Posts by Dagney

51

Help needed: transgender people and other unclear topics

by TeaBiscuit in

first of all, i am not quite sure whether this is the right place to ask my questions.

if this is not really appropriate, please tell me in advance, but i really did not know who to turn to, so i thought why not ask the internet... now, i know many of you are apostates and i'm not really looking for "leave it all behind you" answers, but really for experiences, thoughts and ideas... as well as maybe some verses if you can think of any.. anyway, first things first.

since this is very anonymous and i'd like to keep it that way, i will not give you my name, but still, i think some background info might be helpful.

Dagney

I just could not force someone to dress/behave/act/be addressed as something different than she/he identifies with.

Well TeaBiscuit, here's the thing. This is just one example of forcing someone to be different then what they identify with.

The truth of the matter is, if you were a musician and had a burning desire to perform your talent, or you loved research in science, or you wanted to be an anthropologist, or loved volunteer work in shelters, or wanted to be a doctor/lawyer/indian chief...this would all be treated the same. Some of these would be frowned upon to pursue, some would be prohibited. And if that is who you are in your heart of hearts, your life will be a struggle from here on out. One of the worse things you can do to a person is not allow them to be who they truly meant to be and not live up to their own potential. It is so cruel.

I know the literature is warm and fuzzy, and the pictures colorfully idyllic. We all would love to live in a paradise with lions and tigers as pets. Please do yourself a tremendous favor and investigate what the Bible really says your own self, without the skip and pick verses of the literature. Then make a decision.

The combined knowledge of people on this board of what JW's teach runs in the thousands of years. We really do know what we are talking about. We've had the same good that you have experienced. Sadly, it is really not enough when it comes to living an authentic life. Be careful and wise.

15

Pretty funny JW story - Daily Mail UK

by Dagney in

jw
friends

seriously, you have to read the comments.

just a peek into what the general public think about jw's coming to their doors.. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3608286/father-two-accused-opening-door-jehovah-s-witness-wearing-open-superman-dressing-gown-revealing-manly-shape-cleared-exposing-himself.html#ixzz49h8vohm1.

we had a good giggle over this.

Dagney

Seriously, you HAVE to read the comments.

Just a peek into what the general public think about JW's coming to their doors.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3608286/Father-two-accused-opening-door-Jehovah-s-Witness-wearing-open-Superman-dressing-gown-revealing-manly-shape-cleared-exposing-himself.html#ixzz49h8Vohm1

We had a good giggle over this.

45

The Ray Franz Saga

by snugglebunny in

jw
friends

i'm just curious as to how it all happened.. to explain.

many years back, before ex-jw websites, i called on a local lady in order to design an extension to her already enormous house.

she was a young, voluptuous gal, married to a much older local business man who spared little expense in order to give his young wife whatever her heart desired.. we chatted for ages.

Dagney

Newsweek and a short article about it as well. I remember the article saying "the Watchtower refused to comment..."

I didn't buy Newsweek after that thinking the article was so biased. Persecution complex...the world is picking of us.

Sigh. I was an idiot.

45

The Ray Franz Saga

by snugglebunny in

jw
friends

i'm just curious as to how it all happened.. to explain.

many years back, before ex-jw websites, i called on a local lady in order to design an extension to her already enormous house.

she was a young, voluptuous gal, married to a much older local business man who spared little expense in order to give his young wife whatever her heart desired.. we chatted for ages.

Dagney

I do remember it being very big stuff. I could not figure out how that could happen. I had a bible student at the time and I gave her the speech about men being imperfect, don't follow men, stick to the bible.

I also remember Ray interviewed on the radio, and we all knew about it and listened. I remember not being shocked at anything he said, and just filed it away thinking there was a lot more to the story. I went on a two week visit to Bethel in 1982, and there was a lot of talk about it still. It appeared to me they were confused as anybody else, especially knowing the character of the man and his wife, and the others DF.

It wasn't until 20 years later I read the story online and his book. The pieces fit.

11

Underground stone rings made by Neanderthals

by freemindfade in

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/scientists-underground-stone-rings-made-by-neanderthals/2016/05/25/1fa17e98-229b-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_story.html.

two mysterious stone rings found deep inside a french cave were probably built by neanderthals about 176,500 years ago, proving that the ancient cousins of humans were capable of more complex behavior than previously thought, scientists say..

Dagney

I love this stuff.

57

RUSSIA: Jehovah's Witnesses face possible liquidation

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2181.

24 may 2016. russia: jehovah's witnesses face possible liquidation.

by victoria arnold, forum 18. if prosecutors proceed with their threat to liquidate the jehovah's witness headquarters near st petersburg, thousands of local congregations across russia could also face prohibition of their activities and individuals could be vulnerable to criminal charges for expressing their beliefs, forum 18 notes.. the jehovah's witnesses' principal body in russia is under threat of dissolution as an "extremist" organisation after the deadline in an official warning from the general prosecutor's office expired on 10 may, forum 18 notes.

Dagney

Well they are an extremist group when the boxes of the definition of cult are ticked.

As a group overall, they are typically quiet and "peaceable" as far as their behavior.

However, the message in the WT literature is clear. It is divisive and cruel for families as they enforce their shunning rules.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

21

Damaging Children With the Christian Gospel

by cofty in

the christian gospel begins with the dehumanising assertion that all humans are fallen sinners who deserve nothing but god's judgement and wrath.. not only does this taint all relationships between christians and unbelievers, it destroys the beautiful innocence of childhood.

in a recent edition of the popular christian radio program "family life today", titled “introducing your child to god,” co-host bob lepine discussed teaching “practical theology” to his young daughter, explaining:.

when my daughter, amy, was still less than two years old, i started teaching practical theology to her.

Dagney

The OP reminds me of my first study. After she was baptized she was afraid to let her mom watch her baby because her mom told her she was going to take her to the Catholic church to be baptized because she didn't want the BABY to go to HELL.

Well, I was probably 20 yo myself, didn't really know anything about anything other than JW. I thought that was was preposterous! Who would think of such a thing.

Of course it took me years to realize how similar the JW beliefs were, and they had their own type of fear and infant baptisms. And realize her mother was just trying to protect her family from what she believed was true.

GD religion.

26

the beautiful Towers hotel now for sale

by neat blue dog in

its a gorgeous building, and you should see the commercial they made for it.. http://21clarkstreet.com.

the commercial video, as well as the cool 360° vr views are available on the home page of.

https://www.watchtowerbrooklynrealestate.com.

Dagney

Wowzers! That is some commercial!

Those Brooklyn kids must be having the time of their lives play acting in these vids.

21

Damaging Children With the Christian Gospel

by cofty in

the christian gospel begins with the dehumanising assertion that all humans are fallen sinners who deserve nothing but god's judgement and wrath.. not only does this taint all relationships between christians and unbelievers, it destroys the beautiful innocence of childhood.

in a recent edition of the popular christian radio program "family life today", titled “introducing your child to god,” co-host bob lepine discussed teaching “practical theology” to his young daughter, explaining:.

when my daughter, amy, was still less than two years old, i started teaching practical theology to her.

Dagney

I agree Cofty. Most of us here don't want any part of that thinking.

THEN, there are those who identify with it, and need to have those thoughts about themselves...it is somehow comforting. And it is any religion.

The issue is how to raise kids. Hopefully it is with love and encouragement for freedom of thought. Even then, some who are raised in a secular environment back to a religious life, because they need it.

Today I listened to an NPR interview with rabbi who is the sister of Sarah Silverman, avowed atheist. The children of the rabbi keep kosher but are not religious, much to the mom's disappointment.

That being said, I do not find the christian message loving as shown in the above article, with so many reasons why...

1

"Cult Following" - New album by former JW

by Dagney in

jw
friends

i was listening to "fresh air" today and this review came up for a new album by a former jw, laurel sprengelmeyer/little scream.. http://www.npr.org/2016/05/23/479154048/little-scream-casts-a-dreamy-spell-with-cult-following.

laurel sprengelmeyer has opened up the possibility that she intends the album titled "cult following" to have more than one meaning, not just a small devoted fan base, but perhaps a reference to having been raised for part of her youth as a jehovah's witness, which she has referred to in an interview as a kind of christian religious cult.. yup.

it kind of is..

Dagney

I was listening to "Fresh Air" today and this review came up for a new album by a former JW, Laurel Sprengelmeyer/Little Scream.

http://www.npr.org/2016/05/23/479154048/little-scream-casts-a-dreamy-spell-with-cult-following

Laurel Sprengelmeyer has opened up the possibility that she intends the album titled "Cult Following" to have more than one meaning, not just a small devoted fan base, but perhaps a reference to having been raised for part of her youth as a Jehovah's Witness, which she has referred to in an interview as a kind of Christian religious cult.

Yup. It kind of is.