Posts by Bona Dea

16

How do they love the 'unbelievers'? Worship Book (chap 2)

by ozziepost in

at the last district convention, the book "worship the only true god" was released intended to be used along with the "knowledge" book on home bible studies.

both books are to be studied before baptism.

so, what are the 'new recruits' learning?

Bona Dea

My husband and I began studying with witnesses about 5 years ago. It was very informal at first, and basically just us asking them what they really believed and why. We live in the bible belt (down in Georgia - or Georgie, as most locals pronounce it) and no one ever talks to the witnesses around here...and there were several tales circulating regarding what witnesses believe. So, the first year was mostly just separating fact from fiction. We live right beside Franklin County, which is one of the few territories in the US that they haven't covered. There are constantly folks coming in from other congregations to help cover it. My husband and I are probably some of the fortunate few in these parts who've been introduced to "the truth" (lucky us, huh?)

Anyway, back to what I was saying...I went way off subject there. Eventually we began the Knowledge book and then the Worship book. We also covered the trinity brochure and the "what does god require of us" brochure. I never even noticed the things to which you are referring, but then again, I probably wouldn't have. I would now, though. I never even noticed the constant references to the FDS and the inability to understand the bible apart from them, until I had stopped attending the meetings then went back to hear one of my husbands talks. That same night, a brother gave a talk and likened helping charities to running back into a town to save victims when a volcano is erupting. He more or less said they should warn them and run like hell...but do not go back in to try save anyone. Their doom is imminent and you will go down with them!! It completely shocked me. I wondered how long I had been hearing things like that and never even realized it. Anyhow...yeah...they studied both books with us. First the Knowledge and then the worship. We were pretty much putty in their hands by the time we began the worship book....

Sadie

38

What is wrong with my family?

by Nickey in

i love my family.

but i've been stressed and depressed because of them.

and i just need to gain some understanding.. being raised in a jw family laid alot of pressure and guilt on me.

Bona Dea

Of course NY is a filthy, disgusting place. That's why the WT chose it as it's world HQ. In ancient times I'm sure they would have located in the thriving metroplex of Sodom/Gomorrah. LMAO....too funny... Nickey, Now is the time to break free. You are 22. Do you realize that a lot of people are already finished with college at your age, beginning or already settled into a career, married, have children, etc? You are an adult. You are able to make your own choices and live with the consequences of those choices. You are at an age where you are aware of what the consequences of those choices will be and can make an informed decision, knowing full well what will result from your actions. If you want to go to NY, then go. Just do it. But if you would rather please your family, then don't. But realize the power and responsibility is in your hands. You may not like the fact that if you decide to go, that your family will be angry, but that is beyond your control. That reaction is their choice. Realize what is in your power to control, and what is not. You can choose what you do with your life, you cannot choose how others will react to it. Go..... Have fun in NY!!! Sadie

18

Were there other Christs?

by JH in

jw
friends

matthew 24:5 .

5. for many shall come in my name, saying, i am christ; and shall 1deceive many.

that was written 2000 years ago.

Bona Dea

Christ: \Christ\, n. [L. Christus, Gr. ?, fr. ? anointed, fr. chri`ein to anoint. See Chrism.] The Anointed; an appellation given to Jesus, the Savior. It is synonymous with the Hebrew Messiah.

Christ: anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.),

Source : Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Christ: Christ, anointed

Source : Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Messiah: (Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests (Ex. 28:41; 40:15; Num. 3:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Sam. 9:16; 16:3; 2 Sam. 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" (Ps.45:7); i.e., he embraces in himself all the three offices.

Source : Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Messiah: Messiah, anointed

Source : Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

So, apparently, "Christ" or "Messiah" can technically be anyone who is anointed...

I found this interesting too...personally, I think this is the "Christ" that we were being warned about :

Messiah: Ghost dance \Ghost dance\ A religious dance of the North American Indians, participated in by both sexes, and looked upon as a rite of invocation the purpose of which is, through trance and vision, to bring the dancer into communion with the unseen world and the spirits of departed friends. The dance is the chief rite of the

Ghost-dance, or

Messiah, religion, which originated about 1890 in the doctrines of the Piute Wovoka, the Indian Messiah, who taught that the time was drawing near when the whole Indian race, the dead with the living, should be reunited to live a life of millennial happiness upon a regenerated earth. The religion inculcates peace, righteousness, and work, and holds that in good time, without warlike intervention, the oppressive white rule will be removed by the higher powers. The religion spread through a majority of the western tribes of the United States, only in the case of the Sioux, owing to local causes, leading to an outbreak.

Sadie

7

Non Christian Theists

by logansrun in

jw
friends

are there any non-christian theists on this board?

i ask because it seems that there are two polarities for the members here: either some form of evangelicalized christian or atheist.

but, has anyone managed to go a different route?

Bona Dea

someone who believes in God for non-rational reasons

That would fit me. Over the past year and half I have lost all faith in the bible and have no desire to be involved in any "religion". I consider myself to be Agnostic, however I still believe in the possibility of a god...and have no proof of this possible god's existance and no real reason to believe except that at one point in my life I felt a euphoric connection with some unseen presence. It was almost an indescribable experience. And it didn't happen while I was attending any church or subscribing to any system of beliefs. It just happened. So, perhaps this experience is the reason why I am not so eager to completely trash the idea of "something more". I know there is absolutely no rational reason what-so-ever to believe that there is anything more to my existance than what I see, but I am just not willing to close my mind to the possibilities. Perhaps I am just not ready to strip away all the mystery from life and only accept it in its basest and tangible form.

Sadie

42

I AM PREGNANT!!!

by kelpie in

i cannot believe that i am pregnant and finally going to have a baby of my own!!!!!!

yahhhhh for me.

my first born is due on christmas eve.. we are all very excited here..... .

Bona Dea

Congratulations!!!!

What an awesome feeling...being the host of a brand new life. I wish you and your husband (and the little bambino) the best... You are in for one wild ride. But it will be so much fun, scary at times but well worth it!!

Great idea about keeping a journal. I wish so badly that I had done this with my children. I did good to keep their baby journals filled out (kinda slacked on that a little too). But it would be a nice thing to look back on and have a record of those memories (the mind sometimes doesn't function too well at retaining all the important details).

Have a very happy , joyous , glorious pregnancy!!!

Sadie

86

What is the CD in your collection that you've listened to the most?

by DanTheMan in

.

just asking because i'm wanting to expand my musical horizons, looking for some new artists to get into.. my all time most-listened-to cd (and we're talking hundreds of listenings):.

thanks for sharing!

Bona Dea

I always like "Lady Ice". I'm surprised anyone even remembers Arcadia. I liked the Power Station, too. What can I say...I just loved Duran Duran...so anything they were a part of, I loved.

Sadie

86

What is the CD in your collection that you've listened to the most?

by DanTheMan in

.

just asking because i'm wanting to expand my musical horizons, looking for some new artists to get into.. my all time most-listened-to cd (and we're talking hundreds of listenings):.

thanks for sharing!

Bona Dea

Kate Bush: Hounds of Love

Sarah Mclachlan: Fumbling Towards Ecstacy

Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes

Deep Forest: Boheme

Beatles: White Album

Bjork: Post

Portishead: Dummy

Loreena McKennitt: Mask and Mirror

Music from Moulin Rouge (LOVE that movie!!)

Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)

Aphex Twin: i care because you do

Psychic TV: Trip Reset

D2: Notorious

Depeche mode: Violator

Arcadia: So red the rose

20

do you feel a memorial on a hwy is offense?

by kls in

jw
friends

here in wisconsin, around 6months ago we had a terrible crash on one of our freeways because of fog and driveing to fast for conditions.there were many casualities, anyway many persons who loved ones died in that crash have memorials at the sight such as crosses ,flowers ,etc.well it seems the county were this happened wrote letters to all persons leaving memorials to stop ,their saying it is a road hazard and a distraction to drivers.well now we hear it is non religious people are complaining , saying it is offense to them to have to drive by these shrines.

i feel if they dont like it they should close their eyes.

lol what do you think.

Bona Dea

...guess I do need to chill

No, I wouldn't care if someone erected a memorial in my front yard if it helped them with their grieving process, but that's just me. And I do agree that the south is fundy to the core (I'm in GA). Personally, I've never witnessed them exploiting this type of situation...but I have been to the occassional funeral where a pastor or two preached a sermon rather than a eulogy (now that is tacky!). Brings to mind that song by the Beatles about Eleanor Rigby (can't remember the name of the song). Yep, it's a lonely world for someone like me round these parts...surrounded by rednecks and bible thumpers*...lol...

Sadie (and I ain't got no dang "issues"**)

Scoot*** over Ravyn and pass the chocolate please....

* before anyone slams me...that was a joke

** that was a joke. I definitely have my own special set of issues...

*** note my fancy southern lingo

20

do you feel a memorial on a hwy is offense?

by kls in

jw
friends

here in wisconsin, around 6months ago we had a terrible crash on one of our freeways because of fog and driveing to fast for conditions.there were many casualities, anyway many persons who loved ones died in that crash have memorials at the sight such as crosses ,flowers ,etc.well it seems the county were this happened wrote letters to all persons leaving memorials to stop ,their saying it is a road hazard and a distraction to drivers.well now we hear it is non religious people are complaining , saying it is offense to them to have to drive by these shrines.

i feel if they dont like it they should close their eyes.

lol what do you think.

Bona Dea

I say deprivation of compassion is a serious ailment. If we can't allow people to freely grieve for lost loved ones in their own way, what kind of people are we? That we get all pissed off at these people for "littering" who've lost moms, dads, husbands, children because we're concerned that it looks "trashy". I say grow a f-ing heart. Who gives a flying crap that my, yours, and even the grievers tax dollars are paying for the maintenance side of the road? We'd be paying for it regardless.

And I am not a fundie. And personally, I do not feel that someone planting a cross as a memorial to the death of a loved one is being "preachy", but that is my opinion. I am agnostic and I couldn't imagine being offended by someone expressing their grief in this way. If I got my bowels in an uproar everytime I saw a cross or someone exercising a freedom of speech or religion that was contrary to mine, then I would be in a mess (pun intended). And anyway, I doubt any of them are thinking of converting, pushing their religion, or trying to violate anyone's freedoms when they erect these memorials. As a matter of fact, I am quite sure that that is the very last thing on their minds.

People who profess zero belief in god can still be compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic. If mourners want to put plastic crosses, teddy bears, ceramic angels, whatever, I could care less. And it is the fault of the driver passing by who allows him/herself to be distracted by it. That's like saying, "Stop planting azaleas and forsythia too close to the road. There just too darn beautiful and drivers are distracted by it"..."Take down all billboard advertisements and wordy signs! People are getting distracted." Puhleez. Personally, I've never been in that situation (lost someone in a car accident), but if I ever were I would hope people could at least try to be sympathetic of my misery. If you want to bust somebody's balls about street litter, rally on about those who clean out their cars while driving down the road, or those who use it for a landfill but, jesus h christ, leave these pitiful mourners the hell alone!!

Perhaps I am just fed up to my limit with American Xtian Fundamentalism. But if I see one more cross I just might sue. Free speech, but on public property others' rights are just as valid as my own and neutrality should be maintained (enforced even if people can't manage to do it on their own!)

I think you've hit the nail on the head. This discussion is NOT about American Xtian fundieism...it is about people who have had loved one's to die and are trying to deal with it in their own way. Pretty basic human function...grief. This subject is obviously dredging up other issues for you that are not really related to this topic. If you feel that your rant or your tyrannical idea about how this situation should be handled (i.e. "enforced even if people can't manage to do it on their own!") is "neutral" when your entire response reeked of bias and anti-Xtianfundieism, then perhaps you should reevaluate your post and try to do so objectively. I mean this with this utmost sincerity...

Take care

Sadie

82

Daughter counselled on dating a wordly guy

by minimus in

jw
friends

my daughter recieved this email from one of her witness "friends".

she is counseling my daughter (indirectly) about her choice to date a "worldly" guy.. hey, so, we had a talk recently that was about love & respect in your marriage.

the brother brought out that this was more for us witnesses rather than worldly people, because it seems that even in the truth now marriage has lost it's correct place.

Bona Dea

Minimus,

This is really sad. I am sorry for your daughter because it sounds like, in all ways, she is trying to follow her heart and keep the peace. Your daughter's letter was very nice. I liked the advice that another poster gave:

I think your daughter, if she chooses to re-reply, needs to get to the point. SHE sees no reason why she should lose her friend's friendship or love. Her FRIEND is choosing to do that based on unreasonable conditions. She can only hope that the relationship she is developing with her boyfriend and with others will not be so easily lost for no reason. However, she will always be there for her friend, even if her friend cannot be there for her.

(my heart is broken at the thought of possibly losing you over a worldly guy) It really is her friends choice. Your daughter is not choosing anyone "over" anyone. This "friend" has put your daughter in a position of "him or me". And that is 100% wrong!! All your daughter can do is, if she wants to keep the friendship open, pretty much tell her "friend" like it is, and end it on an "I will always be here for you if you ever need me" note. This conditional friend stuff is something I just can't grasp. A friend is a friend no matter what (well with a few minor exceptions). Even if I disagree with what my friends do (which is often), I realize I am not their Lord and it is not my place to tell them what to do with their lives...and nothing they do, think, feel changes the fact that I love them and will always be here for them (excepting they do something vile like molest a child or kill someone, then I may have to think on the matter).

Sadie