Good point, Gumby. I keep going back over and over again to the point that I was taught, by the WTBTS that no matter what kind of good you did, if you set yourself up as something you're not (god's true religion, as they applied to Christendom) that it really doesn't matter, if you lie. I used to look at the way they treated Catholics. Now, I'm no fan of the Catholic Church, but JW's would not even have the bible if it weren't for faithful monks who spent their whole lives transcribing. They had orphanages, Mother Theresa, schools, they feed the poor(we, as JW's when I was growing up were discouraged from even participating in canned food drives) Does any one else remember this? WE WERE DISCOURAGED FROM PARTICIPATING IN CANNED FOOD DRIVES FOR THE POOR! It used to kill me. I'm a rabid charity giver now.
Now, if they want to put on a good face, do a little non agenda charity work and if some hurting people benefit--Then great. Maybe they're even changing! But what they held out for Christendom applies to them. When you're lying, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you do all the good in the world. You worship the kind of god that focuses on the negative. Look at the Catholic CHurch, it never mattered what good they had ever done, all they only focused on the fact that they lied and killed people. Which they did. The WTBTS lies, AND kills peoples' souls, and has been spiritually responsible for many deaths due to a not well thought out blood policy.
Just my two cents.
Bridgette
Bridgette
JoinedPosts by Bridgette
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34
Did Bethel Really let 900 rescue workers...
by Esmeralda in...stay in their facilities?.
my sister just called me, with the idea of 'comforting' me wt style (bad idea *lol*) i shut her down by saying "i respect that these are your religious views, but they are not mine.
" that managed to shut her up finally.. before that, though she volunteered this info, i was wondering if anyone can confirm it?.
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Bridgette
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34
Did Bethel Really let 900 rescue workers...
by Esmeralda in...stay in their facilities?.
my sister just called me, with the idea of 'comforting' me wt style (bad idea *lol*) i shut her down by saying "i respect that these are your religious views, but they are not mine.
" that managed to shut her up finally.. before that, though she volunteered this info, i was wondering if anyone can confirm it?.
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Bridgette
Seeker,
You wrote: "Well, their initial reaction was bad, and represents their true heart inclination
-- take care of themselves, and ignore everyone else."
To this, I say amen! I also agree with your sentiment, that if they're doing right, let's call it right. I think they were probably shamed into it, but whatever works. It doesn't have to diminish in anyway the pain of our experiences in the ORG--and the fact that they have a history of lying. IF they're changing, becoming less dogmatic, more loving--I say wonderful! Maybe they've read what we "dirty apostates" have said, maybe they're learning that you can't cut human beings off from each other. I think this is a good sign. You know, people, we speak for those who are in, who cannot speak for themselves. Maybe they are mainstreaming--I say GREAT for all the people who are still "in".
Make no mistake: the rank and file hold ALL the power here. Any religion, government, organization is subject to its people. No matter WHAT they try to say. And religions are especially dependant upon their adherants (they can't tax their people like a govt, adn so are dependant upon "donations" for fiscal survival--also they can't kill their people for "policing" them, like a govt). So most rely on fear to control their masses. When the people decide they've had ENOUGH, and the entity's (that is .the organization's) survival is at risk, they'll pretty much do whatever it takes to keep those people. Now, knowing that most of those in the ORG are loving at the individual level, they will demand that their organization reflect love. The organization will evolve to meet the demands of her converts, or she will perish. Either that, or she may attempt to find some way of making them fear (fear is so much more effective and easier) But looking at the history of religious movements, my money is on evolution of the organization. They're not the worst religion on the face of the earth. It seems they started out with fairly good intentions.
Bridgette -
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Bridgette
Radar,
There is a neurologist, Dr. Neil Schraeder that is doing some pretty phenomenal research in the area of the power of the human mind. And it would appear that when you get a collective consciousness working toward the same goal (i.e, prayers to heal the sick) it really does work. I, myself, have seen spells work. It's all in our heads. BUT our "heads" are extremely powerful. I truly believe there's a scientific explanation for everything and what we call magick or miracles will be explained (already, quantum physics tells us a lot). There's a lot of research being done on the paranormal. One of my colleagues went to Duke University and told me they've got a whole section devoted to the research of the paranormal.
Anyway, I wish I had seen the program you're talking about.
Bridgette -
29
Goodbye
by troubled inafter much soul searching, i've decided to abandon this board.
i have learned a great deal, and what i've read has expanded my view.
so as i leave, i'll not be sorry for the time i spent here.
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Bridgette
Dear Troubled---
My fellow Denverite! Take heart on your journey. I hope you will return (or at least lurk). You are just one example of the humanistic good heartedness you find behind the walls of the WTBTS' dogma. There are many like you, I know. And I know they will not stay walled off forever. You cannot squelch the human spirit of love and compassion.
I often think of you, and will continue to do so. Is that you in line next to me at the grocery store? Sitting next to me in a traffic jam? Sitting in my waiting room?
Wherever you are, blessings,
Bridgette -
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Bridgette
Radar,
I used a Ouji board once in 8th grade--I was shocked that because I was a Jehovah's Witness, it didn't sprout wings and fly off, or spontaneously combust. *sigh* nothing out of the ordinary happened. Now I regularly read Tarot, and use the pendulum. I use these mediums to access my subconscious or intuition. Often they are very insightful. I never use them to "tell the future", as I don't believe in that either. I have never had any attacks or even contact with "demons". Of course, I do not beleive in demons, the devil, or even god (in the classical, biblical sense), so that's probably why. It's all the human mind and your belief system. If your belief system is based on a fear, then you will probably manifest or attract things that are fearful.
Interesting subject!
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13
I was on radio today!
by Kent inhi folks!
i was this weeks guest on the norwegian radio today, in the broadcast for our county.
naturally they wanted to speak to me about many things, other than the jw related stuff, since im also running a small business magazine, and besides that im in fact a private person with my own interests.
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Bridgette
Kent,
Thanks for your diligence and hard work in this area. A lie is a lie is a lie. However, when you put yourself up as god's ONLY spokesperson on earth (as the Society has done on behalf of itself), you are particularly reprehensible--AND resonsible. The WTBTS taught me that :) Of course, they were applying it to the oh-so-evil Christendom, but the same scales apply to them, right?
Thanks again--keep us posted.
Bridgette -
9
Mulan, Princess and Venice visit a mosque
by Mulan inon friday afternoon, the 3 of us were driving to the mall, and went past the mosque by my house (about a mile away).
there were large groups of muslims coming out, from friday afternoon prayers.
also there, were cars that had stopped to lay flowers by their sign, which had been defaced that day by some idiot.
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Bridgette
Dear Mulan and Co.
I am so glad you posted this. What a ray of hope as well as an example. I have been trying to think of ways to show support and love to those who may be suffering undue repurcussions because of this. We do not want to become the evil we puport to abhor.
Joel bear,
You are right most humans, in fact all of us are born, wanting to love one another. It's the few radicals that occasionally stir up trouble. Wouldn't it be great that, instead of this being a devisive thing, it turns out to be a uniting factor of humans within every organization, national boundary, etc. It kind of looks like that's the way it's shaping up. Those whose natural inclination is to love are doing so, and even some of the harder hearts are softening. No religion can wall off peoples' humanity forever.
Love,
B. -
15
am i normal?
by airwlk149 inok, so i am 17 almost 18. i used to have a boyfriend.
we were gonna get married this coming december, but stuff happened and we aren't now.
i had sex with him before marriage, and the bible firmly states to deaden your body memebers, which apparently we did not.
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Bridgette
A.
I'm so glad that you felt comfortable enough to reach out and share with us. I just want to add my thoughts and tell you again, this is perfectly normal--there's nothing wrong with what you're feeling.
My thoughts are somewhat like Teirce's. There is male and female (yin and yang) energies in all of us. We're just miniature blueprints of the universe, where you see the male and female energies. Sometimes these are compartmentalized or one is super dominant, sometimes, they are not. Does that make sense? In any case, Teirce is right, your soul mate is your soulmate. If yours happens to be a woman, and you are a woman, all it means is that you two were both born female in this incarnation. You two may have "played" many different roles in different incarnations.
My belief is that you have many soulmates, but only one twin flame (your "other half"). I have the good fortune to have met and married one of my soulmates. But there have been many of my soulmates who have been women in this incarnation. They are my very best friends in this world. At 18, you have a lot of exploring to do in this area. You are going to meet and get to know many people, the most important, of these people, being yourself--and if you let yourself you will love her (er, you :) more and more everyday.
I am so glad you're here! Keep us posted!
Love and Blessings,
B. -
2
A question about sex
by Evelyn inare there any jw's here that are no virgins, but are also not married?
i am not a virgin, and not married..does that mean i'll die in armeggedon?
and how is masturbation bad?
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Bridgette
Teirce,
How'd you get so smart? I think there were a lot more smiling people when we embraced our sexuality instead of shaming ourselves and others with it. aaaahhhh, the goddess days....
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What Bethel has done per their information Line
by puppylove ini just spoke to bryce at bethel information line (hopefully this was not just nytelecom1 himself).. this is what bethel has done:.
1. donated batteries and flashlights.
2. power equipment to cut through concrete.
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Bridgette
Well, I for one am glad they did what was only humanly decent, even if they had to be shamed into doing it. And yes, so far as it looks, it appears to be the equivalent of Bill Gates giving 10 dollars to the homeless. Could we shame them into doing a little more? Hey, I don't care who, what or how, just as long as those people suffering in New York get help. Oh well, it's a start. They can't wall themselves off from the world forever--it goes against human nature! There's real caring human beings in the Organization, and I'm determined to drive them out of the closet and admit that they are human beings capable of loving ALL, and showing it (NO, NOT by selling their silly magazines!--by reaching out in real ways to re connect with the human race).
Peace,
Bridgette