Posts by Cygnus

I remember my last meeting. After a ridiculously uninformed and ignorant comment made from the platform I let out a very audible AHEM. I never went to another meeting again, until years later when I attended with my non-Witness girlfriend who accompanied her JW mother to the kingdom hall (but not by choice). She remarked, "You must really love me to come to a kingdom hall meeting with me."

118

C.T. Russell: a confirmed Pittsburgh Free Mason

by kid-A in

jw
friends

there is overwhelming evidence that the spiritual founder of the wts, c.t.

russell, was a prominent free mason in the pittsburgh community.

he went so far as to declare: "i am a free mason" in several of his lectures.

Cygnus

Russell probably had a degree of insanity, and certainly is guilty of presupposing his ideas as "the truth." But if you read "What Pastor Russell said" his humility is prevalent, and I believe, honest. He did not act like Rutherford or Knorr and seek to greatly increase his membership. His writings in the Studies of the Scriptures certainly are ludicrous, but time after time he responded to questions by saying, 'Here's what we believe... it may be wrong, we believe it's right... choose for yourself.' I have great doubts that he was inherently dishonest, or that he was a secret member of the Freemasons.

94

After my un-DF'ing, I have sent a letter to everyone in my hall.

by kwintestal in

in the final installment of my story, i am done with my local congregation now.

in the past month, i have been df'd, un-df'd attended a meeting where i shook everyones hand and smiled ... and now i have sent everyone in the hall this letter, roughly 60 addresses:.

open letter to the north congregation of jehovahs witnesses.

Cygnus

I'm impressed, Kwin. I know you'll keep us posted. I add my thoughts of encouragement and support to you and your family.

162

Another Warning From God

by Kenneson in

jw
friends

the message remains the same.

reform your lives or be chastised.

from the comments i have read about god's supposed non-existence in this forum, it seems that we will only learn the hard way.

Cygnus

Either God is incapable of preventing suffering (hurricans, tornadoes, et al), or he chooses to allow suffering. One makes him less than all-powerful, the other makes him a monster.

41

Hello...I'm sort of new!

by calico in

jw
friends

i have posted a couple of times, so i guess i should introduce myself.

i don't want to give out too many details as i am baptized and have not decided what i want to do.

i've been fading for awhile--no one in my cong.

Cygnus

Welcome! Good luck and godspeed in your recovery from JWism. :)

13

LMAO--wikiepedia entry for Joseph Rutherford

by IronGland in

jw
friends

second to last paragraph quoted:.

in san diego, california in the 1920's, the organization built a house in california called beth sarim.

the hebrew words beth sarim mean 'house of the princes'.

Cygnus

Sorry, I don't know much about Wikiepedia.

Even the story in Kenneson's article had "it's" when "its" belonged. Ah, oh well, it's the content that's important I suppose. I just don't understand why intelligent writers consistently make that simple mistake, as well as "your" instead of "you're" et al. Maybe I'm just an old stick in the mud.

21

Do you ever get Kingdom Melodies stuck in your head?

by Bstndance in

jw
friends

it has been over 8 years since i have been in a hall.

yet once in a while when i'm doing menial tasks i start to hum a kingdom melody.

aaahh!!!

Cygnus

No, not really, but a little over 2 years ago I recorded my own version of kingdom song #23. You can listen to it here:

http://members.aol.com/cygnus97/sounds/23.wav

118

C.T. Russell: a confirmed Pittsburgh Free Mason

by kid-A in

jw
friends

there is overwhelming evidence that the spiritual founder of the wts, c.t.

russell, was a prominent free mason in the pittsburgh community.

he went so far as to declare: "i am a free mason" in several of his lectures.

Cygnus

outof,

I've read "What Pastor Russell Said" -- a lot of reading. Also his version of "Questions From Readers". Russell got corrected often about certain things and wasn't afraid to put them in print. One topic he was fairly frequently corrected on was Masonry. Was he being dishonest when he admitted he was wrong and that his knowledge of Masonry was limited? I don't think so, given his admission of error on other topics, and his general way of answering questions with, "Here's what we believe... we think it's right... it may not be... everyone should choose for themselves." Reading these obscure items of the past sheds a lot of light on Russell's character and insight. I believe him to have been an honest, just bible-crazed, man.

84

Is Michael the Archangel really Jesus?

by twinkletoes in

for years i have believed what the wt says about michael the archangel really being another name for jesus christ.

but now i am reading lots of other non-witness books, i am beginning to question this teaching.. has anyone done any research on this particular subject.. your comments would be appreciated.

twink.

Cygnus

Leo, I believe in the 1917 book, Volume VII of the Studies in the Scriptures, "The Finished Mystery," Michael is equated with the Pope. I'm sure others will produce references; I'm too tired and sore right now to track down my Pastor Russell Anthology CD-ROM and find the appropriate citations.