Posts by done4good

152

Does Knowing the Truth Make you a Happier person?

by gumby in

many of us who were once jehovah's witnesses had a measure of happiness in our lives.

for me, i had a hope in the future, i had answers as to why we are all here, i believed in a loving god who looked after me and cared about me, i had answers to all of lifes big questions.. when i found out the truth about the witnesses, i was lost in a great big world and now had no answers other than the fact that what i once believed was "the truth" in actuality wasn't the truth.i now had to start all over in my search for truth.

for me, it wasn't long before i found what i thought was the truth since i always believed in the bible.

done4good

One of the linegring "curses", that continues long after one leaves the org, is the "need" to have absolute answers to everything. This is an addiction somewhat, and probably is why we stayed in as long as we did in the first place. Learing to accept that we don't know everything is very difficult for the ex-jw, but very important to learn in the healing process. Remember, this IS what separates the average person from the jws. Most people are content to just live life, read a little here and there, and learn these things on an academic level, as they go through life. The information is out there, even if it isn't what we think we want to hear. It's not all that bad, though.

j

30

April 15 WT: Society acknowledges some find its teachings hard to accept

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

the april 15, 2007 watchtower revolves around the congregation, it's benefits and requirements.. the second study article is let the congregation be built up.

under the subheading sticking with the congregation the society acknowledges those who cannot accept a certain teaching even after doing research in their publications.. .

para 14 consider another possibility involving the congregation.

done4good

The analogy the org uses here is false. Nothing more than a strawman attack on the r&f. The issue is not a matter the r&f waiting for understanding of current doctrine, but concerns of changing doctrine of the FDS. What Jesus was supposedly referring to, (for those that believe, I don't), was in relation to a mis, (or non) -understanding of what he said. The org is not merely saying things here that are "misunderstood". They are perfectly clear in their explanations, for the most part. The trouble is the explanations constantly change. What Jesus was referring to in the above verses was not changed by him, (or anyone else), even if misunderstood by his audience.

j

28

Just finished The God Delusion

by Qcmbr in

..and found myself agreeing with 95% of what he said.

well who would have thought.

i would recommend everyone should read this.

done4good

Zeroday, those recommendations seem worth looking into, thanks.

j

28

Just finished The God Delusion

by Qcmbr in

..and found myself agreeing with 95% of what he said.

well who would have thought.

i would recommend everyone should read this.

done4good

I've said it here before, but I too highly recommend The God Delusion. Read it with an open mind. Dawkins is about 90-95% right, I found I disagreed with him on maybe only one or two key points. Misquoting Jesus, I would also highly recommend. This book explains how the textual criticism process works, and is very revealing about where and when much of what we presently call the bible came from.

j

23

Am I being persecuted by the WTS for my choice of beliefs? Is it criminal?

by misocup in

is dfing someone religious persecution?.

i do not believe what the wts says, i do not want to belong to that org.

because of that, i no longer have contact with my family.

done4good

Am I being persecuted by the WTS for my choice of beliefs?

From their perspective, NO. Nobody deserves religious freedom but the WTS.

j

19

Kingdom Hall wedding

by Wanita in

jw
friends

not a witness but have them as neighbors.

i have been studying watchtower publications for years and have spent lots of time in discussion with witnesses in hopes of having them read the bible without watchtower glasses on.

i will be going to a jw wedding soon and am wondering, since i'm not a witness, what to expect.

done4good

my advice byob

Been there done that at j-dub weddings!

j

36

My boyfriend is a JW and we want to get married but I want him to get OUT

by blueday in

jw
friends

i'm am so heart broken to see my boyfriend with so many internal strugles.

he is a good man, a good god fearing man and this is why it has been so difficult for him to leave the jw's religion.

we love each other so much and we want to be married but he fears the consequences of marring somebody who is not a jw.

done4good

Blueday,

He needs to come here, and perhaps some other ex-jw sites to help him get over the jws. I wouldn't go as far as marrying if he remains divided.

j

14

Religion and Insanity

by JWdaughter in

jw
friends

recently i have been reading a book, nearly done now, called "under the banner of heaven".

it is about some fundamental mormons (the ones who practice polygamy andwho are not accepted as lds among regular members of the slc based church.. in this book, while explaining the attempted insanity plea for a fundy lds murderer, they had several psychiatrists (both lds and non lds) explaining insanity.

the argument i thought was interesting was when the defense brought up his very unorthodox beliefs (they sounded nutty to me-and would be considered so by most lds folks also).

done4good

am wondering why it took me so long to even ADMIT that I had doubts about religion altogether. Not just the JWs. I remember I used to wish I had been born into a family that had a faith that was undemanding and undramatic. The morals w/o armageddon, d/f'ing, etc etc. But really, how is it much different but a different set of crazy ideas? I don't know. I am really wondering.

The only differnence here is most other "mainstream" religions have had time to "settle down" somewhat, hence, no drama. The overall trend of almost any religion has been similar. Even the jws don't walk around with sandwich boards anymore. One could only expect that they will continue to tone things down somwhat too in the future as reality begins to play a bigger role in the minds of the r&f.

Bottom line: insanity=no reality.

j

76

LOVE, ALTRUISM & EVOLUTION

by Dansk in

i'm an evolutionist.

one cannot argue that evolution isn't a fact.

however, i'd be interested in the better informed amongst us here explaining in simple terms how the feeling of love evolved.

done4good

Evolution is a scientific theory, not a fact.

Evolution is a fact. How it happened in its completeness is what remains theoretical.

j

46

Told wife that I don't like going to the meeting

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

finally said it out loud even though my actions have been showing it for quite some time.

a fight ensued and now she isn't talking to me.

the wierd thing is when i just didnt go she didn't say much (she hasn't been for over 2 mos for a medical reason) but god forbid i should actually vocalize that i don't want to go... i didn't want to give her any fuel to call me an apostate so i just blamed discouragement and my dislike of the elders which she already knows.

done4good

Remember that part of the problem is that women in the Borg have no identity except that of their husband's. It will be hard to stop being an "elder's wife."

What Blondie said here is important to remember. I wen't through similar things with my ex. While, I'm not saying that we would have been able to overcome our issues anyway, I will say, that had I been more mindful of this, I could have had more peace. It bothered me tremendously that she just "wouldn't get it". So my advice is, expect that she won't "just get it". Give her time, (a lot of time, if your family is worth saving, and it sounds like it is). Help her build an identity outside of the organization, really, this will help make it easier. It's about both of you.

j