Posts by bigmouth

21

When a JW, what did you think about human fossils of 1.2 million years

by LouBelle in

jw
friends

when i was in and documentaries came on the telly about human fossils being found dated 800 000 years old or 1.2 million years old i would always say - they surely must have the dating process wrong (hello - i'm not expert) or would try find a loop whole to make sure that the belief of mans' 6/7000 year existance.. i also used to reason that they were probably a species of apes or forgeries - anything to make myself believe we as jws' were right - i did this without even "thinking" really - like breathing.. i even studied science & biology at school and would also have to come up with ""excuses"" for this or that.

ag what did we know we were only kids, but when you become an adult and have adult reasoning faculties one can't ignore the facts.. so what did you create as a safe bubble when things like this came up?.

.

bigmouth

Firstly Welcome icingheart, belatedly.

Someone mentioned that site recently but I've not been able to find it. Could anyone help locate it please?

Pete

9

The Miracle Wake up!

by Hope4Others in

memorial day we received a call from and elder in the local congregation.

his mother is a partaker, he mentions he could not get over with the invitation so was calling.

to invite us.

bigmouth

Ha! I thought you were starting a thread about coffee!
BTW, if the wine was anything like my cong. the bacteria in it would have killed her.

36

How did you find this site?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

it seems as though an age has passed from discovering this site seven years ago to where i am now.

just before we started studying the daniel's prophecy book, i went online to see if anyone had made a study bookmark with the dates and paragraphs on.

i "stumbled" across this site, way back in 2000. of course, like a good christian i pretty much determined that this site had gone apostate from the other jw sites, such.

bigmouth

Hi Marsha,
 You seem like a really sweet girl. (I've read your profile) Welcome!
 Are you prepared to read some things that you may find disturbing ?
 Pete

edited- I just googled 'Jehovahs Witnesses' one day. It felt like googling porn ! I was touched by the experience of others who had developed depression and feelings of worthlessness by never being able to please Jehovah (aka the Watchtower Society)

32

Absurdity in the Bible

by darth frosty in

jw
friends

not to diss anyones beliefs, i thought this was humorous.. .

absurdity in the bible .

if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.--1 cor.14:38 .

bigmouth

What kind of 'loving, absent' father writes a letter of advice and wisdom to his children and makes it so confusing as to render it near useless !?

Ah well, after years of listening to people who think they understand it I figure God's just going to kill us all anyway.

He owns the ball and it's His game.

9

opinions on song lyrics please

by loosie in

jw
friends

i am just doing a reality check here.

i want to see if i am holding on to my old prude jw feelings or if this really isn't appropriate.a re the following lyrics ok for a 10 year old to sing for a chuch choir program.. .

colbie caillat bubbly lyrics.

bigmouth

I'm reminded of a Bill Cosby anecdote about his eight year old daughter walking around the house singing "Give it to me all night long" and then wondering what his daughter thought she was going to 'get' all night long ! LOL.

But I think if someone from the church choir has chosen this song then they must be very naive. Can you trust them to be savvy any other time?

I wouldn't make an issue of it. Anything like my daughters they'll be singing something different next week none the wiser.

18

The end of the end- your thoughts?

by JimmyPage in

jw
friends

so what does everyone think of the wt info from the past year comparing the time of the end to israel's escape from egypt?

it said (paraphrasing):"the wt may even give specific instructions that seem to lead us into the face of danger just as the israelites were led to the red sea with their enemies pursuing them from the other side.

" also what do you think of the past two year texts- "obey god as ruler rather than men" and "stand firm and see the salvation of jehovah"?

bigmouth

Well, it seems all cyclic to me.

I see the same loaded language and sense of urgency that the WT have used since the 1970's.

They will be able to do this for a long time with a turnover rate of over 60% and the remainder too stuck or too comfortable.

There are hundreds of thousands for whom this is fresh news.

26

New Here

by *Incubus in

jw
friends

hi guys,i appreciate the welcome you extended my little sister(firefox).ive been out for 10+ years but still like reinforcing my lack of faith in all that is dub related..... .

i havent heard from my sister in a few days,im a bit worried shes getting pressure about her research.so hopefully shes still reading....

bigmouth

Hi *Incubus, I wondered when you were arriving

13

WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE USING CAPS NOW?

by Rapunzel in

jw
friends

please stop shouting; it hurts my ears.

by the way, i've been thinking of the so-called "liar's paradox.

" you know the one where the cretan [the man from crete] states: "all cretans are liars.

bigmouth

Because top hats and trilbys are unfashionable now.

27

J.W's Forbidden To Use The Word "Lucky"

by Rapunzel in

jw
friends

on another thread, a poster alluded to the witness prohibition on uttering the word "lucky," as the word "lucky" is associated with dreaded paganism.

as i recall, instead of saying "lucky", witnesses are "counseled" to employ the term forunate.

the problem is this - the roman goddess of good luck was named fortuna; her greek equivalent was named tyche.

bigmouth

In one of my congs. 'lucky' and 'fortunate' were both 'bad' words. People referred to these events as 'blessings'.

The Wedding Ring hypocrisy really bugged me so I wrote a spoof letter last year in the form of a letter to the congregations about New Light. New ones might find the research interesting:

How Do You View The Wedding Ring?

Jehovah's modern Witnesses live in exciting times do we not?! We are deep within 'The Last Days' of this wicked system and have been privileged to witness the fulfillment of Jesus words regarding the composite sign. (Matthew 24:3-14, Mark 13:4-13, Luke 21:7-19 )

For more than a century Jehovah has entrusted his slave class to disseminate and dispense spiritual food to his earthly servants. However, from time to time clarification or readjustment needs to be made as to our understanding of Gods will. ( Matthew 24:45-47 )

For example,at one time, Gods organization would join with the world in celebrating Christmas until, on December 12, 1928, The Golden Age thoroughly exposed its God-dishonoring roots. For many years the Bible Students wore a cross and a crown as a badge of identification but in 1928 it was emphasized that not a decorative symbol but ones activity as a witness showed he was Christian. In 1936 it was pointed out that the evidence indicates that Christ died on a stake, not a two-beamed cross. Other matters that have been clarified over the years have included Christian neutrality, the celebration of birthdays and abstaining from the misuse of blood.

Since then,the pagan roots of many of these customs have become general public knowledge, but few people make changes in their way of life as a result. On the other hand, Jehovah's Witnesses are willing to make needed changes in order to be more acceptable as servants of Jehovah.When made aware of the instruments and appendages of pagan customs, Jehovah's Witnesses promptly and permanently stop having any part of these customs.

In light of the aforementioned, some have asked, 'What of the use of the wedding ring?' Does the history of the wedding ring give us a cause to adjust our point of view? What is its meaning? Is it tied to a superstition such as good-luck or as a fertility wish? Is it connected with false religion? Could it stumble others? If doubts exist on any of these points, it would be better to avoid that tradition would it not?

Interestingly, the Bible does not indicate that rings were used by true worshipers as a symbol of betrothal or marriage. It does, however, mention the proper use of signet rings. It was worn on the right hand and was used to seal various contracts. It was a symbol of authority, dignity and social status. - Compare Genesis 38:17-19, Jeremiah 22:24, James 2:2. Pharaoh gave his signet ring to Joseph as a symbol of authority. ( Genesis 41:42) The prodigal son received a ring from his father as a symbol of dignity.( Luke 15:22) So where did the custom of exchanging wedding rings come from?

The oldest recorded exchange of wedding rings comes from ancient Egypt about 4800 years ago.The ring is of course a circle and this was the symbol of eternity for the Egyptians as well as many other ancient cultures. It had no beginning and no end, like time, and the hole in the center was the symbol of the gateway or door leading to events known and unknown. Later the custom was taken up by the Greeks when they conquered Egypt under the generalship of Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.E. ,and from them to the Romans who continued the belief that the ring should be placed on the third finger of the left hand because this was connected to the ' vena amoris ', which is Latin for ' the vein of love '.

Appleton's Journal of Popular Literature, Science and Art of July 1869 provides an interesting insight; ”...the ring originally worn among the Anglo-Normans on the right hand of the bride was changed to the left, or inferior hand, in token of subjection. The particular finger is also said to be favored from an old custom of placing the ring on the first finger in the name of the Father, on the second in the name of the Son, and on the third in the name of the Holy Ghost. “

There is , however, another theory behind the ring's shape. Many religions consider marriage as “half of the religion.” Some historians say that the wedding ring represents two halves coming together to form a united whole. By completing the circle, ancient worshipers completed their religion. Superstitious ideas formed around this circular shape. At a time when mortality rates were high and life spans short it was believed that a persons spirit could just flow out of the body, ending his life. Wrapping twigs and threads around a wifes extremities was thought to prolong her life.

So what of the Biblical command for a husband to assign honor to his wife? Would the wedding ring symbolize this? Well, sadly, this romantic notion is not confirmed as evidenced by the attitude of the ancient Egyptians. Though they would make rings of twisted reeds and apply them to the fingers of their wives as a symbol of undying love it didn't represent marital fidelity as many of them were polygamous. The Romans were little better. Wives were considered a possession and the ring on the fourth finger was a sign of ownership. Never would we want to view our wives, our ' fellow workers', as mere possessions! -compare Ephesians 5:28-30, 1 Peter 3:7.

In view of the foregoing history of the wedding ring it is apparent that its origin and use is to be found in pagan superstition and idolatrous practices.( 1 Corinthians 10:14 )

The pagan meaning of the ring raises questions about the legitimacy of its adoption by true Christians to represent marital commitment. In the Bible the value of symbols is determined by their origin and meaning. The Sabbath, the Passover lamb and blood, the Lords evening meal and baptism are all valuable symbols established by Jehovah to help us understand and visualize spiritual realities. Their value comes from divine origin. ( Exodus 31:13, Exodus 12:13, 1 Corinthians 11:20, Matthew 28:19,20 ) By contrast, the meaning of the wedding ring as a symbol of marital commitment finds its origin not in scripture, but in pagan mythology and superstitions. To give a pagan symbol a sacred Christian meaning would be grossly disrespectful of the true God.

With a clear understanding of how the Christian use of the wedding ring has introduced a leavening effect upon God's Organization, the Faithful and Discreet Slave has felt it necessary for those who are fellow servants of Jehovah to consider carefully from the foregoing whether he or she could, in good conscience, continue to wear a wedding ring. - compare Galatians 5:9.

After prayerful consideration we believe this adjustment will have the blessing of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah as we look forward to eternal life in a purified new earth free from the vestiges of this 'old system'! ( Revelation 21:4 )

Your Brothers,

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York.

( Elders should allow congregation members a short 'amnesty' as this new understanding is embraced. Six months should be sufficient before priviliges of service are removed from any not submitting to theocratic order.)

39

How have you benefited by leaving the WT Organization?

by Quirky1 in

this is just a curious study.

i would love to get everyone's input on how each individual or couple has benefited from leaving the jw/wtbs as well as how their life is currently vs. being part of the organization.. eyes wide open .

quirky1 .

bigmouth

stopped arranging suicide attempts