Posts by NanaR

6

Count-Down 8: How I "Let Go" of the Watchtower

by Amazing in

jw
friends

the process of leaving the jws cab be very different for many ex-jws.

there is no one formula that fits all.

but here is what i learned and what i did:.

NanaR

Jim,

I can't wait to read your book!!

My process was different. I did not initially "leave" because of problems with doctrine. It was over 10 years after I became inactive and 4 years after I made the "break" in my mind and heart that I even started learning about all the doctrinal problems. Lack of love in the congregation and the ridiculous way in which my unbaptized daughter was dealt with in an "ambush" by 3 old men in my living room drove me away.

Breaking with the doctrine itself WAS vital, though, to my finally finding a faith I could embrace. This forum and the people I have "met" here have been greatly instrumental in both parts of this step -- breaking with the doctrine (how could I have believed all this nonsense?) and finding a faith (the Catholic faith, as it turns out).

I continue to find so many "eggshells in my omelet" as I call them -- leftovers from the lifetime of JW teaching. But as our friend Tom says, as long as I know they are there, they won't really do me any harm and I can deal with them one by one.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and wisdom.

Ruth

3

Memorial 2007, Part 1: Downplaying Jesus' Sacrifice

by Sacchiel in

from my blog: astonishingrealizations.blogspot.commemorial 2007, part 1: downplaying jesus' sacrifice "how are we going to treat the father from now on?".

that was the biggest question at the memorial i attended on april 2, 2007. only by the grace of god did i not go berserk.

i had prepared myself not to interfere in the proceedings, out of respect to my family and friends there.. .

NanaR

Excellent article!!

I didn't attend the Memorial this year, as my husband didn't ask me to (he didn't go either, thankfully). All aspects of the way in which the JWs claim to "commemorate" Jesus' sacrifice seem blasphemous to me now, but most particularly the way in which Jesus himself is virtually left out of the discussion. You are very correct, the illustration used by the speaker (which I have heard at many a "meeting") completely devalues Jesus and what HE did for us. The Witness God sent his son, an angel, to earth and watched him die. The Christian God came to earth Himself and endured the terrible suffering of crucifixtion for US. Which God would you love the more?

While all the rest of the Christian world has been meditating all week on the suffering of Jesus on the Cross and the meaning of that suffering for us, JWs have been continuing to spout their usual garbage. And today, as the rest of the Christian world celebrates the wonder of the resurrection and the glory of God the Son, the daily text for JWs to consider is "How long will you sit on the fence?", from the Old Testament of course.

My answer to them is: "How long will you blaspheme Christ by leaving him out of your so-called Christianity?".

I took a look at your blog, and congratulate you on having found a real relationship with Jesus.

Ruth

19

Count-Down 9: The Meaning of Life

by Amazing in

jw
friends

i can recall a number of jw articles talking about the meaning of life - of course that meant doing something the watchtower said would make you happy, like selling magazines door to door .

i love what my oldest son once said: "i don't look for the meaning of life ... rather ... i create my own meaning.

" that is my son.

NanaR

Jim,

I love your son's comment!!

Jesus said (of feeding him when he was hungry, etc.), "To the extent you did it to one of these least ones, you did it to me."

The meaning I am finding in life, that was sorely missing in my JW "training", is to really SEE and RESPOND to the needs of those around me. To find the Divine in the everyday has been a great blessing to me.

We have spent our lives debating the meaning of words and "splitting hairs". I, too, choose to debate no more.

"To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh"... (especially rainbow colored 192 page books and their corollaries *hah*).

Ruth

5

WT Library 2006 (English)

by NanaR in

friends,.

posts go up and get outranked so fast on this board.

this may have been put up already, but if so i missed it.. does anyone have a downloadable copy (image) of the 2006 cd?

NanaR

Thanks Kwin!!! The second link in that thread worked great. All installed, with a CD for a spare and a saved image. Ruth

5

WT Library 2006 (English)

by NanaR in

friends,.

posts go up and get outranked so fast on this board.

this may have been put up already, but if so i missed it.. does anyone have a downloadable copy (image) of the 2006 cd?

NanaR

Friends,

Posts go up and get outranked so fast on this board. This may have been put up already, but if so I missed it.

Does anyone have a downloadable copy (image) of the 2006 CD? I went to watchtower.cc and they have 2006 in one of the titles, but it is not up yet as far as I can tell.

If you don't want to post a message, you can pm me or email me at [email protected] .

Thanks!!

Ruth

5

Count-Down 10: The Forbidden Zone

by Amazing in

jw
friends

it has been 15-years now since i walked away from the jws, and 12-years since my disassociation.

it is time to do some reflecting in short posts, and check my mental bearings.. the forbidden zone:.

a week or two ago i watched planet of the apes again for the 10th time.

NanaR

Aw, Jim, now I'm going to have to go watch Planet of the Apes (would you believe I never have?).

I agree, we all need to develop the ability to converse civily (even politely) on a variety of topics. My rule is, if I can't find anything civil or polite to say about a subject, I avoid commenting. Now sometimes my fingers travel ahead of my brain and I violate this rule, but that's why I'm glad most forums have a "delete" button (at least for moderators LOL).

BTW, hello!!

Ruth

24

Who pays for the memorial wine ?

by JH in

jw
friends

i know who gets to drink it, but who pays for it?.

NanaR

My father was congregation servant then elder and P.O. for many years. He always bought the wine, and my mother made the bread. We also brought the goblets and plates and tablecloth from home. We used the table that was normally used for demonstrations and TMS talks.

We took the wine home after the meeting, and the other stuff too.

I do not ever remember congregation funds being used to purchase any of it (up until the late 80s anyway when my dad stepped down as an elder).

NanaR

35

The Lord's prayer, why JW's never say it

by moomanchu in

we all know it's not an issue if people say the lord's prayer or not, but except for the fact that jw's make it an issue.

to them it's kinda like the boogie man and to say it makes you part of christendom, ripe for destruction.. this thread is in response to another thread.i finally took some time to look into information to make a reply.. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/130602/2.ashx.

a jw commented on that thread.

NanaR

Regarding repetition in prayer:

Revelation 4:8 says of the four living creatures around God's throne in the heavens: (NRSV)

"Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come."

Not only that, but the 10th and 11th verses indicate the use of responsive prayer:

"the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.""

Also, from my personal standpoint, I find that saying the "Our Father" or reading one of the Psalms (yes, they are prayers too) at the start of my prayer puts my mind and heart in communion with Holy matters. When I do this, I find that the remainder of my prayer for my own intentions is much more meaningful.

BTW, I was raised as a Witness in the 1950s. I learned the Our Father prayer at my mother's knee -- from a King James Version Bible. And when I was in 1st grade, my homeroom teacher had the entire class recite the Lord's Prayer first thing in the morning. My parents allowed me to participate so long as I did not add the part at the end that Witnesses believe was not original. In 2nd grade, my teacher had us recite Psalms 23 first thing in the morning, and I was allowed to do that also. I did not participate in the flag salute, but I DID pray in public.

I doubt that Witnesses today are permitted to do these things -- but life was different away back when. If it came directly from the Bible, it was okay no matter who was reading it or saying it.

NanaR

17

Are elders what they used to be?

by BluesBrother in

when i was a young and idealistic elder - the attitude that was stressed continually was this one :.

christiangreatnesscomesfromserving.

"among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant."matt.

NanaR

My father was an elder of the "servant" category. He worked himself silly and worried himself to distraction with matters of PEOPLE in the congregation and how best to SERVE them.

My father and many others of our original "body" have since died. Several others, very loving and kind men, have left the org. Maybe one of the original body is still alive and still a Witness.

As time goes by, they are losing their best, most Godly men because those men cannot abide the politics and power plays.

Ruth

34

Watchtower increases pace of accelerated change

by truthseeker in

it's not even april yet, and the watchtower society is revving up it's change at an alarming pace.. this year, the changes have all been big.. first, they announce that there will be two editions of the watchtower - a private edition for members only with only the study articles in and a public edition with no articles.

the 24 elders may be involved in communicating divine truths to the governing body.

the long held teaching that 1935 is the cutoff date for selection and gathering of the anointed has gone the way of the 1914 generation change in a convenient "questions from readers" article.. you cannot wear casual clothes after the convention, even if going out to eat.. .

NanaR

"The long held teaching that 1935 is the cutoff date for selection and gathering of the anointed has gone the way of the 1914 Generation change in a convenient "Questions from Readers" article."

I completely missed this one. Can someone post a link or reference?

NanaR