Posts by mindmelda

22

Today's (10-18-09) Watchtower Study. More Lies...

by tryingtoexit in

jw
friends

well, today is another interesting day.

as some of you all know...i have been trying to make my exit out of the cult but my wife has been giving me some probs along the way.

today as usual i dont go to the meeting, i go on with my day as normal, wash clothes, cook breakfast, and so on.

mindmelda

BRB, lolling forever. If CTR was alive today, he wouldn't recognize what his "successors" have done with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society!

I wonder if anyone brought up during that study that CTR believed that the end of the Gentile times would come in 1874? oopsy?

To teach that these were the only people teaching restitution at that time is lying bragging nonsense. Where do they think CTR got that from, a Cracker Jack box? Or that he invented it?

Lots of Adventist type religions and their leaders were teaching restitution in the mid to late 1800s! Good lord, the WTS really assumes you won't know diddly about the religious history of America, I guess, or research it on your own.

83

Marijuana---Is It That Bad?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i've never smoked tobacco or a joint in my life!

i know some regular pot smokers and they're pretty cool people.

they typically say pot is better than alcohol and that it should be completely legal.

mindmelda

I think it should be subject to the same regulation as alcohol. It's similar in effect, but without the hangover!

Believe me, if the government can find a way to make money off it like it does alcohol, sugar and tobacco, they'll legalize it..or at least decriminalize it.

75

"The way of the truth is the best way of living. No better way can there be found."

by nicolaou in

"the way of the truth is the best way of living.. no better way can there be found.".

remember that?

it's the opening line to 'make the truth your own'.

mindmelda

I once heard a public talk, back a while, where an elder tried to explain why many JWs suffer depression. He said it's the pressures of the Satanic system we live in! Because it couldn't possibly be anything else, could it, if you're talking to a Witness.

However, I found for myself that it's the pressure of trying to live a lifestyle that has little bearing or relevence to the 21st century, and also, trying to be impossibly "good", as well as lots of criticism, disguised as "counsel" from others who are trying to do the same.

I'm much happier without "The way of the truth", lol.

Besides, it's not "the truth". Easily disproven once you get rid of the constant brainwash, also known as "Faithfully studying the Watchtower and the WTS publications". It's always that, never "Study the Bible and ". I think that used to be more emphasized, but it probably lost them a few over the years, so enough of that!

The final straw for me was asking to study the Bible on it's own with a Witness, and being refused. "Only if we study specific articles that will help you be a productive Witness again, will I study with you." was my answer.

Yeah...because without that, there's no brainwashing.

5

Torture

by bobld in

torture:repugnant,abhorrent,immoral...acts of cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment wheather physical ot mental(destroys the heart and soul).mental torture,however can leave scars just as deep and long-lasting as missing fingernails of physical torture.psychological torture is used to cause suffering to alter the behavior of the person(includes such things as shunning).when such acts are committed by or at the instigation of or consent or acquiescence of an official or person acting as official capacity of(.........)they do not treat people with humanity.this is,the fact or quality of being humane:kindness,mercy,sympathy,etc.. there can be much more said and how it affects thousands of people (substitute a word for torture) and you know what i mean.. bob.

mindmelda

I doubt American law would consider shunning a form of torture, but I've always wondered if it could fall under "alienation of affection" in a family situation and be a reasonable cause for a lawsuit?

Perhaps that's one reason why the WTS has much less strict rules about shunning for family members living with a DF'd person?

25

Posted on Freeminds - your help pls

by besty in

"my wife just left me yesterday and took my 2 girls.

she's hold up in the presiding overseers (big beautiful) custom built french country house.

i know my 14 yr is probably freeking out and my sweet little 9 year old, i know, loves her daddy.

mindmelda

May have been said already, but if this is in the US, many states will refuse to enforce child support if the wife does not allow reasonable visitation, meaning that there is no safety/protection issue for the children to be denied their father's regular visits.

That could gain leverage for a father who has not been allowed to see his children because of religious disagreement in a family. No judge in America I've heard of will consider religious differences as a reason to disallow visitation. "Spiritual danger" is not a reason to deny a father his children, it's not recognized by American courts.

30

To all the newbies: How I've have adapted to life outside the Org

by tooktheredpill in

i havent been active in the forum for some time, but i keep reading your comments every few weeks.

ive noticed that there are many new members.

welcome to jwd!!!

mindmelda

I've discovered the same. People I used to label as "worldly" or "part of Babylon the Great" have showed me more Christian kindness and love than many Witnesses did. I was associated for over 30 years. Recently, we lost our business of 15 years, and our house went to foreclosure.

My MIL, a non Witness, took us in, even though her circumstances are far from easy, she has terminal cancer and a husband who is 92 with late stage dementia. A friend of mine, a long time email correspondent who is not a Witness loaned us one thousand dollars to help out, as my husband was ill for over a month and has still not found work here. Non JW friends and neighbors brought us food, canned bushels of food for us, and have been there with emotional support.

You might ask were all my former JW friends were during this? Well, not helping us out, that's for sure, criticizing us because we were in emotional turmoil over our situation and not attending meetings and preaching.

A real eye opener for us, but we've had our doubts about this whole thing for years because of the obnoxious and self righteous way we've been treated over the years by most JWs. A few are decent, loving people by their very nature, but anymore, I think it's in spite of their religion, not because of it.

I've never really bought some of the JW teachings for years, but put up with it because I don't believe any religion has it all right, because I thought the people were unusually kind and decent. Well, I've had to change my mind about that, and so my incentive for being part of it went right out the window.

I still have faith in the teachings and promises of Christ, and it's more sustaining to me now than anything I've experienced as a Witness. I don't go to church, but I listen, read and share Christ's love with anyone who wants to share it now. And not by obnoxiously preaching AT them! LOL So done with that!

I'm also ecumenical now, and realize not everyone conceives of or can worship the Divine aspect of the universe in the same way, we're all too different for that. For me, Christ is the most evolved expression of love and joy from that source, but I realize for others, there are other expressions of the Divine that they find more joy in.But, I practice a form of Buddhist meditation along with prayer, and I also participate in some Pagan rituals that make me feel connected to everything, so it's all good. Christ is not the JEALOUS God of the OT! I think that god had an anger management problem and some major insecurity issues. LOL

5

What is God's will for the earth?

by paul from cleveland in

what did jesus mean when he said 'let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'?.

mindmelda

What Christ taught was universal brotherhood, and his primary teaching was simple, to love one another as God loves us. This is from his model prayer, and it emphasized letting Christ's kingdom come to the earth. It's only a reality if we have the love and word of Christ in our heart first, then practice Christlike love towards others.

3

i can say anything in email form

by rockmehardplace in

i am traveling on business for my job and decided to stay a few extra days with some clients to resolve some issues instead of coming home for the weekend.

it works well for me since i will be able to skip a dinner that i was supposed to attend with some jws.

i was going to come home today but decided against it.

mindmelda

LOL...I've gotten to where I don't complain to my mom on the phone about anything that might be wrong in my life (you know, normal stuff that goes wrong) because I get the "It's because you don't pray/go to meetings/study the Watchtower etc that that's happening to you.

Interesting that it's never "you don't read the Bible enough" but that I don't "study the Watchtower" or "pay attention to what the Watchtower says".

But, I do pray/meditate and I do still read the Bible. Well, it's the Good News Bible these days, not the JW Revisionist Version. And I have no dealings with the JW version of God. Because he's a mean, irrational SOB, and we're not on speaking terms anymore. LOL

18

2009 Sing to Jehovah Lyrics--PDF----by request!

by Atlantis in

2009 sing to jehovah lyrics--pdf----by request!

request from researcher: i heard about this file but never received a copy and wondered if you had it.

can i get a copy?

mindmelda

Advertise, Advertise, Advertise the Slave and their Kingdom!

I'm thinking this would be a great new catchphrase for the Dubs.

23

JW Opinions on Obama

by feenx in

jw
friends

i haven't been on here much, including during the recent election.

i am curious if anyone knows what the opinions, official as well as non-official or "gossip" *gasp*, on the election and obama.

i remember as a kid my mother would always complain so much around election time, just like xmas, because she hated it so much.

mindmelda

I've always been amused that some Witnesses seem to have very strong political opinions in spite of not voting and actively taking part in politics. Seems as though it's just part of human nature for some people to be unable to keep their opinions to themselves and be truly neutral.

I've heard as many admire Obama as hate him among Witnesses, to be honest.