Posts by tinker

27

Were You Always Feeling Guilty As A Witness?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i think the religion works on guilt.

everyone is made to feel they're not good enough some how or perhaps they practice a "secret sin" and it gnaws at them.

so they decide to pioneer or "do more", recognizing they can never really make up for whatever shortcomings they have.. were you a guilt ridden jw?

tinker

Nope, never. I figured out a long time ago that guilt is a useless emotion. It paralyzes and undermines growth. And I guess I always believed that 'Jehovah knows everything' anyway, no such thing as a secret sin, he knows the heart. I always knew my intent was never bad. Sure I did lots of 'bad' things but in my heart I'm a good person but I make mistakes sometimes. When I know better I'll do better.

So guilt was not a factor in my leaving the WTBS. It was the fact that they try to use guilt to mistreat and beat down the flock. At this point in my journey I am not sure if I even believe in a god but IF I did believe he would be a god who knew my intent and would not use a useless emotion to chain me to the BORG.

23

Could God create a rock so heavy He could not lift it?

by nicolaou in

one question that stretched theologians during the middle ages was; could god envision or make a four sided triangle or a three sided square or some other atrocity.

at first the problem seems foolish, but it really is an instance of a more fundamental problem: is god bound and limited by the laws of reason and logic or not?.

i've had this conversation on jwd before but i was never satisfied with it.

tinker

I will add that this very issue kept me awake many a night and was and is the very reason I am no longer a JW = reasoning abiltiy

23

Could God create a rock so heavy He could not lift it?

by nicolaou in

one question that stretched theologians during the middle ages was; could god envision or make a four sided triangle or a three sided square or some other atrocity.

at first the problem seems foolish, but it really is an instance of a more fundamental problem: is god bound and limited by the laws of reason and logic or not?.

i've had this conversation on jwd before but i was never satisfied with it.

tinker

according to many JW's I have asked, yes Jah can do ANYTHING. According to the physical laws they say he put in place when he created the universe he could not. Unless he changed all natural laws that direct life as we know it, imo, no he could not. The Butterfly effect would come into play. Even the flutter of a butterfly wing causes some change in the atmosphere so again IMO, God is bound by the very laws he made.

37

Serving Jehovah Doesn't Take Much Effort

by God_Delusion in

when you where at the demon hall, did you ever get a talk about how easy it was to serve jehovah?.

i was having a conversation with a friend recently about this and i wrote down what is expected of a jehovah's witness;.

go to 4 meeting per week.

tinker

I have a question for you angle eyes. What do you do to prepare for the ministy? Do you do research and from where? What materials to you analyze or compare? Do you offer only supporting opinons or also an opposers observations. Would you encourage a student to question a doctrin from all sides?

When I was a practicing JW I too never found the ministry difficult. I perpared by practicing the word for word offer in the latest KM. I underlined the correct answer in ea paragraph of the current literature then tried to use my own words to express only that thought when commenting at meetings. I taught my Bible students how to underline and comment in the same way. It took some effort but I found it enjoyable as long as I stuck to the program.

37

Serving Jehovah Doesn't Take Much Effort

by God_Delusion in

when you where at the demon hall, did you ever get a talk about how easy it was to serve jehovah?.

i was having a conversation with a friend recently about this and i wrote down what is expected of a jehovah's witness;.

go to 4 meeting per week.

tinker

dissed has it right, it's easy even a caveman could do it. It is a routine, no thinking required, thus a cavemans mentality. They do not need to think of anyone but themselves and the WTBS. JW culture is a closed group and all activities are prescribed for you.

No need to remember anyone's birthday, save for Christmas gifts, volunteer at your kids school, organized a youth soccer league. Community service unessessary, knowledge of political candidates positions - who cares. Why give a dime to charity when god is going to take care of all those unfortunates in the New System. Why recycle trash when the whole earth is going to be a Paradise real soon without any help from us. Don't go to college because you do not want a developed brain as critical thinking is not allowed.

I can't think in easy/hard terms regarding lifestyles. Work is involved no matter how you live. It is a matter of quality and thoughtfullness. If you are simple minded and enjoy having someone else organized your thoughts then the Jdubs are for you. On the other hand if you are independent and reflective, considerate and compassionate, crave knowledge, curious or sophisticated it is very difficult to remain among those that think like cavemen.

48

DNCall Unmasked - Part 4 of 5

by DNCall in

jw
friends

startfragment.

even though i didnt have the title of elder, i was still active in my work at bethel and the congregation used me as much as possible.

when the congregation recommended that i once again serve as an elder, one elder raised the objection that that barbara was a low-hour publisher.

tinker

this place has alot of stinkin rules. ah but gratefull DNCall does not run on and on. My elderly eyes cannot bear up to long winded stories. What was that place we used to post back in the day before JWD? Those people would write on and on, stories, pg after pg. I would beg - make it Stop! So yes rules have their place.

itmt: everybody scoot on over to Freeminds, meet ya there.

48

DNCall Unmasked - Part 4 of 5

by DNCall in

jw
friends

startfragment.

even though i didnt have the title of elder, i was still active in my work at bethel and the congregation used me as much as possible.

when the congregation recommended that i once again serve as an elder, one elder raised the objection that that barbara was a low-hour publisher.

tinker

Hi Frank, I just got word of your posting. Well congratulations and THANK YOU for your courage and kindness in telling us your story. Writing it out may be cathartic for you and most assuring for the rest of us. I had never known anything outside the WTBS but at about 50yrs of age I had had enough and finally Got the Heck OUT! Things such as 1975, family divisons over DFing and the lack of love from HQ just did not add up to The Only True Religion.

I became aquinted with you and your father during the late 1960's as a convention orchestra member wanna be. You and your fellow musicans were our rock stars for those summer conventions. There really was an aura of creativity and love that came from that group. After all, they were not paid a dime, you gave us beautiful music purely out of the love of the craft. Even though the songs may have been altered for the song book, the arrangements we heard live were Amazing. You are so correct, those summer assemblies were Events we looked forward to all year. As a creative more than an intellectual person I could relate to the music more than the 'talks' I get chills now thinking of those big drums and all the horns. At the time I was told it was all about Jah's spirit. Now I realise it was The Sound. The big sound of a full orchestra is a moving event. These days our local Symphony moves me.

I hope to see you and Barbara when I visit SoCal soon. For now Thank You Again and Keep Playing. Nobody can take away the music.

20

Did you Leave the Room for Birthday Parties as a kid?

by saywhat29 in

jw
friends

in elementary school, the teachers would allow parents to bring in brownies/cake/cupcakes/ice cream to celebrate a studen'ts birthday.. and you were supposed to leave.

or tell the teacher that you would not be partaking of pagan desserts.. but.

did you actually leave?.

tinker

I had a liberal JW mom and she said 'just don't make a big deal out of it, eat the cupcake but don't sing the song' Never left the room so didn't get to know the library lady very well. My kids however, oh I was a stickler, sooo sorry, my bad, they had a close relationship with library lady and did become very good readers, all.

75

Pole, Please respond

by ldrnomo in

jw
friends

who is df'd.

who is da'd.

who is fading or faded.

tinker

Hi there LD, I don't get back here very often these days but this is an interesting poll so I will give it a go.

Hubby and I faded about 7yrs ago, wish I had kept a diary of dates. My kids do not post here but I thought I just throw them in for good measure. 1 DF, 2 faded. And 1 is an elder and also very close and understanding of our position. By his request we just don't talk religion and we all get along splendidly.

We still get a few 'encouragement calls' and have a few friends that have 'come out' to us that they doubt it all but hang on because of the social culture.

Nice to see you here, say hi to Mrs LD

Your Friend tinker

15

Somewhere to stay between San Francisco and Las Vegas?

by sweet pea in

jw
friends

a friend of mine is travelling from san francisco to las vegas next march and is looking for a great place to stay en-route for a night.

where would you suggest?

they were considering yosemite but the road in will be closed when they are travelling.

tinker

I'm not sure of the route but if they could take the coast south, WOW, many many wonderful, Places You Must See before you die! San Simion, Hearst Castle area is wonderful. I have staying in many little motels in and around there. Big Sur - OMG everyone must see. Just encourage them to drive the coast at least some before they cut inland. Most of the seaside motels are fine and cozy.

Bakersfield = Good food ??? not so much, eek!