zarco

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Posts by zarco

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  32

  Cult...Cult...Cult...Cult!

  by Cold Steel in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  it seems that many people on this board get a certain amount of glee calling the jehovah's witness faith a "cult.

  " especially former jehovah's witnesses.

  and though it's true in a number of senses, we must be conscious of the fact that the early christians were considered by nearly everyone in roman and jewish society as a cult.

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  zarco

  The word cult can be defined in many ways. I usually define it as having strange beliefs or practices. Consider a short list of JW beliefs and practices and see what you think:

  They sacrifice humans and their children due to the flawed blood doctrine

  They shun people because of thought-crimes

  The wickedly shun children who have the misfortune of getting baptized at a young age and then disfellowshipped at a young age - for many such ones they never get reinstated so their disfellowshipping turns into a life sentance. I personally know of several young ones DFed at ages between 13 and 18 who are serving a life time of shunning

  They speak out against education

  They do not get involved in making the community better

  They do not help clean up the environment
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  33

  New Beginnings!!!!

  by JWFreak in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well things have changed big time for me.

  on the 3rd of dec. finally, i have left my work at bethel and moved almost 500 kilometres away to a new life.. some of you were aware of my work in a european branch, and have kept my confidence.

  for this i am eternally grateful...you know who you are.. the huge weight that has been taken off my shoulders is both a comfort and a relief.. when i settle into my new home properly, i intend to write some memoirs of life at the branch, hoping that others will find it of interest.. for now my future is for the first time uncertain and that makes it very very exciting, but i am no longer under the control of others yay!!.

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  zarco

  Erik -

  Thanks so much for what you have done to keep information about the WTS public. It is so important that the organization operate in the light with full disclosure --then if folks decide to join they do so with eyes wide open. It also allows many others to examine the policies and evidence and decide not to join or continue. The WTS loves the darkness because it has much to hide. Brave individuals like you provide a life saving service in allowing others to see behind the curtain.

  All the best to you in your transition to the real life. I look forward to your memoirs.

  z
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  37

  Do Jehovah's Witnesses represent a less legitimate form of religious expression?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am at a point where i tend to think all religions are rubbish.

  the bible is not a book to lead one's life by and not deserving of much respect.

  if jesus existed then the gospels are not an accurate picture of his life and even if the non-supernatural elements resembled a real person there is much to repudiate as there is to admire.. so what about comparing jehovah's witnesses to other faiths?

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  zarco

  It seems that religions should be judged by their contribution to society. Some religions, while flawed like the Witness religion, do some amazing things to better society. Building hospitals, feeding the hungry, charitable works, sponsoring institutions of higher learning are a few examples of good things that many religions do.

  Religions should also be judged by their contribution to its individual members. Are individuals encouraged to educate themselves, care for the community, be involved in environmental and social matters and to build lasting relationships. Many religions do exactly that for their members.

  Conversely, the Witness religion does none of those things. It cloisters its members from society, it looks at the community as either an enemy to be destroyed or as a population to convert. It takes a "god will fix it soon" approach to everything causing its members to live life with a short-term perspective which typically harms the economic, health and educational prospects of its members.

  So by these general standards its seem that Witnesses are less legitimate than most other religions.

  zarco
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  144

  Latest apostate warning in Feb 15 2011 Watchtower

  by dozy in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  andre, who had served jehovah for years, had the bitter experience of being led astray.

  by apostate thinking.

  he felt that having a quick look at an apostate web site would not be dangerous.he recalls: initially, i was attracted to the so-called truths that the.

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  zarco

  So if you quote too little, you are taking things "out of context" and if you quote too much, you are infringing copyright.

  Thanks, Leo - well said
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  65

  As a JW, what did you do on Christmas Day?

  by Magwitch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  growing up a jw, we always had family from out of town visit or we would go visit family.

  it was fun to get together with my other jw cousins over christmas.

  (however, it was hell going back to school in january as the only girl without a new sweater).. as a married jw though it was a different story.

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  zarco

  As a JW we would go with a large group snow skiing. Every year, it was a good day.

  Now we get together with our fellow apostates and family in the area. It also is a very good day.

  Magwich - your ex-husband sounds like a jerk, sorry.

  zarco
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  96

  Challenges Facing the Watchtower Org

  by eric356 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ive been thinking about the future of the watchtower organization and the challenges it faces in coming decades.

  its difficult to address the issue without allowing personal feelings affect the analysis.

  many people seem to think that the society will collapse fairly soon, based mostly on the fact that the person dislikes the leadership or cant understand how others can believe the doctrine.

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  zarco

  Thanks, Eric for a thoughtful analysis.

  zarco
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  240

  Let's Talk Baseball ! Who's your Favorite Team ? Love My S.F. Giants !

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  and they are now in 1st place in the n.l.

  west with a 6-1 record !

  and the hated l.a. dodgers are in last place !

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  zarco

  It is a long flight, but I can't miss this party:)

  It starts at 11:00. I will be in the park in front of City Hall with my District Convention badge... I mean Giant's cap on :)

  Speaking of New Zealand .... gotta love HBO's Flight of the Conchords
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  240

  Let's Talk Baseball ! Who's your Favorite Team ? Love My S.F. Giants !

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  and they are now in 1st place in the n.l.

  west with a 6-1 record !

  and the hated l.a. dodgers are in last place !

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  zarco

  It is funny that female friends think Lincecom is a hottie, I don't see it, but damn that guy can pitch. He had no-hit stuff last night.

  The parade is tomorrow! All the way down Market to City Hall.

  See you there, Mr. Flipper:)
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  64

  Do you feel sorry for the family members who shun you?

  by SweetBabyCheezits in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as each instance of shunning happens to me, it seems even more ridiculous than the last.. this weekend i took our kids to the park - wife opted out, understandably - and we let our daughter call my parents to inform them we'd be there.

  this was my first time in the presence of my parents since our df announcement two weeks ago.. my mom and dad were 10-20 feet away much of the time and yet they never said a greeting or.. well anything.

  at one point my daughter, who is aware of the shunning, mistakenly thought my mom called my name and shouted excitedly, "mawmaw, were you talking to daddy??

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  zarco

  Darth - so very sorry.
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  64

  Do you feel sorry for the family members who shun you?

  by SweetBabyCheezits in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as each instance of shunning happens to me, it seems even more ridiculous than the last.. this weekend i took our kids to the park - wife opted out, understandably - and we let our daughter call my parents to inform them we'd be there.

  this was my first time in the presence of my parents since our df announcement two weeks ago.. my mom and dad were 10-20 feet away much of the time and yet they never said a greeting or.. well anything.

  at one point my daughter, who is aware of the shunning, mistakenly thought my mom called my name and shouted excitedly, "mawmaw, were you talking to daddy??

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  zarco

  SBC -

  Yes, I feel sorry for the WTS does to those "loyal" to it and I feel sorry for those who decide to stay "loyal" at great cost to themselves. For your parents they probably have too much invested in the organization - hours of work, friendships, a belief system - to allow them to consider leaving it. The cost to them is too great. And sadly the cost to them of shunning you is less, at least for now. As time passes, I am sure they will reconsider.

  It seems that for thinking witnesses that do not practice shunning, the witness/disfellowshipped relationship still is not a full normal relationship. There is something that is held back, maybe the fear of being "caught" or possibly a guilty conscience. So even after your mom or dad start associating with you, it will still be difficult.

  I think for those of us that think for ourselves, we expect the same of others. But in reality the organization punishes those who think for themselves. So I try not to judge the individuals for what they do. I have no problem judging the leadership.

  You have handled yourself so well through all of this. There probably will be times when it will get to you, but the majority of the time you will enjoy your freedom and celebrate standing for principles.

  All the best to you and yours,

  zarco