Flowerpetal

Joined

• started 30 topics
• posted 798 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Flowerpetal

• 
  38

  I was brought up a catholic.

  by captain pugwash in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i went to school with a couple of jehovahs witnesses and they were ok people.some of you lot on here just need to get over it - i don't understand that if you were so bored with it -why did you get into it in the first place ?

  give it up - you made a mistake - get over it - or get therapy or something.. i used to go into school assemblies etc.

  and church occasionally and i was bored stiff so i presume its not something peculiar to jehovahs witnesses halls.i wouldn't go back now but whats the point in whinging about it like you lot?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  Pugwash,

  The are many layers to the JW mindset, and I'm sure other posters will mention these layers, but I will mention just this one. First of all the organization is a record-keeping organization. The sign of spiritual maturity to JWs is one who is an active publisher (one who goes door-to-door with literature and the Bible, conducts Bible studies, and makes return visits on people who show interest), turns in hours spent in these activities, how much literature was left with individuals is written down, etc. Therefore he/she is making a record which is permanently put on their Publisher's Record Card which is kept in a file in the congregation he/she is associated with. This "spiritual mature person" also comments at meetings, and just is an all around active person in the organization. If one stops or slows down doing these things, the first thing that is noticed is that the hours are lower. If they stop commenting at meetings, that is noticed. If no time or hours are turned in for one month, that person is considered an irregular publisher and is considered as needing assistance, especially if this trend goes on for several months. Attention is given to that person, such as shepherding calls by the elders, a Bible study is encouraged, by the elders and either a very active publisher or a pioneer is assigned to study with that person to get him "activated" again. These are some of the checks and balances I mentioned.
• 
  17

  Adultery can only happen at night - Scripture to support this statement

  by scrubmaster in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  strong circumstantial evidence, such as pregnancy or evidence (testified to by at least two witnesses) that the accused stayed all night in the same house with a person of .

  the opposite sex (or in the same house with a known homosexual ) under improper circumstances, is acceptable.

  i was told that there is a scriptural principle for the above quote from the "pay attention to the flock book".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  You or somebody else posted this scripture in another thread you started, scrub. I'm tired of being in suspense--tell us the scripture you showed them and then get on with your life.
• 
  41

  You Have One Shot.

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you're out somewhere, shopping maybe or in a restaurant or bus queue, whatever.. you've not been to the meetings for a couple of years, you are now an inactive person.

  you might even have da'd yourself or got df'd.. you suddenly realise you are facing or stood next to someone that you know is a jw.

  you also know that they know that you were once a jw too.. the person greets you and starts up a conversation with you.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  I am not out yet, but making a fade, I believe I would say that I could not in all conscience, continue to be a Christian the way the Bible lays out, and still be one of JWs.
• 
  39

  If it wasn't for the Truth why would anyone be moral?

  by logansrun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  of all the assinine comments that are made by rank-and-file jehovah's witnesses i've got to conclude that among the dumbest are comments to the effect that if it wasn't for this religion (the jws) there would be no reason to act in an ethically moral fashion.

  take my sister, for instance.

  she once related that if it wasn't for the truth tm there would be "no reason" not to have sex outside of marriage.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  freelife:

  Now i think that i am more ballanced in my life i think i am a more moral person on the inside. My desires in life are to live it to the fullest not cheapen it.

  That is the key.

  I guess I missed the thread on morality so I'll add my two cents now....I think immoral people are ones who have agendas to deceive--they are liars and cowards, and will commit fornication/adultery just to futher their agenda. Immorality is not just a sexual thing.

  With that said, a person who commits fornication/adultery for any other reason than the above, is not necessarily an immoral person, IMHO. But the WTS makes one feel that way and makes them feel bad and horrible.
• 
  38

  I was brought up a catholic.

  by captain pugwash in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i went to school with a couple of jehovahs witnesses and they were ok people.some of you lot on here just need to get over it - i don't understand that if you were so bored with it -why did you get into it in the first place ?

  give it up - you made a mistake - get over it - or get therapy or something.. i used to go into school assemblies etc.

  and church occasionally and i was bored stiff so i presume its not something peculiar to jehovahs witnesses halls.i wouldn't go back now but whats the point in whinging about it like you lot?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  Captain Pugwash,

  Welcome to the board. I just want to say that unless you have had the JW experience, you have no idea how difficult it is to leave, especially if you are baptized. There are all kinds of "checks and balances" plus one is in a different mind-set as a JW, and for some it is very hard to break away from.

  Just this past year, after 40+years of being a baptized JW, have I been able to mentally break free from this mind-set...and in the near future, I will physically break free.

  I enjoy this site because of the information found here. And believe me, I am one who reads the Bible, does not find it boring, although I believe there are errors and many stories are allegories to reflect the human condition in it, and I still have faith in our Creator.
• 
  2

  Slaves of the Society.

  by shotgun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm reading the demon haunted world by carl sagan.

  in it he quotes fredrick baily a slave from maryland in the 1820's.

  baily wrote after escaping to maine these words :.

  1. 
  2. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  Hi Shotgun,

  I read that book several years ago. It's excellent and keep reading; you will learn a LOT!
• 
  32

  Hello...I'm new here

  by Agent Smith in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just wanted to say hello

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  I LOVE the matrix movies....welcome Agent Smith!
• 
  14

  Love Is The Watchtower's Greatest Weakness

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i recently attended a witness get-together and found that despite my fake hours and lack of nearly all meeting attendance,.

  i had no trouble 'blending in' - even with committed elders.

  i'm not a social genius by any reckoning - but a smile, a few jokes,.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  That was a really great post!!!

  Since I am an only child, and my parents are dead, and my cousins live in other states, I don't have that pressure of trying to convince my relatives that I have the "truth." I did visit some of my cousins and an aunt early in December, BUT witnessing was the last thing on my mind. What I want to do is have a connection with family.

  My mom was a witness since 1941, and she loved reading the Bible. I would say she was like some of the people mentioned here by former witnesses, who know older ones at the hall who are kind. My mom only has one living sister, in Maryland and a brother in California. I want to visit both real soon. Family is important, no matter what their beliefs are--and for an only child, I think it's imperative to connect with whatever family you have left because you never know how life will change or what circumstances will come about that you need your family around you or you with them.
• 
  7

  What Galvanizes the Preaching in Most Witnesses? What Did it For You?

  by Myxomatosis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  'couldn't be done without the holy spirit' is the phrase that i have seen spouted by loyal dubbies.

  no doubt appearing subtly or explicitly in one or more of the watch tower publications.

  i'm wondering, if you could think back to when you were preaching, especially if you were pioneering, what were your personal motivating factors, what did you tell yourself, and was there a source of that suggestion?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  Growing up as a kid in the '50's, the message I got was we don't know when Armageddon was coming...so whenever I saw the sky look strange, and there was a bad storm, I thought this might be Armageddon. Needless to say, it scared me, because I wondered if I was worthy to be saved--because I knew God knew my thoughts, and they weren't always nice.

  When I was a teenager in the '60's not every year but some years, I "vacation pioneered" during summer vacation from school just for a month though. My partner for one year became a great friend because we worked together so much. I was even in her wedding in 1969.

  I preached because I thought that was the thing to do, to help people get to know about the Bible's promises which I still believe in, paradise earth included, because I believe humans were created to live forever, on this earth or at least a very long time; except I don't accept the societies chronology of counting time. So I suppose I did it out of love--I wanted people to know life wasn't going to be so stressful or always full of problems. I also want to say, I enjoy being a human being and I enjoy all the pleasures of being a human.

  I believe a whole lot more has to happen and I really don't believe the end is going to happen the way the society teaches. I can't say what Armageddon is going to be which means I don't agree with the teaching of it by the society.

  I agree that good works also means helping those less fortunate than yourself--without conditions. The WT did not focus on Jesus death, burial and resurrection as much, but now I have been seeing more of an emphasis on Jesus, hopefully because of some members of the writing department. I was told once by someone that there is dissention among members of the writing dept. Some want to concentrate more on Jesus and the kingdom, while others want to emphasize the organization.

  I would not use "works" in connection with JWs but PERFORMANCE, I believe that is a better word. The emphasis of "do more, do more, do more" is associated with PERFORMANCE more than works.

  Hope I answered some of your questions!

  Even though I don't agree with all the teachings of the WTS as I used to, I still feel I am a spiritual person and still have faith in God and his Son.
• 
  3

  I'm betting the answer is yes, Have you noticed a connection to abuse of ..

  by NoBorg in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  of alchahol and to being a zealos jw elder/pioneer, whatever?

  almost all of the 'actives' i know are heavy drinkers or heavily medicated ( not that there's anything wrong with that!!

  ( <name that sitcom ) )

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Flowerpetal

  NoBorg:

  ( not that there's anything wrong with that!! ( <name that sitcom ) )

  Seinfield!!!