Posts by compound complex

22

No Field Service No Paradise

by moomanchu in

my mom doesn't go out in field service or go to the book study or give talks or answer (never did 40 to 50 years now).

she is however a loyal defender of the watchtower and she regularly goes to sun.

and thur.

Whether it was commanded, demanded, suggested or implied, I nevertheless inferred, at the very least, that what I preached to someone "today" could very well result in saving his/her life. That thought was clearly expressed in the publications. My view of paradise was of that conveyed in very primitive fashion on the cover of earlier Watchtower magazines, the mountain and waterfall in the distance, the foreboding tower of strength in the foreground. That image has indelibly impressed itself upon me emotionally and aesthetically and professionally. I wanted to be there: that was my vision of paradise. But my years of full-time service took a toll on me psychologically, mainly because the command to preach was more closely linked to the modus operandi of a high-demand organization than to Jesus Christ's gentle persuasion to become his follower. Whatever your mother's reasons for not "participating" in the required manner, I simply could not push the literature, preferring to use the Bible and discussing the Lord's Prayer and the love of God and Jesus. But that was not the program and I simply could not fit in. I contented myself with informal witnessing but even gave that up officially at the first of the year. After forty years of absolute regularity, I am now inactive. I very clearly remember the words of a 1960's WT, almost verbatim: ' Some brothers are so caught up with the Truth that they push others to do what they do not want to do.'

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

22

A Professional Artist Observes

by compound complex in

jw
friends

dear friends,.

that i am an artist by profession as well as an art dealer does not necessarily make my observations of any greater weight or value.

however, i am quite aware of what i create and what i sell in our gallery.

compound complex

Dear MsMcDucket,

Thank you very much for your reply of 6 October and jogging my memory of happy days in school and "The Weekly Reader"! Yes, there are those deliberately hidden items. I will check out the links you provided and get back to you, if you don't mind. As I'm not totally up on procedure, does one get back to a poster by PM or here, the original post? Responses to date have been very useful in providing me direction in my ongoing research. Thanx again!

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

27

If Someone Hurts You Or Pisses You Off, How Do You Usually Deal With It?

by minimus in

jw
friends

just curious.

compound complex

Dear Richard G.,

My former approach was to beat the antagonist over the head with the Bible. Then circumstances humbled me and I began turning the other cheek, remembering to bless those who curse you. During the public talk an elder, long antagonistic toward me, spoke the entire time of the threat of apostasy in our congregation. His comments, too specific to be otherwise, were clearly aimed at me. I called him later that day and told him how much my family and I enjoyed his talk. Long silence, a sharp thank you, a few more words, a good-bye, the click of the receiver. I repeated the fiery-coals process a few more times whenever our paths crossed. Then after one meeting he approached and thanked me for helping to clean the hall. He was genuinely kind.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

22

A Professional Artist Observes

by compound complex in

jw
friends

dear friends,.

that i am an artist by profession as well as an art dealer does not necessarily make my observations of any greater weight or value.

however, i am quite aware of what i create and what i sell in our gallery.

compound complex

Dear jgnat and Greendawn,

Thank you both for your meaningful responses. Greendawn, there is validity to what you have said; the connection to occultism is a salient point. Jgnat, I have already given Mr. Elliot's essay a cursory reading and it is fascinating, intellectually stimulating and masterfully written. I will contact him and request his advice/permission as to how I might convey his research in a manner more easily understood by individuals who utilize and comprehend simple sentence structure rather than compound/complex. The terms could use simplifying, too.

This is not a dead issue as individuals whom I know personally have, per your reference, jgnat, "taken up the torch" for what they and I fervently believe is righteousness' sake. They are about to be burned at the stake, as it were, for not backing down. Ed Dunlap was my teacher at Bethel, and I learned only six months ago of the scandalous treatment meted out to him. He did not back down. He is my hero. The training that I received at Bethel in connection with writing will be used, I pray, to promote the release from captivity of the poor, broken and ever-trusting sheep. Quoted before in an earlier post is my currently favorite quotation: "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."--- Thomas Jefferson.

Yes, jgnat, I will take up the torch. Peace and love to you both.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

22

A Professional Artist Observes

by compound complex in

jw
friends

dear friends,.

that i am an artist by profession as well as an art dealer does not necessarily make my observations of any greater weight or value.

however, i am quite aware of what i create and what i sell in our gallery.

compound complex

Dear Jgnat,

You were kind to reply to my inquiry and I thank you for doing so. I am new here and still learning, so I appreciate that one with your background on JWD would qualify to give such an apt reply. I am weighing all that I read and research - hours daily - and taking time in drawing conclusions. My basic point is that however thoughtfully and well-researched a subject is and then presented publicly ( look at what happened to Galileo ), it will be contested, mildly or vehemently. Vis-a-vis Watchtower art, the latter comment seems to apply. I have studied art for over forty years, and there is something absolutely distinctive about WT art. But, of course, it simply is not everyone's field of interest. Bible chronology has its place, for example, but not everyone on this board comments on those threads. Again, I thank you for your reply as it has benefited me.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

22

A Professional Artist Observes

by compound complex in

jw
friends

dear friends,.

that i am an artist by profession as well as an art dealer does not necessarily make my observations of any greater weight or value.

however, i am quite aware of what i create and what i sell in our gallery.

compound complex

Dear Friends,

That I am an artist by profession as well as an art dealer does not necessarily make my observations of any greater weight or value. However, I am quite aware of what I create and what I sell in our gallery. Specifically, I set out with a general idea of a scene then allow the paint to "drool," as we say. Then I work the paint. The client will observe a face in a rock formation, an angel in the clouds, or a sail boat on the sea's horizon. And what is my response? " What you see I did not deliberately create." Another individual may or may not see said images. Then there is the work of other artists, internationally known, who consciously hide faces in a forest scene amongst the rocks and trees. There is no question whatsoever that there is "hidden" yet readily observable secondary imagery.

Now to the point. Countless subjects are discussed on this board, some of mild human interest and others enormously controversial, causing the blood to boil. The passion jumps off my screen, grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me vigorously. At this time I will withhold my conclusions regarding Watchtower art, but I must say I have studied it objectively. Others have weighed in, too. Professionals and the laity. Leaving out all speculation, possible hidden agendas and conspiratorial theories ( unless, of course, you feel the need to tie these in ), kindly give me your opinion as to why this subject fosters such a torrid flurry of emotion.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

.

12

JWs blindly deny kindness from non JWs

by greendawn in

since the days of rutherford the dubs have entered into a kind of collective denial of reality through the morbidly neurotic personality and spirit of that very convincing liar which were engrafted on their collective psyche and since then they are unable to see and acknowledge the benefits they receive from non jws eg doctors, lawyers, judges, law makers and from ordinary folk.

deep down they believe there can be no good people outside the org.

they live in denial day after day and living beneath reality is not a healthy thing.

compound complex

Dear Greendawn,

I find your posts thought-provoking as well as insightful. Having acquired, so it would seem, my father's "pollyanna" outlook on life and those flawed souls who inhabit said life, for me personally the kindness of others is a matter of perception. I just returned from my 40-year reunion ( www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/121650/1ashx ) and have to say that there was love, warmth and genuine kindness in abundance there. I was ill for many years and the help and encouragement I received came from both "camps." It is entirely possible to both quantify and qualify how that help arrived at my doorstep: neighbors came with food, money and good cheer and so, too, my witness friends. Yet only one elder took an active role in helping me. Whether that is neglect or lack of awareness on the part of the elder body --- whatever --- I feel that my needs were met, and I thank our Father for that. My belief, then, regarding your question, is that at heart people are basically good and willing to help. Yet the behavior-control aspect of WT methodology CAN, but may not, interfere with the natural outpouring of love and goodness humans normally express. There are many stories of JW's who wanted to help but were afraid because of clear-cut warnings not to help so-and-so in such-and-such situation. Certainly those islanders in Malta who showed extraordinary human kindness toward Paul and other survivors were leagues ahead of their counterparts in the Holy Land who needed rules to govern their every move.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

45

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (helping JWs see)

by apocalypse in

i am an "active" jw.

i serve.

give talks.

compound complex

Dear Apocalypse et al,

Some thirty years ago a venerable Portuguese sister related that another sister, recognizing the error of her way, began going door-to-door telling householders that what she had been preaching to them as a Jehovah's Witness was wrong. The beginning of "apostasy" as we know it? My pioneer spirit and modest resources are currently devoted to relearning the Bible and, as a cautious "serpent" and innocent "dove," sharing what I discern ( with the help of JWD and like beneficial resources ) to be genuine "Good News." Though I cannot attend meetings any longer, I have regular unhindered contact with my dear JW friends and family. My life's purpose centers around the words of Thomas Jefferson: "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." To date, my innocuous and gentle reasoning from the scriptures and careful tying in of current events from JWD, has borne good results. I dwell on the undoing of potential and future shunning by focusing on loyalty to our Father, Jesus Christ and to fellow humans by exposing what genuinely unconditional love encompasses. My "family" could have turned me in but has refused to do so. Therefore, I proceed very carefully and appeal to the authentic, core personality of the little, confused sheep. I am giving the rest of my life to searching for the lost sheep and perhaps even helping some of the ninety-nine.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

97

WHY IS THE WTBTS OBSESSED WITH MASTURBATION????!!!!!

by Gill in

what exactly is the cause of the wtbts total obsession with masturbation?.

is there any religion in the world that has printed so many articles on this topic?.

if your feelings are similart to those of luiz, pedro or andre, take courage.

compound complex

Dear Friends,

A comment was made earlier about the struggle of the religious ascetic to rise above the needs of the flesh. In the book FREEDOM AT MIDNIGHT ( I've forgotten the author ), which describes India's release from British domination in 1948 as well as the formation of the Pakistani nation, reference is made to Mohandas Ghandi's struggle with the fallen flesh. On one occasion he was enjoying himself with his wife and soon thereafter learned that his father had died at that very time. Filled with remorse, he vowed never again to have sexual relations. At some time subsequent to that event, and to prove to himself that he could conquer the flesh, he took to sleeping with his two nieces in celibate fashion. His body, however, was uncooperative. He had an erection at least on one occasion, and that sent him spiraling downward into despair. So it goes, then, for the fight of the spirit over the flesh.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex

2

My Forty-Year Reunion by the Bay

by compound complex in

jw
friends

dear friends,.

i recall being told many years ago by the society that, while in service, i want the householder to feel i am his friend, thereby gaining his confidence and trust.

while i had no "good news" to share with my schoolmates at our forty-year reunion, i determined beforehand that i should do more listening and less talking.

compound complex

Dear Friends,

I recall being told many years ago by the Society that, while in service, I want the householder to feel I am his friend, thereby gaining his confidence and trust. While I had no "Good News" to share with my schoolmates at our forty-year reunion, I determined beforehand that I should do more listening and less talking. With those whom I already knew it was laughter, hugs and tears, and, yes, screams. My approach to those who were strangers to me was, "Hi, my name is ___ and I never talked to you in school but I'm talking to you now!" Whether it was the pom-pon girls, the cheerleaders, the jocks or the inveterate obnoxious, this approach elicited excellent results. The playing field was leveled. It wasn't the academics vs. the bubble-heads, the jocks vs. the nerds ( a term not used at the time ). Forty years ago we were not discussing our foray into family life and the number of grandchildren we expected to have. One dear, shy friend said that she was going to kick herself later for not reaching out and talking to more people. I asked if she would come with me, and I would do the talking. She said no. At that I went up to a fellow student whom I knew by name but had never spoken to. I used my method, and she and a few others came over to speak with my shy friend. After the initial fluster, there was happy talk and experiences in common discovered. I told my friend that a friendship struck up today could very well result in a life-long relationship. Our class president handed out pen and paper to all and exhorted us to get names, addresses, etc. and to stay in touch with each other. His urgings were well heeded. Our next reunion is not in ten tears but in five.

My take on the entire wonderful weekend is the importance of being true friends to others, irrespective of such execrable labeling as "worldly" or "bad association." Many there went to college and carved out for themselves wonderful careers. Some are already comfortably retired. I quit college to pioneer and go to Bethel. Awake! of May 22, 1969, p.15, stated that a young person will never fulfill any career in this system of things. But that was a choice I made and what education I did receive I have put to good use. As stated earlier, I had no religious good news to share, such as that I would have preached to them years before. But in so far as showing interest and human kindness is concerned, such opportunities to associate with our fellow humans should be welcomed.

Yours truly,

Compound Complex