Posts by Heaven

88

What was there before the Big Bang?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpuhj98vjoa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hik8hj0_t9q.

Heaven

What was there before the Big Bang?
Quiet.

In Space, no one can hear you scream.

42

Has Anybody Hear a Rumour That Prince Died?

by cofty in

why do people care so much about celebrities?

I guess many people identify with celebrities for a variety of reasons. When someone we relate to through their fame and therefore, work, passes away, particularly someone whose work we enjoyed or connected with, it makes us feel sad that someone who evoked something within us is now gone. It usually means we will no longer receive any pleasure or joy or benefit from any more of their future work, although, in the case of Prince, sounds like he had a vault full of unreleased music.

Regarding Prince, he was a bit young, in my opinion, to pass away. He was once, and possibly still considered, a Jehovah's Witness, hence the discussion on this board about him. Prince's JW membership is definitely an oddity, conundrum even, considering the type of celebrity he was. Not the JW type AT ALL, at least in his public persona.

I was sad to learn of Christopher Hitchens passing. We need people such as he who are fearless in the onslaught of ridiculousness, to keep the fight for critical thinking over the delusion going. I also identify with their loved ones. I feel an empathy for them as I have lost many of my own family and can relate to the difficulty of loss.

36

Faith, where now?

by Theburstbubble in

so for the first time ever i went to a church service at my local church (coe) and i have to say it was awful!

it was just like a ritual.

the vicar would say something and then the congregation would all say a phrase in unison back to him.

Heaven

If you are looking at learning about the Bible, you don't need to, and probably should not, go to a church.

Have you actually read the entire Bible? If not, maybe start there, writing down your questions as you go. I'd also suggest you start reading up on history. Perhaps, once you are ready, seek out Bible Scholars to discuss the Bible and ancient times. Are there any courses available at your schools on the history of the Bible? There are online courses available as well (eg. Dr. Bart Ehrman's The History Of The Bible: The Making Of The New Testament Canon). Be open to what was really going on back then. There was definitely an agenda by the first century Christians to standardize belief. (To this day, I truly believe they did not completely accomplish this task based on the variance of answers I get from Christians about their beliefs).

You don't have to belong to a church to find spirituality or the closeness of community. Maybe select a non-religious group in your area that has a common interest with your own, say, one that helps less fortunate people. Or one interested in the environment. Maybe you need a pet. Maybe you need to plant a garden.

Theburstbubble said: I know the majority of you on here are atheists but I still want to believe in something.

Besides Christianity, have you investigated any other faiths such as Judaism, Buddism, or Paganism/The Craft (aka Witches).

There is much to believe in, particularly things that work. You already know the foundations of love are wise. We all know this because it works.

I personally find Permaculture, it's ethics, principles that actually work, and their various global projects to be something I am quite interested in. But with all things you have to be conscious of the BITE model. I have seen a couple of these groups begin to go down the cult pathway.

25

Oh happy people

by zeb in

what is it with meetings?.

so often she comes home throws her bag down and stomps around the house.

there are times it thoroughly gets me down.. + supportive comment welcome.

Heaven

Hey zeb, you could ask her if something is wrong.

I remember being at my Dad's place about 6 years ago and he was unenthusiastically getting ready to go to the meeting. He looked like he actually didn't want to go. I asked him "Do the meetings make you feel good, bring you joy?" He said somewhat dejectedly "Sometimes."

I said to him "If they don't bring you joy then don't go."

He did eventually go.

Later that same year he told me "I have no idea what they are talking about anymore." I just nodded my head. Inside I was like "Yes!" I knew it was the beginning of the end for him as a JW.

Unfortunately, this was in part due to his dementia but also the rapid and nonsensical changes that were going on.

We all know they browbeat the flock. And they also bad mouth anyone who isn't a JW, including UBMs/UBF (Unbelieving Mates/Unbelieving Family). It has to wear on someone after a while.

16

I am confused,bewildered

by bobld in

on their social media site:why do we attend large assemblies?

god's sevants in the past,who were instructed to assemble three times a year, we.

look forward to meeting together in large groups.soon they will be out in full force.

Heaven

If menstruating women are unclean for 7 days why aren't men who have wet dreams also unclean for 7 days?

66

Prince is dead.

by DATA-DOG in

has anyone heard about this?

that really sucks.

lots of dubs are talking.

Heaven

I was checking out 'His Life In Pictures'. It is interesting to see the jewelry change, ie the cross and ankh-like male gender symbol disappeared.

Like sparrowdown said, I can't see any man who dresses the way he did, sings the types of songs he did, wore all that blingy jewellry and makeup fairing well as a JW. He would definitely have to change all that. I wonder if he was really able to.

241

Another generation....

by joey jojo in

it has been 21 years since the 1995 article that pretty much buried the idea of the '1914 generation'.. remember those guys?

the ones born in 1914 that would still be alive when the end of the system arrived.. i'm glad i'm old enough to remember going from door to door, preaching this belief.

the reason i say that is because i have a lot of 'still in' jw friends and family.

Heaven

Everyone in my family born on or before 1914.... died. Last I checked, they were still dead.

16

I am confused,bewildered

by bobld in

on their social media site:why do we attend large assemblies?

god's sevants in the past,who were instructed to assemble three times a year, we.

look forward to meeting together in large groups.soon they will be out in full force.

Heaven

the watchtower no.2-2016 page 9 says,"The hour came when Jesus,by his sacrificial
death,ended the Jewish system of worship based on the Law of Moses."

And yet, the Jewish faith continues. Once again, JWs (as do other Christians) demonstrate they don't like the Jews.

5

How About We Call It "The Trance" Instead of "The Truth"

by xjwsrock in

let's see if it works as a replacement in common phrases:.

"how long have you been in the trance?".

"when did you come into the trance?".

Heaven

It works.

21

Leaving The Cult is Exactly Like This...

by cofty in

.

Heaven

That picture illustrates exactly what I experienced once I left home to go to College and then get my job.

At work, everything is "How can we fix this problem? Let's get to work on it."

When I'd go home to visit, it was always "Everything is so bad and getting worse. Only Jehovah's new system will fix all this." And my Mom's depression deepened, her individuality vanished, and she became chronically ill (which was totally preventable). She died 11 years later.

Perhaps these types of groups which draw, imprison, and retain certain personality types are here to be a warning to all others.