Posts by tenyearsafter

226

The Doctrine of Hell

by Yizuman in

is the doctrine of hell a hindrance or a help in witnessing?

many evangelicals are ashamed of this biblical doctrine, viewing it as a blemish to be covered up by the cosmetic of divine love.

but this dishonors gods word.

I find the idea of a place of literal fiery torment to be a bit inconsistent with a loving God providing a universe of perfection where sin is gone forever...but just as there are consequences for breaking man's laws, I can see Hell as being a condition of eternal separation from God for rejecting him and his laws. Why can't torment be the realization of that separation? In some ways, that realization is like the cognitive dissonance and subsequent anguish a JW experiences when they see that their belief system is wrong.

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Is this weird or what?

by 1Robinella in

jw
friends

the other day i was on the phone with my mother.

she lives about 20 minutes from the rest of the family.

she'll be 73 in november.

tenyearsafter

My mom still thinks the "brothers" care for her...she is 81 and guess who visits her every week, takes her to doctor's appointments, takes her on vacations, does her shopping, fixes up things around her house, helps her with a little extra money? If you guessed the "brothers", WRONG ANSWER!!!

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To my ex JW ex-husband....if you are out there on JWN

by Coffee House Girl in

i often wonder if you are here somewhere amongst the cool avatars and catchy screen names...it killed me 5 years ago when you ran away.....i felt as if i was shattered and would never be whole again.

and if i had stayed in the borg....that would still be the case....alone i was dying inside slowly....the borg was drowning me in duty, loyalty to the organization, isolation, spiritual hunger, thirst for understanding- i had to leave too, i just didn't do it quite as dramatically as you did.. i don't know why you still feel the need to remain "missing" after all these years.... i just want you to know that i was tired of hanging on to the hurt and pain over you...i let it go when i left the borg.

and all i want for you now is peace & i pray that you are okay and safe, wherever you are..... chg.

tenyearsafter

278

Children of 1975

by d in

what was it like to live in the 1950's 1960's and early 70's as a jehovah witness.when they started to push the 1975 date..

tenyearsafter

Sinutko excerpts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqN2XsVhL3Q

Kite talks:

http://www.centralprint.net/talks/SpecialTalks/Kite%20Floyd%20-%20The%20Coming%20Great%20Earthquake.mp3

http://www.centralprint.net/talks/SpecialTalks/Kite%20Floyd%20-%20Are%20You%20Marked%20for%20Survival.mp3

278

Children of 1975

by d in

what was it like to live in the 1950's 1960's and early 70's as a jehovah witness.when they started to push the 1975 date..

tenyearsafter

See my brief story of that time here:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/141232/3/was-there-a-1975-scare

and if you think it was "all in the minds of weak ones in the congregation", just listen to Sinutko's talk on the subject or Floyd Kite's "Earthquake" talk. I don't have the links handy, but they are easy to find.

63

was there a 1975 "scare"

by Lotus65 in

ive heard through different research ive done along with people ive talked too that there was a 1975 "scare" in which the time was supposed and the end was at hand

is that true

tenyearsafter

I was baptized in 1967 and pioneered during the late 60's and early 70's, and I can attest that 1975 was just about all anyone talked about at the meetings or in private. When the "Truth" book was released, we were totally focused on starting Bible studies with "right hearted ones"...and if they didn't dedicate themselves to being a JW within six months of study, we dropped them like a hot potato to move on to others. There was an excitement in the congregation and at assemblies that was palpable. I got married in 1971, but was "counseled" a number of times that with the end being so near, I should not burden myself with the distraction of taking on a wife. Every activity was measured against 1975 to classify whether it was folly to pursue or good theocratic activity.

It was an exciting time to be a JW, but after 1975 came and went, large numbers of people disappeared from the congregation. It amazes me that the WTS actually blamed "zealous" borthers for reading too much into chronology. Talk about passing the buck!!

For JW's in 2010, I would say that the those that lived during the events leading up to 1975 are either dead or long gone from the organization. The movers at Bethel behind the 1975 push are dead. In another 20 years, all connection to the events of 1975 will just be a historical memory to be buried in the crypt of old JW apocalyptical dates.

272

Grace According to JW's. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

by Lily Pie in

hi, i'm a bit of a lurker on this site occasionally, just to help me understand my jw relative.

i am so curious to ask this question, but i fear asking a practicing jw, because you know, they can be a tad evasive, and maybe defensive too.

lutherans say.

tenyearsafter

Tammy,

JW's use undeserved kindness (facilitated by the WTS) as an excuse to sin just as much as Christians use Grace as an excuse. We are all imperfect, so if perfect works was a requirement for Grace/undeserved kindness from God, we would all be sunk!

TYA

272

Grace According to JW's. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

by Lily Pie in

hi, i'm a bit of a lurker on this site occasionally, just to help me understand my jw relative.

i am so curious to ask this question, but i fear asking a practicing jw, because you know, they can be a tad evasive, and maybe defensive too.

lutherans say.

tenyearsafter

Debator,

Please answer Deputy Dog...I also want to know what the work of the evil-doer who died beside Jesus was?

As to Grace versus undeserved kindness, I see undeserved kindness as "dumbing down" Grace so JW can set themselves apart from Christendom and show how much closer to God they are. It is similar to their arguing that Jesus died on an upright stake versus on a cross...is the instrument of his death more important than the purpose of his death? They would rather argue the differences.

What is offensive about using the word Grace instead of undeserved kindness to a Witness? I guarantee that a JW will cringe at the thought of using Grace, as it has been drilled into them as being a teaching of pagan Christendom. By the way, Grace was commonly used by C.T. Russell, the founder of the WT...another reason they distance themselves from it today.

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