Steve_C

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Posts by Steve_C

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  7

  Was It Designed? ("Awake!" article parody)

  by inkling in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm thinking of doing a series.... .

  more on this intelligently designed rapist here: ------.

  [inkling].

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  Steve_C

  Excellent!
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  33

  For those with family members who are shunning you could try them with this

  by reniaa in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  please, its from the wts society and may help you, if the family who are witnesses have taking the shunning issue too deeply.

  disfellowshipping is a very serious matter.17 the apostle paul wrote that christians should "quit mixing in company" with persons who unrepentantly reject certain scriptural standards.18 this is strong counsel, but jehovahs witnesses obey it.

  however, contrary to muramotos assertions, when a family member is disfellowshipped, personal ties and non-spiritual association are not terminated.

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  Steve_C

  This has probably already been discused, but the WTS's own words:

  In such a case, the close bond between family members can pose a real test of loyalty.

  Since his being disfellowshipped does not sever the family ties, normal day-to-day family activities and dealings may continue.

  So, they acknowledgte that family members have a close bond, and that being disfellowshipped does not sever family ties. Yet, they turn right around and say that this does not apply to family members living elsewhere. Where in the Bible does it state that family ties change when a child grows up and moves out on his own? Once out of the house, my parents and siblings are no longer my parents and siblings?

  I know, I know, it shouldn't shock me that the WTS contradicts itself. I guess being shunned by my mom and sister is wearing on me, and I'm venting. My mom is quite ill, yet wouldn't me to visit her before I moved out of the country. I'm sure my sister is dreading the "necessary family-matter contact" she'll have with me when she calls me to tell me that mom died.

  Ugh, it just makes me want to vomit.
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  33

  For those with family members who are shunning you could try them with this

  by reniaa in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  please, its from the wts society and may help you, if the family who are witnesses have taking the shunning issue too deeply.

  disfellowshipping is a very serious matter.17 the apostle paul wrote that christians should "quit mixing in company" with persons who unrepentantly reject certain scriptural standards.18 this is strong counsel, but jehovahs witnesses obey it.

  however, contrary to muramotos assertions, when a family member is disfellowshipped, personal ties and non-spiritual association are not terminated.

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  Steve_C
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  18

  Funerals

  by geevee in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi all, yes it's been a while since i have posted.

  mostly traveling ok, with normal stresses and strains.

  so have a question about funerals.

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  Steve_C

  I've been to about a dozen JW funerals in the course of my time in the truth ™ , and not one of them was for the purpose of remembering the deceased. Each was just an excuse to have a public talk, with about 5 minutes of remembering "bro/sis so-and-so"--not even using their first name.

  I never experienced a witness funeral in which the coffin was parked outside the kh, though.
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  7

  I want to go to the Kingdom hall after . . .

  by 144001 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  eating three cans of rosarita refried beans, a dozen hard-boiled eggs, steamed cabbage and broccoli, and guzzling a few beers.

  if you can't empty the kingdom hall with facts, maybe it's time to gas 'em out of there with a cacophony of farts!

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  Steve_C

  be careful it does not backfire on you - I'm thinking Acts2:1&3 especially if you take a lighter.

  
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  30

  So, you blew your chance to go to college because of JWs? Don't give up!

  by cabasilas in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i got the jw "bug" as a teenager.

  witnesses called at our door when i was nearly 11. my parents are deaf and i was the oldest hearing child, the default interpreter for them in that era before relay services and professional interpreters.

  they had no interest in jws, but it started to spark an interest in me.

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  Steve_C

  Thank you, cabasilas, for telling us your inspirational story! I recently posted a similar never-too-late for college story in another part of this forum. If no one minds, I'd like to add my experience to the OP's:

  I was born and raised "in the truth." I saw 1975 come and go as a 12 year old, and was continually warned about the dangers of higher education. As a senior in high school I went ahead and submitted college applications due to encouragement from my counselors (even though I felt guilty about it). I really loved foreign languages and wanted to work in that field. I ended up being accepted at Georgetown University. However, I buckled under the "spiritual advice" from family and elders and, instead of heading to Washington DC, I headed to a part-time job and regular pioneering. Of course, the elders reminded me that "this system was going to end very soon" and, if I wanted to learn languages, I "could always become a missionary." That decision to forego college still makes my stomach turn.

  I ended up pioneering only one year, because in the meantime I got married and had to scramble to find full-time work to support a wife and baby on the way. I kept trying to do the witness life, but after many years it took its toll.

  Anyway, at age 39 I finally faded away and got my life together. I went to college part-time while toiling full-time at the lumber mill I had worked at for 14 years. It was difficult, but I had a goal. Plus, I now had the time to pursue that goal, since I no longer had the pressure of meetings, service, and WTS guilt weighing down on me.

  I'm now 45, my kids are grown (thankfully not JWs), and I finally have a degree. Because of that degree, I now have a job that I've wanted since I was in high school. I'm living in Taiwan, teaching English and learning Chinese, and realizing a dream after 25+ years.

  I second what cabasilas said: It's never to late to get your degree. There are programs and financial aid out there to help you do it. My best wishes to everyone who is considering going back to school!
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  44

  Anti-College/Pro-Pioneering Convention Interviews

  by Rohag in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  here's the text of interviews from the friday afternoon "young people - walk by holy spirit in the congregation" presentation at a 2008 jehovah's witness district convention.

  this transcription approximately covers the second half of the presentation.

  i've omitted names and locations to preserve individuals' privacy.

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  Steve_C

  amama2six, I certainly feel for your situation, and I understand the sickening regret of following those unrealistic WTS goals.

  I'm sure with six kids you're too busy to stop and breathe sometimes! I remember--back when we were trying to be good witnesses--how difficult it was to get off work and then get our 3 little ones (2 in diapers) fed and bathed and dressed for the meeting, then perhaps arriving late because our cheap, crappy car wouldn't start; and all this effort just to sit there and listen to guilt trips from the platform about not doing more. I remember one CO browbeating the poor sisters to keep their houses spotless "to honor Jehovah", and actually insinuated that you could lose God's spirit for not making your bed everyday. At that point I looked over at my wearied wife, and she had a memorable WTF look on her face! Anyway, I'm sure you're an awesome mom, and congratuations on your six treasures.

  I'm definitely not going to let my upbringing determine the whole course of my life!

  Hearing that made my day. All the best to you
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  44

  Anti-College/Pro-Pioneering Convention Interviews

  by Rohag in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  here's the text of interviews from the friday afternoon "young people - walk by holy spirit in the congregation" presentation at a 2008 jehovah's witness district convention.

  this transcription approximately covers the second half of the presentation.

  i've omitted names and locations to preserve individuals' privacy.

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  Steve_C

  To amama2six, justhuman, and others who lament not going to college because of the WTS bs, I'd like to encourage you...it's not too late.

  I was born and raised "in the truth." I saw 1975 come and go as a 12 year old, and as a senior in high school I submitted college applications due to encouragement from my counselors. I really loved foreign languages, and ended up being accepted at Georgetown University. However, I buckled under the "advice" from family and elders and, instead of heading to Washington DC, I headed to a part-time job and regular pioneering. After all, the system was to end so soon, and if I wanted to learn languages, well, I could always become a missionary! That decision to forego college still makes my stomach turn.

  I ended up pioneering only one year, because in the meantime I got married and had to scramble to find full-time work to support a wife and baby on the way. I kept trying to do the witness life, but after many years it took its toll.

  Anyway, at age 39 I finally faded away and got my life together. I went back to college part-time while I worked full-time. It was difficult, but I had a goal, and I now had the time, since I no longer had the pressure and guilt from the WTS/meetings/service/etc. weighing down on me. I'm now 45, my kids are grown (thankfully not JWs), and I finally have a degree. Because of that degree, I have a job that I've wanted since I was in high school. I'm now living in Taiwan, teaching English and learning Chinese, and realizing a dream after 25+ years.

  Anyway, those experiences at the conventions can be quite nausiating, so I hope my experience will encourage any who, like me, gave up college in their youth. It's never to late to get your degree, and there are programs out there to help you do it. Good luck to you.
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  17

  Something that always puzzled me...

  by DisconnectingDrone in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  assume that the first 11 chapters of the bible (i.e.

  gen 1-11) are correct.

  if the understanding is correct that satan raised issues in the garden of eden, and one of these issues was that man can rule on his own without jehovah interfering.

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  Steve_C

  So on the flip side, say if the new paradise world comes and we are all speaking Hebrew as JW are taught, then isn't this self condemning? By reverting everyone back to one language it will be like saying yes multiple languages causes problems-but Jehovah created the multiple languages to begin with.
  Am I on my own here, or has anyone else thought this account is contradictory?

  Interesting.
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  21

  January 15th 1983 Watchtower

  by Bring_the_Light in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  paragraph 19-21 are under the heading "fight against independant thinking".

  the question box at the end of the article contains the question "what is an evidence of independent thinking, and what can help us to avoid it?

  the clear answers from the paragraphs are that noting that "gods organization has made adjustments in the past, to point out their fallability is the result of "pride" and independent thinking can be avoided by remembering where you learned bible truths in the first place.

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  Steve_C

  I faded away over 10 years ago. However, if I had still been in, I'm sure this "independent thinking" crap would have done the trick, especially the recent KM that discouraged witnesses from independently studying ancient Hebrew and Greek. Hello WTS...paranoid much?!