Posts by ThomasCovenant

81

What Actually Made You Leave The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

many of us needed time to get away from this religion.

i took the course of fading and it's worked pretty well for me.

after i saw sooooo many silly rules being enforced, i needed to get out!.

ThomasCovenant

Never truly believed it but went along with it for 30 years because it's what we did and knew. They certainly weren't all bad and many good times were had.

What actually made me leave?

Waiting in the hospital at 2am to hear from the medical staff whether my wife was alive or not, following her emergency operation, blood related.

Preparing myself for the worst, I wondered what the hell I was going to tell my children, trying to explain to them that yes, their mother had died over peer pressure to conform to a ludicrous belief system that neither of us believed in, but just went along with.

I'm glad to say she lived, but I was never the same again. I thought before, that the good outweighed the bad, but now I believe differently.

16

Rainbows

by Aussie Oz in

jw
friends

we had the most fantastic rainbow here yesterday, probably the most solid colored one i have ever seen.

it reminded me that jehovah would never again flood the earth... not!.

i remarked to my daughter that the rainbow reminded me that the genesis account was a myth like the aboriginal dream times...rainbows are science, sunlight, rain mist/drops and refracted light.. i said, after it had rained and the sun came out, no matter whether 'god' was involved or not, there was going to be a rainbow.

ThomasCovenant

Yes they always remind me that God isn't going to kill everyone one with an earth wide flood again.

Next time he's going to try it out with fire and earthquakes. Maybe some lightning too.

That should be better.

101

Atheist Fascism

by Band on the Run in

jw
friends

it is so draining for me to constantly read threads by atheists that assert that those of who are uncertain or have faith have irrational minds.

god can not be proven or unproven.

the harping is tedious.

ThomasCovenant

Tuber said,

The only thing that unites us [atheists] is a lack of belief, and for the majority of us, that lack of belief is caused by science, and a respect for the scientific method.

To clarify my position, I don't have a lack of belief. I believe.

I believe there is no god.

160

I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

by PenelopePaige in

jw
friends

hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

ThomasCovenant

Hello Penelope Paige,

Paulapollos said

-If you attempt to study the history of the organisation with outside sources, then come to a different conclusion to the organisation (about itself), you are not permitted to share that info with other JW's, because you may stumble them.

- If you disagree with something written in the WT, and repeatedly discuss it with your JW friends, you are likely to recieve a visit from the elders.

- If you read the Bible, and come up with a different understanding of what you read to the JW interpretation, you are not permitted to share that with others. If you do, you will recieve a visit from the elders.

- If you share your different understanding with JW's, you are likely to be branded an apostate, thrown out, and your friendships with other members are severed - they are not permitted to speak to you.

Although every Witness is aware of the above, albeit subconciously, they still stay. I know I did. I was brainwashed.

8

Would the world be a better place without any religion?

by ThomasCovenant in

jw
friends

i like to think so.. although much good can come from religious belief, i feel that the bad out weighs the good.

and therefore i would rather see it all gone.. if tomorrow, all people with any belief in any religion were removed from earth to meet their maker in the afterlife they so much want, it may be for the best.. how much better atheists would get on would be interesting to see.

shirley atheists couldn't make a worse job than religionists have..

ThomasCovenant

I like to think so.

Although much good can come from religious belief, I feel that the bad out weighs the good. And therefore I would rather see it all gone.

If tomorrow, all people with any belief in any religion were removed from earth to meet their maker in the afterlife they so much want, it may be for the best.

How much better atheists would get on would be interesting to see.

Shirley atheists couldn't make a worse job than religionists have.

41

Watchtower and Pets a Picture

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtower and pets a picture.

watchtower and pets, an illustration that caused lots of heartache: http://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2011/07/watchtower-pets.html.

marvin shilmer.

ThomasCovenant

Watchtower 15th March 1952, page 168,

17 Animals will be controlled and peace established between them and men. Now we enjoy having cats and dogs for pets, and in some parks get an added thrill when a squirrel or pigeon eats out of our hand, and as we walk through the zoos we may even have a desire to fondle the furry mane of the lion or stroke the striped pelt of the tiger. But we wisely quench this natural urge, for we know that while we would be running our hands through its fur it might be running its teeth through our hands. The wild animals mistrust us as much as we mistrust them. However, in the new world man will exercise dominion, not through fear and dread, or by hunters or zoo keepers or circus trainers, but through such perfect mutual trust that even a little child can lead the wildest of beasts. Even the lion will turn vegetarian then.-Isa. 11:6-9; Hos. 2:18.
18 Also carried to complete fulfillment then will be the mandate to fill the earth with a righteous human race. What a pleasure this will be in paradise earth, with all the animals for pets

41

Watchtower and Pets a Picture

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtower and pets a picture.

watchtower and pets, an illustration that caused lots of heartache: http://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2011/07/watchtower-pets.html.

marvin shilmer.

ThomasCovenant

Watchtower 1st Sept 1955, page 517,

''In Western lands, such as the United States, animal worship takes the form of sentimentalizing over pets.''

''And there are other worshipers of animals. Those who feel there must be a place in heaven for pets; those who are so concerned with the plight of lower animals that they are oblivious of God's requirements or the miseries of their fellow men. Included among such are many among the vegetarians and antivivisectionists. Their zeal resembles that of the ancient Egyptians.''

61

Never, ever posted to a site before-Scarec silly

by PaintedToeNail in

jw
friends

hi, i'm scared to death writing this that i will be discovered and have major problems.

i had a good life being raised as a jw child.

many good memories of people, places and times.

ThomasCovenant

Hello and thanks for posting.

Your mother is correct. Keep thinking. You cannot 'think' and be a JW.

Just remember, 99.99% of the world's population are not JW's. Not 99%, 99.99%.

They don't all, not by a long shot, smoke, take drugs or do any subsidizing with vaginas.

21

I have question about the new light on the statues toes

by Igot2bme in

my son went to the dc this past weekend and we visited on the phone for a bit about what he picked up there.

he of course was sad and worried for us because we no longer have anything to do with the org.

we covered alot of issues that had to do with why i felt that the org did not have gods holy spirit.

ThomasCovenant

Or,

the ten toes picture all such coexisting powers and governments. (WT 15 May 1959 )

There does not appear to be any prophetic significance to the image's having ten toes. (WT 15 June 1978)

the ten "toes" appear logically to represent the entire global system of rulership (WT 1 July 1985 )

Toes mean nothing (2011 Convention)

44

Diane Sawyer interviews Jaycee Dugard 7/10/11, ABC 2-hr. Special, 9PM EST: Jaycee was kidnapped by Garridos, supposedly one-time JWs

by AndersonsInfo in

preview: http://abcnews.go.com/us/jaycee_dugard .

diane interviews jaycee.

chris como tracks the police investigation.. authorites called at garrido home 60 times and didn't find jaycee in back yard..

ThomasCovenant

Kingdom Ministry April 2003. Italics original.

What cautions should we heed when witnessing to prison inmates?

Worldwide there are at least eight million prison inmates, some of whom show an interest in the good news. (1 Tim. 2:4) One branch office receives some 1,400 letters each month from inmates and their family members requesting literature or a personal visit. While the interest of many inmates is sincere, experience has shown that some feign interest, seeking to take selfish advantage of God's people. In view of this, all should heed the following cautions regarding witnessing to prison inmates.

In many cases inmates are given a witness by means of correspondence. It is strongly recommended that sisters not write to male prisoners, even if it is with the goal of giving spiritual help. That responsibility should be handled only by qualified brothers. Qualified sisters may be assigned to correspond with female inmates who express sincere interest in Bible truth. Money or personal gifts should not be sent to inmates, despite the fact that such may be requested.

When an incarcerated person shows interest, his name and address should be turned over to the congregation in the area of the prison facility. Usually the qualified brothers there know how to handle the various situations that can arise. If the congregation is not known, the information should be sent to the branch office.

It is not objectionable for the assigned brothers to hold meetings with prisoners so that several may study at one time. However, special events in which publishers mingle freely with inmates should not be held in prisons. Furthermore, it is ill-advised for publishers to visit a prison indiscriminately and have close association with prisoners.

May we be "cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves" as we share the good news with prison inmates.-Matt. 10:16.