Posts by NYCkid

23

George Orwell's "1984" and the WTBTS

by NYCkid in

hey guys,.

i'm just finished reading george orwell's "1984.

" has anyone read it and did you also find eerie similarities to.

NYCkid

Hey Guys,

I'm just finished reading George Orwell's "1984." Has anyone read it and did you also find eerie similarities to
the WTBTS? I've noticed some people here using some Orwellianisms.

It's a freaky book to say the least, but it was mentioned in one of my
classes last semester so I felt I needed to see what they were talking
about. Here are some quotes from the book:

"The Party is not concerned with perpetuating its blood but with
perpetuating itself. Who wields power is not important, provided that
the hierarchial structure remains always the same" (p. 218).

"The first and simplest stage in the discipline, which can be taught
even to young children, is called, in Newspeak, crimestop. Crimestop
means the faculty of stopping short, as though by instict, at the
threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not
grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of
misunderstanding the simplest arguments if they are inimical to
Ingsoc, and of being bored or repelled by any train of thought which
is capable of leading in a heretical direction" (pp. 220-221).

"The alteration of the past is necessary for two reasons, one of which
is subsidiary and, so to speak, precautionary...But by far the more
important reason for the readjustment of the past is the need to
safeguard the infallibility of the Party. It is not merely that
speeches, statistics and records of every kind must be constantly
brought up to date in order to show that the predictions of the Party
were in all cases right. It is also that no change in doctrine or in
political alignment can ever be admitted" (pp. 221-222).

Quoted from George Orwell. "1984". 1992 Edition published
by "Everyman's Library" division of Alfred A. Knopf.

11

Islamic Extremism:Begining of the End of All Religion?

by prophecor in

here's a scenario as to how it could be played out.

in an effort to squelch radical islam from gaining a foothold on the democratic processes that is begining to occur in the middle east, especially as it relates to iraq and eventually, maybe iran, could religion, all religion come to be eventually outlawed worldwide as a means of choking out the relentless hostile energy that occurs worlwide?

to try and stem the tide of suicide bombers around the world, as well as the possibility of bio-terrorism?

NYCkid

Profuse apologies, I was referring to "darkuncle29" not black uncle...apologies.

NYCkid

11

Islamic Extremism:Begining of the End of All Religion?

by prophecor in

here's a scenario as to how it could be played out.

in an effort to squelch radical islam from gaining a foothold on the democratic processes that is begining to occur in the middle east, especially as it relates to iraq and eventually, maybe iran, could religion, all religion come to be eventually outlawed worldwide as a means of choking out the relentless hostile energy that occurs worlwide?

to try and stem the tide of suicide bombers around the world, as well as the possibility of bio-terrorism?

NYCkid

The questions you bring up are similar to the subject matter found in a book I read recently called, "End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason" by Sam Harris. It's a thought-provoking read and highly suggest you read this book if you are interested in this subject. I think blackuncle hit the nail on the head when he says that the problem is not religion per se, but religious extremism initiated and fueled by religious fundamentalism.

Similarly to 9/11 where relatively well educated and middle-class men thought their God requires them to kill infidels by flying commercial airplanes into buildings, Bush and his administration make many of their decisions based on what they view will fulfill Biblical prophecy, and Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their God requires them to shun their own mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who no longer belief the same way. These are examples of religious extremism/fundamentalism at different levels.

Personally I don't see religion going anywhere anytime soon, but I do hope that in our lifetime we see all the major religions step up to the plate and denounce extremism within their ranks. Additionally I hope that we will come to the point where we no longer require our President and other public officials to profess their belief in God and that we learn to keep religion out of governmenst, schools and workplaces and in Church's and private homes where it belongs.

Regards

NYCkid

63

Does the Watchtower Society Monitor this Board???

by integ in

maybe this has been addressed before, but after reading certain comments about people being "outed", i wonder if the wts really monitors this site?

if so, to what extent?

or is it just individual elders etc.?.

NYCkid

Thanks Frannie and Big Tex.

NYCkid

60

Without naming your city, tell us more about it

by JH in

jw
friends

where i live, you can smell the odor of paper mills.

it's a port city and people speak french here.

i think the average age of people here is one of the higest in canada.. there is a shrine that attracts many tourists in the summer time.

NYCkid

I live in a city where across a river I can see a "Watchtower" sign and "Read the Bible Daily" and "Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom" painted on a side of a building... hee hee

63

Does the Watchtower Society Monitor this Board???

by integ in

maybe this has been addressed before, but after reading certain comments about people being "outed", i wonder if the wts really monitors this site?

if so, to what extent?

or is it just individual elders etc.?.

NYCkid

"But I think if you have a website and are not yet an "ex-JW," you can guarantee they are working on finding out who you are." - by the way how do you guys take a quote from another poster and put it into a box?

If anyone has read George Orwell's novel "1984," does this remind you of the "Thought Police"? I'm almost done with that book now and "The Party" sounds alot like the WTBTS.

Regards,

NYCkid

30

Did you drink to get over being a Witness?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

when i first left the witnesses, i had some times of being really pissed at all the wasted time and the way the people acted.

i remember one time, my spouse and i decided to just get ripped.

we did and as we did, we laughed and even cried at times over the issues.

NYCkid

Hell yeah, not so much to deal with being disfellowshipped, but more to make up for lost time. Since I was d'fd when I was 23 or so, I felt I had to make up for all those times in High School when I used to do after school witnessing and missed all the stuff the cool kids were doing on the weekends while I was watching South Pacific with the family on our new VCR (videos were quite new in the late 80s so my parents had to rent all their favorite films from the 50s and 60s).

Then it got to the point that I just wanted to be really bad, after all, that's what's supposed to happen to us when we leave, so I started smoking and "other things." The only thing I regret is picking up cigs cuz I'm still battling that as we speak, but I will always enjoy a cocktail or two or three with friends.

Incidentally the first time I drank was when I turned 21 and went out to TGI Friday's with a couple of JW friends and ordered a pina colada or something, but the first time I got pissed passed out drunk was probably a year before I was d'fd when I went to a brother's "divorce" party after the Thursday night meeting and mixed beer and vodka (partying after a meeting was very strange to me since I had moved to the NYC area from a very rural JW conservative congregation of the likes which would never have occured)...About 4-5 of us among the group of 10 or so all passed out (I in the bathtub first then later in his bedroom with my head in a bucket) next to this hot sister (I'm gay but she was hot). Thankfully the "brother" who hosted the party (his wife had left him for another brother) was well liked by the Elders (and his ex-wife was the PO's sister) so nothing came of it and I assume all present didn't dare say a word (it was never spoken of after the next day). It was blasted fun tho, despite the headache the next day...we all called in sick and went to the diner for greasy fries and a cheesy omelette the next day...

32

JW's and the lottery

by cheen in

jw
friends

anyone hear of or know of any jw's or exjw's who've won a large lottery prize?............i know of one jw who won close to half a million $us dollars and now he's like "jehovah who?...whos jehovah?

" lol

NYCkid

I don't know of any JW who won the lottery. We all know that gambling was one of those forbidden acts but JWs probably did it in secret, like my Dad the Elder who always sent in the Publishers Clearing House entry. :-)

I've been playing the lottery like a fiend since leaving the JWs and so far the big jackpot has eluded me. Once I had 4 numbers (out of 6) and won $70.00 and another time I won $170.00 at the slots at Alantic City. The lottery aside, I'm not a big gambler, I have too many other vices ;-)

J

23

I went to church yesterday...

by mrsjones5 in

jw
friends

.

omg i love going to church, the music, the people, the sermon, the pastors, the childcare (sunday school .

josie

NYCkid

This reminds me of my first church experience as a former JW. It has to be about four or five years ago. For over a year, I debated with myself whether to go to the Episcopal Church around the block from where I live. It seemed inviting for various reasons. Finally one Sunday morning I gathered the courage, got dressed up in a suit, took my NWT, the one my parents gave me when I was baptized and went. My partner still laughs at me when I came home disappointed, because not once I was invited to open my Bible (they have "programs" that follow a theme each Sunday and include many Bible verses for the day in the program). I also was a bit turned off at first by the openness there since it was gay friendly Church, and one gay guy got up to make announcements about their movie watching club and with a lisp he said the movies coming up were with Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift and James Dean, I thought to myself, "Mary, sit down" Well I went back a few weeks later and now go periodically. I even volunteered to mow the lawn for a month this past summer. I don't feel guilty when I don't go; I go when I need and want to. People are friendly and don't pressure me to come every week. Believe it or not, I've learned more about the Bible in the times I've gone that all my years as a JW. I enjoy the sermons, hymns and choir and the Easter and Christmas services are amazing. I also join my partner at the Greek Orthodox Church occasionally which is equally beautiful and enlightening.

I really enjoy the formality and rituals and even cross myself since I believe that is giving proper reverence. One Easter I was moved enough to take communion (later I felt guilty and spoke to the pastor but he told me I was fine since I was baptized). I have to say the Easter services are very moving and inspiring...a far cry from the memorial services. By the way, the JW Memorial is what I attribute to my personal catalyst. It was one of my last few I attended and I was all stressed because I had to take care of the songs and we had a Bethel representative so I wanted it to be perfect. I was a Ministerial Servant. I bought a new tie and shirt because I couldn't afford a new suit back then. I also was an usher (forget what the JWs called it) and had organized the hall cleaning prior to the Memorial. Since the hall was over-packed I stood in the back and while I was standing there listening to exactly the same talk that I heard for 20 years or so before, I thought to myself, "what does this all mean?" "Jesus death has no meaning to me anymore?" "I don't feel like I belong here." It may seem like nothing, but for me, it was kind of shocking, I couldn't believe I was having those thoughts.

Although now I consider myself Agnostic and a Humanist, I still enjoy Jesus' teachings and the Church services. It's great to be able to explore my spirituality and belief system on my terms while keeping an open mind about non-Christian beliefs.

Regards,

NYCkid

33

How do you choose......

by EC in

jw
friends

i was born and raised a jw.... right now i know i am still going through the deprogramming, but in the pit of my stomach i so want to believe in something.

i don't know if it is because i always have had a regular "schedule" with god, but to leave and not believe anymore to me is very lonely.

where do you start?

NYCkid

Hi and Welcome,

As I posted on recent topic train regarding a similar topic in MY experience, it's best to not get involved in another religion right away (I've been out for about 12 years and was raised a JW). I hear your pain, but you need time to explore many ideas and thoughts as well as to develop as an individual. However be cautious about finding answers to all your questions. One of the things that draws people to the JW religion is that it appears that they have the answers to all kinds of theological questions and to the purpose of our existence. They don't have the answers and they are only presenting an interpretation of scripture (although they won't admit it). Religion like life is very complicated and we have to admit that there are not always answers. The questions you may have are no doubt questions humans have been asking since the advent of intelligent life form. History tells us that through free inquiry and debate, conclusions about a plethora of topics can be made, but these are only conclusions based on experience and sensory knowledge....it's deep stuff, but give yourself a break for now and enjoy living your life on your terms as you begin your journey to self-actualization. My most important word of advice: be very wary of anyone or anything that tells you they have all the answers AND take some college courses that will initiate your new life full of free inquiry. Personally I'm enjoying the freedom from not worrying about the end of the world and although there are admittedly many problems that plague mankind, life is quite wonderful and must be embraced. Besides, each of us can become involved in our communities to make living better for everyone.

Best wishes.

NYCkid