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Dance like king David
tartarus
JoinedPosts by tartarus
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6
This the way they should sing it....
by tartarus inhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4fot0mhype&feature=related.
dance like king david.
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263
Growing up a gay Jehovah's Witness (My Life Story)
by m0nk3y ini feel the need to express how i feel and felt about my life as a gay man.
i was brought up from birth as a jehovahs witness.
this has played a major part in my life and it has been a real struggle to get past.
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10
Why is reading apostate publications similar to reading pornographic litera
by tartarus inthe watchtower, march 15, 1986 issue, page 12: .
do you wisely destroy apostate material?
page 14: .
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25
Cult?
by bchapp injw's claim they are not a cult because their kindom hall meetings are open to the public.
what are your thoughts on this?.
~seeking answers
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tartarus
From Wikipedia:
"Cult" typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding population considers to be outside the mainstream."
By this definition any belief system that doesn't agree with the "mainstream" is a cult (by the way, what the heck is mainsteam today anyways?). Catholic church , which can be considered a "mainstream" religion, could also be defined as cult, for exapmle, 'cause it's against the use of condoms that's already accepted widely in the "mainstream". Some "cult researcher" (I believe he's former JW too) said that Walmart can be classified as cult, because of the way they treat their employees (morning stretch and exercise mandatory). Every religion (or "cult") will be outside the mainstream at least on one issue. So all religions and belief/value systems are "cults".
also, from the same Wikipedia article quoted above:
Some sociologists who study cults have argued that no one has yet been able to define “cult” in a way that identifies only those groups previously recognized to have beliefs or practices that run counter to generally accepted norms and values. Clearly, criteria for the identification of cults do exist, but they are problematic themselves.A little-known example is Alexander and Rollins' 1984 study, which concluded that the socially well-received group Alcoholics Anonymous is a cult by using the model of Lifton's thought reform techniques [3] and applying those to AA's group indoctrination methodology. [4] Despite the applicability of Lifton's model, researchers [5] point out the benefits that AA offer its members, which are plain even to non-members. [6] For many, this issue with the concept of cults might raise the question of why it is important to define any particular group as a cult; hence, the preference among anthropologists for "sect", or even the dated and out-of-fashion term, "sub-culture". An additional worry is the problem of how to identify those in a given society who should be privileged to decide which groups ought to be referred to as a cult or, using the more neutral term, as a "sect." Thus, it becomes an open question whether the study of cult groups is a valid topic for the self-critical and professionalized production of systematic knowledge.
Ultimately everyone decides for him/herself based on one's personal experience in JW's whether it's a "cult" or not.
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Does it Bother You that It's An American Cult?
by OnTheWayOut inespecially if you are not american, but anyone.. justhuman mentioned it being an american cult in his latest thread.. (by the way, go there and support him, he can use it.).
does it disturb you europeans, africans, ozzies, etc.
that the jw cult.
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tartarus
"Next time I'm going to stick to purely Canadian cults." LOL
On a serious note. I don't think the fact that it's American that's the problem for me. They have to have a head office somewhere. It happens to be America. If they moved the NY bethel to Switzerlad would they automatically become a Swiss "cult"?
Some here use the word "cult" to describe WTS. It carries a negative meaning in English. In French language the word "culte" is used to describe every religion. "Culte Catholique", "culte buddhiste", "culte de Temoins de Jehovah".
This is from Wikipedia on cults:
"Some sociologists who study cults have argued that no one has yet been able to define “cult” in a way that identifies only those groups previously recognized to have beliefs or practices that run counter to generally accepted norms and values. Clearly, criteria for the identification of cults do exist, but they are problematic themselves. A little-known example is Alexander and Rollins' 1984 study, which concluded that the socially well-received group Alcoholics Anonymous is a cult by using the model of Lifton's thought reform techniques [3] and applying those to AA's group indoctrination methodology. [4] Despite the applicability of Lifton's model, researchers [5] point out the benefits that AA offer its members, which are plain even to non-members. [6] For many, this issue with the concept of cults might raise the question of why it is important to define any particular group as a cult; hence, the preference among anthropologists for "sect", or even the dated and out-of-fashion term, "sub-culture". An additional worry is the problem of how to identify those in a given society who should be privileged to decide which groups ought to be referred to as a cult or, using the more neutral term, as a "sect." Thus, it becomes an open question whether the study of cult groups is a valid topic for the self-critical and professionalized production of systematic knowledge."
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You were my spiritual brothers and sisters!
by LouBelle inyup each one of were part of my world wide brotherhood.
i knew with confidence you'd be studying what i was and no matter where i went i'd be 'welcomed' as one of you.
so brothers and sisters now what?
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15
The most painful experience?
by Mickey mouse incoming to terms with the truth about "the truth" is the most painful thing i've been through to date.
i've lost people i love in death (thankfully not a child though).
i've not experienced a divorce.
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tartarus
I left before. Came back. Faded again. The most painful experience was to realize that the friendship of JW's is not anymore different than anyone else's in the world. Never quite made true friends in the truth as there's no time to really get to know one another with all the "spiritual activities". Even at the rare picnics and parties that I've been part of I felt like I'm surrounded by strangers who are told to talk about "upbuiliding" stuff (which is really meant "watchtower doctrines"). . There were many good people I met in the Kingdom Halls I attended, really interesting and compassionate, we just never had the time to get to know one another. Rarely or never a real "heart to heart" talk. Too bad.
What disfunctional world JW's live in. Maybe it's not like that for everyone, I hope the pictures of happy JW's I saw in the Watchtower are actual Witnesses too. Many, myself included, would drag their feet into the hall after a long day at work and produce fake smiles....happy,happy,happy! Let's show the world and one another how happy we are to be here.
I have worldly friends from years back whom I'll meet and they'll still greet me and are genuinely interested in how I'm doing. One worldly dude I talked to a few months ago was impressed by the fact that I was one JW's as I never did tell anyone in the worldly circle of friends of my Jdub past after I left. Still calls me. Notices the sadness in my voice and wants to know why I sound down. That's real concern right there, and the guy is a real sinner by WTS standards (though I think he's just human).
To be fair, witnesses called me many times inviting "for a coffee". I can smell it a mile away - fake smiles, bible quotes that I can read on my own anytime ( I read the bible daily, or almost:), and no real honesty in the conversation. Real concerns are never addressed, they're just swept under the rug. Even my practicing mother said "shepherding calls are a waste of my time" and elders are no longer welcome, we talk about our faith to each other and discuss the Bible and worldly events. That's good enough.
To end it on the positive note I'll say that friends come and friends go, but my Jehovah is not too far. I've lived in 3 different countries, speak 4 languages because of it, moved a lot from school to school as we were poor and always looking for cheaper rent, so growing up I never had the chance to make real friends anyway. I was a Jdub, first, and there was a good chance I'd be in another highschool next semester, second.
Slappy made my day today by reminding me of a scripture in Phillipians 4:4-7. I was moved to tears, it came at exactly the right time. I was happy thinking about it while walking my dog this evening. Rejoice! Jah is not too far.
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are the current pioneer hours gonna be lowered?
by The Lone Ranger ini have heard that the current pioneer hours may be lowered, has anyone confirmed this?
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Judas Iscariot: Destiny or Fate?
by sacolton ini've always wondered if judas really had a choice in his role of deceiving jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
did he really have any freewill?
since the scriptures had to be fullfilled, was his fate pre-determined by god?
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