Posts by Joe Grundy

39

Stupid Memorial

by PanzerZauberei in

jw
friends

well, i am gonna have to go again because my wife wants to go this year.

she missed last year because she was sick and was so depressed about it for a month after because of the guilt her stupid family laid upon my poor darling.

last night she was visiting her dad (the only one who didn't guilt her) and he asked if she was going to go this year.

I went to one of these a couple of years ago, thinking my JW neighbours/friends could get some brownie points from my attendance. I think I spoiled that by having a cigarette outside (before and after) and because I learned a couple of Hebrew words ('have a good passover - 'tov' something) which I said to the people either side of me when they passed the goodies round.

All brownie points were cancelled the following week when a young Filipina lady moved in with me. All I can say is that I'm glad that she is a roman catholic 'cos she seems to have violated all the points on the dubs' d/f list. Luckily, of course, not being dubs we never had to go before a JC to outline our 'sins'. But she liked talking about stuff in great detail and would probably have enjoyed the discussion. There would not have been a dry seat in the house.

40

"And how old is the Proclaimers book?"

by passwordprotected in

i had a frank discussion with my parents yesterday that ended up in the cul-de-sac of "how did the organisation start?

" i told them that all they need to know about the origins of the org are in the proclaimers book, of how chuck started his own religion, or how he got his ideas from the adventists and a lovely fellow called barbour and how chuck preached that christ had returned in 1874 and that the last days had started in 1799.. my parents were unwilling to accept this, so i said, "read your proclaimers book!

y'know what my mum's answer to that was?.

Joe Grundy

I am an outsider (never a dub), worldly (very), and so my views and opinions may not count for much.

When Russell started his religion (at a time and in a place where many new religions were kicking off) he was 'locked into' the 'science' of the time. Archaeology had not been accepted as a 'science', many thought - following Usher - that the world was 6000 years old, etc.

No problem - except for religions which taught (and still do, as far as I am aware) that their god was omniscient, all-powerful, and never changing. Whoops! Always big problems, of course, trying to reconcile the killing, raping, pillaging god of the OT with the Pauline liberal stuff in the NT, but as far as Russell and other loonies of their time (Smith, to name just one) were concerned they could speculate away 'safe' in their knowledge that nobody could contradict them.

Now we can - and the contradictions will only increase as scientific methods are developed.

To me, it's a bit like DNA - we can go back to 'cold cases' and re-investigate (cf. the poor bugger just released in the UK after serving 27 years for a murder he could not have committed).

If I was Mr Russell today, starting a new religion, I'd be a bit wary.

36

How did you feel about attending another church?

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

this question is for those who have attended another church since leaving the jw's.. i have considered attending a local church, firstly out of curiosity and secondly because i do enjoy discussing the bible with people and learning new thoughts on scripture.. the only thing that stops me though is crossing that line.

i guess it was a bit like when i first posted here, it took me ages to pluck up the courage and now what was the big deal?.

did anyone else have this feeling before attending another church, that feeling of crossing the line of no return.

Joe Grundy

'I agree with another poster here who said there is something about being in that 1,000 year old church, a place that has been used to worship God for so long that is pretty awe-inspiring.'

Near my home (West Wales, not Cyprus where I live now) is a chapel carved out of a cliff-face which is about 1,500 years old. Awe-inspiring. Where I live now is about 10 minutes walk away from where Saul/Paul met the (then) Roman governor and had his showdown and got whipped. I don't believe the bunkum, but inspiring nevertheless, and you can still see the mosaic floors and walk where these guys would have walked. (Acts, about ch. 9, iirc).

And there's a catacomb, right by the side of the road, where the jews held their services before the Romans went friendly to them. Still a 'holy' site where many people who want prayers answered tie a piece of cloth (or a kleenex nowadays, it seems) to a 'prayer tree'. Fascinating.

9

What Would Jesus Say to You and the Governing Body?

by AllTimeJeff in

would you be a jehovah's witness if you just read the bible by itself?

for that matter, without the aid of any religious influence, would one be apart of any religious group or body because of a specific mandate within the bible?

i realize this is at least a tricky and controversial question, best answered by the individual doing the reading of the bible.

Joe Grundy

I have never been a JW, so please feel free to disregard my opinion.

I live in Pahos, Cyprus, which is where Paul (allegedly) changed his name from Saul. Coincidentally or not the Roman governor here at that time was Paulus Serginus (I think). This was also where Saul/Paul had that curious showdown with 'Jesus bar-abbas' and blinded him to show that Paul was top-dog. (Covered in Acts, I think, but my knowledge is hazy).

I have stood on the mosaic floors where all this is supposed to have happened, and I have been to the 'whipping post' where Paul/Saul is alleged to have been whipped (also in Acts), about 5 minutes walk away.

My irreverent reply to the question in your post title is: 'Whatever Paul/Saul later thought would best fit in with his new religion'.

But, as I said, please feel free to disregard my opinion.

36

How did you feel about attending another church?

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

this question is for those who have attended another church since leaving the jw's.. i have considered attending a local church, firstly out of curiosity and secondly because i do enjoy discussing the bible with people and learning new thoughts on scripture.. the only thing that stops me though is crossing that line.

i guess it was a bit like when i first posted here, it took me ages to pluck up the courage and now what was the big deal?.

did anyone else have this feeling before attending another church, that feeling of crossing the line of no return.

Joe Grundy

I never was a JW, so please feel free to disregard my opinion.

But my advice would be: WHATEVER religion/denomination you may think of following, check out all of the available information first.

I believe that we have a brain (from whatever source) and we should use it. A decision to join a religion (if that's what you want) should be based on knowledge - and if you find that they lied to you, get out, quick!

31

They make me Sick!!

by wary in

jw
friends

it makes s me sick that the witnesses have such a hold over people.

ive told my wife and shown her all the crap about the society but she still insists ongoing to meetings.

shes off again this afternoon and taking the kids.

Joe Grundy

03:18:16

I speak as one who never was (thank ****) a JW, so please feel free to disregard my opinion.

But you may be better off to view it as a 'volume control' which you may be able to progressively 'turn down' rather than an 'on/off' switch.

Just a thought.

Regards.

25

Jokes for MARY

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

*disclaimer: these are just jokes!

mary is having a really crappy time playing the cards life has dealt her right now and that is no joke.

but since we know how fond she is of jokes, maybe we can cheer her up.*.

Joe Grundy

Man in lap-dancing club, to dancer: 'Can I smell your pussy?'

Dancer (disgustedly): 'No'

Man: 'Oh, it must be your feet then'.

11

Just a brief update

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

i've been away from the board for a while, and just wanted to give an update.. i met a lady via another board who had concerns that her 'boyfriend's' young daughter was being sucked into the dubs.

i responded to her concerns and thanks to many of the posters here (including some who were in direct contact) that danger seems to have been averted for the time being at least.. during the course of my conversations with the lady we became close.

i went back to the uk early in january and met her for a couple of weeks.

Joe Grundy

I just wanted to say a big 'thank you' to all on here, and that though as an 'outsider' I can only imagine the pain and turmoil that so many suffer, I can also imagine the support and comfort that this site, and more importantly the posters on it, provide.

It's a Damn Good Thing, IMHO. Keep on keeping on.

11

Just a brief update

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

i've been away from the board for a while, and just wanted to give an update.. i met a lady via another board who had concerns that her 'boyfriend's' young daughter was being sucked into the dubs.

i responded to her concerns and thanks to many of the posters here (including some who were in direct contact) that danger seems to have been averted for the time being at least.. during the course of my conversations with the lady we became close.

i went back to the uk early in january and met her for a couple of weeks.

Joe Grundy

Hi Juni!

I remember well. (better than the guy who took us there, anyway. He was a retired FBI agent, but as far as I recall he had a good evening with a local lady. I suppose he was lucky to meet a straight lady in Madison)

(Ducks out of the way).

11

Just a brief update

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

i've been away from the board for a while, and just wanted to give an update.. i met a lady via another board who had concerns that her 'boyfriend's' young daughter was being sucked into the dubs.

i responded to her concerns and thanks to many of the posters here (including some who were in direct contact) that danger seems to have been averted for the time being at least.. during the course of my conversations with the lady we became close.

i went back to the uk early in january and met her for a couple of weeks.

Joe Grundy

Thanks!

The temperature came as a bit of a shock, but buying a new waterproff and warm coat, and extra logs on the fire, seemed to do the trick.

Just as well I never was a dub, 'cos for sure Amy Geddon would be waiting for me now. (Will she never come, poor thing?)