Posts by tall penguin

Apparently I haven't been keeping up with increased light. Thanks for the stuff on the 1935 change. What a bunch of garbage. I can't believe my parents haven't wised up to this yet.

385

NEW GENERATION DEFINED -- April 15, 2010 Watchtower

by Ultimate Reality in

from jw.org, here is the new definition of the generation from the april 15, 2010 watchtower.. .

article: holy spirits role in the outworking of jehovahs purpose.

13 third, holy spirit is at work in bringing bible.

Sorry, I'm late to this thread and don't feel like reading all twelve pages. Does this mean that the WT has completely abandoned the teaching that the 144,000 were sealed in 1935? I know they'd slightly altered the doctrine some years ago to allow for some replacements in case some of the original chosen died unfaithful, but this new "overlap" teaching would seem to completely nullify the 1935 doctrine. Is this the case?

tall penguin

23

From where? Morals.

by AK - Jeff in

jw
friends

there is great debate regarding the matter of morals/ethics, and this particularly true whenever there is interaction between religiously driven portions of a culture, and those who maintain no religious opinion or even subscribe to atheism.

that cultural clash occurs often on this forum and others like it.. believers in god often attribute moral choices with godliness.

yet, among billions who have lived without any attachment to god in the particular sense that is often considered the driving influence [christianity, islam, judaism, or other organized religion] there have always been men and women whose 'moral character' is above reproach, even when measured with a black/white index of religious thought.. morality holds an arbitrary position among mankind.

tall penguin

Great post Jeff. The term morality has a rather complicated denotation and even more complicated connotation. It is difficult to even define the term let alone be clear on where morals come from. There's been some great research quoted here to show how primates establish morality to promote certain social outcomes. But, as you quite eloquently put it: "Morals carry with them a great deal of subjectivity, and are generally not very objective." Much of morality is relative, as you mention, according to where you find yourself historically, geographically and societally.

Since leaving the JW's I've had to revisit the question of morality time and again. Did being a JW make me more moral? Or did it just make me appear more moral? Or did it just make me feel morally superior when really I was just suppressing that which came more naturally for me to explore?

The mind is indeed a vast place. The older I get, the more I realize that what goes on in my mind is nothing but a bunch of belief systems and ideologies that are in need of constant questioning and adjustment. Rather than having an overarching moral "code" with which to live my life, I prefer to use judgement based on experience, empathy and wisdom, which is most often based on lots of previous hits and misses and learning first hand what life is all about.

I read a great quote recently that could apply here:

“ When you try to identify the use of your entire life, you are asking to be used . When you try to identify the function of your entire life, you are asking to be turned into a mere functionary. ” ~~ James Ogilvy

When we subscribe to an overarching morality as dictated solely by society or religion, we are asking to be used. We are asking for a life half-lived. Been there, done that. I have no interest in ever again subscribing to an overall belief system of right and wrong to live my life.

tall penguin

37

From Jon, My Brother

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

i had a brother.

his name was jon.. jon was a sweet, super sensitive guy.

also, a very tortured soul.

tall penguin

What a beautiful testimony to your brother's character and beauty as a human being. This has me in tears, Jeff. Thank you for sharing it.

tall penguin

15

Blog in Essence mag on JWs door to door

by isaacaustin in

jw
friends

obviously they need to know the org for what it is!

here is the link...come on people let's educate!

some jws have commented on it.. http://blogs.essence.com/bohemianrhapsody/2009/11/knock-knock-whos-there.html.

tall penguin

Wow, 268 comments now and barely a dissenting view amongst them.

What are all these good little J-Dubs doing on the internet anyways? And why do I have the sudden urge to empty the contents of my stomach? Blech.

tall penguin

6

Alone

by changeling in

jw
friends

no one watches my every move.. no one reads my thoughts.. no one monitors my dreams.. no one passes judgment, or keeps tabs.

my actions dont get recorded; to be used against me or in my favor.. .

i think, and i breathe and i act: alone.

tall penguin

Beautiful writing, changeling. Reminds me of this poem:

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters by Portia Nelson

Chapter 1

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5

I walk down another street.

5

Podcast Interview about the JW's

by tall penguin in

jw
friends

i recently did an interview about the jw's, their history and my experience as a jw on a podcast hosted by two ex-mormons, called irreligiosophy.

it is now up online.

have a listen and let me know what you think.. they also did a prelim podcast on jw history last month which is also worth listening to.. tall penguin.

tall penguin

Open mind:

Ya, they're pretty funny guys. I appreciate that they do their research but they also have a way of having fun with all the crazy doctrines that religions have. It keeps it interesting.

tall penguin

45

As a JW Did you Feel " Guilted " to go to Meetings /Service if Injured /Sick ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

many people in the jehovah's witnesses , older ones, younger ones have been expected to pioneer, go in field service with physical disabilities and are even considered "martyrs" if they push themselves to their physical capacities beyond reasonableness .

thus many witnesses feel sick, exhausted, tired, and essentially fight depression due to high expectations to " burn out " for the wt society.

have any of you experienced this while in the witnesses ?.

tall penguin

Yup, the guilt factor was strong with me. I recall being a 17 year old dealing with severe health issues, and pushing myself to get to meetings and service, only to have the elders come visit me for a shepherding call and throw my field service records across the table and browbeat me for not doing more. My mother and I were in tears when they left and my father (an MS at the time) was ready to throw punches at them. We stopped him, but in hindsight I wish we'd let him kick their asses. They so deserved it.

tall penguin