how did you feel when you went to church for the first time?
was it so very different from the witneses and did you feel guilty?.
i'm considering going for the first time with my daughter but am worried about what to expect..
Many former JWs feel strange or guilty going to a church after the WT. I never did. I think it's because when I left, I knew that there was no way the WT could be "the truth" and that any guilt belonged to them.
I attended a few churches here and there out of curiosity to see what they were like. Some were comfortable, others weren't for me. Eventually I found what fit.
Enjoy the adventure!
t. b. bechtel, a city councillor from newcastle, australia, was asked on a local live radio talk show, just what he thought about the allegations of torture of suspected terrorists.. .
his reply prompted his ejection from the studio, but to thunderous applause from the audience.
his statement: .
Speaking of things that ain't going to work, experts in terrorist interrogation say torture doesn't work. People who are tortured will say anything to get the torturer to stop, including false information. This just causes wasted time as investigators track down false leads.
While I understand valuing the safety of innocent victims over perpetrators, the important thing is to be effective when lives are on the line. There are tried and true interrogation methods that get proven results. They do not involve torture. In fact, professional interrogators say it is more difficult to use these methods once torture has been introduced.
An additional down side to torture involves when terrorists are finally brought to trial. Cases can be thrown out and terrorists can walk free if a case is contaminated by torture. That helps no one.
And if that isn't enough reason to condemn using torture as an interrogation method, it puts US troops in danger of the same treatment in retaliation if and when they are captured.
There is no substitute for good, professional interrogators doing their job right. There is too much on the line to screw it up using illegal, unethical and ineffective methods.
but im not.
i have lost everything.. i am a third generation jw on both sides of my family.
all of my family is in full time service, pioneers, elders, cos, international construction, anointed and gb.
Some other posters have sent you private messages - PMs. You can click on the envelope in the upper right hand corner by your name to access them. When I first started posting here it took me a while to figure that out.
Many people in circumstances similar to your own have found support groups helpful. Maybe you would too. A counselor in your area could refer you to one.
All the best to you.
http://www.4shared.com/file/97496947/cd21b343/1909-1916_brooklyn_eagle_news_clippings.html.
thought of putting this in a new topic.. scans on:.
miracle wheat.
Thank you for this great information. I have already quoted from it in a thread.
my brother-in-law has been staying with me all week and his strange views of life have been driving me crazy.
just yesterday he informed me that c.t.
russell predicted global warming.
I don't think he got that piece of information from the meetings. Is he willing to look elsewhere for info about the WT? If so, he may be ready for more.
what is the purpose of punching jehovah's timecard?.
doesn't wt psychologically imply that jehovah "owes" them paradise because they have "worked" for it?.
it seems there is a scripture somewhere about "love does not keep an accounting".. perhaps one of you can find the scriptural incidence.. .
I used to think that it made sense for the WT to keep track of the work being done so they could better manage it, sending more resources into areas that needed more attention, etc.
Now I realize that there is a more important reason the WT has it's followers report their time. It puts pressure on them to keep performing. Others can see if they are "measuring up." They can be given "goals" to follow that increase the amount that they do. They can "prove" themselves worthy by making a minimum quota. It's all part of being in a cult.
....how many do you think would actually go out in service?
if they didn't think some elder was keeping up with their hours and number of placements, i think most witnesses would avoid it altogether.. ...also, if the brothers didn't have a corporate congregational ladder to climb, would they make any real effort?
i think many of them do it because being an elder or ms gives them a sense of accomplishment and a certain authority they otherwise would not enjoy in the mundane world.
I think Journey-on is on to something saying, "I honestly believe counting time and placements is a way for the printing company to make money, NOT to preach "the good news of the kingdom" like they lead you to believe. Whether the literature is placed or not, it gets bought... the pressure is on the congregation to buy, buy, buy."
Selling literature is and has been their main means of support for their entire existence. Without it, they would have and be nothing. Making their followers go out in FS makes them feel like they have to buy the stuff, whether they actually place any of it or not.
hi everyone.. yes, i attended an episcopal wedding service last month.
my russian fiancee and i finally tied the knot.
we had a beautiful service.
Congratulations! I hope you have many wonderful years together.
if you've taken sociology 101 or read sociology books, you've seen discussions of the functions holidays serve.
without consulting my textbooks, here are a few of them.
honor important eventsreaffirm cultural, social, or familial tiesrestexperience joyin essence---enjoy life and have strong ties to the community and family!.
My take on the holidays is that celebrating helps people form their cultural and family identities. To the extent that the WT can intervene in that process, they have that much more control on your identity and therefore your loyalty.
a thread regarding the wt view of the importance of good works, whose title i cannot recall, was posted not too long ago.
there has been talk locally about a watchtower that equates these acts of charity with the preaching work.
is that a correct interpretation of present truth?.
Helping other JWs stay strong in their religion is not charity in any way IMO. True charity is showing love to fellow human beings in need with no consideration to their religious beliefs.
