Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  78

  Report on Todays special talk

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ok - so special talk today - you can feel safe in a troubled world.

  15 minutes devoted to to how bad things are.

  iraq and usa were headlined and 1914 was mentioned > 20 times.

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  Doubting Bro

  The earthquake thing was definately in the outline because the speaker here went on and on about it. Also, the Spanish flu (which didn't kill as many people percentage wise as the Black Death did in Europe). And about how how some 150m were killed in wars in the 20th century. Again, I haven't checked the previous centuries but given the explosive population growth, it would be interesting to compare the likelyhood of being killed by war today with centuries of old.

  There was also some time devoted to staying in the spiritual ark, for which a strange definition was given. The defination here (not sure if the speaker did this on his own or not) was that the spiritual ark was the spiritual paradise (I thought it was Jesus, but there I go forgetting the JWs aren't a Christian religion). Anyway, I thought he was next going to say the spiritual paradise was only in the org. He did (of course) but in a round about way. He said that the only people in the spiritual paradise were those in the congregation that were displaying the fruits of the spirit. So, just being in the "ark" isn't good enough, you have to be there and be acting in accordance with Jah's will.

  The way he went about it was very confusing. It was ALMOST as if he was saying that accepting Jesus as our Savior and developing the fruits of the spirit is good enough. I don't think he really meant that, but to an outsider, that's what it sounded like. Perhaps it was just sugar coating. I don't think this guy is not toeing the company line, but then again, I gave the special talk last year and I've made quite a bit of progress. Did anyone else have a 5 min portion on what the spiritual ark & spiritual paradise stands for?

  Also, the cry of "Peace & Security" has been made since the 1980s according to this speaker when discussing the verse in 2 Thes. I haven't hear this scripture discussed in several years.
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  134

  The IP Supremacy!!

  by IP_SEC in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i grow weary of being a mere emperor.

  less than 400 more post to go in order to reach the pinnacle of jwdism..

  alas!!!

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  Doubting Bro

  I'll take that one!

  Tim

  The Holy Grail

  An African or a European swallow?
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  43

  Update: Elders on the move....

  by drew sagan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well everybody, i think a little update is in order here with what is going on in my world.

  much has happened, and it appears that much more is going to happen quite quickly.

  for those of you that don't know, the poster amber rose is my wife.

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  Doubting Bro

  Drew,

  Your tactic with your MIL sounds like a good one. I wish you both the best. One thing though, since the MIL turned your wife in already, you are probably still going to have problems with the elders. Of course, if after your meeting with the in-laws, you come to an agreement that she wants to continue a relationship with you both, its still only 1 witness and therefore no judicial action can be taken if you both deny the membership and say she must have misunderstood. The fact that joining a gym could mean that all good JWs shun you is insane but as you know its in the rule book (meaning the WT not the Bible).

  Good luck.
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  255

  Going out with a bang

  by LittleToe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after much deliberation, i decided to go "out" at the end of a public talk.

  it didn't go down too well, but at least i was able to give some of my reasons for leaving.. i've put some of the details on my homepage.

  i'll update it more when i get the time and the strength.

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  Doubting Bro

  Little Toe,

  I've seen references to the fact that you DA'ed during a public talk, but somehow missed this thread until now. I just finished listening to your talk and it was very moving. My brother, you certainly are one of a kind. I don't know how you were able to make it through but you did a fantastic job! I'm glad you still have it on the web and it was certainly an inspiration to me.

  Well done
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  39

  The serious conversation with the wife about the cult- part 2

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the book study overseer hasn't asked why i won't come to the bookstudy, he gets .

  be the month i stopped going to the k.h.

  not going this week than it was about missing other meetings.. i told her that i would not be going to the meetings at all anymore.

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  Doubting Bro

  OTWO,

  That's awesome. Your story gives me inspiration.
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  33

  I have no mouth, and I must scream

  by under_believer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please indulge a little whining.

  i don't go out in service--i don't comment.

  they assign talks (once, one of the highlights of my existence) to me every couple of months.

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  Doubting Bro

  UB,

  Please know that you aren't alone. I could have written that post myself. I wish there was something I could say to make you feel a little better about the situation. There are many mornings I wake up disappointed that I woke up. I understand what you mean when you say that losing your wife & family would be worse that what you're going through now.

  The only thing that gives me even a glimer of hope is my child. Yes, he's being subjected to this crap now, but my mission in life is to give him the tools to do what I can't, break free. A few have mentioned the importance of making sure the kids don't get baptized. If they can make it to 18 without getting dipped, they will have a fighting chance of not having to deal with losing family and not having to be a JW.

  I guess I'm quite depressed today as well and probably shouldn't be commenting. But believe me, I can relate to your pain. I guess the way I look at it is that while my life has been wasted, it won't be a total waste if I can make it so that my son won't suffer the same. Nice religion, huh?
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  4

  What does the average JW believe re Bulgaria

  by Mile 0 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what i'd like to know, since it's been a few years now, what does the regular jw understand about bulgaria?

  has the society ever published anything in their meeting mags/books concerning the agreement arising out of the european human rights commission hearing?

  mile 0.

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  Doubting Bro

  Yup. That applies to most of the elders as well. When we were told that taking blood transfusions was no longer a DFing offense but was instead considered DAing, all of us looked around and wondered what the difference was. It wasn't until later that I learned of the Bulgaria deal and realized what was going on. Most of the elders haven't a clue.
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  403

  BEER THREAD

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i believe the moment's right to discuss a very serious matter............................................................beer.

  what do you like?

  let's edumicate one another!

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  Doubting Bro

  Skeptic1914 - Left Hand rocks. All their stuff is pretty good. I tried the Russian beer you mentioned a few months ago and it was quite good. I was impressed. But then, Baltic porters are similar to Imperial Stouts and I love me some imperial stouts

  Brother A - right on!! By the way, the list you posted was quite impressive.

  Nvr - Absolutely. I'm not in the area either but do get a chance to get there on occassion. We'll need to figure something out.

  I'm going to get myself a Stouds Fat Dog (imperial oatmeal stout). Nectar of the gods.
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  44

  Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-1-07 WT Study (RESPECT HUSBAND)

  by blondie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  comments you will not hear at the 04-01-07 wt study (february 15, 2007, pages 18-22)(respect husband).

  review comments will be in red.

  wt material from today's wt will be in black.

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  Doubting Bro

  Good point Justica.

  It was interesting today to see the responses. Many were from sisters who had failed marriages to non-JWs. It seems the ones who had failed marriages to JWs were either 1) silent or 2) not called on by the conductor (which is a very big possibility).

  I found the tone very insulting and as the other posters mentioned, no provision for a wife to remove herself from an abusive situation that could threaten both herself and her children.

  The congregation I spent most of my elder time at really didn't have many marriage problems, so its difficult for me to comment on the extent of abusive realtionships among JWs as a whole. However, in speaking with others, I do know that its very real. I think society in general has become less tolerant of such behavior and more willing to do something to stop the abuse.

  As OTWO mentioned, I know for a fact my wife wouldn't stand for one second of such treatment and I appreciate being married to such a woman who will not "toe the line" as the bookstudy this week stated. Boy, what a week for JW women. First, having an opinion lables one as a Jezabel and then this joke of an article.
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  403

  BEER THREAD

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i believe the moment's right to discuss a very serious matter............................................................beer.

  what do you like?

  let's edumicate one another!

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  Doubting Bro

  Nvr,

  Check out Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout. Very nice as well.

  My all time favorite beer. I think you can get it in most parts of the country now, but if you live in the NYC area, its been available for several year. Actually, all the Brooklyn stuff is awesome!!

  Nvr, for some reason, I'm thinking your in the NYC area? If so, I'm sure you've checked out Gingerman, Blind Tiger & DBAs!! 3 incredible beer bars.