Posts by doofdaddy

86

On the sound use of mental suicide.

by Narkissos in

jw
friends

this topic is meant as a follow-up of my recent conversation with r. crusoe on different threads.. it seems to me that the current popularisation of eckhart tolle's philosophy, resurrecting what i think is the very core of age-old mystical traditions (to put it shortly: death of the culturally constructed "self"), without the collective mythological, institutional and social settings for such an experience, is potentially very liberating but also very dangerous.. i am sensitive to that because i went through a similar experience when i left jws -- i felt both its empowering and destructive force, and, although i certainly don't claim to have dealt with it optimally (is that an adverb?

), i'm hoping that experience, good or bad, may benefit others, to an extent.

and i'm sure that i'm not alone in that case.. so i'd like this thread to be primarily supportive, even though that may include some theoretical and practical criticism.. .

doofdaddy

Well Nark, a very interesting subject for me as I have, in the last few days, been rechecking Tolle's opinions.

Firstly, I have had a similar experience (mental or ego suicide) to you and have literally faced death in the search for truth on a number of occasions since moving on from the jws. Suffice to say that I did a full circle on consciousness and reality, firstly going to the extremes of belief in illusion, even to the point of going to a shaman in Sumatra and asking for a ceremony to open my spiritual eyes (which brought on years of travel in India and a form of madness, or periods of lucid dreaming in a Jungian sense) to currently believing that ALL is reality.

Tolle, I find quite boring in approach and message. I read a lot of Krishnamurti in India and Tolle not only parrots his message but apes his manner. Imho I believe he is making people spiritually lazy (staying in the grey, which is extremely dangerous) not enlightened. At least Krishnamurti preached, find your own truth.

He is just another "guru" who will fade in time and his mantle will be taken up by another ear tickler (with followers still searching for truth without seeing the secret of personal responsibility)

But I am sure that you would agree that if we keep pushing through though as individuals, the journey is well worth it.

36

1914 & Generation What change?

by johnnyc in

i have read through many posts on this website that refer to the fact wtbts changed their viewpoint on generation and its relevance to 1914. there was just an article out in the wt (last six months) that reiterated the fact this viewpoint did not change, and that the wtbts still expects the generation who were around in 1914 to physically see the conclusion of this system and the visible second coming of jesus here on earth.

the wtbts did state they consider anyone being born in 1914 would be applicable, which is a change from earlier discussions, but they have not (from what i have seen) said that generation could pass away altogether.

sincerely i ask: if anyone has that information i would love to see it.

doofdaddy

JC

I can only tell my experience. From 1976 to 1995, I went from door to door telling people that this generation will by no means pass away before the end will come. These are people who (are of an age to appreciate what was going on say, 10 15 yrs old in 1914) saw the fulfillment of jesus prophecies as per Matthew 24 (and more importantly 1914). It was consistently high lighted by the organisation that it must be SO CLOSE as they are old folks.

1995 article says that this generation is now figurative e.g. "in my father's generation" which is tottally non specific. It can be any time. This is a major change as after this article the preaching work lost urgency, the prophecy lost its power and it made a laughing stock of the wts and all who sincerely believed their version of truth.

106

So what caused you to have doubts in the first place?

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

i had no doubts at all about the 'truth' untill a friend of mine in the cong' began falling away.

in trying to help him i had to ask questions and do research and that of course cracked the doors of my mind open for the first time in over thirty years.. years ago, when jwd allowed members to have signatures, i used the following quote from voltaire as mine.

i still love it.. doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous..

doofdaddy

Sorry on slow response r.e.core beliefs.

I did a web search on jw core beliefs and also tried to find old wt articles but no success so far. Does anyone still possess the wt CD's? If so, could you please do a search? The study article discussed core beliefs that have never (supposedly) changed e.g. jesus being god's son not part of a trinity, jesus invisible kingdom is in power and the generation not passing away, plus one or two more...

Must have been the 80's or early 90's.

17

Suffering...

by tall penguin in

jw
friends

as j.w.s we were taught that life wasnt supposed to be about suffering.

life was supposed to be about joy and bliss and everlasting life.

if it werent for adam and eve and satan, all would be well.

doofdaddy

Since leaving the pipedream, I have meditated on and experienced suffering. Painful experience can be needed to jolt us (or me) to shift but as I mature, not in yrs but experience, I realise that I can expand through being present. The truth for me is to live in the NOW. Yes, suffering is a good teacher but it is often associated with the past and past experience. Live as christ said, like a child, where all is new and have the eyes of wonder like a child....

8

Chinese Military taking over Africa?

by sammielee24 in

jw
friends

armed chinese soldiers seen with senior army officers in zimbabwe!date posted: thursday 17-apr-2008 [i just got the news report of the actual weaponry mugabe has ordered from china.

lots of good infantry weapons.

the zimbabwe army is going to be heavily armed.

doofdaddy

Umm

Let's see.

10 soldiers would cover what, two tiny alleys in a city at best?

The post is ... Chinese military taking over Africa.

Africa being the size of the U.S and comprising many separate unafilliated countries.

Oh dear, sounds like CNN headline

25

I took the red pill (with a cool, crisp glass of Fresca)

by Sebastian Melmoth in

jw
friends

i am absolutely thrilled to find this site!

i just took the red pill of reality and all i can saw is wow!

i had no idea the borg was so hypocritical and twisted.

doofdaddy

Free at last! Free at last! Apologies to Martin.

Well I admire your guts and welcome to the real world. Not the jw fear puddle but good stuff, bad shit, boring bits. It's called life

106

So what caused you to have doubts in the first place?

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

i had no doubts at all about the 'truth' untill a friend of mine in the cong' began falling away.

in trying to help him i had to ask questions and do research and that of course cracked the doors of my mind open for the first time in over thirty years.. years ago, when jwd allowed members to have signatures, i used the following quote from voltaire as mine.

i still love it.. doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous..

doofdaddy

Reading all these comments made me feel, not justification for my doubts but deep sadness. Sadness for all these honest people who were searching, whether raised as witnesses, or converted, for truth. Good people wanting to find ultimate truth. You are all OK, in fact you are the people I could live with in a new system, not the selfish card board cutouts who are too scared to admit they are on the wrong journey and don't have the balls to leave.

36

1914 & Generation What change?

by johnnyc in

i have read through many posts on this website that refer to the fact wtbts changed their viewpoint on generation and its relevance to 1914. there was just an article out in the wt (last six months) that reiterated the fact this viewpoint did not change, and that the wtbts still expects the generation who were around in 1914 to physically see the conclusion of this system and the visible second coming of jesus here on earth.

the wtbts did state they consider anyone being born in 1914 would be applicable, which is a change from earlier discussions, but they have not (from what i have seen) said that generation could pass away altogether.

sincerely i ask: if anyone has that information i would love to see it.

doofdaddy

Oh and by the way, a 10 sec google search on this subject highlighted enough material to keep you going for hours.

I hope this removes you from the kh, as you appear a well entrenched jw, or a very poor researcher.....

36

1914 & Generation What change?

by johnnyc in

i have read through many posts on this website that refer to the fact wtbts changed their viewpoint on generation and its relevance to 1914. there was just an article out in the wt (last six months) that reiterated the fact this viewpoint did not change, and that the wtbts still expects the generation who were around in 1914 to physically see the conclusion of this system and the visible second coming of jesus here on earth.

the wtbts did state they consider anyone being born in 1914 would be applicable, which is a change from earlier discussions, but they have not (from what i have seen) said that generation could pass away altogether.

sincerely i ask: if anyone has that information i would love to see it.

doofdaddy

OK, I'll assume you are serious.

The reason you haven't been inundated with replies is that this subject has been discussed ad nauseum for years. The wt society had trouble when the generation was getting very old in the late 80's early 90's, so If you read Nov 95 wt they skipped to say the generation was figurative, not literal. This was a fundamental belief that was turned on its head and had huge ramifications for those who believed that the end was so, so near. Wt society denied any change but months later did a one page article, taking minimal responsibility, due to the obvious furore. They have been on damage control since and as you pointed out, have created another change as time, once again is running out for the current "understanding" of scripture.

106

So what caused you to have doubts in the first place?

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

i had no doubts at all about the 'truth' untill a friend of mine in the cong' began falling away.

in trying to help him i had to ask questions and do research and that of course cracked the doors of my mind open for the first time in over thirty years.. years ago, when jwd allowed members to have signatures, i used the following quote from voltaire as mine.

i still love it.. doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous..

doofdaddy

For me, it was the search for truth. When articles came out that contravened previous thought, I would research to see why. An article came out years ago that said there is refining of thought but there are basic truths that are set in stone. The article rattled off about 5 points, one being the (literal) generation will by no means pass away that saw 1914. It was a cornerstone of the preaching work through the 70's and 80's. Articles were thin on the ground though through this period, then silence until 1995.

The bomb shell was dropped. I spoke to two elders about the change and they told me there was no change, so I better watch my attitude.....When they left, I reseached the wt CD's and it all came clear. Literally a veil came off my eyes and I have never been to a kh since.