Posts by yadda yadda 2

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Did Jehovah program us to have a free will? If so, how free are we?

by I_love_Jeff in

since the jehovah's witnesses believe we have no indwelling immortal spirit, are we like robots programmed with a special code called "free will"??

since robots have no indwelling immortal spirit, they can be programmed to do whatever man wants them to.

nice control tactic.. .

yadda yadda 2

Agree with you Navytown. But am curious: do you think the paranormal, like 'ghosts,' shaking beds, moving objects, etc, that untold people swear they've seen/experienced are just tricks of the mind or something otherwise explainable in scientific terms?

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Do you suffer from WELTSCHMERZ?

by yadda yadda 2 in

jw
friends

definition of weltschmerz1: mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state 2: a mood of sentimental sadness.

as a jw, horrific news and reports of terrible suffering and tragedy never especially shocked or disturbed me because of the conviction i had that it was all temporary suffering caused by satan and the demons and it was soon to end and be replaced by a wonderful new system where all those who suffered and died would be resurrected.

it took the edge off life's harshness.. these fantastical beliefs innoculated me against really feeling and empathisizing with the reality of the horror and suffering experienced by so many in this world.

yadda yadda 2

Definition of WELTSCHMERZ

1: mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state 2: a mood of sentimental sadness

As a JW, horrific news and reports of terrible suffering and tragedy never especially shocked or disturbed me because of the conviction I had that it was all temporary suffering caused by Satan and the demons and it was soon to end and be replaced by a wonderful new system where all those who suffered and died would be resurrected. It took the edge off life's harshness.

These fantastical beliefs innoculated me against really feeling and empathisizing with the reality of the horror and suffering experienced by so many in this world. It's like the ultimate escapism or lullaby. The JW religion acted as a powerful of 'opium' for me, to borrow from Karl Marx's famous expression about religion. (The full quote from Karl Marx translates as: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people".)

Since leaving behind silly ideas about a God or divine saviour intervening in human affairs and saving us all from all this terrible suffering, the reality of what the world is and life in general tends to sink in. Somehow the drug-like opiate of religious belief is removed and you can feel the full pain of reality for what it is. It's basically existentialism.

Is Weltschmerz a kind of non-Christian (agnostic/atheist) equivalent of "signing and groaning over all the detestable things" (Eze 9:4) going on in the world?

I find it harder and harder to stomach reading the news because of the terrible suffering you read about, really horrible, heart-breaking stuff. It's especially awful reading about child victims of wars, abuse, famine, poverty, etc. I deliberately avoid the news because of it.

Can anyone relate to what I'm saying and this particular feeling of Weltschmerz as a former JW?

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"Witness To A Load Of Elitist Nonsense"

by smiddy in

jw
friends

an article that appears in todays heraldsun newspaper 11/10/14 by tom elliott , heraldsun.com.au .....(.victoria australia).

breifly it is about a response to an article he wrote a couple of weeks ago as a pro-atheist and the respnses he received from religous people .

he also has a spot as host on radio 3aw in melbourne .. he then talks about the up coming convention at etihad stadium of jehovahs witnesses and some of their weird beleifs.. he then talks about a 21 year old girl who defends the shunning process on his talk back radio program which he didnt appreciate.. overall an interesting article if you can read it wherever you are .. i sent him an e-mail in relation to his article , if you read it you might like to do so as well.

yadda yadda 2

Well done Smiddy, sounds like that will be a powerful letter if published.

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Did Jehovah program us to have a free will? If so, how free are we?

by I_love_Jeff in

since the jehovah's witnesses believe we have no indwelling immortal spirit, are we like robots programmed with a special code called "free will"??

since robots have no indwelling immortal spirit, they can be programmed to do whatever man wants them to.

nice control tactic.. .

yadda yadda 2

JW's dont teach that humans have no soul; they teach that a human or the breathing creature IS a soul, ie, that the soul is not separate from the living, breathing flesh and blood creature.

And why do you presuppose the absence of Christendom's version of a soul means there must be no free will?

The Bible says we are made in God's image - hence the idea we have free will.

Free will is a mental function.

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Why doesn't the GB make field service optional for certain congregation members only similar to the Mormons?

by yadda yadda 2 in

ephesians 4:11 makes for a strong case that not every member of the congregation should have to go door-to-door.. "so christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,..".

this shows that different members of the first century congregations served different ministerial functions.

so why don't the jw's say that field service is no longer compulsory for all congregation members, only for those who feel a calling for it per eph 4:11..... the mormons sort of do this with their young men and women 'elders' doing 2 years voluntary, genuinely full-time service (these mormons boys put in some big hours 6 days a week and have their meals provided for them, etc!

yadda yadda 2

What prompted me to start this thread was reading another current thread that a GB member asked everyone at the convention to raise their hands who likes getting up early on a Saturday morning to go door to door and only about a third did, with the GB member saying he was surprised even that many raised their hand.

Let's face it, it's got to be one of the things that really puts people off joining the religion. I've heard many people say they like the JW's but could never go door to door.

And now that the congregation has pledged to give a minimum donation per month, it doesn't matter a jot how much literature is placed. I mean how much of what JW's put into the contribution box is only from how much they collect placing literature anyway? JW's will still make contributions whether or not they receive any donations. That means the importance of the door to door work as a revenue collecting mechanism for the Society is nearing redundancy, especially now that their new online TV station is starting.

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Question for those converted to JW as adults

by DaleRivers in

jw
friends

why did you become a jw, what particular teachings attracted you to 'the truth' ?.

.

in my case (baptized at 20/21) it was the only religion i knew; my mom, her mom, and favorite sister were jw; and the teachings of no hellfire or immortal soul made sense to me.. .

yadda yadda 2

OP is obviously interested in experiences of persons converted as adults, ie, not born-ins, sheesh.

Fascinating experience ablebodiedman. Amazed you left the borg after such a freaky 'coincidence' lol.

16

Why doesn't the GB make field service optional for certain congregation members only similar to the Mormons?

by yadda yadda 2 in

ephesians 4:11 makes for a strong case that not every member of the congregation should have to go door-to-door.. "so christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,..".

this shows that different members of the first century congregations served different ministerial functions.

so why don't the jw's say that field service is no longer compulsory for all congregation members, only for those who feel a calling for it per eph 4:11..... the mormons sort of do this with their young men and women 'elders' doing 2 years voluntary, genuinely full-time service (these mormons boys put in some big hours 6 days a week and have their meals provided for them, etc!

yadda yadda 2

Ephesians 4:11 makes for a strong case that not every member of the congregation should have to go door-to-door.

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,.."

This shows that different members of the first century congregations served different ministerial functions. So why don't the JW's say that field service is no longer compulsory for all congregation members, only for those who feel a calling for it per Eph 4:11....

The Mormons sort of do this with their young men and women 'elders' doing 2 years voluntary, genuinely full-time service (these Mormons boys put in some BIG hours 6 days a week and have their meals provided for them, etc!), riding around on their bicycles in the local communities. After their two year stint they have served their time, they go home, and then just go to University, get jobs, etc, ie, just go and live normal Mormons lives.

JW's could come up with their own version of this. For example, why don't they just leave the door to door work to the 'pioneers' only and arrange for the congregation to support the pioneers practically through providing lunches, dinners, accommodation etc, just like the Mormons do?

23

Anthony Morris III publicly admits that he doesnt enjoy Field Service

by Calebs Airplane in

2pm, january 9, 2010 san juan, puerto rico.... jws from all over the island take turns to use the biggest coliseum in the caribbean (jose miguel agrelot coliseum).

the big event... a brief 2-hour assembly featuring brooklyn bethel celebrities including anthony morris iii.

there had been a lot of excitement building up in the days preceding this event as there were rumors circulating that the society had a very special announcement to make.. after 2 ambiguous talks from 2 bethel speakers, anthony morris iii finally takes the stage and everyone is so thrilled to see him up close or on the big screen behind the stage.

yadda yadda 2

I admire his honesty frankly as wonderfully demoralising as it is.

Perhaps it was a subtle hint that they are saying "don't worry, we realise field service sucks and it's an embarrassing waste of time now so we are planning on eliminating it altogether soon......or copying the Mormons and making it something for certain members of the congregation only."

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