Posts by Joe Grundy

55

Do You Think The Witnesses Actually Know What They Believe In?

by minimus in

i think they know what they don't believe in, like no blood, no hellfire, no trinity....but they really couldn't explain what their beliefs are and why they believe as they do.

do you agree?

Joe Grundy

I never was a JW, and I hope that no-one minds if I broaden this.

IME, very few 'believers' in any religion really know what they believe in. They may be able to quote a few core issues, but press them on anything even a little deeper and 'something' kicks in to deny any further discussion.

I think this applies to many believers in many religions. Many 'Christians' have no idea why or how their views differ from those of Catholics/Orthodox/original Protestants, let alone the various Christain sects along the way. Many Muslims don't have much idea of the differences between Sunni, Shi'ite or Suffi creeds, let alone the off-shoots. Many Thai Buddhists don't know how their 'brand' differs from mainstream (even if they know it does).

And that's why, IMHO, debating the basic fallacies in religion is so often a waste of time, or to put it another way 'It's a useless exercise to debate religion with the religious'.

People believe what they want to believe, what makes them feel comfortable - largely because of where they were born and the religion in which they were raised. I would guess that the vast majority who profess beliefs really have no knowledge of what they believe other than the basics. And that's why it's difficult to engage these people.

Just my view.

28

Are you a new viewer of this forum?

by punkofnice in

i'd be interested to hear from you.. i know at first there is the paranoia that the elders will find you out if you have a user id here.

i only believe this is the case if you leave your pc in plain sight unattended, give out your password, tell someone what you are 'researching'or give your real name and location in a thread or gravatar.. cut to the chase.. what brought you here?.

anyone here because of the new 'generation' 'new light'?.

Joe Grundy

Marking to reply to Punk.

112

So tired of life

by LouBelle in

jw
friends

i am so tired of waking up without hope.

so tired of fighting one more day...i just want it to end as painless as possible.

i truly don't have the willpower or strength anymore..

Joe Grundy

In my mind, IMHO, this is one of the strengths of JWN.

Whoever we are, wherever we're coming from, we can be here when we are needed to support our friends.

Offering all support to you now, Loubelle - and to anyone else who needs it but maybe can't ask.

112

So tired of life

by LouBelle in

jw
friends

i am so tired of waking up without hope.

so tired of fighting one more day...i just want it to end as painless as possible.

i truly don't have the willpower or strength anymore..

Joe Grundy

For LouBelle -

and whoever else needs it -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WJ1cf3nrLE

112

So tired of life

by LouBelle in

jw
friends

i am so tired of waking up without hope.

so tired of fighting one more day...i just want it to end as painless as possible.

i truly don't have the willpower or strength anymore..

Joe Grundy

I hope that Loubelle won't mind me posting this on her thread.

I've been asked several times since I've been here on JWN just what my interest is - I never was a dub and I have no family in. I've answered several times - what began (and remains) an academic interest has been rather overtaken by personal concern for many who have suffered so much at the hands of this cult.

I've had the privilege of meeting at least one (former) JWN contributor and, I hope, helping them to assimilate into the normal 'wordly' world.

I see my role (if I have one at all) as being a flawed worldly person who can at least demonstrate that us 'ordinary' people can care for and help others where we can with no need for any sub-dialogue about religion or anything else. Sorry, I don't mean to sound saintly because that's the last thing I am, but I hope you get my meaning. That role may have little or no value, of course. I am not an 'anti-activist'.

As I understand it, JWs are taught that their 'brothers and sisters' will love them and care for them, and that 'worldlies' are evil and won't. Well, my little experience and my time here on JWN has shown that that is just not true.

It is too simplistic, of course, to suggest that all of the problems and issues exJWs face are as a result of them being exJWs. But I have no doubt that the trauma of being a compliant member of a controlling cult, exacerbated by the added trauma of leaving (and all that that brings) can only too often and too easily make these problems and issues worse.

Some/most/all of us have times when we feel low and ask ourselves the usual (mostly negative) questions - yes, if we're honest, even us 'big macho' ex-cops. I can only guess how much worse that must be with the JW baggage added on.

Things can and often do get better. Sometimes the answer is a hug and someone to hold your hand. (Mushy stuff from an ex-cop, but I'm a mushy bloke).

60

Where do you consider the best place to live in the world

by His Excellency in

jw
friends

for those of you who have travelled the world over, which country or city will you consider the place to live in the world.

Joe Grundy

This is a very good question, and I have come to realise that only by living somewhere do you get to see it warts and all.

I lived in Cyprus 2005-2010, and you can get fed up and bored with antiquities, sea, sand, sun and cold beer. (Working on a building site in temperatures of 40/100 + for €25 a day isn't much fun, either).

I am happy with where I live in the UK - a mainly rural county with a beautiful coastline, and I have family here. But I love mainland Europe - the freedom to put the car on a ferry, drive off and turn right for Spain/Portugal, straight on for France, Germany, etc. (I confess to making up 'dream' journeys on my satnav.)

I've only been to the US once, on a case, and spent three weeks there (mostly rural Wisconsin). I liked Madison, WI, (there's reality then there's Madison) and even had a half-formed plan to move there and teach at UW. Didn't come to fruition and probably for the best. IMHO the US can be good if you are youngish, have a good job with medical insurance, and so on.

I once had the chance to go for a secondment job based in Miami as part of a joint FBI team covering the Caribbean. A dream job, perhaps, but the security information about the provided housing for me and my family was rather off-putting.

Like so many things in life, I think, you need enough money to give you choices. Living on an island (e.g. CY) is fine if you can afford to fly out as and when you wish. Living in a country with no NHS is fine if you can afford medical insurance or the bills as they arise. And, if you have family ties it's good to live within reasonable/affordable distance.

I still don't know where I will end up.

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