that's the title of another poxy thread on witnesses online that has me scratching my head in disbelief that anyone could be so deluded.. i would love to be able to post a reply in the thread saying something like: "well, i guess none of you have any unbelieving relatives, then?"..
link: http://www.witnessesonline.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/witnessesonline/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000345.
expatbrit
The fact that this is a subject there at all shows that some of them aren't correctly parroting the WT society.
The whole point of paradise is...there isn't SUPPOSED to be something to miss from this 'old system'. Is there?!
The fact that they are dwelling on aspects of Satan's World shows that they are certainly not in the right frame of mind for such an event. Anyone remember being taught that looking back fondly upon this system would make one like Lot's wife?
jesus, save me from your followers!.
i do work for food!
I can think of 2...
'Born-Again Pagan'
'Jesus is coming and he is pissed'
has anyone on this board ever experienced contact with demons?.
i have heard demons talked about for years, however i have never known anyone that has had any real experiences with them, i have only heard storys.. .
(some quotes).
My admittedly goofy JW dad has been telling of his supernatural experience for years.
When he was a teenager, he went with his brothers and/or friends to a 'known' haunted area to look for the famous ghost. He swears that an apparition approached them and chased them away. He says that he was terrified; a younger friend was screaming for his mother. They made it out, only to gather some other friends who doubted the story, and return to the location. According to my dad, the same thing happened. He will never, EVER, look for another opportunity to see something like that. He says that he went back the second time, because if he didn't, he would doubt what happened for the rest of his life.
That's his story, anyway. Since I've heard it from childhood, I'm at a disadvantage trying to determine how much credibility to lend it. Apparently, the elders at the hall had no doubts, because when they heard what happened, they tore a new hole in his behind for him.
i've made this point before but it bears repeating.. the watchtower, with its extreme standards, injures.
families and hurts kids.. parents have a responsibility to teach and safeguard.
their kids.
Wow, what a great post. Count me as another one who, because of the f-ed up WT religion, went off the deep end when I got old enough to. I know exactly what you're talking about.
I had enough of leading the overly sheltered and protected JW life. I had enough of not doing all the normal 'bad' things that normal kids did. So I did EVERYTHING...which led me to some REALLY BAD things. Overall, I can chalk it up to a lack of balance during my formative years. Somehow, I made it through my period of 'backlash'. I thank God every day that I didn't die driving hammered or die overdosed on coke.
All you witness parents lurking out there, listen to this! Imagine the exact life you don't want your kids to lead...I led it. And I will not, for one moment, place the blame on mother. She did what she thought she had to...follow the instructions of the WT cult leaders. She allowed as much as she could, but the line was still there...that was 'them'...this was 'us'. I had/have almost no friends from school. I was determined to make up for all I missed, or thought I missed.
You know what? I don't think that these feelings were unintentional. These freakish life rules were carefully created to 'section off' JW kids from other kids. If you're running a cult, you want your members seperated from others, somehow. I'm too worked up now...maybe I'll add more on this later.
i just recieved this today and thought i'd post it!.
a friend heard (already hearsay, right?
) that the wt society is thinking about or is already in the process of setting up a college.
A great quote from my grandad...'College(university) isn't great because of what you learn...it's great because it teaches you how to think.'
I really believe that. I'm working my way through a science degree, and the more I learn, the more I see that I don't know squat. I think that it's really true...ignorance IS bliss.
Given that, I would be very surprised to see the WT set up any kind of official college or university. I don't know how many of you have current/everyday contact with JWs, but you you might be surprised to know how many still have a negative view of education (besides the TMS). I just think that it wouldn't go over well with the old-timers (or old-minded).
The WT would be committing suicide by educating the JW youth. Learn to research a topic and evaluate information, and that skill will stay with you, through ALL things you might research. Think the WT wants its members to research its past & former beliefs? I don't.
Anyways, I don't think it will happen, but I would be delighted if it did.
i was wondering who the wt teaches who is the "evil slave" today?.
since that "evil slave" comes forth from the "faithful slave" and it is generally accepted that most were "called" prior to 1935, then one would assume that most of the evil slave class would be pre-1935 as well.. since this really becomes ridiculous to think that 80 + year old people are going around "beating their fellow slaves", has the society given a recent clear interpretations of who this slave is?.
it would seem as time goes on, they will have to clarify this and such a clarification could make holding onto their present definition of who the "faithful slave " is more difficult.. path
I went to an assembly a few years ago, out of pity for my mother...
Outside the arena there were some protesters who held up pro-Christian signs. I was walking with my JW sister and asked 'who are those people'.
She replied, 'Oh, they're just apostates. The evil slave.'
So, I'm not sure if she was reflecting current WT teaching or not. My guess is, she was. It would suit the WT to classify anyone who disagreed with them as the 'evil slave.'
the dropping of five weekly meetings to just one.
no longer turning in field service slips.
being able to smoke again if you did.
BTW...CornerStone, the WT has already made a 'preemptive strike' (sp?) regarding the downward spiral. I remember reading in a WT not too long ago (< 1 year) that size & numbers are NO indication of wether an organization has God's blessing.
Obvoiusly, the WT has 'seen' the future, and it is not good. Always ready to dispel any fears, they cite the comparitively small number of Jews compared to the other nations during Bible times. They know that smaller numbers in developed countries could scare the r & f, so they explain it away. Surprised? I'm not.
the dropping of five weekly meetings to just one.
no longer turning in field service slips.
being able to smoke again if you did.
Farkel, you've been on fire with your last couple of posts...first, that one about 'new light', and now this.
I totally agree. Shunning is the fulcrum on which the JW world balances. Take away the penalty of shunning, and JWs are bound to make decisions based on their conscience, regarding all matters. Without the prospect of lost friends & family hanging over their (r & f)heads, what power does the WT have to enforce its laws?
CornerStone makes a good point about the meeting frequency, tho. The heavy meeting schedule is designed to leave little room for other 'distractions'. Without that, JWs have time to do A LOT of other things(like think)...and no good can come to the WT from that.
when i was 13, all of the other kids in my congregation were taking home school, getting them out of the "bad association" in public school.
they talked me into it too.. of course, at 13 trying to get me to actually do the schooling was a feat that no one could master.. i worked for a brother in the cong.
full time, and never finished the schooling.. so...flash forward.
SL, I would agree with all that's been said here. You did a great job with that South Park thing, obviously, you are not without talent.
Jimmyjames said something that I've been saying all along...essentially the time is gonna go by wether you do something - or nothing. May as well do something.
These days, a 2 year computer degree is worth as much, if not more than, a lot of Bachelors and Masters degrees. You seem to have some intrest & skill in that area. I would give it some consideration.
My girlfriend graduated this afternoon with a Masters degree. I am as proud as heck. I'm still working on the Bachelors - going after work most days. I won't tell you it easy, but I believe that the time is well spent.
Sometimes, when I let my jealously get the better of me, I become resentful. She's out of school with a MS and owes no money. For her, there was no cult upbringing & the family had the money to give her. Why couldn't my situation have been as easy?! My family doesen't/didn't have that kind of money. I wasted 2 years in community college drifting around without direction, trying to figure out what to do. Those kind of thoughts ultimately do me no good, so I try to rid myself of them.
Whatever you decide, I wish you luck. Keep me updated on your situation. [email protected]
HYBRIDOUS
my 17 year old brother is a model witness for the local congregation.
he's been baptized for a couple of years now.
my jw mom is quite liberal...she has allowed us kids to play sports, be in school plays...etc.
Thank you all for your honest evaluation. I'm gonna bite my tongue, keep quiet, and let events unfold as they should - at their natural pace - not rushed along by me. I plan to be there for my brother if/when things go downhill for him. I'll keep all of you posted on the matter.
Thanks again,
HYBRIDOUS
