Posts by watch the tower

36

I can't read the WT and AWAKE anymore

by Jez in

hundreds of supplementary publications written by unnamed authors that can hide behind the watchtower and bible tract society and say anything without referencing it.

lately, i have been thinking that this is one of the reasons that the society does not encourage higher education.

try handing in an essay without your name on it, try not referencing your essay, try having no works cited, try to have only 1 works cited, try quoting out of context, try spewing statistics or numbers or trends in your essay with no reference or date, add ellipsis that only alert your instructor to the potential of hidden information, or try presenting as support for your thesis a third party quote.

watch the tower

Spirituality for Dummies.

The pattern is the same for every issue:

Awake:

- Opening article featuring the cover story. Normally featuring a general overview of a particular social issue.

- Article on the preceding, stating statistics and facts backing up the seriousness of the issue

- Article tying in how God's kingdom will solve the problem. Last sentence.."Very soon, (insert problem here) will be a thing of the past!"

- Article on the geographic location of the month

- Article on animal of the month

- Something about arts/crafts or exotic food item usually from a correspondant from some country. '"How to make a coasters out of bamboo shoots"

- Watching the world featuring 2 small comic illustrations.

Watchtower

- Cover story -Any "heavy" sounding Bible topic. Title is in the form of a question.

- See bullet point #2 from Awake

- See bullet point #3 from Awake

- Study article 1

- Study article 2

- Experience of some 80-100 yr old couple. Make sure to check out the before(br and sis. so and so pioneering in 1956) and after pictures (so and so today).

- Questions from readers

Congratulations! You have just read every issue of both magazines printed in recent memory..

Talk about catching up on your personal study

36

Bible reading without the WT filter

by watch the tower in

you know even though i think the wt doctrine is mostly all garbage now, i still do believe that the bible is inspired from our creator.

the flaw in my understanding of it in the past was because i was interpreting it through the filter of the wts.

recently i have started clean slate and read the bible without the wt filter (easier said than done, your mind has a way of reverting back to what was programmed in there).

watch the tower

I agree metatron. Jesus said "I am the vine, YOU are the branches." He didn't say "I am the vine, a bunch of middle aged men will be the branches and you are the bird droppings on the branch."

I'm not sure if the FDS means that Jesus wanted faithful and smart ppl to run things tho. Looking at the context of that scripture, to me it appears that it was just a parable for everyone to be ready when he comes back. That statement was made within a series of parables where the point was to be alert.

36

Bible reading without the WT filter

by watch the tower in

you know even though i think the wt doctrine is mostly all garbage now, i still do believe that the bible is inspired from our creator.

the flaw in my understanding of it in the past was because i was interpreting it through the filter of the wts.

recently i have started clean slate and read the bible without the wt filter (easier said than done, your mind has a way of reverting back to what was programmed in there).

watch the tower

Have you ever actually met with life without any beliefs, interpretations, or judgments at all?

Yes. That is exactly how I have approached life after dismissing the WT mentality.

What is reality when void of all religious beliefs and mental constructs of what we believe ourselves to be?

Reality when void of religious beliefs and mental constructs is unconditional love for others. That is all that's left and all that really matters. Funny thing, that is exactly what the theme of the Bible is, when you read it without any of those pre-conditioned mental constructs. (contrary to the WT propaganda the theme of the Bible is not the kingdom)

Terry brought up a bunch of technical points regarding the need to examine the validity of the Bible as an inspired source. You are assuming that we blindly assume the Bible to be inspired from God from the get-go. There is much more that is involved than presumption, at least for me, in believing the inspired nature of the scriptures. The details of which is for another thread for another day. FYI, I have read the other "holy books" that you have mentioned as well. Those are not even close.

To put it simply, if there exists a set of text on the face of this planet that has the ability to enable you to think on a higher level, give you peace of mind, make you a better person, understand the nature of our origin and future, establish a relationship with our Creator and at the same time has been twisted, manipulated, misrepresented, banned, ridiculed, criticized...etc. I would be inclined to think that there just may be...may be something to it.

It has changed my view of the world and my future for the better. That's all the proof I need.

If you have no idea what I am talking about, maybe you haven't given it a chance yet?

36

Bible reading without the WT filter

by watch the tower in

you know even though i think the wt doctrine is mostly all garbage now, i still do believe that the bible is inspired from our creator.

the flaw in my understanding of it in the past was because i was interpreting it through the filter of the wts.

recently i have started clean slate and read the bible without the wt filter (easier said than done, your mind has a way of reverting back to what was programmed in there).

watch the tower

I've been out now for about 2 1/2 years, so I'm just starting to do a bit of bible reading using the NIV.

That's awesome! Using a different translation other than the New world translation helped me bypass the filter a lot too. I found that the terminology used in the NWT triggers stuff in your brain and associates it with WT doctrines.

36

Bible reading without the WT filter

by watch the tower in

you know even though i think the wt doctrine is mostly all garbage now, i still do believe that the bible is inspired from our creator.

the flaw in my understanding of it in the past was because i was interpreting it through the filter of the wts.

recently i have started clean slate and read the bible without the wt filter (easier said than done, your mind has a way of reverting back to what was programmed in there).

watch the tower

You know even though I think the WT doctrine is mostly all garbage now, I still do believe that the Bible is inspired from our creator. The flaw in my understanding of it in the past was because I was interpreting it through the filter of the WTS.

Recently I have started clean slate and read the Bible without the WT filter (easier said than done, your mind has a way of reverting back to what was programmed in there). When I read the gospels, it has such a simple yet profound meaning now that I have overlooked in the past despite having read the same passages hundreds of times before. It has a lot more meaning for me than it ever has in the past. The simple conclusion that I have come to after approaching it this way is that being a true Christian involves recognizing Jesus sacrifice and loving your neighbor as yourself. That's all we can do. There are no rules, regulations, organizational structure, prescribed activities, hierarchy involved. Everlasting life is not earned by deeds and works but is a free gift when we recognize it.

Has anyone else had the same experience? Has anyone found new meaning in the scriptures when you've removed the filter?

142

What's the most ridiculous thing you were ever counselled on?

by micheal in

jw
friends

one of the cornerstones of jw's is counsel.

they just love to give counsel and many times they will literally make things up just for the sake of counsel.

i was once counselled for joking around too much.

watch the tower

I get herded into a full judicial committee for flirting with a clown. I kid you not. On second thought could there be anything worse than flirting with a clown?

OMG, LOL! I lost it on that one!

142

What's the most ridiculous thing you were ever counselled on?

by micheal in

jw
friends

one of the cornerstones of jw's is counsel.

they just love to give counsel and many times they will literally make things up just for the sake of counsel.

i was once counselled for joking around too much.

watch the tower

At bethel, there is a rule that you can only put 3 items max on any flat surface. I guess this is so that the housekeepers can dust the surface without much hassle. Anyways I had a boombox with the detachable speakers on my desk along with 2 other items. This is 3 items right? Wrong. I got a call from the home overseer one day and got counseled for having 5 items on the desk. When I told him it was only 3, he told me that the speakers counted as 1 item each so there were 5.

uuuuugghhhh. Why did we ever put up with this crap??

20

Wow! I am free

by watch the tower in

jw
friends

ever since i stopped going to the meetings, i feel so free and liberated!

i've been a witness my whole life up to this point and never could imagine how this could have felt!

no more guilt trips, verbal spankings and phony superficial relationships.. they try to scare you into thinking that if you dare leave jehovah's organization tm, your life will be a barren wasteland, be overcome by satan, turn into a drug addict and never find joy and meaning in your life again.

watch the tower

It literally feels like jumping off of the hamster wheel doesn't it??

I never knew what it felt like to genuinely relax until now. Now there's actually time to pursue activities and interests that reflect your genuine personality instead of having a regimented schedule shoved down your throat.

49

Has the exodus begun now?

by toby888 in

jw
friends

anyone have any real information if the great exodus has begun?

tickle my ears-

watch the tower

HAHA! Elijah!

I have shed my blood on behalf of many also. This is how I have rightfully gained my position, amen.

Would you like a band aid?

Ouch! I just got a paper cut. I think I have rightfully gained my position too. As a clutz that is...

10

Did you smile and love bomb as a JW?

by greendawn in

jw
friends

while jws can you recall having that artificial smile and sweet, smooth way of talking at the doors?

also did you participate in the deceitful love bombing of newly interested persons in your kingdom hall?

it was all part of the artificial charm meant to entice unsuspecting victims into the wts nets.

watch the tower

Yes. I've mistakenly done that to DFed ppl sitting in the back not knowing that they were DFed. I never kept track of that kind of thing anyways.

I always got that awkward, uneasy look and whisper "i'm disfellowshipped..."

This was always followed up by brothers who saw this, laughing and dogging me for making such a bonehead mistake for greeting this person.

What a messed up social structure. puke