Posts by freemindfade

25

Jehovah's Witnesses---From Walking Tall To Living In Shame

by minimus in

jw
friends

i remember the days when jws were proud of their religion, they walked tall and carried their big stick, their bibles, proudly.

now, it's embarrassing for a witness to admit their faith to others.

the average witness can't explain their beliefs, as they have changed so many times.

freemindfade

Good post, for what its worth i see it another way

People love to show off the shinny blue logo, and bells and whistles, bright colors, tv stations etc. They are so excited.

No one wants to show off doctrine anymore because 1. nobody else actually cares in an increasingly rational society 2. no R&F know what the hell it is anymore.

relatively over night it became a religion with all kinds of secret knowledge that controlled its members, to a religion with the same info as everyone else... that controls its members, but in a pretty package.

I do believe that some people don't watch the programing, or different things because it is embarrassing and they just refer to it like someone who thumps the bible but never reads it.

26

Watchtower Society now PROMOTES using Social Media / Networks?

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

have you seen this?.

http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/teenagers/whiteboard-animations/social-network-smart/#?insight.

freemindfade

They sure have changed their tune since ooooh, 4 or 5 years ago.

Also it sounds like a PSA, most of it is legit, sprinkled with jwism or scripture here and there, but mostly common sense about social networks.

Anyone else find it interesting the Org is using a female to narrate this video? (PLEASE NOTE: this statement does not reflect the views of Freemindfade or any of his associates)

From their standard stance on ladies not teaching, this seems a little strange to me.

44

The JW religion has just cost me my marriage & my family life

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

after leaving the organisation 10 years ago i fought with everything i had to stay in my marriage and with my three children.

after a tumultuous number of years trying to maintain a happy family life while living in a divided home, it's finally over.

the religion is single handedly responsible for destroying my marriage and my family.

freemindfade

Im very sorry to hear this, at times I too fear my life is headed that direction

9

another "real" god to deal with...

by freemindfade in

_morpheus...our gods thor and zeus have competition it looks like.

.

freemindfade

Video yea mine too, what can you do...

23

New video telling the R&F to be generous

by Splash in

bro sanderson has a 7 minute video up on their streaming website called "be willing to open your hand".. in it he tells us not to be "tight fisted" or "stingy" and later "regardless of how much we have or how little we have, we'll find something within our power to be able to do".

we have the responsibility to imitate jehovah's generosity.. there's a bit about giving to one another when we see the need, which is nice, then he drops in how 20 years ago the canada branch committee asked the bethel family for donations to the disaster relief fund, and promptly raised over $10,000.

i think that's pretty good going for those under a vow of poverty.. "the generous person will prosper" he says, then illustrates this using a made up story.

freemindfade

respectful_observer

Had the same experience all the time, "non-believers" are generally far more generous from what I have seen in 35 years on this rock.

Never hire a witness and never go out to dinner with one unless you already have decided to just pay for dinner (which is what i usually do to avoid the above situation, just pick up the whole tab to not have this ugly display ruin the fun).

23

New video telling the R&F to be generous

by Splash in

bro sanderson has a 7 minute video up on their streaming website called "be willing to open your hand".. in it he tells us not to be "tight fisted" or "stingy" and later "regardless of how much we have or how little we have, we'll find something within our power to be able to do".

we have the responsibility to imitate jehovah's generosity.. there's a bit about giving to one another when we see the need, which is nice, then he drops in how 20 years ago the canada branch committee asked the bethel family for donations to the disaster relief fund, and promptly raised over $10,000.

i think that's pretty good going for those under a vow of poverty.. "the generous person will prosper" he says, then illustrates this using a made up story.

freemindfade

My experience with Witnesses far and wide is that they ARE some of the cheapest, stingiest people. Especially in America. Wether they are window washers or have money. They are not generous. In other countries they may be, but some other countries generosity is cultural as well.

My wife is really beginning to see this too, how the majority of RF from young adult to middle aged are generally inhospitable, ungenerous, and ungrateful to those who actually are, in fact they may resent you! This has been my over all impression, and she is starting to see it.

Maybe this is a deflection of Lett's part, to soften up his message a little and make it seem like they are asking for general openhandedness

20

In depth research reveals....

by Deltawave in

something i have noticed over the years is how much harder it is to research the history of the watchtower society from its own literature.

people have thrown away old publications in place of the watchtower library.

i beleive soon the watchtower library disk will be discontinued in place of the online library.

freemindfade

Orwellian move. Rewriting your own history. Also when you bring up something and say look what they wrote followers will say "where did that come from" apostates? "How did you get that? Apostates?" And so on...

24

Suggestions for Governing Body 2.0

by FusionTheism in

i realize many people on here are very angry at the watchtower society and/or governing body for various reasons, many of which are likely justified, at least to some extent.

i also can totally understand the cynicism and pessimism i see from certain ones regarding the leaders of the society.. i think one thing that's often forgotten or overlooked, however, is the fact that members of the governing body who've been "in the truth" for 30, 40, 50, 60 years, probably truly believe in this organization.

in my opinion, it's more likely that they believe what they teach instead of being liars who are intentionally deceiving everyone.

freemindfade

What is disposable with the gb, radical islam, deadly cults, and any kind of extremists. Is thats they believe they demonstrate their zeal for god by harming other, they learn this from their holy books, in Isreal the two witnesses to apostasy would have to be the first to stone the person to demonstrate their zeal for the desert god. So it's a loop of anger. Not just at them, it should start with whoever made up this deserert god, the book it was written in, then those that take it literal and hurt others. It's not if they believe it true or not. Is harmful.

I suggest googling images of stoning still going on in the middle east. a man or woman buried up to their ribs, arms stuck in the ground, head smashed and blood everywhere from zealots crushing them with stones. Now, that originated with your god, and if the laws allowed it, this gb 2.0 would have the same done to you just for visiting this website. Think about that for a minute.

14

Suffering: the result of Adamic sin?

by confused in

i am currently having a study with a pioneer couple to try to reactivate me and get me back into the congregation.

they have asked me to really think about the provision of the ransom sacrifice.

in doing so i have gone back to basics and have already hit a few questions i am thinking of raising.

freemindfade

I remember reading about sin somewhere in the insight book I believe. It said original sin was not eating the fruit. It wasn't Adam and eve even. It started in heaven With Satan.

Also yes. If someone tricked you even if you acted presumptuousely seems harsh to banish billions for thousands of years to pain and suffering. Think about it. If satan originated sin, he wasn't deceived by anyone but himself, eve was influenced by an external force ie deceived. But isnt the ransom great thought

And why so long? So man can try every form of ruling himself? thats couldn't have been done in 100 years? 500 years?

It all makes my head hurt.

31

Catch phrases used by the GB

by stuckinarut2 in

i read a comment on another thread that made me think of this topic.. how many catchphrases are used by the gb and organisation in an attempt to control or gain power or prevent questioning?

feel free to list as many as you can think of!.

i'll start:.

freemindfade

Cult...