Posts by NotaNess

16

How do I get a Witness to do some deep research on Russell? Any Pointers?

by NotaNess in

jw
friends

i feel most witnesses don't know of the history behind russell and the beginnings of the society.

they're bent on "origins" of things, but we know that the wts keeps material and knowledge to a minimal on the origins of the society, and specifically russell.

to a co-worker, i hinted at the pyramid memorial about russell, and he said he didn't know what i was talking about (a 20 year jw veteran).. any pointers on how i can ease the subject into "forbidden" conversation around the witnesses at work?

NotaNess

I feel Most Witnesses don't know of the history behind Russell and the beginnings of the society. They're bent on "Origins" of things, but we know that the WTS keeps material and knowledge to a minimal on the origins of the society, and specifically Russell. To a co-worker, I hinted at the pyramid memorial about Russell, and he said he didn't know what I was talking about (a 20 year JW veteran).

Any pointers on how I can EASE the subject into "forbidden" conversation around the witnesses at work? They brought up the Adventist subject criticizing a SDA women one of them talked to on the street or something and it reminded me of Russell's beginnings.

How shocked were you at finding out about the Pyramid Memorial?

24

Holidays

by BR25 in

jw
friends

i am a former jw, but i still believe what they do about the holidays?

i have already talked about origins and all that stuff so i wanted to ask something without bringing up scriptual or historical backgrounds for a change.. my question is (whatever your beliefs may be) what % of people who celebrate christmas, if you took the presents out of christmas would still acknowledge christmas as much as they do now?

note: as much.

NotaNess

I know this is way late....

BR25, you didn't win that discussion. Coming from being a witness, you can't understand that not all Christians think alike about every single issue.

There's a difference between Halloween and Christmas, incase you haven't noticed(you just see them as holidays as the same).

For a Christian, Christmas involves honoring Chist, the gratefullness of his birth for our salvation. This is scriptural whether you want to believe it or not.

Halloween is not scriptural, so some might partake in the festivities of it...or they might not. some don't like the scary-ness of Halloween, but they like the candy, and fun costume side of it...it all varies a little.

You need to search the biggest reason for the beginning of Christmas, instead of thinking it was all just a bunch of Pagans in their false god celebrations. It was begun to bring the non-believers, to Christ. The Church leaders just used creativity to get the job done, period. Want to talk about origins? Don't get me started. Are you familiar with Egyptian Pyramids?......

21

What is the JW position on attending weddings in other churches?

by Kudra in

jw
friends

i ask because i am planning my lovely wedding with my sweetie... .

and the chapel that we are doing this in has a cross on the altar.

will the dubs see it and hightail it out of there?

NotaNess

Sorry Audesapere, I'm an idiot who reads too fast!

Still, 2 non-believers having a church ceremony with scripture? They gotta believe somewhere in their minds. Why would they want a marriage "under God", if not believing? Just cause it's fun?

9

30 years later I've grown a beard again

by wozadummy in

jw
friends

this is one thing that bugged me about "the lie" ,when they came down hard on men who had grown facial hair in the 8o's ( and womens adornment,clothes etc).

a ms at the time had a beard and grizzled about shaving it off but did after the talk at the assembly, he's an elder now but i wonder whether he chafes a bit at the taking away of ones personal freedom to grow something that god gave us men.. i never grew one when a jw for i was a drone i guess ,but with alot of small things over the years this did irritate me and seemed just a way the gov body controlled our lives by taking away a natural thing in life .it's not like men would have beaded,braided or let it grow to look like a feral and be unclean and untidy.. and we have paul saying in 1 cor 10 that he became all things to others to gain them to christ - well what about beards ?

is there anything more natural?

NotaNess

I enjoyed your Topic and Post. Real funny near the end.

Witnesses don't show that side of the rules and regs to newbies or "studies" atleast I don't think so, not until your mind is somewhat trapped.

Then they can hit you with WTS rules like that, and you're more likely to go along with it.

They know if they told you up front, as a prospect...you'd run like hell!

I'd love to hear from someone here who was confronted right off the bat, that you had to shave your facial hair. Please post if it happened to you. Want to know how you felt and what you did about it.

Thanks!

10

As a witness, how would you have handled this scripture?

by NotaNess in

jw
friends

philippeans 1:15-18 (nwt).

if someone you were witnessing to at a door or on the street presented you with this scripture, and told you that paul supported even false intensions about christ, in fact he rejoiced in it.

in other words if witnesses have issues with "false religion" or some church leaders(on tv) out there acting like big supporters of the gospel, but they're really in it for the money, how would you handle that paerson saying that paul rejoiced in it?

NotaNess

Well MAD, that's good, I'm glad to see your alignment with Paul, in the support of those getting the message of Christ out, even if it's for false reasons. He rejoiced, and you can too in today's arena, that others than the WT are spreading the "Good News". Just don't frown upon those false one's, Paul might see your sudden mis-alignment, and tell Christ about it.

Seriously though, where did you get that version of the scripture you posted, I'm curious.

45

ARE YOU PSYCHIC..........................AND WHAT DID YOU THINK AS A JW ?

by vitty in

jw
friends

i think all people can communicate at a higher level for eg how many can times do you and your partner think of the same thing at the same time?

or you can be thinking of a person and they ring you?.

but if you really feel that you are psychic or that you communicate with "dead people" how did you cope with it when you were a witness?.

NotaNess

On the morning of 9-11, my wife and I were getting ready for work. Out of the blue I told her I felt like something bad was going to happen that day. I remember I was tucking my shirt in at the same time or something...Anyway, about 30 minutes later the first plane hit the twin towers. I dropped her off before we heard of the 1st plane, and when I heard it on the radio, I went back to her work where they had it on TV. We were taken by the whole event, but we hadn't remembered I said that until some moments later, she said..."you just said this morning that you felt something bad was gonna happen!!!"

Make of it what you will, but this is truth. Weird connections like this happen with me all the time, and my wife looks at me like "You're freaky" -cut it out!"

5

The Release of the NEW issue of the Revelation book

by NotaNess in

jw
friends

the witnesses i associate with were discussing the latest version of the revelation book, and what new changes there were.

that they would have to get a new copy over the old copy so they would have the newest information.. i love that!

their minds are pre-programed to just accept new change and re-writing of "jehovah's" original "channeled" word given by the wts in past issues.. oh, that's right...things will become "brighter and brighter"!

NotaNess

The witnesses I associate with were discussing the latest version of the Revelation book, and what new changes there were. That they would have to get a new copy over the old copy so they would have the newest information.

I love that! Their minds are pre-programed to just accept new change and re-writing of "Jehovah's" original "Channeled" word given by the WTS in past issues.

Oh, that's right...things will become "Brighter and Brighter"! I guess I just didn't understand at first. My bad......

:)

41

At what point have you crossed the "cheating" line?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i have been married for awhile, and in my 14 years of marriage i have seen many other marriages of friends and relatives, come and go.

most, if not all, were caused by cheating.

at work i work with a lot of people of different faiths, to no faiths.

NotaNess

Having lunch with a coworker CAN be cheating.

Cheating also includes wanting something like conversation, flirty sexual talk, flirting, and the consistent company of another...that you aren't getting out of your spouse. You're doing that stuff with someone else, even though it's not physical (yet).

Could be a form of cheating, that's all.

21

What is the JW position on attending weddings in other churches?

by Kudra in

jw
friends

i ask because i am planning my lovely wedding with my sweetie... .

and the chapel that we are doing this in has a cross on the altar.

will the dubs see it and hightail it out of there?

NotaNess

Audesapere, wrote "you are marrying a non-believer"

Maybe you didn't read that he was studying to be a minister, and is gonna use scripture in the wedding ceremony. I think he's a believer.

Seems the wedding is there because HE wants it in the church. If that's not a big deal, then have it somewhere other than the Chapel, and get the people you invited to show up. Problem solved. He can still use the scripture anywhere you have the wedding, and most scripture is the same or similar among all the versions, so the JW's can relate to it too.

What would be funny though is if he whipped out a big Cross in his hand near the end and waved it around like they were vampires or something!! Ha Ha!

40

How Much Influence Did The Watchtower Have In Destroying Your Faith In God?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

how much influence did the watchtower have in destroying your faith in god?personally, i do not believe that a corrupt organization should destroy the belief .

or concept of a designer, god or creator.

in addition, because an organization .

NotaNess

I'm searching for an illustration here...oh yes!...An old American commercial...here goes:

"This is your Faith.........This is your Faith with the WTS......any questions?" Some will know what commercial I'm talkin' about.

(FRIED)

Someone here posted they felt superior to others in the world as a JW. I'm a Christian without those feelings. I don't think it's the organization or faith. It's the person you are and how you handle the faith that does/did that, but I see that superior attitude around the witnesses at work. I point to the Org as part to blame, and not the faith, as I just said before.