Merry Magdalene

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Posts by Merry Magdalene

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  99

  Door to Door

  by I-follow-the-narrow-path in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just wondering... what do you think about the jw going door to door?

  do you like it or dislike it?

  my view is ( weather something is false or not) i think it is great someone shares what they love with someone else.

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  Merry Magdalene

  if everything they teach is scriptural why would they leave?

  This is a good question. As many have demonstrated on various threads here, and in articles at other sites, not everything the Watchtower Society teaches is scriptural. In fact, I have found very little that is. They have only made their teachings appear to be scriptural by taking scriptures out of context (the same way they often take quotes from secular sources out of context) and bending and shaping and twisting them to fit into their own design.

  Having left JWs and having left Christianity entirely for over a decade, then having recently taken up reading the Bible on its own and reading the JW publications, the differences I find between the two are astounding, even moreso than I had noticed while growing up with JW teachings.

  When reading their publications, try reading the greater context of the scriptures they cite. Ponder it. Don't jump from place to place. Question everything you read, including what is in the Bible. Don't let your questions be too easily ignored or set aside. If you don't have questions yet, consider other people's questions. Check out some Bible commentaries. (Try some of the free resources at e-sword: http://www.e-sword.net/commentaries.html )

  And be wary of those who put more emphasis on what to think rather than how to think.

  Best wishes!

  ~Merry
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  28

  The Passion of the Christ

  by I-follow-the-narrow-path in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so... i just got the passion.. and i haven't watched it yet.. but going to.

  what does everyone think about it ?

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  Merry Magdalene

  I-follow, I am so glad you are here, sharing your thoughts, expressing your feelings, asking questions, exploring, experimenting, making up your own mind on things. That is how it should be for a young woman!

  But that was not how it was for me, growing up JW. I quickly discovered that there was no one I could turn to with my doubts, my questions, my criticisms, my fears. And I had a lot of them! Although my mother tried to be understanding and encouraging, more than the rest, and cut me some slack because of my "artistic" nature, when I could not make myself accept, believe, and do everything I was taught by JWs, I was disfellowshipped and she had to shun me along with the rest, and so now I can share nothing deeply personal (nor anything light-hearted and fun) with her, our extended family, or any of my old friends.

  I wonder what you are getting from your studies and association with JWs that you think you cannot get elsewhere from a less controlling, more supportive, more Christian group...Have you "shopped around"? There are so many good reasons--spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical-- to avoid getting entangled with the JWs!!! You will find many, if not all of them addressed on this site. Do keep reading!

  My best wishes to you

  ~Merry
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  22

  Comments You Will Not Hear at the 5-14-06 WT Study (CHRISTIAN BAPTISM)

  by blondie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  (b) what questions will we now consider?.

  a good relationship.

  is the relationship of the other sheep as close as the anointed with god (or jesus)?.

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  Merry Magdalene

  So I wonder--do the JW great crowded get John's baptism, while the JW anointed get Christ's baptism? Scriptures get very convoluted and confusing when Christians are divided into 2 camps like this.
  
  
  

  And I wonder--how do children repent of their former course of life and "turn around"?

  And if we are not supposed to get baptized because of coersion and pressure from others in the congregation, why do they do it? I was very strongly coerced and pressured and guilted into it, while at the same time they kept urging, "Now make sure you are doing this for the right reason and it really is your decision!" Yeah, right.

  ~Merry
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  65

  so exhausted you can't rest

  by Utopian Reformist in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have been on the road now since late march.

  i am in helsinki, finland and am very very very tired.

  i am flying out again tomorrow to mexico city via london & atlanta, ga. i will be working in mexico city until the 27th of may.

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  Merry Magdalene

  {{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}

  That's a lot of travelling, amigo!

  Sounds like you have been pushing yourself too hard for too long (although understandably so). Any chance you could just scale back a bit rather than completely quitting? Are you continuing to get the care and support you need--physically, emotionally, mentally?

  Don't want to lose you now

  ~Merry
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  35

  HEY I HAVE SOME GREAT NEWS!

  by jaredg in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have found one of my old jw friends from when i was a teenager.

  i discovered her on myspace and wrote her message and it turns out that she is out of the religion and doing well.

  this is the first time i have met one of my friends from my inner circle who has left the jw religion...i'm so excited!

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  Merry Magdalene

  Aww...this IS exciting! How very very coolHave fun getting to know each other again

  ~Merry
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  38

  greetings from another newbie

  by lost_sheep in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well... i've finally worked up the courage to get an account & start posting on this site.

  i've been lurking for a couple of months now, voraciously reading all the, mmm, "delightful words of truth" i've found here.

  i'm currently deep in dubdom, so i have to be pretty ambiguous about some personal details, (i'm really paranoid, hopefully that will pass :-/) but my story in a nutshell is: i was born into this religion, baptised in my mid teens, happily married to a wonderful (& thankfully, somewhat open-minded) jw lady, & now, several years later, i'm starting to seriously question some of what i believe.

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  Merry Magdalene

  Welcome lost_sheep!

  Here are links to a couple other articles you might find helpful:

  *http://www.csicop.org/si/2000-11/beliefs.html (Why Bad Beliefs Don't Die)

  *http://www.empowerthespirit.com/truthquest/whoami.htm (How to Re-invent Yourself After Leaving...)

  ~Merry
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  31

  Hi every one!

  by wifey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i may not post much cause i'm really busy with work and raising 3 grandkids but some times see posts i would like to comment on.

  glad to meet all of you.. later, .

  wifey

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  Merry Magdalene

  

  ~Merry
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  19

  Ive got a secret!!!! Ive got a secret!!!!

  by mouthy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  gadget & claire just got engaged!!!!

  on monday at niagaria falls!!!!.

  they just had lunch here with mary!!!!!

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  Merry Magdalene

  Paul & Claire~

  

  ~Merry
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  28

  The Story of Adam & Eve

  by LaCatolica in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i learned that the story of adam and eve was exactly that, 'a story'.

  i remember learning that in my religion class in high school.

  i learned that the old testament was filled with tales and that none should be taken literally because these were stories of oral tradition.

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  Merry Magdalene

  I found the following article rather interesting:

  ~Merry
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  10

  Welcome, broken_wolf!

  by cruzanheart in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm glad you finally started posting -- i know everyone here who hasn't met you will love you and those who have met you already appreciate you, even if you didn't take part in the moon party on my front lawn last saturday!.

  for those of you who don't know, broken_wolf is my dear friend margaret, the brilliant editor and graphic designer of brian mcglothin's book "have you seen my mother?".

  even though she was never saddled with the burden of being a jw, she appreciates what we've all been through and admires the courage it takes to walk away from such a high mind control group.

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  Merry Magdalene

  Welcome, broken_wolfNice of you to join in

  ~Merry