Posts by Quandry

29

The October Awake on Creation/Evolution!

by Gill in

i don't know if parts of this mag have been discussed.

i've been reading it slowly, and though evolution/creation is not an argument i want to get in to (each to his own) there are a few points that i'm going to bring out in the next week or so that 'irritated me'.. does science contradict the genesis account?.

page 19 subheading 'creations appear gradually'.

Quandry

I do not have access to any of the WT literature anymore. It seems that after years of my husband's being an elder, when we quit going, no one wondered whether we had mags or wanted them or not.

Anyway, my question is--does the reasoning still hold to each day being 7,000 years long as they had previoulsly insisted for years? I never understood how all life on earth-whether vegetation or animal-could be instituted within 49,000 years.

Did they mention dinosaurs or early man?

How was Moses (or anyone else) looking up and seeing the early days of creation from the vantage point of the earth when this was several thousand years before man's creation-as we all know, 1975 marked 6,000 years of man's existence on earth (of course it also was the date of the end, but I digress).....

17

Things you want to try now that you're not a dub...

by ringo5 in

jw
friends

i tried this because i'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie, but i am also a bit afraid if heights(or edges to be more precise)so i wanted to know if i could do it.

.

i did it albeit with more swearing than others there, another perk of ex-dubdom....

Quandry

Daydream

Obviously it is you.

33

A newbie

by Peaches-n-Cream in

jw
friends

hey guys...

just wanted to shout out a "hello" to everybody.

i just found this board and am so excited to meet new friends!

Quandry

Welcome aboard! Please tell us your story when you feel comfortable.

18

Exit Plan

by choosing life in

jw
friends

is it better to fade or just move on with your life?

i have been fading for over a year because most of my close family is still in.

i would never meet with the elders or write a letter to quit.

Quandry

“One thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”

-- Albert Schweitzer

I feel for you. I also have faded and do not intend to da myself. I might say, though, that I am waiting to be df'd because of an ongoing disagreement with the Society. They feel that my husband and I should be "friends" with elders that made my teenage daughter read the scripture about herself from Rev. 21 that she was "filth in God's eyes" and would be "in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels" and then disfellowshipped her. I would say that the charge will be causing divisions.

However, now, at this time, I am going back to college, even though I must work full time. I am determined to make my life have meaning.

You must realize the important contributions that you can make to your family and to society as a whole.

You must never succumb to the thought that because you do not choose to go to a building that you do not worship God.

You do not say that you are violating any scriptural laws, just that you do not want to attend the meetings.

“Risk more than others think is safe.

Care more than others think is wise.

Dream more than others think is practical.

Expect more than others think is possible.”

--Claude T. Bissell

Strive to be happy. You deserve to be. Find a work that makes life better for others, whether it is paid or volunteer.

You do not really owe anyone extensive reasons for not going to all the meetings. Just say thank you for your interest in me, and leave it at that. Perhaps to pacify the family you could go on occasion. Let others see the good works you are doing, and the happiness it brings you.

Hope things turn out well.

Please do not beat yourself up over this. In time it gets better. I know it has for my husband and I.

17

Hangman's Noose

by Outaservice in

jw
friends

you men, now that you're out of the witnesses do you still find yourself wearing neckties?

are you keeping them?

how about suits, do you ever wear them anywhere?.

Quandry

Since I haven't gone to a meeting in a about a year, I haven't worn a dress very often. I can wear slacks to work. On a happy note-dresses are expensive, and so are suits. I think we've saved alot of money on clothes and dry-cleaning bills!!!

“There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day.”

—Alexander Woollcott

I try to dress according to this excellent advice-with dignity and self respect and respect for others.

46

Let's All Say "Thank You" To The People Who Run This Site

by Arthur in

jw
friends

i realize that threads like this have been done before, but i don't think that it hurts to do one again.. i personally appreciate this website so much.

it has been an absolute treasure-trove of information, research material, emotional support, and simple enjoyment.

and, it's free of charge!

Quandry

"Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage means we face our fears. We are able to say 'I have fallen but I will get up.'"

-- Maya Angelou

Yes, thank you. I have been able to face my fears and continue moving forward in life through the help of this forum.

50

See J.R.Brown's answer in latest NEWSWEEK re: giving Christmas gifts to JWs

by AndersonsInfo in

see newsweek september 4, 2006, page 12, "with beliefnet.com".

fourth question:.

sub-forsanta, a nonprofit organization i work with, donates gifts to families in need every december.

Quandry

Kenny C-

"So long as he understood I was satisfied."

How wonderful that you felt that your conscience was clear. Do I take that to mean that if your boss gave you non colored eggs at easter, candy that did not have a red wrapper at Valentine's Day, and a turkey without saying Happy Thanksgiving in November, that you'd be happy to accept all of these gifts? I admire your faithfulness.

18

What Is Your Life's Work?

by choosing life in

jw
friends

what is it that you do in life that makes you feel like you are accomplishing something important?

something that makes sense to you and gives you a sense of personal satisfaction.

for me it has always been my work of helping others as a nurse.

Quandry

Thank you for your post.

How wonderful that you are a caring nurse, dedicated to making the lives of others better. You are truly making a difference and doing something worthwhile, as any one of us would attest who have ever had an illness or accident and needed medical care. What a relief we feel when a nurse comes. We feel taken care of.

I work with children in a school. I feel that it is very important to encourage children to do their best in school. They can grow up to make a difference, also. I try to make them feel special, and tell them how important they are.

I well know the devastation that can come from the Society, and how I used to feel that I never measured up. Also, when my sixteen year old daughter made a couple of teenage mistakes, her first, the elders accused her of things she did not do, including fornication. Instead of offering counsel for what she did do, they tried to force her to admit to fornication, called her a liar when she would not, and made her read a scripture in Rev. that God viewed her as filth, and she would burn in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels, then df'd her. Never a kind word or even discussed the reason that they felt she must be df'd.

You can imagine the demoralizing effect this has on a child, and of course, us, her parents.

I have determined that I will get my degree in college to be in a position to reach more children and further help them. I feel the great need to feel a sense of accomplishment in life.

126

But what if they're right............still the Truth?

by ScoobySnax in

this will probably apply to few here, but to me it'll always be that way.

it's the what if syndrome maybe, but it's always there.

i still think that as a core belief system the jw's have it right, even if their delivery isn't always right.

Quandry

ScoobySnax

Are you looking for someone that feels a bit like you do? Here I am. I did not leave the organization because of doctrinal disagreements. In fact,

I never beleived in the Trinity even before I became a witness.

I do not want to worship someone who would roast people in hellfire for eternity.

I beleive that Jesus resurrected people and clearly has the power to do so.

I want to see the earth cleaned of pollution and wickedness. I detest that so many want to hurt others, take what they have, and murder.

I hate that so many innocent children are killed in wars. I don't want to go and kill anyone for oil, territory or political reasons. I do not think that a true christian would do that, either.

However, I want to hear the whole truth. I do not to have withheld from me the fact that the UN and the WT were in any way connected, and that a person could be df'd for merely repeating this true fact.

I do not think that any organization that df's people because they expose a child molester is doing what Jesus wanted.

I do not think any organization that demands that people die without taking any blood products and than changes the view that some components can now be acceptable were correct in the first place.

I do think that if you don't really know if the people of Sodom will be resurrected, don't say they will/they won't/they will. Just be honest enough to admit you don't know and can't say.

I do not think that any of us can live up to perfection in this system. That is why Jesus died for us-and he realized that we could not.

I do not agree with completely shunning anyone. Especially impressionable young people.

I do not beleive that this organization should have given exact dates of the end, then when the end didn't come, blamed the belief on the rank and file.

I do beleive that those in responsible positions should be there to HELP people, offering practical suggestions for how to overcome sinful tendencies, not condemn, as they have no right to do that.

So, yes, I do still believe some of the core beliefs. But I have these issues which cannot be overcome.

Therein lies my name on this post, and my sometimes deep depression, and my urge to search for the True Religion. As they said on the X Files, is THE TRUTH OUT THERE?

I

I would love to live on a paradise and never die.

33

My Experience (become JW and DF)

by windchime in

hello guys!

first let me tell you my life as jw.

i was born in 1969 at northern side of japan and started bible study with my brother when i was 10. later my mother joined and baptized when i was high school student.

Quandry

Welcome to the forum.

You will find many experiences here. Thank you for sharing part of yours. We hope to hear more from you.