donny

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Posts by donny

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  36

  How many JWs really believe the end will come "soon"?

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this topic has been on my mind lately.

  i have been looking around at jws and wondering how many truly believe the end is as near as they are told.

  from my personal experience, i know that my parents fully believe the end is imminent and may come any time now.

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  donny

  The few I interact with do not seem really concerned about it anymore. Yeah they still say "we're in the last days" and all of that tripe, but there does seem to be the urgency that once used to infect the organization. A man who works for me who is an active JW told me a while back, "well the end will come when it
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  11

  Why I became agnostic after leaving the Watchtower

  by donny in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of many things that led me to agnosticism after leaving the jw's was the cognitive dissonance i encountered with those in the mainstream churches, especially the really conservative ones.

  these types would scream out in protest (rightly so) on all of the current atrocities going on in the world regarding islam and its radical extremists, but then justify the savage murders and slaughter perpetuated by israel in the old testament.. often i would take these passages and replace the names and places of these scriptures with current ones.

  for example 1 samuel 15:3 reads "now go, attack the amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them.

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  donny

  One of many things that led me to agnosticism after leaving the JW's was the cognitive dissonance I encountered with those in the mainstream churches, especially the really conservative ones. These types would scream out in protest (rightly so) on all of the current atrocities going on in the world regarding Islam and its radical extremists, but then justify the savage murders and slaughter perpetuated by Israel in the Old Testament.

  Often I would take these passages and replace the names and places of these scriptures with current ones. For example 1 Samuel 15:3 reads "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

  When I would post a statement like "Now go, attack the infidels and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys,’”
  it was rightly declared to be hateful, evil and disgusting. But as soon as I told them it was a verse out of the Bible then the song and dance began of why it was not only the correct thing to do, but was sometimes told it was the only thing they should do.

  When David and Saul returned from a battle they were met by folks chanting "Saul has killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands." Can you imagine people or a politician stating such a thing today and it being viewed as a positive thing? But again, the defenders will find a reason to put such repugnant behavior in a positive light.

  Ever since the "sola scriptura" idea became popular a few hundred years ago and the "inerrancy of scripture" a few decades ago, it has created a group of people who will defend whatever terrible atrocity has occurred in its contents as long as the "good" folks were ones committing them.

  Another, more recent interesting phenomenon, has cropped up since the American church has become bed partners with the Republican party. When I was a child in East Texas I used to remember how my grandparents and those of their generation used to criticize the Republicans because they were ungodly and lovers of money. It was a Republican president in office when with the stock market crash of 1929 occurred (Herbert Hoover).

  Also an interesting note, it was the Democrats who were associated with war during the first part of the 1900's era. Woodrow Wilson (World War 1), Franklin Roosevelt (World War 2), Korean War (Harry Truman), Vietnam (Kennedy/Johnson). All but the last one were considered necessary and are generally viewed in a good light.

  Then in the 1960's when what was the conservative political party of the majority of white church folks, the Democrats, a rebellion started when their party began taking up the mantle the Republicans started under Eisenhower in desegregating the schools. The vast majority of white southern Democrats were against this forced mingling with a people they considered to be inferior, and they rebelled. It was Alabama Democratic governor George Wallace who infamously stated ""segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever"

  The Republicans being the clever and observant party they are, saw this huge group of people that were upset at their politicians and discovered the more they peppered their speeches with the word "God" and other Christian terms the more it appealed to them. This and the Democrats greedy attempt to be all things to all people backfired and within two decades millions who were once Democrat were now Republican.

  This was an interesting marriage. A group of folks who adhered to one that spoke more about greed and the evils of excessive wealth to the party that fostered such behavior. Like the bible says "Bad associations, spoil useful habits" and this association was no exception. As the marriage grew tighter we saw the American church become less and less about the virtues of the simple life, humbleness and concern for the needy and downtrodden to one of wealth, arrogance and the need to keep folks agitated and in fear. I have heard some tell me that if Jesus were here today he would be a Republican, however it would not be the Jesus of the New Testament.

  11 years ago, when I was still a Republican, I was invited to the home of a very wealthy person in San Jose. He and a few others present were great at telling folks what they wanted to hear. When he came to me for a few moments to chat, I told him that I was for the most part agnostic. His reply is one I will never forget. "Well so am I and most of the folks here. We just have to keep mentioning God and the like to keep the Dixie folks on board."

  Since then I have become totally agnostic and a political independent. The ones running the Republican party could care less about God and country. They would abandon both in a New York minute if they had to choose between their riches and them.
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  20

  Well folks it looks like September 23, 2017 will be the new date of Armageddon, the Rapture or whatever.

  by donny in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well folks you had better get your act together because there is only about 2.5 years before you are held responsible for your way of life.

  according to "rapture watch", things are really going to start happening in 2017.. i am already asking the lord for leniency.

  http://www.rapturewatch.net/timelines.htm .

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  donny

  I think Fred Franz was cloned in the late 1800's and multiple copies were sent to several end-time groups.
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  20

  Well folks it looks like September 23, 2017 will be the new date of Armageddon, the Rapture or whatever.

  by donny in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well folks you had better get your act together because there is only about 2.5 years before you are held responsible for your way of life.

  according to "rapture watch", things are really going to start happening in 2017.. i am already asking the lord for leniency.

  http://www.rapturewatch.net/timelines.htm .

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  donny

  Well folks you had better get your act together because there is only about 2.5 years before you are held responsible for your way of life.  According to "Rapture Watch", things are really going to start happening in 2017.

  I am already asking the Lord for leniency.  

   

  http://www.rapturewatch.net/timelines.htm 
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  9

  Life On Mars?

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/nasa-finds-evidence-of-life-on-mars-9929510.html.

  perhaps life in mars would be more accurate.

  also, recent study of martian meteorites have yielded organic material.. .

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  donny

  It is there. Terry Walstrom wrote about it in his book "Monorails of Mars."
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  20

  If I Were Still A JW I Would Think We Had To Be Living At The Time Of The End!

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with all the terrible things happening on this earth, i bet most witnesses feel that jehovah god has to step in..

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  donny

  The first and second century Christians were also eagerly awaiting the end and this eventually faded for most after the Roman Catholic Church became the big daddy of anything Christian. After the Protestants broke away in the 1500's the idea of a second coming began to be spoken about again, but it really took off after William Miller prdicted the return in 1843 or 1844.

  Since then scores of people have popped up thinking he had teh right idea but the wrong math and the madness continues into the 21st century. Millions of folks still believe ol Jovy will step in in their lifetime and furture explanantions from apologists will be brought forth to explaim while he still has not stepped in.
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  65

  Did you AWAKEN from the JWs by yourself?

  by cultBgone in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was thinking about how so many posters here on jwn are frustrated and frantic to help their loved ones get away from the brainwashing of jws, and how much advice is given about how to help family members and loved ones.

  i considered my own leaving and that it was internal turmoil based on the teachings getting weirder and child abuse issues, to name just a few, and it made me wonder:.

  did you self-awaken or were you assisted by the gentle proddings of a friend or family member?

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  donny

  Yes it was on my own accord. After my first wife and I separated I began visiting libraries and came across Ray Franz's "Crisis of Conscience". After reading it I knew it was all bullshit.
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  45

  HELP ME COMPILE A LIST OF DISCARDED WORDS AND PHRASES from the WTS

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in fort worth, texas around 1959. gradually i became aware of the argot.

  special, private language).

  jw's had these phrases they used over and over again.. upon first hearing, these words and phrases stood out as odd, weird or awkward.. however.

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  donny

  And don't forget to check out Terry's latest book "Monorails of Mars."
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  26

  Be honest post do all posters on this site believe the bible is 100% or has flaws?

  by booker-t in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  we in the psychology/sociology field have a saying "when people protest too loud usually they are overcompensating".

  i did not understand that when i first started studying psychology but now i understand it completely and it is so true.

  when i hear someone constantly bashing something or someone such as gay bashing or ethnic bashing or religion bashing sometimes i wonder what are they hiding.

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  donny

  The Bible was written by humans and definitely has flaws. Because it has flaws and contradictions, you have to have apologists who have to jump through hoops to explain why flaws are not what they appear.
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  61

  THE IMPONDERABLES TOPIC (Enter at your own risk)

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i suggest taking this slowly .

  .. consider the difference between taking a poll about an upcoming election and the actual vote itself on the day of the election.. the information gathered about what the vote will be is provisional.

  the vote on the day of the election is actual and official.. it is the one that counts.. now, carefully ask yourself what the specific difference--if any--there is between the poll information and the election result as an identical knowledge of.

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  donny

  Terry must be gaving some good coffee down there in Texas! Great post.