern their state any longer.

Sorry, but I don't find the "you made your choice, now live with your mistake" to be a particularly compelling description of democracy.

30

Where do you believe the watchtower organization will be in 20 years?

by micheal in

jw
friends

i know if any of us had our way the org.

would be gone tomorrow.

but in realistic terms, what condition will this cruel organization be in in 20 years.. .

blacksheep

I believe they will be around: many of the members have too much emotional (and in some cases financial) investment in them. I think, however, by that time many/most of the older, die hard traditional JWs will be replaced by newer, "hipper?" lol members. As a consequence, I think many of their rigid traditional stands will have been relaxed.

In order to survive someone in tact, they'll always have some target window/date to step up the urgency of preaching. The WTS knows that if members felt there was too much time before the "end," there'd be no incentive to live the narrow JW life.

7

GOD can advise us?

by Beans in

well i was at a funeral today and i was really listening to what the pastor was saying and trying to rationalize the message he was expressing.

he said that god could not help us or explain to us why this person had passed on but he could help us understand it!.

so here we have the supposed someone or something who has the power to do all and make things right yet he will let you die but he will graciously help you understand.. what a farce this god is, one more reason for me to have no belief in this fairytale book called the bible.. beans.

blacksheep

I recall receiving an email from a very religious freind (not sure how I made it on her list), with an attachment entitled something like "Where was God on 9/11." One of the workings of God, the aricle pointed out, was that the flights weren't completely filled (so, God helped minimize the deaths). Not sure how comforting that would be to people whose loved one WERE on the flight. What was god doing to help them.

The rest of the "reasons" were similar: non-sensical, illogical attempts to make it appear that God was there to make sure things were not as bad as they could have been. Yeah, that's a real omnipotent being for you.

30

"I Guess We Won"t See It In This System Of Things..."

by minimus in

jw
friends

that is a common jw statement.... what could they be referring to??

?

blacksheep

"But I find it so weird when I reflect upon that expression."

Probably because the farther you get away from the JW cult, the more non-sensical their notions seem. Cults generally possess a dialog all their own that solidifies them and helps explain reality without thinking too much. "This sytem of things" means life before Armageddon, which is bad, godless, run by greedy ruthless people, as well as Christendom and Babylon the Great. The entire "system of things" is bad, bad, bad. Wait on Jehovah for the "new system of things".

Sort of like JW's referring to their cult membership as being "in the Truth." Sounds ludicrous when you think about it. To the rest of us the "truth" doesn't categorically apply to one's entire way of life and belief systems. It's merely the opposite of a lie. (Interestingly, JW's are careful to refer to it as the "truth" only to other members; they must realize how ridiculous it sounds. For example, recently, a JW relative was giving me an update on an old friend we knew. She was careful to say, "she's not a witness anymore or anything like that..." Had I not been disassociated, she would have described her as no longer "in the Truth."

81

Bowling for Columbine

by drwtsn32 in

i just watched this documentary tonight and enjoyed it.

it's amazing to me the number of gun-related murders in the us... over 11,000 in one year.

i don't remember the exact figure, but canada, japan, and germany combined had less than 500 gun-related murders.

blacksheep

Michael Moore is a propagandist who takes great liberty with "facts," to support whatever agenda he's pushing. Yet he seems to be quick to slam others whose POV's he doesn't agree with for doing the same thing. I have no respect for the man.

30

"The meek shall inherit the earth"

by plmkrzy in

the meek shall inherit the earth.

what exactly do you think this means??

i was thinking about that line in the bible.

blacksheep

"The meek shall inherit the earth."

I read a great bumpersticker that said: "The meek are contesting the will."