How about this theory: could it be possible that the Judeo-Christian way to expalin creation is just a myth? Look at other civilizations and tribal cultures. Every one of them just tries to explain how we came here and why things are not "perfect." Just because the ancient Hebrew culture was literate did not make them superior. Just because they had a written language did not give them the monopoly of the only creation myth, did it? History is written (many times) by the victors. So, when the Bible was written, could the people justify the racism, genocide, hatred of homosexuals, and basic intolerance by stating that God gave them the victory?
Posts by loli
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39Did anyone really buy into the "Universal Sovereignty" issue?
by loli ini am new to the forum, but not new to jw indoctrination.
even as a child, i would ask myself, "why would the almighty creator need to prove anything to anyone, including him/her/itself?
really, one of the few scriptures that i do actually agree with is that 'god is love.
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JEHOVAHS HOLY SPIRIT!
by daydream1900 inhello darlings.
well one thing that i don't feel stupid for is the statement- owww did you feel jehovah's holy spirit!
i don't know about you but i have never felt jehovah's spirit while i was in the org, .
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loli
You do not give yourself enough credit, my dear. Think about it, something guided you to question the teachings, right? I think you did in fact feel the holy spirit. When you measured the goings-on of the organization by the actual fruits of the holy spirit (LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering, KINDNESS, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control) you no doubt realized that WTS was out of harmony with the spirit. When a person cannot reconcile the injustices that take place in a congregation that come from a place other thatn love, I feel that that is a nudging of holy spirit.
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21
JW Definition of "Spiritual Activities" - Ridiculously Narrow
by Seeker4 inthe thread on jws and hobbies got me to thinking about this, one of my basic disagreements with witness thinking.
the wts always seemed to be dividing activities into those that were "spiritual," and those that weren't.
in witness-land, going to meetings, praying, going out in field service and personal bible study were basically considered the only "spiritual activities.
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loli
Funny how the more liberal spiritual practices allow a student to find true spirituality in anything they choose. How beautiful to feel a sense of connectedness to the creator and all life by simply walking on a beach, hiking through a forest, or gazing up at a star-filled sky? I don't know about anyone else, but for me, I get sooo much more out of these activities than banging on doors and aruing with people. Does it really make a person feel spiritual to constantly assert "I'm right, You're wrong?" I'd rather feel lovable myself. Peace, Loli
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MY SON'S LEAVING HOME!!!!!!!!
by Dansk inmy older son, karl, is leaving home.
it could be this coming sunday but, if not, definitely sometime during next week.. karl has been a wonderful son and friend.
leaving watchtower was made so much easier because of him - and his decision to exit undoubtedly prompted my wife, claire, to take a look at the damning evidence herself!
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loli
How wonderful for your son!!! I, too have a son who is a drummer in a band. He also wishes to attend a university to learn audio/visual production. Keep us posted! namaste, loli
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39
Did anyone really buy into the "Universal Sovereignty" issue?
by loli ini am new to the forum, but not new to jw indoctrination.
even as a child, i would ask myself, "why would the almighty creator need to prove anything to anyone, including him/her/itself?
really, one of the few scriptures that i do actually agree with is that 'god is love.
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loli
Thanks to all who offered great insights! A note to riverofdeceit: I appreciate your view of the bible and what should really be the "embodiment of love." I didn't want to get too wordy on my first post, so I left it up to the reader to assume that I felt the same way. I don't know what to actually label myself these days (agnostic or otherwise). I'm definitely NON theist, that is I don't believe in a cranky old being sitting on a throne tapping his toe waiting to wipe people out for their infractions. But I think I do believe in some all-positive creative force that gives us the capacity to love. Bottom line to me is, I think most individuals, Bible authors definitely included, create god in their image instead of the other way around. Peace
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39
Did anyone really buy into the "Universal Sovereignty" issue?
by loli ini am new to the forum, but not new to jw indoctrination.
even as a child, i would ask myself, "why would the almighty creator need to prove anything to anyone, including him/her/itself?
really, one of the few scriptures that i do actually agree with is that 'god is love.
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loli
Hello everyone! I am new to the forum, but not new to JW indoctrination. Even as a child, I would ask myself, "Why would the Almighty creator need to prove anything to anyone, including him/her/itself?" Really, one of the few scriptures that I do actually agree with is that 'god is love.' Okay, so follow me, please, and let me know what you think: God=love, God=perfection, God=all knowing and powerful If all of the above is true, which WTS will agree with, then, how can God have an ego? Ego is something that the realm of the physical needs in order to keep itself alive. Then how could someone/thing that is completely made of love and is free of ego NEED anything? Can this entity be harmed? Certainly, it (he/she) would not pridefully need to assert Universal Sovereignty, would it? It is my understanding that you cannot harm love. Love needs nothing in return. If that is what the human experience is about, why do we need to be in utter terror of the supposed source of love? Thank you for letting me vent, and blessings to all.
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What kind of personality does the organization attract?
by The wanderer inpersonality types
what kind of personality does the organization attract?
nice, gullible, under educated, naive?
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loli
From what I have seen personally, there are several personality types that are attracted. For one, there is the person who is desparately seeking outward approval. Next, there is the vulnerable person (isloated college student, someone who recently lost a loved one, etc.), there is also the type who won't make a success in the business/financial world that feels better about "keeping their eye simple", then there are the authority types who love the power trip of having a title and special treatment. Not only are the above mentioned people initially attracted to WTS, but sadly, many in the area that I am from are also highly medicated in order to stay associated.
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Jeff Foxworthy....You might be a JW if....
by Lady Liberty in.
hello all.... sat around the campfire this weekend and laughed our butts off coming up with jeff foxworthy type humor.
it was so funny we thought it would be fun to run a thread here... i'll start.... "if your only yearly vacation is a "trip" to the district convention...you might be a jw.".
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loli
If Thursday in field service, you burst a blood vessel in your head because you dogmatically argued a scripture, then Friday at the District Convention you learn that the same passage's interpretation has been changed due to "new light" and you say, "Okay", you might be a JW.
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87
How many 'real" friends did you ever really have in ther "truth'
by The Lone Ranger insure we got to know a lot of people, we knew a lot more people then the average person, but how many real friends did we ever have?
a friend that we could trust, that we could confine in.
i can say i had just one, bro x and even then i still had to be careful, bro x is an elder now and he tells me that im the only real friend hes ever had, he cant freely talk to anyone.
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loli
I would say that I had two or three real friends. My dear friend S left around the same time I did, as also our friend T. I still have someone whom I love dearly who still is associated in the cong. She only sees me for professional reasons, but we can understand eachother very well even now. It seems so sad that a person can love so many others, yet their love is cut off from that individual just due to a change in thought patterns. I miss what I thought were genuine relationships. Illusions really are grand sometimes, huh?
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87
YOUR LAST MEETING.........................
by vitty in........................at my last meeting, the elder was talking about 1975 and said "it never happened, it is appostates using a time when (some) brothers took the info in the wt wrong"...................i just blinked and finally woke up.. i had been on this site lurking for a couple of weeks, and realized thing werent right, but to have some creep say on the platform " it didnt happen"............when this ruined my and my siblings childhood, just made me snap.
on the way home, i told my hubby "that was the last meeting im going to"................boy was he pleased.. .
so if you didnt get df ......................what happened at your last meeting.?.
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loli
My last "meeting" was a judicial committee meeting in Sep 1999. I went through the whole situation where my husband committed adultery, confessed the right way, then was expected to forgive him. The elders didn't even acknowledge my "scriptural grounds" for divorce. They were more concerned with the reputation of the congregation (my ex was a local businessman) and the damage to our 10 year old. HMMMM...like he wasn't already being scarred. Anyway, I couldn't play the game anymore. I was totally miserable, my physical and mental health began to suffer. My ex became abusive and would not let me stay home from meetings without a fight. I then began having an affair (BAD IDEA!!!!! Not recommended!) I figured that if I was defiled in his eyes, he'd let me go. Wasn't even easy then. Obviously, I had to submit to a judicial committee meeting where my attitude was defiant. I told them I was not sorry for what I had been involved with. When they sent me oot of the room to pray and consult together, the PO looked at me and said, "Jehovah has already determined whether or not you are forgiven. It is up to us to reveal his decision to you." All the while, I'm thinking to myself, "This is insanity! I don't want to be here! Just DF me so I can get out!" Surprise!!! I was only reproved, what mercy, not DF'd. A light went off in my head at that point. When dirtbags can abuse children and go undisciplined, and I can be completely "unrepentant" and the elders still are deluded in their belief that they have the hot-line to heavenly interpretation of my heart condition, I'm outta here!!!