Posts by NanaR

24

I never thought I would live to see

by Junction-Guy in

the day when smoking was banned in paintsville kentucky.

this little town where my family comes from is not only smack dab in the bible belt, but is also the tobacco belt.

eastern kentuckians have a higher rate of smoking than probably anywhere in the u.s. the new ban will affect only restaurants.

NanaR

Smoking is banned in Ashland, KY, too. The ban includes ALL public buildings -- including bars. Only private clubs (like the American Legion or the Elks) are exempt. Hotels can still provide "smoking" rooms for guests, but smoking is banned in all public areas of hotels too. The ban in the hospital area includes all land owned by the hospital (including all the parking lots and parking garages), and within 20 feet of any land owned by the hospital. Now the hospital's neighbors are complaining because people are crossing the streets to smoke in front of private homes and leaving cigarette butts everywhere. The hospital denies that any hospital employees smoke, but a quick drive by shows people in hospital uniforms lighting up all the time. Smoking is even banned at outside concerts such as those at the Summer Motion and Poages Landing festivals. It is very hypocritical, because selling cigarettes is a MAJOR deal in Ashland. People drive from Ohio and WV to buy their cigarettes here due to the lower KY state tax on tobacco. Some smokers have said that what they should all do is refuse to BUY their cigarettes in the city and buy them outside of city limits where the ban does not exist. I have never smoked, but just don't like the infringement on personal liberties that this represents. Also, in a statistics class I took in college, the professor (who did not smoke BTW) used the "secondhand smoke statistics" cited in articles as proof of how statistical "proofs" could be totally misrepresentative of actual facts. "Correlation does not prove Causation" was his mantra. I didn't know about the Paintsville ban, but I'm not totally surprised. It's everywhere... NanaR

29

NEWBIES: Just curious how you all found this site??

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

as you can see there are alot of you!

being such, it would be interesting to note how you all found this site??

or did you stumble across it by accident?

NanaR

The site I just mentioned (that directed me here just over a month ago) is no longer active! I just went there, and it says

"For philosophical reasons, I have discontinued this web site.
I recommend no religion.
I find Buddhism interesting."

It was a wonderful web site. Its reasonableness and accuracy appealed to me.

I hope TC is okay. Maybe he just got tired, he's been running it a long time.

NanaR

29

NEWBIES: Just curious how you all found this site??

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

as you can see there are alot of you!

being such, it would be interesting to note how you all found this site??

or did you stumble across it by accident?

NanaR

I googled Jehovahs Witnesses and found the site: http://members.aol.com/beyondjw/ (Beyond Jehovahs Witnesses). I read everything on that site and found it both accurate and reasonable. He had links to some discussion boards, I clicked on some and took a look (this was one of them).

I also emailed him directly with appreciation for his site. He replied to my email and recommended that I read more on discussion boards (recommended this one by name and link). I started reading and couldn't stop -- joined within a day or two.

NanaR

22

I'm upset at an elder

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

okay, even though i will reveal enough information to any lurkers who could.

still, i will blur a little info.

so that i can deny this is me.

NanaR

He said they would love that but it's up to Bro. OTWO. If he is able to do it, that
would be great. So what do you think, Bro. OTWO, will you take the territory assignments
back?"

This rings big warning bells in my brain.

Sounds to me as if the elders are trying to get you to reconsider your resignation. Or to determine WHY you haven't been going in field service. And they are using sisters to do it...

When I stopped going in service and then stopped attending meetings, an elder's wife visited my daughter to "pump" her for information as to why I had become inactive -- and to lay a guilt trip on me as in "she should come back even if only for Anna" (Anna was my elderly mother who died last year).

Your "fade" may be in jeopardy... I recommend watching your back.

NanaR

11

What about the blood issue?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

what about the blood issue?

sooner or later a person has to face his or her demons.

regarding certain jehovah's witness doctrine.

NanaR

The fact of the matter is that blood does carry hepatitis
and the infamous Hiv virus that blossoms into Aids.
So the question regarding the Society's position regard-
ing the use of blood is:
Could they be right regarding blood use?

Wanderer,

As someone pointed out, all medical treatment carries certain risks. If you have ever had to have surgery, you know that -- totally apart from the blood question -- one of the possible outcomes of any surgical procedure is death. Anesthesiology particularly is extremely dangerouts; whenever a person is "put to sleep" for surgery there is always a chance that they won't "wake up".

What occurs to me, though, with regard to the particular dangers of blood transfusion is this -- organ transplants, which have been "allowed" by the WTS for many years, carry THE VERY SAME RISKS as blood transfusions (reactions, transmission of disease, etc.) plus additional long term risks (the need to take immuno-suppresant medications for a lifetime, for example, thereby reducing the body's resistance to infection). In very real terms, blood IS an organ of the body, albeit a fluid one.

The WTS claims that all non-blood alternatives have come about as a result of health professionals looking for answers to their no-blood stand. I'm sure that some consciencious researchers took this into account, but I don't believe that was the entire motivation. Health professionals have always known of certain risks associated with the use of blood transfusions and treatments. Additionally, in times of disaster, alternative treatments can be more available and more stable. Blood deteriorates rapidly and must be matched perfectly between donor and recipient.

Do I think the WTS is right about blood? I'm certainly not willing to bet my life on it.

NanaR

42

Why does it seem to be unhappy people who are attracted to the JWs?

by new boy in

jw
friends

i have had time to think about this........... i was an attendent for many years.......... and looking up and down the rows at every family that was seating there in the khs........... no one was happy!.

i think of my mother (who brought this religion into our house)......she was one of the most unhappy and miserable people you would ever meet!

she was a spiritual orphan with few friends and no real family to speak of.. she got the "good news" back in 1950, that "the world" was a bad place and god, would soon be killing most everyone......she was thrilled!...............

NanaR

I was an attendent for many years.......... and looking up and down the rows at every family that was seating there in the KHs..........
NO ONE WAS HAPPY!

Think about the "ain't it awful" mentality that the JWs present at the doors. The whole focus of the message is that the world is falling apart and Jehovah is going to fix it -- very soon....

So you're right, the whole thrust of their lives is living for a "future" reward. What is required now is "obedience" and "endurance".

Not surprisingly, the areas of increase in the JW org. are in lands where conditions really are lousy. When people don't have anything to begin with, or any hope of anything, the concept of a perfect paradise is pretty tantalizing.

Also, think of how long some of those folks have been "enduring". Most didn't believe they would ever finish high school, much less need a decent pension to live. Some gave up plans to have children; very few obtained more than the most basic education.

If they weren't unhappy to start with, they will be before long...

I was born into it. I wouldn't say that I was never happy about anything, but then personality-wise I never really fit in the org. structure. I'm an ENFP -- other than being a true natural extrovert (can't shut me up - hah!), I was a square peg in a round hole. I think it was my "P" tendencies that drove them the most crazy -- most JWs feel like they HAVE to know everything in advance.

NanaR

63

Have you abandoned the hope of everlasting life?

by Fisherman in

do you still believe or nurture in your heart "living forever in a paradise earth" and even never having to die in "this old system"?

or do you now belive in life after death as a spirit being in heaven?

or have you abandoned the hope of everlasting life?

NanaR

I have decided to concentrate on being a good person in THIS life. I feel that so long as I do that, I can safely place my everlasting future (whatever it may be) in the hands of Someone Else. When I left, I really believed that I was "sentencing" myself to everlasting death, and I came to terms with that possibility. Now I believe that it is counterproductive for me to dwell on circumstances beyond my control (destiny beyond death), so I am concentrating on living well RIGHT NOW.

NanaR

32

Lost and looking for answers

by LynnTink in

this is my story.

i was born a jw and never knew anything else because my parents shelter from everything but for other reason.

from the time i can remember my dad beat my mom.

NanaR

"I love God and all his beautiful creations around us. I need some kind of beleif system or faith in something. I don't want to be controlled and told what to do anymore. Please help me I feel I am starting over at 40."

LynnTink,

Your story is very moving. I am so sorry for all that you have had to endure!

I can empathize with your "lost" feeling. I was raised a JW and never knew anything else. So when I started moving away from the "organization" (I was in my 40s at the time), it was really hard for me to come to terms with what were MY foundation values.

At the time (mid 1990s) I had only one really good friend who was not a JW. He was my boss, and he was a very devout Christian (Disciples of Christ). After talking with him a bit, not about religion but just about life in general, I found out that HIS core value was the phrase "First, do no harm" that is part of the oath doctors take.

What a revolutionary idea, I thought, to consider first what possible harm could come as a result of things we do!

Now, at least ten years later, I have finally started reading the Bible again. I am reading the Gospels at present, and dwelling on the words of Jesus recorded there. Putting aside all questions of doctrine, such as Trinity or God-in-the-flesh or whatever, good men and women of all ages have found strong moral and ethical values in the gospels. I also decided that I NEEDED to pray, so I began that process by simply reciting the Lord's Prayer as one might teach a child to do.

After calling myself an "ethical heathen" for many years, I am only now finding a spiritual life. I say "only now" because as a "cradle JW" I was really only taught to "reason" on religion. I don't remember ever being taught how faith was supposed to FEEL. For me, right now, faith is becoming a personal connection and identification with Jesus' words recorded in the Bible. I am starting to sense the emotional meaning of unconditional love.

If you are having trouble with the first commandment to "Love God" (I know I did, I wasn't even sure he existed as I felt betrayed by "his" people), then you may find it helpful to go directly to the second, "Love your neighbor as yourself". You may find, as I have, that there are many truly good and kind people in the world as a whole, and by showing love TO them you can receive much love FROM them. And I really have come to feel in my heart of hearts that it is through the love of those around us that GOD (whoever or whatever he/she may ultimately be) speaks to us.

I wish you well on your journey.

Ruth aka NanaR

6

A tiny entry on the credit side of the ledger

by Duncan in

dear everyone,.

sometimes, like probably everyone here, i get to thinking about all the wasted years (not to mention all those countless, endless, slow-motion hours) spent in serving the watchtower.. what a waste!

in my case 20 years maybe my 20 best years (age 5 to 25) - utterly wasted time , along with all the missed and spurned opportunities.

NanaR

Excellent!!

Guess the little blue bombshell didn't have a long-lasting effect...

Congratulations on your win :-)

NanaR

68

Just What Is The WT Up To Now?

by lovelylil in

has anyone heard about what is going on inside the organization these days regarding those who claim to be "anointed" christians?

i have had at least three different people now who live in different areas of the country tell me that the elders are systematically pushing out people who claim to have become anointed within the last few years.

these would be younger ones who are now professing the heavenly rather than earthly hope.. i find this interesting for several reasons.

NanaR

"Rutherford really boxed in the Society with this teaching."

I believe the issue is CONTROL -- the anointing with Holy Spirit is the ONLY teaching left in the JW doctrine that is totally personal. The anointing occurs between God (actually Christ, but we're talking about JW doctrine here and they even leave Christ out of his own "marriage") and the one who receives it.

For all the years that I was active, a person's status as an "anointed" one was untouchable -- even when the society representatives did not believe it was genuine. But since Rutherford and his successors managed to convince the majority that they do not have a heavenly hope, I don't suppose it was really a huge issue in the past.

Congregations with many anointed now would be the Borg's worst nightmare. How would they go about "proving" that someone had not received Holy Spirit when it comes directly from God? And on what basis would a JC of GC elders judge an anointed one?

Have there been any updates on the idea that the WTS is trying to identify a "New Anointed" apostasy?

NanaR