Rocky_Girl

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Posts by Rocky_Girl

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  20

  Seeing JWs in public...

  by undercover in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was reading terry's experience of running into dubs at the car wash and his feelings aftewards.

  thought i'd share my experience on a new thread instead of interrupting his.. i saw some dubs yesterday myself.

  better stated - i thought i saw some dubs.. sunday mornings for me since leaving the jw faith consist of going to either a starbucks or a locally owned coffee shop and enjoying my coffee, danish and newspaper in a nice leather chair with ottoman.

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  Rocky_Girl

  I was at the local bagel shop one Saturday with my usual Torah study group. We met there on an off week (rabbi out of town) and were having a great discussion when a group of JWs walked in. They sat close to us and were being obvious about listening to our conversation. I made a completely "out there" statement that questioned God's existence (normal for me when I'm fiesty) and it started to get a little intense (we like it that way) and then settled down on the next verse.

  One of the brothers had his bible out and finally got the courage to turn around and say something. (he had balls, I admit, we are a bit intimidating) He read out loud the way the NWT presented the particular verse we were discussing. One of our group held out his commentary and pointed to the Hebrew word in question and said "That is not a good interpretation, see the Hebrew word here is --- and not ---, so it shouldn't be translated that way." We all read our different commentary's translation of the word and proceeded to debate the word and its different uses and why his didn't fit. The guy kind of slunk back into his seat and turned around.

  They left shortly afterward... I told the group afterward who they were; most of them had never heard of JWs.
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  160

  I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

  by PenelopePaige in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

  but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

  i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

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  Rocky_Girl

  I love that Monty Python skit! "She's a witch! Burn her!" is a common response around our house to illogical arguments. It is a great way to end a debate that has descended into ridiculous bickering. Of course, we are all pretty laid back and can laugh at ourselves.

  My favorite part - Let's build a bridge out of her!
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  160

  I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

  by PenelopePaige in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

  but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

  i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Just my opinion, but strange lights + cornfield = aliens
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  160

  I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

  by PenelopePaige in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

  but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

  i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Welcome to the board! Obviously, we feel very strongly about this group and us born-ins wish we could have made the choice to stop before baptism and those who converted wish they were back where you are now so they could make a different choice. This results in a lot of strong advice!

  You have to make your own decision about what is right for you. Do research and don't let anyone force you to speed up your decision making process. You are an adult with a working brain; you have the right to deliberate. Those ladies are spending time studying with you and you may feel that you owe them something for their efforts, but you truly need to make your decision based on what YOU need and what is good for your family.

  I am concerned about your husband. When I was a JW, I was taught that non-believing mates couldn't truly love their spouses because no one can love another without loving Jehovah first. They will view your marriage as being on the verge of divorce at all times, because Jehovah is not there with that third cord of strength, and will villianize your spouse at any opportunity. Perhaps you have already been told that Satan is using your husband to turn you away from true worship. Also, the elders will act toward you as if you have no husband to spiritually "guide" you and will step in and pry into things that are not their business. (very emasculating for dear hubby if you allow it) You obviously love this guy (you married him) Do you really want to be with a group that puts him down and actively tries to destroy your respect for him simply because he doesn't join their religion? I would never suggest that you choose one way or another just to make your man happy, but you have to at least keep him in mind.

  As for demons, I spent time in the Catholic Church and my mother was Southern Baptist and they both put a lot of stock in demons and evil spirits, as well as angels and ghosts. JWs are not unique in any part of their doctrine or methods.

  Good luck in your search. Be strong and do what is best for your family.
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  59

  New to this site. Scared, Lonely and in a lot of pain due to shunning by my family.

  by wonder*woman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is my very first post to this forum.

  i am begging for some much needed encouragment and support by those who are kind hearted and know exactly the pain shunning causes.

  i am a 30 year old former jehovah's witness and a mother of two beautiful girls.

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  Rocky_Girl

  It is gut-wrenching to read the pain you describe in your post. I have had relatively little shunning, but enough to understand that pain and, in time, anger. The whole purpose of such behavior is to make you feel alone, isolated, and unworthy of social interaction because of your "sin." Most on this board have been through this, too. You will not feel alone for long and the interaction will help take away from some of the despair. Talk to us and let it out, you will feel so much better! I hope that the shunning is short lived and that those who are hurting you will soften their hearts. ((Hugs))
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  52

  Honest questions for believers.....

  by Paulapollos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  [endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* style definitions */ table.msonormaltable {mso-style-name:"table normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"times new roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif].

  over the last couple of years, i have done a lot of reading, and rather than answering my questions, it has made me think even more - particularly about god and the bible.. when i was kicked out of the wtbts, it was because of my personal belief in jesus.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Clarifying my confusing para graph above: Whether he directly guides me or created the matter that evolved into me, he is responsible for the intuition that I guides me after praying/meditating.
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  52

  Honest questions for believers.....

  by Paulapollos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-gb</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val=" " /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!

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  over the last couple of years, i have done a lot of reading, and rather than answering my questions, it has made me think even more - particularly about god and the bible.. when i was kicked out of the wtbts, it was because of my personal belief in jesus.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Sorry it took so long to respond. I do believe in God as a specific being, I just don't think he really involves himself with our affairs.

  I believe that we are a product of his creation, but not the direct intention. And, I think that we are, in some ways, creators ourselves.

  Because of this, I see him in the way I described earlier. Directly or indirectly, he is the reason I have the keen intuition I have. Does it matter whether he actually gave me direction, or created the matter that eventually developed into me?

  It may be self-serving to believe in God but not think that I have to do anything about it... But that is what I believe!

  As for truth, I don't believe that there is any truth when it comes to God, at least that we can know.
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  31

  You're only an ATHEIST because of the abusive relationship you had with your former religion..?

  by Velour in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the few times that i've had a chat about my atheism, i usually get a response like the one above.

  "well, seeing how you were in a cult- i can understand why you're an atheist now," just dismissing the bulk of the reasons i have for my disbelief.. i think what is particularly awkward about someone telling me this is- it's part way true- only part way though.

  however, they stop listening after i explain to them that, "yes, being in a cult was an impetus to my search" and they fail to hear the rest of what i'm saying and believe that i went from point a to point f and just skipped all the steps and months of research in between out of some kind of anti-jw tantrum.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Doesn't it make you wonder how those people who say that came to be involved in their current religion? Did they join in an emotional tantrum? Maybe that is why they can't understand someone coming to a particular conclusion through actual research and logic.
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  52

  Honest questions for believers.....

  by Paulapollos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-gb</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val=" " /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!

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  over the last couple of years, i have done a lot of reading, and rather than answering my questions, it has made me think even more - particularly about god and the bible.. when i was kicked out of the wtbts, it was because of my personal belief in jesus.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Paulappolos - You speak above of truth. There is not absolute, provable truth. Anyone who claims to have the "truth" is lying to you, and probably himself. Once you let go of that need for a specific truth, you can be free to choose what you believe knowing there are warts involved with any belief, or non-belief, system. Perhaps you could compromise by finding what rings true to you, with the acknowledgement that it may not feel right to someone else. It requires strength to take a stand on the question of God - whether you believe or not.

  Only you can decide whether the warts of a certain belief are too big or ugly to live with.
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  52

  Honest questions for believers.....

  by Paulapollos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-gb</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val=" " /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!

  [endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* style definitions */ table.msonormaltable {mso-style-name:"table normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"times new roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif].

  over the last couple of years, i have done a lot of reading, and rather than answering my questions, it has made me think even more - particularly about god and the bible.. when i was kicked out of the wtbts, it was because of my personal belief in jesus.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Do you consider him a separate part of you or an integral part of you?

  Somewhat integral, like the little voice inside that tells you which path is correct. But also separate, like the events that seem to fall perfectly in place for you when you need help. Serendipity, perhaps.

  Is he a part of everyone and/or everything else?

  Yes, everything and everyone. But passively. Not pushy or intrusive.

  Not a traditional viewpoint, I admit, but it has developed over time.