The congregation is probably little more than a social club for many JWs but they still have to comply with duties : meetings, preaching, etc. and sooner or later they realize that this activity which is supposed to give significance to their being JWs is still too much and meaningless if they don't really believe in what they do. A religion that has urged its members to brace up for A. for generations can't thrive or even subsist as it is now solely on socializing. It will deeply change in its nature. I can see it in the future like the jewish religion, as a set of practices, mellowed as compared with what they used to be, say before 1995, to make them palatable in the future to the civil society and make JW socially acceptable, socially intagrated. Witnesses will end up with their expectation of A. exactly the way Jews have wished one another for 20 centuries "next year in Jerusalem". Sort of fossilization. Too bad and a lot of bitternes for the full time JWs who had totally commited themselves to the cause and did put all their eggs in the same basket.
aligot ripounsous
JoinedPosts by aligot ripounsous
-
32
Witnesses are getting so disconnected from the Doctrine, but won't let go!
by OnTheWayOut inso i am not going to meetings, but am a fader.
the wife and i get invited to a wedding.
by friends from years back.
-
-
-
17
breaking story!
by the sage incurrent breaking story on sir isaac newton's prophecies of the second coming of christ, confirming, the research of many of us ex-jw's.
check it out!
the sage.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
Christ would not return until at least the year 2060, and maybe later
Mr. Newton, I presume ?
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/130363/2313350/post.ashx#2313350
Very likely, the question has been addressed before but I would like to raise the following point, just in case : we are explained that, because of the 360 day jewish year, one time (one year) is 360 years and 7 times (Dan 4 : 16) are 2520 years, which takes us to ( - 607 + 2520) = 1913, + 1 = 1914. Now, we note that this method mixes up two basis of calculation, 360 and 365 day years. If we do the whole calculation on the basis of 365 day years, why not, 7 times are 2555 years and good old 1914 turns into (- 607 + 2555) = 1948, + 1 = 1949. Just add 120 years on account of antitype (or type ? I forgot) Noah's days and you get to 2069, which gives us plenty of time ahead to reflect and find more imaginative computing methods.
-
14
Who is Allah?
by PopeOfEruke ini found it very interesting to learn on this forum about the origins of yahweh as an ancient tribal deity worshipped by the early settlers in the middle east.
but i know very little about allah, the god of islam.. does anyone know the relationship between allah and yahweh?
do both these deities have an origin in the ancient tribes from the middle east area?.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
I read somewhere that in Muhammad's time, the jewish religion was very influential in the arabic peninsula. In the country which is now Yemen a certain king Yusuf had actually made it the official religion. When Muhammad fled to Yathrib (Medina), 3 out of the 5 tribes that formed the city were jewish. Arabia was also influenced by the christian Ethiopian religion and, on the persian golf, by Mazda religion. So, Muhammad didn't start his religion from scratch but had rather in mind to restore a "pure" monotheist cult, and he was seeing the jewish religion as the standard to go by.
-
161
What if you're missing the purpose?
by journey-on infor those of you who espouse the philosophy that one needs to discard who we "think" we are and embrace the "reality" of who we really are, what if, there is a divine purpose to our miniscule existence in the here and now and that purpose is to experience the pull of opposite forces (duality), and you are missing it by not allowing yourself to experience the ego self?
what if you are missing the whole purpose of this pull of pain and joy by trying to suppress it or place yourself outside of it?
the below is a short story sent to me by a friend and it is an example of what i'm inferring.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
Sorry, Cog, you're right, fortunately nvr came to rescue me and the argument still holds, that happy socializing helps add meaning to life.
-
36
As Time Goes By - Do they all begin to look alike to you?
by AK - Jeff ini mean, religions.. while i am far from being anti-religious, organized religion, especially of the more 'fundamental' sort, is all beginning to blend into the same puddle for me.
i have not given up on god, or spirituality, and in fact still consider myself christian.
i just don't feel any desire at this point to participate in the formal nature of religious groups at all.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
AK,
I feel exactly the way you do, that's why I remain a JW, pending an hypothetical better bet. I have to say, though, that so far, apart from crazy mormons, no other denomination has knocked at my door to tell me what they think the truth is.
-
36
As Time Goes By - Do they all begin to look alike to you?
by AK - Jeff ini mean, religions.. while i am far from being anti-religious, organized religion, especially of the more 'fundamental' sort, is all beginning to blend into the same puddle for me.
i have not given up on god, or spirituality, and in fact still consider myself christian.
i just don't feel any desire at this point to participate in the formal nature of religious groups at all.
-
-
-
16
pics i took today
by purplesofa in.
the pic of the semi, i took while we were moving and it was moving and that is how it turned out!!!.
the bottom pic is my grand daughter, but i like it when people think she is my kid.. purps.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
You've got a nice artistic eye, purps, young grand' ma
-
16
Do you ever wonder...
by changeling inlast week i started the "do you ever wonder what people here look like?
" thread.
a lot of you responded and many even posted pics.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
My avatar is my great grand'ma, a plain rustic woman in french province, although I'm a He. The picture must date back to the 1880s or so. I like the interrogative look in her eyes, my mum had the same. To me this look conveys independence of judgement.
-
14
Dating question
by jond incan anyone comment on the consequences of dating a divorced jw who is not free to remarry?
in time this person will be free to remarry, until that time is it ok just date?
obviously the dating would need to be done carefully so as to not lead to wrongdoing etc.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
Thank you for the welcome, Mum, I should have started with that, excuse me.
Now, Jond, I understand, in so far as you are the non JW who dates the divorced JW, that you are very considerate so as not to let (let's say) him do things which will entail DFing for him. Really, the onus is on him to make his choice : since he is not free to remarry, owing to JWs' rules, either he priviledges his belonging to the congregation and you will never marry him, unless he proves his ex wife's adultery (but you can't live on that, can you ?) or he chooses you instead and is ready to be disfellowshipped. He normally knows all that already,
-
23
what's the point
by Hortensia inso my husband's trial starts july 23 and even though logic tells me it won't happen, i'm terrified that some nice jury will say "oh you poor thing, meth made you try to kill your wife, and i'm sure the cop you tried to kill understands, and the fact that they had to shoot you and taser twice and then five cops jumped you is punishment enough.
" if they turn him loose the first thing he will do is come and kill me.
and my friends and the cops and my shrink all say they'll protect me so i can see the scenario: "hi hubby, let me make you a cup of coffee while i call the cops and my friends and my shrink who has personally promised to come and kick your ass.
-
-
aligot ripounsous
Hortensia,
I feel helpless but I'm glad you have friends around you who can give you good advice in consideration of the local legislation and specialized services thay can provide you practical help in this very painful and agonizing situation. My warmest thoughts go to you.