Billgoat said:
zen nudist,
Ray Franz is alive and well in Georgia. But he is a man in his 70s/80's that probably would love some privacy and enjoy his last few years with his wife Cynthia. If I was that age, spent that much time wasting my life for some cult that gave me NOTHING, I'm not so sure I'd have the emotional or physical stamina to put up with some of the BS of an anti-JW website. I would most likely help where I could help and enjoy my LIFE.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that, although I wouldn't change one second of my past, being a recovering exJW does not MAKE me. It is a very important part of who I am, and why I am who I am, but it is not me in entirety. I'd like to think that I am much more than just an exJW.
Andi
inquirer -- I agree with everything you said! Good on you! God bless!
inquirer
JoinedPosts by inquirer
-
51
Why DOESN'T Ray Franz post here?
by AlmostAtheist insilly question.
he wrote the best known ex-jw book.
the title is even known among faithful dubs.. it's hard to imagine that he's not interested in the topic.
-
-
inquirer
-
51
Why DOESN'T Ray Franz post here?
by AlmostAtheist insilly question.
he wrote the best known ex-jw book.
the title is even known among faithful dubs.. it's hard to imagine that he's not interested in the topic.
-
-
inquirer
AlmostAtheist said:
It's also hard to imagine that he doesn't know the forum exists. While I could imagine any dub or ex-dub at random not knowing about it, Ray's actually been visited/called/emailed by members of the forum. Surely he's been made aware of the forum's existence.
And of course, there's always the possibility that he DOES post here, or at least visit. No need to admit his real identity.
inquirer -- Believe you me he does know this site exist! He must! Because I sent him a link to this site when the discussion came up about the 2 new Governing Body members -- He thanked me for showing him.
God bless the man. I would sincerely would like to meet him in the resurrection... I am certain Ray will get one.
But everybody would be talking to him all the time. He'd be like a celebrity here and would be bombarded with questions and comments all the time. Everytime He'd make a thread, everyone would respond to it. I think because he's got that "celebrity status," he would post here on top of the "negativity" reason.
Apparently Bruce (pictured in my avatar) use to post on his site screamforme.com -- and no one believed it was him. And people were a bit smart allic towards him and thought "I don't deserve to be treated like this," and unregistered. You have to admit, this could happen to Ray as well. I can't blame people for being cynical about if it's celebrity xyz or not. -
6
Who the hell is this?
by inquirer in.
.
http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1m2gfbg7b7pg43dueeccwmnb1e .
-
-
inquirer
what about this then?http://s9.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3ALWM7ICLNO9N05VZLIK8O4V75
-
6
Who the hell is this?
by inquirer in.
.
http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1m2gfbg7b7pg43dueeccwmnb1e .
-
-
inquirer
I love the way he sounds -- it's cool.
Hey, what do you think of this? Is it too over done? -
6
Who the hell is this?
by inquirer in.
.
http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1m2gfbg7b7pg43dueeccwmnb1e .
-
-
-
37
What religions did you seek since leaving? Or not?
by dezpbem ini'm curious how many people on the board have looked into other religions or spirituality groups since they've left the jw.. what have you looked into?
did you join anything else?
read up on any others?
-
-
inquirer
In the past, I've had brief interests in Deism and if I was preached with the Gnostic gospel and concepts -- I would intially find this a very interesting belief indeed if I hadn't got the 'real' Christ! But because I got the 'original' Christianity first everything else seemed to fit in place.
Even though I have a negative view of JW's and mainstream Christianity -- I believe that just about all Christians do good -- the best thing they do (if they do it) is teach people the Bible and encourage people to make a better life for themselves, teach people to be a "good samaritan," etc. No matter what strange doctrines they add! I saw a book at Dymocks called -- The Bible for Dummies -- I should grab myself a copy oneday -- But it's just too damn expensive at the moment! I think books like these really help people to find Christ and God. Although out-of-date it's nice that the KJV is free to the public and you can read it at hotels. Mel Gibson with his Passion movie -- helps also. There are various ways to get the gospel out there -- I think God wants us to embrace technology (which is really "applied philosophy") and not just knock on people's doors and scare the life out of people about Armageddon coming to get ya.
Sorry if this is preachy, because I know there are a lot of non-Christians on this board, but this topic opens up a lot of thoughts! :) -
37
What religions did you seek since leaving? Or not?
by dezpbem ini'm curious how many people on the board have looked into other religions or spirituality groups since they've left the jw.. what have you looked into?
did you join anything else?
read up on any others?
-
-
inquirer
I don't think I could join another religion after being a JW -- I think it's a bit hypocritical of me if I joined another church.
In my opinion we shouldn't look at the JW's as being the most evil organization and then join another religion -- particularly the mainstream ones. Other religions have their faults I consider major... There are pedophiles and shunners their too. People in strange things like hellfire, trinitarianism, evolutionists, apocrypha, imagery, forcing money to be passed around and expect you to give where you should only give out of your heart!... wooden sits you can't sit on -- at least JW's give you proper seats. Even if I did except mainstream Christianity I just couldn't sit on wooden seats! I'm a comforts man! I don't want to have a sore bottom when I get up!
All religions indirectly have copied Judaism really... Twist or bend the basic concepts and wolla! There's a new religion and some guru/priest/preacher/monk says believe it or die or the equivalent of "f--- u" using spiritual language. -
44
so many questions, such little support
by had2bhime inim brand new here, just signed up today.
i have more questions than i can remember.
i was very excited to see that other witnesses have so many questions just as i do.
-
-
inquirer
They are that religion that owns that breakfast cereal - Sanitarium. As I said they believe in the trinity, they are vegetarians (a lot are.) They have their own learning institutions, don't eat pork, preach at your door sometimes (Last time they came to my door they were asking donations) One of the main oddities about this religion is that the Saturday is the Sabbath day! "Happy sabbath!" as they call it. A lot of people don't respect the organization and find them weird like the JW's and Mormons, but not quite cult-like as these two just mentioned.
-
44
so many questions, such little support
by had2bhime inim brand new here, just signed up today.
i have more questions than i can remember.
i was very excited to see that other witnesses have so many questions just as i do.
-
-
inquirer
@had2bhime (italic your questions)
I- Is the Quran the truth or is it just stolen ideas from other religions put together by a mad man or a man who was quite possibly visited by a demon rather than an angel?
The sources of the Koran be reduced to six:
* The Old Testament (canonical and apocryphal) and the hybrid Judaism of the late rabbinical schools. During Mohammed's time the Jews were numerous in many parts of Arabia, especially around Medina. Familiarity's with them is undoubtly responsible for many Old Testament stories alluded to in Koran. Later Judaism and Rabbinism are equally well represented (Geiger, "Was hat Mohammed aus dem Judenthum aufgenommen?", Wiesbaden, 1833; tr. Judaism and islam", Madras, 1898).
* The New Testament (canonical and apocryphal) and various heretical doctrines. On his journeys between Syria, Hijaz, and Yemen, Mohammed had every opportunity to come in close touch with Yemenite, Abyssinian, Ghassanite, and Syrian Christians, especially heretic. Hence, while the influence of orthodox Christianity upon the Koran has been slight, apocryphal and heretical Christian legends, on the other hand, are one of the original sources of Koranic faith. (See Muir, op. cit. infra, 66-239; Tisdall, "The Original Sources of the Qur'an", London, 1905, 55-211.)
* Sabaism, a combination of Judaism, Manicheism, and old disfigured Babylonian heathenism.
* Zoroastrianism. On account of Persia's political influence in the north-eastern part of Arabia, it is natural to find Zoroastrian elements in the Koran.
* Hanifism, the adherents of which, called Hanifs, must have been considerable in number and influence, as it is known from contemporary Arabian sources that twelve of Mohammed's followers were members of this sect.
* Native ancient and contemporary Arabian heathen beliefs and practices. Wellhausen has collected in his "Reste des arabischen Heidentums" (Berlin, 1897) all that is known of pre-Islamic Arabian heathen belief, traditions, customs, and superstitions, many of which are either alluded to or accepted and incorporated in the Koran. From the various sects and creeds, and Abul-Fida, the well-known historian and geographer of the twelfth century, it is clear that religious beliefs and practices of the Arabs of Mohammed's day form one of the many sources of Islam. From this heathen source Islam derived the practices of polygamy and slavery, which Mohammed sanctioned by adopting them. (from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08692a.htm)- Are the JW the only ones who acknowledge the name of god and use it in their religion?
No. There is a church group in America called the Church of Yahweh.
- Why are the "elders" allowed to kick out or as i feel "judge" another witness?
They are spies. They are told to look out for potential "apostates" in the religion. An anonymous one reports them the elders, the elders kick them out as disfellowshipped. They are a very legalistic organization.
- Is it really logic to think that a loving and caring god would condemn his creation to hell?
No it's not. I agree with the JW's on no hellfire. There is no such place as hell. The dead are concious of nothing.
- What is the closest religion to the truth other than JW?
Take a long bow (and if you forget about the trinity) Seventh Day Adventist. That's where they got all their doomsday dates from!
-
7
Watchtower Library 1995
by OddNameClay ini have a copy of the watchtower library 1995 cd, but i have 98 on my computer and i need to know if there is anyway i can run the 95 program on 98. does anyone know?
-
-
inquirer
Maybe what I say defeats it's purpose, but Windows 98 is pretty old (Microsoft doesn't even have a support desk for it anymore) and I think because it's an old operating system it's running on it's last legs. I think just about everyone on here has the Watchtower Library CD 2001 edition. It's a lot better and of course it has more Watchtower articles on it leading up to the year 2001.
I use to have the 1993 edition until only about 2 years ago can you believe? But back then, I didn't use it online to debate Watchtower issues because I was so scared to look at sites like this! I mainly only used it for personal questions on the Bible and a quick look up on Bible issues. So I don't know maybe try another edition of the Watchtower Library CD -- maybe my really old dinosaur edition. :) Or maybe (I don't suggest this, be careful) take a risk and try to put on the 2001 edition -- you never know!
Have you tried uninstalling it and installing it again?