2 corinthians 13: 5a - 5 examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.. this verse just comes at me like a locomotive.. to examine something is to truly use my mental capacities and to look at something objectively.. how do i accomplish this, even now?.
i was raised in an organization that controlled my information and used fear of rejection as well as my need for approval to "inculcate" the "truth" into me.. by that right, i (and all born-ins) do not have the ability to examine our faith (as a jw).. there will always be an artificial pull either for or against the society (whether we are aware of it or not).. free will has been comprimised; therefore our "faith to our creator" has been tainted and cannot be judged as worthy or unworthy.. of course many of us have regained our ability to discern and look at things objectively.. but i believe that we will never be able to truly look at the watchtower organization without a slant.. not to say the conclusions we come to regards to the organization are not valid (because they are and have been validated).
my point is that the organization has no right to judge and ostracize any born-in for leaving and even for speaking out.. they broke us, and now they are demonizing us for the things we did in that broken state.
As a born in, I was constantly under test. Grandfather was the convention overseer for Dodger stadium for years. Had to tow that line. Outside of family "watching" me all of the time, it was the persecution at school. I was very different, a cute kid, but very different. No sports, no Christmas, no Thanksgiving, no Halloween, no birthdays...nothing.
I'm actually very surprised I survived the whole thing. My wife calls me an angel and wonders how in the world I didn't turn out all screwed up!!
tonight it occurred to me that i really don't have any friends.
i have people i am acquainted with, people who i really only know slightly.
in the past few weeks, i know more about lady lee, brotherdan, leolaia (even if i can't spell it!
GrandmaJones, you sound just like the kind of person I would love to spend an afternoon sittin' on the front porch chatting the afternoon away with... Too bad you don't live near me. I've lost all of my family and could use a Grandmotherly figure in my life.
are some of you scared that armageddon may be coming anytime?
lol.
just the thought and the picture in your head that anybody can get killed....>.<.
Ciro is a whack job...... Who wants to be in a Paradise with a nut job like him?
to be really legal and picky about it if you were to quote me further down in the thread it would be legal to say something like.
it still belongs to them.
and there is no way they would give that kind of permission.
I'm not convinced that the argument here is copyright law. I don't think anyone would dispute this. I think...the bigger question is, why are some books allowed to be downloaded and shared, while others are not? IF, this were a legal case, would/could a judge reason that if some books were sanctioned to be shared by a company, then does that company have the right to dictate which books could be downloaded and shared and which ones could not?
In other words, is there a reasonable basis for the sharing and free distribution of some books but not others?
to be really legal and picky about it if you were to quote me further down in the thread it would be legal to say something like.
it still belongs to them.
and there is no way they would give that kind of permission.
Strange how the WT&BTS can "allow" you to download whole books directly from their website. You can share any of these books via the web. But....you cannot share books which are distributed in secrecy but which books are not to be shared publicly? I'm confused. How can the Society sanction the sharing and downloading of some books, but not others?
Anybody? I'm sincerely confused on this and not trying to be a smart aleck (sp?)...
"if members of the congregation are known to.
have undue association with disfellowshipped.
or disassociated relatil'es who are not in the.
Same as Lady Lee said, Now I gotta worry about family trying to contact me?
just wanted to share an exerpt from what must have been an apostate ;) in a local craigslist add in my area:.
"up for sale my membership as a jw, with the package you will recieve everlasting life, a virgin wife, a clear bloodguilty free concious, an excuse note for not giving gifts on holidays as well as not having to work on sundays at your job, a magical invisable bubble protection from satan the devil, jury duty excuse, no pressure for having to choose the right vote for president of america, head knowlege and endless argument busters, debunkers, granny slammers, door jammers, window spamers, and a host of other cool stuff you can get away with!!!!.
note: no returns or exanges aloud, pickup only at my door, free with contribution, no rv's or co/po visits may insue, along with guilt, shame, shunning, embarasment, lost of loved ones comunication, no spiritual advice, and you may be visited by the demons who are going to haunt you for the rest of eternity, and not to mention no more hand shakes at memmorials.
I think we all ought to copy and paste into all of our local Craigslist's.
while an earlier version was made available privately the time has come to 'progress'.. conscious class and ex both strongly adhere to not keeping things 'hidden' in regards to wts publications, talks and documents which are circulated in order to maintain it's position.. another wonderful poster (who has yet to give me permission to name) has 'reduced' and 'bookmarked' the first full copy link i was given by our 'winner'.. in this newest and final 'clean' copy link you find two other additions besides the reduction/bookmarking..... the brother who uploaded the entire book wishes all to have a copy that includes both boe ltrs (pre-ks ltr and spiral binding ltr).
also another development has occurred.... the brother responsible for this book being brought into light and put forth for public consumption and discussion has requested i post this letter explaining to 'us' (jwn posters/global audience) and 'them' (wts of penn & ny).. i ask you give attention to his words/ experiences as he is representative of a newly emerging demographic within the conscious class.
so without further ado i give you his link and the 'stage' if you will to 'brother johnson'....... [link removed - contact ynot for further info - lady lee].
Brotherly love to you Bro. Johnson. And a big hug for you too YNOT. There are some real gems left in this world, and you two are priceless....
Warm love to the both of you....
my wife and i have not even been df'd for a week and an old friend on fb (an inactive jw who has active jw friends who used to be friends of mine) says there's a rumor going around that i'm gay.
wow.
really jws?
It gets worse. My wife and I were being accused of starting our own religious church and printing magazines in deliberate opposition to the Watchtower. Those people are morons...
there's nothing better on a cool, cloudy day than baking cookies!
i'm baking some right now and really wish i could invite all of you over for chocolate chip yumminess.
the only person i wouldn't invite would be anyone whose intials are aiw or anyone else who causes divisions.
Oh man! Can I bring over a glass of milk? I loooove when my wife bakes fresh Chocolate Chip Cookies.....
