i'm halfway through two books, and both of them together have greatly helped me understand why people are attracted to extreme religious groups like the jehovah's witnesses, and how these organizations manage to stick around...year after year.
i figure understanding why is the start.
if you are waiting for cherished relatives and friends to "see the light", these books might help.
So glad to see you here, Jgnat. Thanks for the book recommendations. I have always thought that those of us who chose to be a jw did so to fill very personal needs. I also think many of us outgrow those needs later in life.
The shameful part is that there is no honorable way to leave. I mean, you should just be able to say you no longer feel the need for such beliefs in your life. Even the Bible says we grow up spiritually and that is a good thing.
a few months ago there was a thread about a couple of elders at the mill hill bethel being disfellowshipped because they disagreed with some wt doctrine (i can't recall exactly what it was) and that several other betheliteswere under 'investigation'.
i haven't heard anything since, does anyone know anything more about this?.
borghater xx.
Thanks, Paulapolllos. Sorry they teated you with disrespect. It is obvious from the Bible that the ransom and all that goes with it, is for everyone. BUT, they can't lose their "special" slave class designation, as that would throw much of what they teach out the window.
It is shocking how they make honest people out to be the devil's spawn by their use of the word "apostate". Nothing puts fear into a jw heart quite like that word. They purposely don't allow the reason for labeling people as apostates to be known because it might cause some to think for themselves.
the witnesses try to demonize the internet.
in your opinion is the internet the biggest problem for the watchtower organization?.
I certainly hope so. I have to say the internet and sites like this one helped me out a lot to get through that awkward phase where their tactics might have had me running back.
Education/Information needs to reach people BEFORE they get involved. If I could have googled jws when I first heard of them, I would have never gotten involved.
It makes me wonder why I live here every year. Space heaters are just about sold out around here.
this weekend at the circuit assembly, (i stayed home, thank goodness), i heard a nine year -old girl was baptized.
and she seems a bit mature for her age, but hardly mature enough,in my opinion, to make such a choice on her own.
it seems to be a trend in our circuit right now.
I knew a little girl who was baptized at nine. It's way too young. Also knew a girl of 15 who got married-dub parents signed for it.
I see it in other religions too. Young ones getting baptized. Only difference is that the churches don't try to ruin their lives if they decide to leave the church.
i had a brother.
his name was jon.. jon was a sweet, super sensitive guy.
also, a very tortured soul.
Love conquers all.
It's pretty with the lights. Been a long, cold January so far. Be glad to see the grass again.
what exactly is a "spirit"?
is it invisible?
does it have form?
There have to be many things we have little knowledge about in this immense universe. Understanding life in other dimensions is not possible when we have no experience with such places.
To think that this little earth is THE only and most important place in the universe is foolish. "Spirits" is a term that means different things to people. Is God a spirit? I don't know, but I do believe we will find out.
I look forward to finding out.
below are two emails that are doing the rounds in dub land.
they contain an account of a convention that was set up in russia in woods, the email has photos but i can't figure out how to post them up too.
but it shows bros and sis in the middle of a forest, on plastic chairs, freezing!!.
Nothing like a little persecution to get everyone fired up.
why take notes at meetings.
a little girl and her family were on their way to the kingdom hall.. half-way into the trip, the little girl shouted: "stop!
" the father asked: "why?
So sad. The little girl appears to be terrorized, afraid she will be swept away (destroyed).
