Posts by Vernon Williams

31

Christmas...pagan? or non-pagan?

by FreedomFrog in

i just read a thread where one of the posters was saying christmas is not pagan.

from my research and what i remember reading up on it, it was taken from the pagans.. let me explain.

first, i apologize because i researched this about 4 years ago and i don't have all of my research material at hand.

Vernon Williams

Free,

One of the first things my family did, after we were booted, was to celebrate Christmas. I am a Christmas junkie. Our little guy, Levi, and I wait for the first of December. The historic church has a "calander" of events all year and, if you follow it, the time leading up the the date chosen to remember the aniversary of the birth of our Lord is so rich in appreciation and love. The JWs poison the opportunity to enjoy this measure of spirtual refreshment.

I just "puke out" on the WT slant on bringing condemnation to this "memorial" of the birth of Christ. That night, the angels sang. Heaven was interanaly and externaly in rapture over this miacle. Messiah had arrived!! What a night to remember! Can you imagine NOT setting aside a momment each year to consider God's blessing to mankind in this wonderous event??

I can not.

Our old buddy, "The Judge" could.

I will stick with my position of rememberence and joyful appreciation.

A few thoughts,

V

34

what about NOT making new friends...life as a hermit for most part

by oompa in

i actually saved a classified ad from an east coast paper that needed experienced crew on a 48' sailing yacht.

i was at this town for my 10th wedding anniversary and staying at a nice b&b.

this was back in april.

Vernon Williams

O,

Of all the stabs in the back generated by the WT this is one of the final two (the other being a distrust of "religion.") The lack of association generated as a residual effect of WT association creates this "alone" situation that is negative and depressing.

I, continually, encourage ex JWs to reach out in the community to "express" themselves in the myriads of ways that exist. Whether it is a group of amatuar astonomers or chess players, a biking club, a soup kitchen, reading programs, assistance to the elderly or poor....I mean the list is endless. As we associate with ones of like interest, relationships form and things improve.

As ex JWs, we just sit in our own tears. The WT leadership knows this situation exists. If for no other reason than to "flip them off," go out and form friendships, have a good time, and just have fun. It is the ultimate insult to this group of emotional degenerates that one can engage in. Enjoying LIFE is the threat the Org fears the most. Happy ex JWs are the biggest threat.

If we are sad or not progressing in personal growth or happiness, then, the GB is right: Life is not worth living without them.

(Rare use of bad language ahead....)

SCREW THEM!!!

Go out and find the happiness that is there to be had....both for yourself and those that chose to inter-relate with you.

Reach out. Reach up. Go for it....

My two cents,

V

24

Do you think JW's grow and mature as they age?

by megsmomma in

jw
friends

i ask because my ex, who is still a jw and my 9 year old's dad (hence the still knowing him part) hardley seems to change at all over the years.

i do know he is now an elder....and he doesn't have time for much fun.

(they are usually broke and busy with meetings, ect.

Vernon Williams

Spiritually, the WT keeps it's members, all thier lives, in a diaper....usually, a "pissy" one from the attitudes of most JWs. It is the means by which control is maintained...they will not go beyond the skirts of Mother Org.

It is sad and sick.

V

108

Hello everyone, first post.

by Frjprice in

jw
friends

hello, i just wanted to introduce myself to everyone here - as i will be posting here.. i grew up a jw and pioneered, was a ministerial servant, ect, i was in the organization for 17 years.

i left and naturally my family did as they were told and cut off all communication with me.

this left a horrible taste in my mouth for not just jw's, but any religion for that matter.

Vernon Williams

Father,

Greetings!

Know this folks?

Jeffery and Kathy Schwehm are the administrators of
catholicxjw.com.

18

better offf dead?

by matt_holgate in

ive been visiting for some time, but until now havent said much.

i would appreciate some observations on the latest episode between me and my jw mother, like whether this is something i should ignore or try to resolve.. i was dfd at thirteen, five years ago, for being a gay atheist.

i didnt become homeless only because my mother was/is ill with ms, we maintained a just workable relationship so that i could stay and help her look after herself.. the last three years relations became more tense as i began to piece together what had happened since she joined the org when i was about 3. she demanded yesterday to know why, and i let her have it.. i told her how fucking petrified of life i was as a kid, hearing about armageddon and the world.

Vernon Williams

One thing you will never regret is treating your mother with compassion and kindness: assisting as you can. I do not have a comment on your sexuality or your religious perspective: I do believe we should act and speak in a way that does not lay the basis for later regrets.

Your mom is your mom. Love her, assist her, and try have empathy for her. Set the example in proper family behaviors.

My take,

V

25

A deflating talk with my brother re: anti-witnessing,,,,thoughts?

by smellsgood in

jw
friends

**edited to say, my brother is not a jw, never has been, nor have any of my family.

i'm referring to jw's i don't know who came to the door finally (i posted about it a couple weeks ago in personal experiences) i was just talking to him about it because he got word of it and doesn't like the idea of it** .

talking to my brother today, he doesn't like the idea of me getting involved debating with jw's (i've done this plenty, just not in person:).

Vernon Williams

The problem with folks talking to the JWs is this: the ~~mythology~~ theology of the WT is so abstact and non-traditional that individuals do not know "where" the JW is in the conversation.

You do.

You "know" the cult conditioned language and the underflow of thought and emotion that are contained in the "coded" words and phrases of the WT.

And, from the comments on this board, many were looking for something better while in the WT.

So,

avoid the topics in which the JWs are well trained: trinity, state of the dead, and the kingdom.

Focus on the soft underbelly of the WT: central theme of the good news and the fact that one must falsify information as a pledge of loyalty.

Share a cup of coffee or a glass of ice tea. Show loving concern. An invitation to return. Build a personal relationship with the JW. Plant seeds that can be watered in places like this.

A few thoughts,

V

35

Goodbye for now...

by R.F. in

jw
friends

hello all.. first of all i wanted to say thank you for all the help i've received from you all in recent months.

my life has changed completed in such a short amount of time, and some of the things that have happened recently have finally just "hit" me as of late.

i definitely need to take more time to just stop and think, actually accept the changes, and adjust.

Vernon Williams

Robert,

Best wishes in your Journey.

If you ever swing through MO....give us some notice and we can have lunch or just a cup of coffee.

Take care,

Hang tough,

Yours in this Journey,

Vernon Williams

Montett, MO

16

This One Needs Your Comment!!

by V in

currently on washington post:.

"a label that carries baggage".

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/richard_mouw/2007/09/a_label_that_carries_baggage.html.

Vernon Williams

I posted.

V

40

How Would You Do in a Debate Against a Talented JW Apologist?

by Open mind in

how good of a debater are you?.

i was recently reading some old threads on jwd back in the days when a poster named "youknow" was here.

(2002) he would stand toe-to-toe (or at least he thought he did) with the likes of alanf, refiners fire, seven006, and many others.

Vernon Williams

Here are the rules for "winning" in such a confrontation:

1. Whomever controls the question controls all.

2. Never ask a question you do not know the answer to.

3. Never loose control of the question.

4 If you break rule 3, stop, and make an arrangement to start again another time.

That is it. If you follow the above rules you always "win."

It is ALL about the POWER OF THE QUESTION>>>>>>

V

35

Did Jesus rise from the dead with 1.His physical body (or) 2. As a spirit

by jesusisgod in

please post your view, then some scriptures to back it up.

then look at what the bible has to say.. my view is simple.

jesus did rise from the dead with his physical tangeble body and he had the marks to prove it.. my scriptural proof are as follows,.

Vernon Williams

One of the most exciting spirtual awakenings happened when I realized that the reserection of Jesus meant the reserection of His body. When Paul is talking about "It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption...etc" what is the "it."

Answer: the body.

Everything made sense after that.

PS: my spellig is gone....'nite all.....

V