humbled

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Posts by humbled

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  22

  My Lecturer booby-trapped me - Patterns of Authority in Early Christian Communities

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i have a 2500 word essay due next tuesday, so i shall be invoiced until then.

  and, i already have been turned upside down.. even though there are set topics for the main essay, it is possible to negotiate for an essay on a subject of personal interest.

  i'd been thinking about the development of leadership in the early christian congregation, so i asked my lecturer, if i could write on that.. he asked me for a brief outline of what i was thinking, so i reviewed my early thoughts - that jesus primarily had left no clear instructions (because he was expecting divine intervention and the restoration of the kingdom), but he had trained his disciples in missionary work - which i interpreted to mean that jesus expected his own ministry to continue, to provide the judean people with continued guidance, modelled on what he (jesus) had done.. but as christianity developed (and the expectations of jesus remained unfulfilled) a different model developed and i wanted to explore the model we see developing in the nt (think pauline) and where that model came from and then transformed into the monarchial model with bishops.. .

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  humbled

  In other words, your lecturer rejects the line of pursuit that accepts that the only investigation of the early Jesus-followers is to channel the Orthodox Christian Canon of scripture as though it were the "gospel truth".

  Good for him.

  Interested in how this goes.

  The fragments found of the Gospel of Mary have always struck me as the road less traveled when any discussion comes up of Jesus the carpenter/teacher. It suggests a man more as that shaman-wanderer than a progenitor of Paul's religion.

  Please keep us posted, fulltimestudent!
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  30

  Do You Think All JWs Believe Whatever Their Religion Teaches?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  that same question applies to catholics, jews, islamists, baptists and so on.

  .

  just because you belong to a religion, does it mean you espouse every idea that they have ever presented?.

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  humbled

  I realize that they didn't... when I saw how scared the elders were of me just differing about a cerain matter ( not even a main feature of WT doctrine), well, it made my blinkers slip just enough that I HAD to think. Slowly, slowly.

  It was sickening that they were not free to talk to me or look at the bible with me--WITHOUT THE STENCILED PATTERN!

  It took a while to realize that if I had a disagreement, I had to stuff it like everyone else.

  I couldn't do it anymore--
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  16

  Is this desperation or common? What have you seen?

  by Wasanelder Once in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a "sister" i know is in her late 80's.

  her friend was 90 and on her deathbed.

  (just a week ago.

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  humbled

  My Catholic grandmother at age 96 was thinking about religious stuff. Not long before she died I heard her ask this question: "I wonder if everything they told us is true?"

  My mother, her daughter, was disgusted--"She's too old to be asking questions like that."
• 
  39

  I lost my family today.

  by awakenyr2004 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so far my oldest niece and oldest sister cut me off.

  i'm waiting for the goodbye texts from my other siblings.

  my parents asured me they would never cut me off.

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  humbled

  You will never have to "look over your shoulder" after this. There is a strain when you have to hold SO MUCH BACK. You will get through--but I do hope your mom and dad stick with you for everyone's sake.

  Take care.
• 
  36

  Plastic buckets in Paradise

  by Sour Grapes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i remember one picture of a pretty little girl holding a plastic bucket in paradise next to a tame lion.. i asked my wife if there is going to be polution in paradise?

  of course the answer is no!!!!!..

  i asked her where did the plastic bucket come from?

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  humbled

  Having worked in factories in the past, I remember when I looked at some tracts for the first time and noting that there seemed to be several items in the illustrations that were produced in that way. I remarked to an elder: I don't see how any of us are going to be working in factories.

  He had nothing much to say, as I recall.
• 
  36

  But they are only 8 imperfect men!!!

  by notsurewheretogo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm fed up of my still-in wife using this excuse that they can utter wrong beliefs and doctrines.. .

  the fact that there are imperfect humans involved in the organisation is very much irrelevant.. .

  we all accept, including jdubs, that these men are just men who may think and say wrong things like the rest of us as they go about their own lives.

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  humbled

  Apog--

  that makes me wonder,now--are they less perfect at 7 than they were at 8?
• 
  36

  But they are only 8 imperfect men!!!

  by notsurewheretogo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm fed up of my still-in wife using this excuse that they can utter wrong beliefs and doctrines.. .

  the fact that there are imperfect humans involved in the organisation is very much irrelevant.. .

  we all accept, including jdubs, that these men are just men who may think and say wrong things like the rest of us as they go about their own lives.

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  humbled

  BU2B,

  Fantastic point!

  the double bind strikes again!

  "Be obedient to those taking the lead...." Heb.13:17

  "So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God." Rom. 13:12
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  5

  Yoo-Hoo I love Publicity Like this- Welsh TV Exposure

  by Slidin Fast in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2014-09-29/jehovahs-witness-sex-abuse-victims-call-for-organisation-to-be-held-accountable/.

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  humbled

  Hey, hey, Motorman!

  First post!

  See you soon again?

  SlidingFast, Great article--brave people to lay it on the line for the public.

  THINK PEOPLE!! JWs ARE JUST PEOPLE--NOT A 'SPECIAL POSSESSION'--as long as you put up with this mind control you are merely specially possessed.
• 
  35

  JW's and depression

  by FeelingFree in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was wondering how many of you suffered badly with depression when you were in "the truth" and if you feel your depression was related to being part of the organisation?

  are you better now you have left or still have issue's?

  whatever your experience's i would be very intrested to know (if you feel you can talk about it.).

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  humbled

  Ajax,

  Found your note this morning. Your kind words coming out from the flat screen nevertheless were full and round for me. thanks

  --The anonymity that is neccesary to be open about our pain imposes certain limits here. But along with it there are aspects that are unbounded and wonderful as well---from out of the blue we can experience a drive-by soothing.

  Have a lovely day.

  Maeve
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  37

  Am I the youngest one on here?

  by Capstone in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i finally registered on here after reading on the forum for almost two years on and off (more often the last year).

  to give you some background on who i am i can say that i'm a girl in my late teens and live in western europe.

  my mom is a jw and my dad is not.

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  humbled

  The elders may want to talk to you--but they have no"legitimate" reason to do it.

  My daughters left "the Truth" while they were still in the home. My husband was not a JW. All three girls went to college and are doing well.

  I do and did then believe there must be choice in becoming a member of a religion. Coersion is ALWAYS wrong. and I did stand by the girls--even the one whose leaving was a torment for us both--she was baptized. (a long and interesting story)

  It may be hard to live with honesty but in my opinion it is by far the healthiest thing you can do nfor now and for your future.

  Take care and---good for you. You sound like you are a grand girl.

  Maeve