BluesBrother

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Posts by BluesBrother

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  16

  Do Jehovah's Witnesses shun non-believers and those who leave the faith?

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  graeme hammond writes:.

  in his 2002 book that examined the behaviour and practices of jehovah’s witnesses, english sociologist andrew holden devoted an entire chapter to the trauma and friction experienced by those who choose to leave the jehovah’s witness religion.

  “those who do eventually break free,” he concluded, “are seldom allowed a dignified exit.”.

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  BluesBrother

  If you have a reason to keep the lines of communication open it is not too difficult to do the slow fade. At least in my case , the elders could not have cared less.

  Admittedly it should not be necessary. One ought to be able to leave , even join another church if you want to without censure, but it is not impossible to escape. I accept that I make compromises but this is to continue living with a devout JW wife. However I am lucky that she is not your textbook Witness and tolerates me as I am . Actually we get on better than we ever did in the days when I served the Borg .
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  33

  Former Elder, Pioneer and WT Writer Earns 9 Science Degrees - Jerry Bergman, Ph.D., BiologyJerry Bergman, Ph.D., Biology

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jerry bergman, ph.d., biology.

  biography.

  jerry bergman has taught biology, genetics, chemistry, biochemistry, anthropology, geology, and microbiology at northwest state college in archbold oh for over 25 years.

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  BluesBrother

  That was an amazing read, well worth taking the time to carefully take it all in. What an amazing man , academic, and artisan… Perhaps I am impressed because his conclusions are similar to my own. I accept that many will disagree but I am happy to agree to differ.

  I am glad that this was posted and I have bookmarked his bio.
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  14

  Lonesome time of year

  by road to nowhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  cold, dark.

  isolation on top of it this year.

  i am sick of sappy xmas music and tv shows.. i always reflect on what religion has done to my family.

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  BluesBrother

  I said yesterday that I am glad that we don’t. do it. . ….Now however I can’t help feeling a little strange. It is 7.30 Christmas morning . Outside is pitch dark and as quiet as the grave.

  It is not that I miss presents or the food but I have sense of emptiness , that the whole world has something that I and others don’t have. Maybe I miss the company, the warmth of a family gathering… although Covid might interfere with that these days.

  As a witness at least we had a sense of purpose, when I was young we all used to go out on the Ministry this day … we stood alone,together, proud of our stand against the “pagan” world . Now there is nothing…

  I realise I am not making much sense… Oh well, I am sure the day will improve, spend time with my wife, later watch a film on tv, play some music. It will soon be gone.
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  16

  R movies

  by road to nowhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  witnesses never watch r movies.

  but they understand references to wood chippers and banjo music.. other than that the rating system is not worldwide .

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  BluesBrother

  I never came across an official rule not to see R rated films, ( equals an 18 certificate in UK )

  Plenty of dubs have made it their own rule but it is hardly an effective way of finding “ wholesome “ entertainment . A lot of films with a PG or 12 certificate contain stuff that may offend .

  When I was in the congregation I found there was always someone who would object to whatever you did. I used to make my own decisions and keep quiet
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  14

  Lonesome time of year

  by road to nowhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  cold, dark.

  isolation on top of it this year.

  i am sick of sappy xmas music and tv shows.. i always reflect on what religion has done to my family.

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  BluesBrother

  This is a difficult time of year , made worse by Covid. People like us find it strange because we don’t fit in. Like Punk , in his post above, I find the whole Christmas thing a big bore. I wouldn’t like the food , and who wants to pull crackers like children?

  I am glad my wife doesn’t want to do it.

  So, our friend’Road to Nowhere’ you are certainly not alone , but try and find reasons for positive thought . Things will get better … you’ll see.
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  8

  Governing Body Helpers

  by Iamallcool in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you know anything more about them?

  what is their history?

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  BluesBrother

  It was back in 1992 that they announced the appointment of these helpers. They were to assist the GB and be from the “other sheep “ They were likened to the non Israelites who did menial work to help the priests at the Temple.

  I don’t know exactly what they do perhaps research articles? Or make low grade decisions on matters……..

  We have seen some of them doing monthly broadcasts and one or two have made their way into the GB when a new member was required, so it is an excellent launching pad. (They seem to suddenly get the “upward call” when in that position)
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  7

  Is Flipper OK?

  by Iamallcool in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/20/us/california-earthquake/index.html.

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  BluesBrother

  I have not seen that quake reported over here , yet, so it was a surprise……

  I hope someone told Flipper that he was asked about and remembered on here .

  I wish everybody well.
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  22

  Commenting Ban?

  by Iamallcool in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you think the watchtower will ban commenting at the meetings one day?

  if you are pimo, you might want to try to make some comments to make others think about the “truth”!

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  BluesBrother

  No , the Q and A discussion is a basic of their meetings. When I was a a Watchtower conductor I used to welcome the interesting answers, I’ld purposely call on those who would add something to the meeting. That is the way we did it in the old days and those who were my mentors knew how to do it and still end on time.

  The ones I have seen in recent years seem scared of answers not from the paragraph, I don’t think they have the confidence to know if they are right or wrong.

  If they decide to punish someone they will pointedly ignore their hand, letting them know they are in the doghouse.
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  8

  New light and confessing to congregations.

  by asp59 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  2017 - wt: the gb is neither inspired or infallible and can err in doctrine and organisational matters... clearly gb have received biblical information about things that been done wrong.

  not from god directly, but letters received at headquarters.

  if important new light about biblical matters have come to the gb attention, why are they not telling the congregations about that information?

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  BluesBrother

  By “They” I mean the GB, their Helpers all the Bethel Heavies at locations around the World....the ones that really understand what the Org. is all about.

  I believe they are so indoctrinated, so institutionalised that they cannot see beyond their conviction that they are part of God’s Organisation. Anything could change, literally everything, but “ It’s the Truth isn’t it” will always be believed. The same goes for a fair number of the r and f dubs who have given it their lives.
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  23

  Just how much of a dramatic FLOP is this NEW LIGHT?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1xpxxtqvys.

  your opinion, please, on the above video.

  1. before jesus, humans were judged either by the law (jews and converts) or by natural law (noahide law).

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  BluesBrother

  Jackson said (as I recall) “Up to know we have believed that the practicing of good or vile things occurs after their resurrection in the New World “

  Er.. No.. in all my years of believing, up the end of the 1990s, I was taught that it was about what they had done in their first life. Those who had practiced vile things would find it harder, perhaps too difficult to change and be righteous. For those ones it would turn out to be a res. of judgment because after a time to give them opportunities they would be “removed” ie. zapped from on high by Jesus,

  Now perhaps in recent years they had changed it and I missed it , but that is what I , and I am sure others always understood..

  Mind you, it is all a nonsense anyway.. it saddens me to think of the time I spent believing this stuff and the years I lived in hope of seeing dear old Mother again. Oh well, onwards with eyes open now