Posts by MissingLink

66

Why the Watchtowers "War" argument is totally bogus

by drew sagan in

from my own personal experience the watchtowers position on war always appeared to be one of the most difficult issues to navigate.

a number of times when i was first leaving the wts i spoke with jws who all used this argument to show me how "wrong" i was about the "truth".

while i knew the watchtowers arguments where wrong, i had a very difficult time figuring out exactly why it was wrong.

MissingLink

What other religions (christian or otherwise) refuse to go to war?

My father was making this argument to me the other day - that the JW were unique in not killing their own "brothers".

128

Trash THIS!

by Farkel in

here is an interesting challenge for the folks.

this thread revolves around one subject, and that is thomas paine's brilliant critique of the bible written in about 1795. he did most of this from memory, while in prison in france.. http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/thomas_paine/age_of_reason/.

the challenge is this: critique his essays.

MissingLink

Can I be a twit too?

25

Do you have to speak out to be DF for apostacy?

by MissingLink in

jw
friends

i'm a bit confused.

i've been worried that i'm going to be df for apostacy because i no longer believe core jw teachings.

i don't have an intention on protesting or strirring things up, but i'm worried because i will not lie to elders if they ask me what i think about things (in a shepherding call).

MissingLink

Brilliant. Thanks Bob. I haven't gotten that far yet. I suppose I should get to reading.

25

Do you have to speak out to be DF for apostacy?

by MissingLink in

jw
friends

i'm a bit confused.

i've been worried that i'm going to be df for apostacy because i no longer believe core jw teachings.

i don't have an intention on protesting or strirring things up, but i'm worried because i will not lie to elders if they ask me what i think about things (in a shepherding call).

MissingLink

Thanks for the replies guys. I've already graciously turned down two shepherding calls. I guess the best thing is to keep this up. I'm kinda of two minds about the thing though. If they DO meet with me and get me to apostify myself (yes, I made up the word apostify) - I think I might be relieved that at least it's over and maybe the panic attacks will stop. On the other hand, it will be very hard on my family, and I'll miss my friends.

Since it's a one-way ticket I guess for now I'll keep to the shadows. I just wanted to know where I stood. My dad did make me feel more comfortable about talking to the elders. But I suppose he could be mistaken, or perhaps HIS body of elders are just leaning more toward kindness than other elder bodies.

176

You Who Have Been on the Board For Awhile - What Are your Concerns ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

well, it's late.

i need to go to sleep, got home from work, but i thought i started a newbie thread why not a thread for those who have been on the board a long time , or for awhile now ?

so, lay it on me, what are your concerns for jwd ?

MissingLink

I know that many are worried about having their true identities revealed. Many don't post their location, fake their gender and age.

I think it would be a much nicer community if we could feel safe in posting our personal details so that we could make contact with old friends. I'd love to be able to do a search on my home town and find old friends that I know have "fallen away". This profile data could be restricted to "senior members" or "verified members" in some way so that trolls wouldn't find us. Perhaps on the profile page each of us could specify which level of security we want before including us in profile lookup or search results.

Just an idea.

25

Do you have to speak out to be DF for apostacy?

by MissingLink in

jw
friends

i'm a bit confused.

i've been worried that i'm going to be df for apostacy because i no longer believe core jw teachings.

i don't have an intention on protesting or strirring things up, but i'm worried because i will not lie to elders if they ask me what i think about things (in a shepherding call).

MissingLink

Thanks Doc. My dad didn't became an elder until the late 80's so he probably didnt' get that letter. That's exactly what I wanted to know - if this was an official (but secret) direction to the elders.

Wait - you said this was sent to the CO's? Not the normal elders? Would they be aware of the position on this?

7

Voting

by jc1985 in

jw
friends

im a new fader, and i plan to vote this election for the first time....anyone else planning on voting for obama?.

but what i dont know is how you vote in primaries, any experienced political junkies know how i can find out?.

im in the golden state.

MissingLink

I just registered to vote. But Obama isn't running in Ireland, so no - I won't be voting for him. Don't much care who wins in the USA except that Hillary and Rudy seem truly evil.

25

Do you have to speak out to be DF for apostacy?

by MissingLink in

jw
friends

i'm a bit confused.

i've been worried that i'm going to be df for apostacy because i no longer believe core jw teachings.

i don't have an intention on protesting or strirring things up, but i'm worried because i will not lie to elders if they ask me what i think about things (in a shepherding call).

MissingLink

I'm on chapter 2 of CoC right now. I don't know exactly Franz's deal, but I can understand them being very strict on people in authority. But I'm inactive. Would they really DF me for my thoughts, or just tell me to keep my mouth shut?

7

Is there a problem............

by Sunnygal41 in

with taking each of my parent's last names and using them?

aren't they already "legally" mine to use, without having to pay money for them?

i know that i have to register the change with ss,.dmv, my bank, my employer, etc, but, other than that, there shouldn't be a problem.. terri.

MissingLink

You haven't said what country you're in (not in your profile). Laws are different depending on country, and even states in the USA I believe.

30

My only problem with the JWs

by dawg in

jw
friends

besides the fact that jws are pious, think only they have the truth, won't read anything with an open mind... hell won't read anything at all minus wt magazines... .

after all this, my only real problem is the shunning... almost everyone i love gets on my nerves from time to time, i get on theirs.

the fact that the jws beliefs is annoying isn't the problem, it just that after they are wrong as hell becasue of their ignorance, they won't talk to you.. i'm not trying to get my family to eradicate their beliefs, i'm just trying to get them to stop shunning those of us that don't believe like them.

MissingLink

I agree totally with you dawg. Anyone can believe whatever they want - it has no effect on me. But when they say I can't talk to my friends in family - just because I've "returned to the world". Then that's just wrong! They don't shun people IN the world. Why shun people who have returned to it?

I would be OK if they had a punishment that banned people from meetings. Fine - don't let me in the KH if you think I'll cause trouble. But shunning in personal life is just not christian.