Posts by LisaRose

46

My cat died suddenly!

by Fisherman in

jw
friends

i did not realize that they were symptoms that something was wrong with my cat -but i did notice that my cat was breathing a little differently for a period of about a few days.

i also noticed prior and after to that, that on occasion, my cat would cry at the litter box, but that was a very seldom event.. anyway, about a week ago i noticed the symptom that my very loved cat was breathing heavy.

so i called a taxi and i was going to rush him to emergency room for cats.

LisaRose

I am so sorry for your loss. I almost lost my cat two weeks ago, so I understand how hard that is. My Lizzie suddenly stopped eating and drinking, she had a high fever. The vet gave antibiotics and intravenous fluids. The test came back as indicating a liver or gallbladder issue. At first she still didn't eat, I had to force food and water. She started getting better a few days after the vet visit and an ultrasound showed no issues. I realized she was on the mend when she started milking the attention. They said she had a gallbladder attack, likely something she ate that didn't agree with her? I have switched to a higher quality food, apparently some cats cannot tolerate the traditional commercial cat food. The vet said it's like McDonald's food, it tastes great, but there are better foods out there, regular commercial cat food is high in acid. I also used to give her a lot of treats, she loves her treats, and would do tricks for them, but they are higher in fat. So, Trader Joe's cat food, holistic treats and not many of them.

It's hard to say what went wrong with your cat. Possibly she ingested a poison or toxin somehow? Or she is one that cannot tolerate cheap cat food? It could be she had a genetic defects. Who knows?

This whole thing made me aware of how attached I am to my cat. I have always been an animal lover, but my husband works long hours and she is my companion. She is smart and funny and loves me madly. She works hard at communicating her wishes, plays little jokes on me (grabbing my ankles under the bed, sneaking up and giving me a scare, etc.), she even enjoys music. I almost want to distance myself from her so it won't be so painful if something happens, but I don't think I have it in me.

Pets really worm their way into your heart that's for sure, so I get how hard this can be.

51

I lied to the elders

by atacrossroads in

jw
friends

i stopped attending meetings all together in january 2015. before that my attendance was irregular at best.

my husband followed suit a few months ago after months of research, agony, and indecision on his part.

from the very beginning i laid low and did not share with anyone what i found out about the witnesses because i did not want to be df'd.

LisaRose

According to their own teachings it is not a lie if those inquiring are not entitled to the truth, so there you go.

It probably was never going to turn out any different with your mother's attitude. She just wouldn't leave it alone, and there is only so much a person can take, so don't feel bad.

You don't owe those elders the time of day.

475

What is the alternative to JW?

by Formerbrother in

i mean this with all due respect, i would like to hear from genuine people who think jw have it wrong and then what is the truth?.

im not talking about silly little quibbles here and there.. is jehovah real?

the the bible is word?

LisaRose

There's this lingering feeling in many, though, that to do so would be short-sighted, that they would be to throw out the baby with the bathwater - that God isn't at fault ( infact is very precious and there for them ) but some horrible poison has corrupted His reputation.

If nobody understands what it is he wants or who he is, how is that NOT gods fault? How is he precious and there for anyone? I earnestly prayed to God for thirty years, and got nothing back, so how was God there for me?

If God is all powerful, his reputation is entirely in his control. He is either not all powerful, therefore not God, or he doesn't exist. I violate for doesn't exist.

31

Midweek meeting

by loneranger in

jw
friends

almost two months into the change in format of the mid week meeting from the school and service meeting format to the christian life and ministry (clam) format.

in my congregation, seems attendance is down 10-15% over the normally low attendance for the mid week meeting before the change.

some indicate that the meeting under the clam format is very "intense"...you really need to study and research to be able to participate or get anything out of the meetings.

LisaRose

The religion has always asked a lot of people, hours of meetings, study, field service, etc., but I think the pace of life is faster now, people have a lot of demands on their time and energy, maybe they are just tired and it's getting to the meeting itself is all they can manage.

And the organization doesn't seem to give any thought to making the meetings enjoyable or rewarding in any way, they are dry, boring and predictable. It's like the old joke "the beatings will continue until morale improves".

105

Does anyone think Jehovah is protecting the org. despite all the talk about THE ARC ?

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

i've been thinking this for a while.

even before the arc scandal.

it seems no matter what, the org.

LisaRose

I LisaRose,
You make some great points...I do understand where you are coming from. But everything that the org. teaches isn't wrong, just like everything our parents told was not all wrong yet not all right either.

Well, no offense, but not being 100 percent wrong is a pretty low bar to meet. Most religions could say that.

I much rather believe that the media is making this up. Wow. I guess they don't care if they ruin lives as long as it's not theirs.

What makes you think the media is just talking things up? I guess they are not perfect, but what would be their motive?

Amazing. I think that is why I shy away from having a study, because I know TTATT. Plus I have a lot on my plate anyways...having a bible study is like having a child...you have to put a lot of time in. I like field service because I get a chance to be out with the friends & most of my group, they are nice and easy going. We have a good time...most of the time, nobody opens the door or even takes a magazine, but that's life.

But what is the point of your going out in service if no one listens? Sure, it's not horrible, but isn't there something more productive you could be doing with your time? This is one of the things that made me crazy about being a JW, the horrible inefficiency of field service. This is supposedly life saving work. If you really believe you could be saving lives you would find a way to connect with more people. If you aren't looking for a way to actually connect with more people, then you are just "getting your hours" and what is the point of that, other than to make mother happy? (Mother being the organization). At some point in a person's life, making other people happy loses its joy, you have to find meaning for your own self.

My body is there but I don't drink all the kool aide...I drink some then spit out what I know not to be true...I have a hard time swallowing Jesus is Michael the archangel & that Jesus is the one on the horse with a bow & no arrows. To me they are calling Jesus the anti-Christ...aren't those horses going out are bringing in the apocalypse ? Plus how could Jesus open the scrolls ride out & come back to announce the next horseman.

You know thinking is considered a dangerous thing in this organization? Be careful that no one notices you are actually doing it, lol.

I think the Org. dug to deep into the scriptures & saw stuff that wasn't there. I can read the bible & know sometimes or most of the time they way they present the scriptures isn't really true. But one has to read for themselves. But most don't because the org. tells you & for some it's better that way because they are too lazy to find out if it's true...All their answer is, is Jehovah said so...& so does the bible. I know some of them know what's going on that is why they are suppressed not depressed....Someone wrote on this forum....I don't mind questions I can't answer but I don't like answers that I can't question....Profound

Yeah, that's the problem. At some point these questions you have will bubble up and come out in some way. Just be careful, because there is very little tolerance in this organization for independent thinking. Frankly, most elders have not given this as much thought as you have. If you start asking questions, don't be surprised if you get blowback, because you will make them very uncomfortable, they will have to shut you down, no matter how nice they seem and how sympathetic they might be initially, Just Saturn's.

84

Why I'm not agnostic

by Coded Logic in

i think the time to be agnostic is when you have evidence on both sides of a claim.

for example, i'm agnostic about the existence of a historical jesus.

i think a reasonable case can be made that jesus was a man who was turned into a legend over a period of a couple of decades.

LisaRose

Did my wife love me? What's the evidence?

It seems to me you should have had plenty of evidence if your wife loved you, if she did. Did she act in a loving way towards you? What difference does it make what science says about love or loyalty? You either felt loved or you didn't.

After a thirty year one sided relationship with a God, I realized it was an entirely one sided relationship. I would be surprised if that is what you experienced with your wife.

84

Why I'm not agnostic

by Coded Logic in

i think the time to be agnostic is when you have evidence on both sides of a claim.

for example, i'm agnostic about the existence of a historical jesus.

i think a reasonable case can be made that jesus was a man who was turned into a legend over a period of a couple of decades.

LisaRose

Great. Now you just created a new religion, the Bloopadoopawoopa-Kupntans who worship Bloopadoopawoopa-Kupnta. And you can't prove he doesn't exist.

105

Does anyone think Jehovah is protecting the org. despite all the talk about THE ARC ?

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

i've been thinking this for a while.

even before the arc scandal.

it seems no matter what, the org.

LisaRose

Another question to all of you...Do you think most know but too shocked & afraid to say anything because they have been pointing fingers at other religions...

Yes, I think that is part of it. No doubt most JWs have come across information that is in conflict with Watchtower teachings and history, but they reject it because of cognitive dissonance. To accept this information they would have to admit that they were wrong, that everything they believe is a lie, that they have themselves been teaching a lie. That is a bitter pill to swallow, it's easier to believe the information must be wrong.

It's normal human behavior, we have to protect our fragile egos. For example, if a detective investigating a crime becomes convinced someone is guilty they have proven that in the majority of cases they will focus in on evidence that proves guilt and ignore evidence that would indicate the person was innocent or that someone else did the crime. This is how innocent people end up in the gas chamber. Even when so much exculpatory vidence is found the person is set free, the detective will often refuse to admit they made a mistake.

It may be that the person who ignores evidence the Watchtower is wrong will eventually start to consider it, but it usually takes some kind of trauma, like being disfellowshipped or a personal trauma. Or they come acriss too many things that are too convincing to ignore. At that point all their suppressed doubts come back and they are able to break free mentally.

I don't think most JWs will ever get to that point unless something major happens to the religion itself.

105

Does anyone think Jehovah is protecting the org. despite all the talk about THE ARC ?

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

i've been thinking this for a while.

even before the arc scandal.

it seems no matter what, the org.

LisaRose

There are other abusive cults that have gotten away with child abuse and other immoral and illegal acts, is Jehovah protecting them too? Scientology, the Moonies, the Mormons just to name a few. Scientology is one of the worst, they managed to be classified a religion and gain tax exempt status despite not actually being a religion, use goon squads to intimidate and harass former members who speak out and keep their lawyers very busy filing lawsuits over any perceived slight. The Moonies are even more abusive than the JWs in using cult mind control, they have enormous financial power and have even infiltrated governments.

That these groups still exist is simply due to the nature of cults, they use mind control to manipulate their followers into doing what they want and have enormous power over their members, God has nothing to do with it.

126

Overlapping Generation

by pandorasbox1914 in

the september 2015 broadcast had david splane explain matthew 24:34 “truly, i say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place”.

his explanation of this scripture was by means of a chart to indicate an overlapping generation.. .

no scripture was used to show the overlapping generation concept, and as a result it makes no sense.. to illustrate how crazy this concept is, look at the lyrics of the song my generation.. my generation.

LisaRose

Whenever I see this it makes me think of an old Saturday Night Live skit, Tommy Flanigan, the pathological liar, done by Jon Lovitz. Tommy is obviously making things up as he goes along, each story more exaggerated than the last.

See, the anointed around in 1914 actually knew people that were....ummm.....born later! Yeah, that's right, they knew each other....... actually it makes them sort of the same generation, because they are....ummmm....overlapping! Yeah, overlapping! Actually the one generation hasn't passed away yet, because the anointed alive today knew anointed who lived thirty years ago......and those anointed knew the anointed who were around in 1914! Yeah, that's the ticket! One generation, just like the bible says.