Posts by DazedAndConfused

21

Watchtower hysteria

by billy in

jw
friends

i have been away from the organization for about 3yrs now.. what did it for me was that verse in psalms/proverbs, where it says: do not put your trust in nobles or the son of earthling man.. the watchtower officials are like nobles.

they expect trust from you, with their multitude of rules for christian living.

something they say is down to your conscience; yet punish you for exercising your conscience.they infact want you to exercise their conscience.. yes, i have doubts about these people!.

DazedAndConfused

billy,

I think what happens is when your whole life and the way you think gets turned upside down because the very people that you trusted.........you learn, have betrayed you, you tend to have a certain amount of time that you become bitter and lash out. I don't think this is a conscious thing, I think it is a self preservation thing. I have essentially been out of the Borg for 11 years, and I am just now cutting the placental ties that they have had on me. I knew that I didn't believe in them anymore, I just couldn't break the ties. In that time, yes I was a very bitter person and unfortunately, people in my life that had nothing at all to do with this were effected. I don't know exactly what happened to you before, but I think that if you show that you are here for the good of not only yourself but for others acceptance will come. Also, with what I have just stated maybe you can understand our side of it too. Please stay and become part of the group

13

Something Sinister About JW Books?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

when i was a little lad of 7 years old, my parents would drag me - literally kicking and screaming - to the kingdom hall.

i used to hate it with a vengeance.. it wasn't just the weird language that i detested, but there did seem to be something of an evil aura about the place.

i recall the chap who took my parents bible study telling them that satan was working through me to try to stop them attending meetings.. it was around this time that i started to become fearful of being alone or in the dark.

DazedAndConfused

Englishman, I am so glad that this is over for you. I do remember all the things in my past that caused great fear in me as a child so I know exactly how you feel. May God be with you.

explorer, the major difference between what we have heard at the Kingdumb Hall and what we watch on the news is vastly different. At no time have I EVER heard Peter Jennings (et al) saying that this is being told to us so that we can prepare ourselves for things that are sure to happen to us one day. I remember being traumatised as a child myself. A Brother in the '70's what "preparing" us for our resolve in the near future and asked us to imagine the our worst fears, and because Satan knew us so well he would KNOW what we are afraid of and that is what will happen to us. He also went on to tell us not to say our worst fears out loud because even if Satan at this point didn't know what would get us, he definitly would after we voiced it. But, as usual, no one heeded that counsel. I remember sisters and brothers sitting around speaking about horrific things that they would be afraid of. The one that I heard, that effected me most, was the one about a cage put around your head and a hungry rat being locked inside so it could eat upon the flesh. As a child under 10, it was very frightening and I had many a nightmare over that.

21

Could I have your thoughts???

by mindfield in

jw
friends

more specifically, could you tell me your thoughts on verses such as:.

matthew 24:14. and could anyone give me some factual stats on the fact that jw's dont actually preach worldwide, or at least aren't recognized worldwide???.

and yes, i do need to be reassured!

DazedAndConfused

We all know what Matthew 24:14 says. "This good news,......." What I find appalling is that the Jehovah's Witnesses believe they are the ONLY ones to do that. How many times do we see people at work speaking about their beliefs? How many times do we see religions in the news for their help to others? How many times do we see/hear friends or neighbors talk about their beliefs? How about the ones that look you in the eye on the street and are genuinely nice? Aren't these all a part of spreading the word of God? No where in Matthew 24:14 do I see where it utlines EXACTLY in what manner we are to accomplish this endeaver.

43

Are you afraid?

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

are you afraid of death?

DazedAndConfused

I think that one of the first things I would look at is the possibility of a panic disorder. I know that many with panic disorders are inordinately worried about things, ie. terrible things happening, death, etc. If you are truly concerned about this I would suggest possibly having a talk with your Dr. Another thing I would consider is the religion. I know, that sounds a bit off the wall since JW's teach that there is no hell and that the promise is to live forever on a paradise earth or going into nothingness. But if you really think about it, they are no different than the other religions that they talk about. It's been so long since I have been active so I can't remember exact wording, but they talk about how other religions use tactics to keep their flocks in line....ie. do good or endure hellfire forever. They do the same thing basically, but in different words. They say things like 'You MUST do this or that or you won't make it into the new system.' And they go onto things like 'If you don't make it think of the family and friends you will not greet and enjoy forever in the new system'. Things like that are no different for people who are living thier whole lives for that one goal in mind. Remember the scripture they use? (Paraphrased) 'You can do all that you can, then PROBABLY you MAY make it' Same thing as the hellfire doctrine but worded differently.

3

KPRZ = Spanish

by DazedAndConfused in

jw
friends

i don't remember which thread stated that some people from the wtbts was going to be on kprz tomorrow/today, but i went through downloading special things i needed to be able to hear and what i am hearing is spanish.

while spanish is a very beautiful language, i still cannot understand it.

if someone listens to this program and can make up a transcript (possibly tapings and transcribing) it would be great.

DazedAndConfused

I don't remember which thread stated that some people from the WTBTS was going to be on KPRZ tomorrow/today, but I went through downloading special things I needed to be able to hear and what I am hearing is Spanish. While Spanish is a very beautiful language, I still cannot understand it. If someone listens to this program and can make up a transcript (possibly tapings and transcribing) it would be great. Thanks.

5

JW's The friendliest people in the world

by Celtic in

jw
friends

a short while back i was sitting on the doorstep enjoying a rollie when from nowhere, this thought pattern appeared in my head on the subject of friendliness and jw's.. the way i saw things was from the perspective that here you have this guy called jesus, who despite churning things up quite a bit in the first century, was in fact not a bad guy to bump into.

in fact i reckon he was pretty cool.. to strangers he gave his time, his company and support.

he got to know people on the local level and mixed without barriers to all communities of all sorts.

DazedAndConfused

I would liken the supposed, or maybe the term should be "alleged", friendliness of Witnesses to that of many "worldly" organisations. Take for example............AA. It requires that it is their way or the highway. Let's go further and liken it to many pyramid schemes. ie., many jobs (Amway, insurance, prepaid legal) they are so upbeat it is almost sickening. But in reality, they become that way because of "initial" programming. Once reality sets in so does depression and self deprication. On the subject of the friendliness of Witnesses..........In the 70's I knew of a couple, personally, who got the whole congregation at their house at some point. And they spent many hours with these people. Well..........these people thought because of the care and concern these people showed MUST mean God is behind it. They got baptised, and he became a MS. But when they became baptised they wondered where their "friends" went. Once they could no longer count time at their house they drifted away. Is that genuine caring?

6

Glad to be back @ JWD!

by exodus in

jw
friends

i know that many of you are trying to put the attack of september 11 behind you.

many us who still have memories about this tragedy that will go away easily.

i told patriot that i'll call him back because my sister was inside the building right next to it (tower two).

DazedAndConfused

Thank you exodus for sharing this with us. I know the fear on that day. My brother was directly under the second plane that hit. They had just crossed over the George Washington bridge, exclaiming how beautiful the skyline was. As they passed over the bridge the second plane, that had been right over their heads, hit the second tower. I am so sorry for your loss. I was very lucky.....they got over to Long Island in time. But it was a hair raising experience for all of us until they got to safe ground. But remember, God has a better purpose. Maybe we don't understand all of it now............but we will. God bless you and yours.

56

On STUMBLING BLOCKS

by You Know in

jw
friends

just a few loose ends and random thoughts for a select group of readers who have not been completely defrauded of your faith.. on the topic of stumbling: stumbling typically involves the mistakes of others whether real or perceived.

the reason jehovah does not consider any stumbling block as a valid reason for abandoning ones faith is because a persons faith should be in jehovah and christ in the first place.

and since god most assuredly did not let his worshipper down, what a fellow believer does or does not do should have no bearing upon our personal relationship with our heavenly father.

DazedAndConfused

I agree with jdubla. Even the society agrees, but it seems that they ONLY agree when they are putting down other thoughts than the ones they themselves promote. Here is a quote from them:

"It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that our understanding of the major teachings and fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures was in error, and then after that, to go back to the very doctrines that, by years of study, we had thoroughly determined to be in error. Christians cannot be vacillating - 'wishy washy' - about such fundamental teachings. What confidence can one put in the sincerity or judgment of such persons?" the Watchtower, May 15 1976, p. 298

Indeed, how can you put your confidence in such "persons" (organization)?

6