Posts by freemindfade

21

How Radicalised are Jehovah's Witnesses?

by snugglebunny in

back in the early 70's, the wt stated that all persons who had lived and died would be resurrected after armageddon.

only non believers would be killed at armageddon, never to return.

in short, if you died before the big a, you were guaranteed to return.. this gave rise amongst several ex's to concerns that their well-meaning jw parents might just consider the possibilty of having their offspring "lovingly" bumped off so as to ensure their resurrection!.

freemindfade

The danger in JW's is less about their theology and more about devout members inability to believe/think that it is not the one true religion. Anything is possible when people aren't in control, and I have blasted my family for this and given examples of the danger of letting someone else think for you... however...

All that being said, with the JW's I believe it is so big, and there are so many inside that are actually on the fringe in a lot of ways, that they wouldn't do anything radical. Now the hardcores in the middle, possibly, but overall I think anything extreme would be isolated and small.

Although some would call turning down medical treatment "radical".

50

If The Witnesses Try To Get You Back To Jehovah...How Will You Respond!

by minimus in

jw
friends

i am most curious.

freemindfade

Not sure who this Jehovah is, but I left the idea of believing in the fictional storm god YHWH.

52

It's starting shunning will stop brochure first.step

by poopie in

jw
friends

i'm in contact with service and writing and brochure first step there bleeding publishers they can't take it anymore publishers are depressed because they feel they must shun others and they know it's unloving.

freemindfade

It's an interesting thought.

They have been using it to keep the thing together for decades
So many have been affected by it it's hard to imagine them having to reverse that. Probably be a bigger woopsie than the generation thing.
but on the other hand, with Islam and others being more exposed for the same practice, it may put pressure on them and it may have legal implications

Like recently I have been thinking. You aren't considered an adult until 18 (in america). I was baptized at 15 and considered old in my area. But still I couldn't get married Etc that young and not be criticized. How can you make an equally critical decision before being an adult that could potentially destroy your life later when you become more mature and change your mind

45

Return to Jehovah… No Return Address

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

return to jehovah... no return address .

today i read a small piece of poetic irony.

im not going to advertise from what web forum i read this, but it was so astounding i had to share it somewhere.

freemindfade

They want people to return because there are probably legal changes in the secular judicial system coming that will put these practices in a legal forum and they are already overburdened within child abuse. If all df'd shunned ones had legal recourse. Oh my.

11

Nature of the Word "Spiritual" Amongst Witnesses

by freemindfade in

even as an atheist i consider myself spiritual, always have, metaphysics and spiritual discussions about enlightenment and so on i find interesting, even if belief in a yhwh is not in me.

i want to propose this simple definition of the word "spiritual" among jehovah's witnesses.. spiritual = indoctrination or indoctrinated.

i have been told how i'm "just not a spiritual man".

freemindfade

When I was doing fairly well in most aspects, I remember someone telling me the new reason that I wasn't being used was I didn't "comment enough". If it wasn't getting over the monthly average it was that (mind you I was working full time and supporting a pioneer wife).

I was told this is how you show your faith, by commenting. In other words if you don't show it no one will believe it. So what if you are faking it? whats the difference? Needing proof shows how their idea of spirituality is based on external factors of what others think, not internally whats really happening with you. In other words you could do nothing and be really spiritual, or you could be a fake and pioneer and make every comment.

11

Nature of the Word "Spiritual" Amongst Witnesses

by freemindfade in

even as an atheist i consider myself spiritual, always have, metaphysics and spiritual discussions about enlightenment and so on i find interesting, even if belief in a yhwh is not in me.

i want to propose this simple definition of the word "spiritual" among jehovah's witnesses.. spiritual = indoctrination or indoctrinated.

i have been told how i'm "just not a spiritual man".

freemindfade

We could all write volumes I am sure on their skewed idea of "spirituality". That's why I was trying to encompass all this in a simple

Spirituality = How well you demonstrate you're indoctrination.

Love the discussion and seeing everyones ideas, and I would love to hear more.

11

Nature of the Word "Spiritual" Amongst Witnesses

by freemindfade in

even as an atheist i consider myself spiritual, always have, metaphysics and spiritual discussions about enlightenment and so on i find interesting, even if belief in a yhwh is not in me.

i want to propose this simple definition of the word "spiritual" among jehovah's witnesses.. spiritual = indoctrination or indoctrinated.

i have been told how i'm "just not a spiritual man".

freemindfade

Even as an atheist I consider myself spiritual, always have, metaphysics and spiritual discussions about enlightenment and so on I find interesting, even if belief in a YHWH is not in me. I want to propose this simple definition of the word "spiritual" among Jehovah's Witnesses.

Spiritual = Indoctrination or Indoctrinated

I have been told how I'm "just not a spiritual man". As I am sure many others have been accused of. Or phrases like"spiritual matters". Many uneducated (both secularly and theologically) witnesses feel they are spiritual beacons of understanding, when really they know nothing more, or in most cases much less than your average "apostate".

Unknowingly to most dubs, "Spirituality" in the context of witnesses amounts to:

How well you follow the Watchtowers rules
How blindly you embrace their dogma and their doctrine
And how far you will go to demonstrate the above two points

Simply put that is all. It is no great search for enlightenment, or even coming to understand "God". Or in concerns about a spiritual realm.

47

If someone asked you, 'Are you a righteous person'? What would be your answer?

by Esse quam videri in

what would be your answer?

are you are a righteous person?

on a scale of 1-10, how righteous do you feel you are?.

freemindfade

I'd say Im a level ten righteous guy, then smack the nearest lady on the @$$, take a sip of scotch, and go find a cigar

7

BBC debate on Apostasy within Islam - the parallels are striking!

by nicolaou in

do british muslims have a problem with apostasy?.

not sure if the link above will auto embed as i'm posting from my tablet, if not just click through.. i think this format is useless for any meaningful or constructive debate.

it's almost designed to get sunday morning viewers sputtering over their coffee but still .

freemindfade

Very good! thank you, going to be sharing this with some people.

47

If someone asked you, 'Are you a righteous person'? What would be your answer?

by Esse quam videri in

what would be your answer?

are you are a righteous person?

on a scale of 1-10, how righteous do you feel you are?.

freemindfade

Tough question, at one time eating pork and shellfish was immoral or unrighteous according to the desert god YHWH. I love those things! So on a scale of 1-10? Who's scale? I think it would need to be broken down like this:

Kindess: 10

behavior with women 3

and so on lol

Righteousness is linked to morality no? it used to be righteous to have slaves but not eat shellfish in the OT. The only things that I would consider unrighteous would be those things that harm others or society. Murder, theft, and so on.