Posts by IslandWoman

40

Copping Out?

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

are we copping out if we blame the watchtower for almost everything that went wrong in our watchtower life?.

most of us knew the rules.

most of us had the opportunity to read and study their publications and the bible.

IslandWoman

Hi Amazing,

I think had the Watchtower fully disclosed to us is flaws, similar to the way homeowners are required by law to disclose material defects to prospective buyers, then we may have made a different decision.

True, but the fact was that they were not selling a house, they were selling a religion. Most religions are not set up to tell THE truth just their own brand of truth.

Heaven, Anglise, ISP, and Pope,

I was raised as a JW and got baptized at sixteen. We lived in a divided household and experienced ALL the problems associated with that. My Dad was not an understanding man!

I can only speak from my own experience. I studied the Paradise book as a child, then went on to the Let God Be True. I attended meetings where at times judicial announcements would be made and saw first hand the effects of DF. I was fully aware of the stand on blood, holidays etc. Sure as a kid I went out in Field Service because my Mom said that's what we were doing that day. But I did not remain a child forever! When I grew up I went out in Field Service because I thought that was what Jesus said we should do, "Preach the Kingdom" and also because of Org. pressure to conform. But the same kind of pressure to conform is found everywhere; schools, job, politics, patriotism etc., we all have pressure from others to conform.

If as an adult I felt that the preaching was stupid, that the blood policy was wrong, that shunning was wrong but nevertheless stayed with the religion it then becomes my decision and therefore my responsibility.

As a parent I teach my son that should he see his friends getting involved in wrong conduct he is to discontinue the friendship otherwise he will rightly be held responsible along with them, his presence is what determines culpability, not his intentions. How many years did we stay in the Watchtower? How many things did we see go wrong and still stay? How many doubts did we have but stayed? How many did we encourage to stay along with us?

Few of us were spiritual virgins in the Watchtower, meaning that we all likely had an influence on others. We preached at doors pushing the magazines, we greeted others at the Hall, gave talks etc. We believed just as others did or at least acted as if we believed.

I am just saying that I really have no reason to be angry with them anymore. They are going the wrong way, but so are a lot of religions! I experienced bad things as a result of association with them but so have many peoples experienced bad things from their associations be it friends, religion, country, caste, economic condition, culture or whatever. This is life.

I'm not trying to absolve the Watchtower of wrongdoing or resposibility. I'm trying to see that I too played a part in their commission of error. Why? Because first I had to, then I wanted to, then I chose for a while to overlook what I knew were wrong teachings.

I was trapped just as they all are still trapped but not so much by totally evil men who are out to get them; but mostly by men who are themselves trapped is a false religious system.

I am free of anger, why be angry with the blind and mislead? That does not mean though that my heart is not broken and hurting. It is!

IW

40

Copping Out?

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

are we copping out if we blame the watchtower for almost everything that went wrong in our watchtower life?.

most of us knew the rules.

most of us had the opportunity to read and study their publications and the bible.

IslandWoman

Celtic,

Thanks for your comments, I too look forward to getting to know many here much better.

Runningman,

Our experiences in the organization go well beyond poor "people skills". The borg uses sophisticated psychological techniques to control and manipulate their members. Many of their policies (ie. blood, disfellowshipping) are abusive and dangerous.

Much of this is due to their strict interpretation of the Bible and to their very human failing of thinking they are right!

the damage suffered at the hands of the Society differs from person to person. Consider the father in Calgary who is being shunned for saving his daughter's life. Now, there is a man who has a legitimate beef with the Society.

No, he knew the consequences and he courageously went ahead. He knew just as we all knew the Society's stand on blood!

As for knowing the rules before we joined, many of us were born into it, and indoctrinated "from infancy". Numerous options were not open to us. We may have been baptized as children or teenagers, not fully understanding the committment, or being aware of any options.

True, please note my use of the word "most"!

I suppose that some people might use this as a cop out. But, in my mind, the Society has a lot to answer for.

Sure they do, but no more than any other misled group of people.

IW

40

Copping Out?

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

are we copping out if we blame the watchtower for almost everything that went wrong in our watchtower life?.

most of us knew the rules.

most of us had the opportunity to read and study their publications and the bible.

IslandWoman

Are we copping out if we blame the Watchtower for almost everything that went wrong in our Watchtower life?

Most of us knew the rules. Most of us had the opportunity to read and study their publications and the Bible. Most of us gladly accepted baptism. Most of us believed just as the others believed.

I'm just troubled by the fact that we or really I, am as much responsible for my own "closed eyes" and my own eagerness to believe as much as everyone there is. Why should I continue to vilify them?

In addition of late we have seen that a lack of good "people skills" is just as much a problem here among ourselves as it was in the Org. Maybe what we saw there is just ordinary human behavior which included the same broad spectrum that we see here, but mixed in with religion! A Molotov Cocktail for sure!

IW

50

Why love God?

by joelbear in

should we love god and have faith in him because we are afraid of being annihilated if we don't?.

should we love god so we can be paid for it by getting a "mansion in the sky" or everlasting life or some other reward payment?

IslandWoman

GD,

Good for you! Does that make you Peter Pan or Captain Hook!

IW

50

Why love God?

by joelbear in

should we love god and have faith in him because we are afraid of being annihilated if we don't?.

should we love god so we can be paid for it by getting a "mansion in the sky" or everlasting life or some other reward payment?

IslandWoman

Hi Joel,

Should we love God and have faith in him because we are afraid of being annihilated if we don't?
Should we love God so we can be paid for it by getting a "Mansion in the sky" or everlasting life or some other reward payment?

No. I love God because I feel appreciation for this beautiful earth, what a marvel it is! I love God because he is my Father. I do not fear him.

As for the future, I look at it more as a natural consequence of birth rather than a reward for a path taken. Heavenly life is surely a gift but not a reward.

IW

43

Dont blame the witnesses, its the Bible...

by sleepy in

jw
friends

dont blame the witnesses, its the bible's fault.. well you can blame them for trying to stick to the thing, but belief in the bible is the main problem.. i've heard the gb and witnesses be called evil by some, as though they have gone out to hurt people on purpose.. but i doubt that this is true, at least in recent times.. no the problem comes from believing the bible is god's word and trying to interpret it and follow it.. what happens when you do so?.

you get the catholic inquisition,people burnt at the stake,you get jews fighting for a promised land, religious groups who let their children die and a host of other problems.. i ask a question.if you were god and were going to have a book written on how man should live, would you do it in such a way that if misinterpeted or taken too literaly or mistranslated slightly , could result in the death and suffering of thousands of people,and would enslave people to false religious beliefs?.

yes there are good points and principles in the bible, mainly the words of jesus, who didn't write any of it himself.. but a few good principles don,t outweight the bad done in the name of the bible through the past 2000 years.. the society has tried to follow the bible, and take it for real .in doing so they have had to take on beliefs and ideas that can ultimatly cause harm.. it is like me reading a instruction manuel for my car, that is a fake written by a non-expert.if i follow that manuel , although it may not be all wrong, some instuctions could be in error and cause damage to my car and risk injury to other people.. if people then come along after and say "well its not the manuel thats wrong , you've just misunderstood it , look if you do it this way,that way..".

IslandWoman

Sleepy,

I agree with you. The main problem is the strict adherence to the Bible. It is from the Bible they get the shunning and most of the other sad practices and views they have had.

Their second problem is making the "Organization" into a god for themselves.

So, it's no wonder they have come to resemble the very people they claim to have replaced; ancient Israel. They have God's laws, the Oral law of the Governing Body, and the Golden Calf!

Thanks for the post!
IW

52

Raymond Franz's Betrayal

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

thanks for calling this to my attention.

my reason for not wanting book material to be run on certain web sites is purely because of finding their approach out of harmony with my own principles and standards, so many are engaged in watch tower trashing and extremely negative.

some sites present material that promotes agnosticism and distrust of the scriptures, even atheism (one such site being in scandanavia).

IslandWoman

FreePeace,

It is true of my sister.

IW

52

Raymond Franz's Betrayal

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

thanks for calling this to my attention.

my reason for not wanting book material to be run on certain web sites is purely because of finding their approach out of harmony with my own principles and standards, so many are engaged in watch tower trashing and extremely negative.

some sites present material that promotes agnosticism and distrust of the scriptures, even atheism (one such site being in scandanavia).

IslandWoman

I do not think Ray Franz is the FDS. I quoted that scripture because it stated a principle. Many have died, many are dying. They read Crisis of Conscience then are told they can make it on their own! Hogwash!! Sure some JWs can but many more die from a lack of "water"!

Ray Franz has group meetings with others to study the Bible. Tell me, if he were just Br. Nobody would he still be able to gather a group of xJWs around himself? He is famous. Most of us are under the woodwork!

Wouldn't it be great if all those famous xJWs featured on the Beacon site would just come around here once in a while and share their insight and experiences with us! Why don't they?

IW

52

Raymond Franz's Betrayal

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

thanks for calling this to my attention.

my reason for not wanting book material to be run on certain web sites is purely because of finding their approach out of harmony with my own principles and standards, so many are engaged in watch tower trashing and extremely negative.

some sites present material that promotes agnosticism and distrust of the scriptures, even atheism (one such site being in scandanavia).

IslandWoman

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods."

Many are thirsty and hungry. If they are not fed they will die. Ray Franz and others of his ilk must speak out here!

IW

52

Raymond Franz's Betrayal

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

thanks for calling this to my attention.

my reason for not wanting book material to be run on certain web sites is purely because of finding their approach out of harmony with my own principles and standards, so many are engaged in watch tower trashing and extremely negative.

some sites present material that promotes agnosticism and distrust of the scriptures, even atheism (one such site being in scandanavia).

IslandWoman

Amazing,

Hi IW: I will ask him, and see if he will do that

Thanks! Many xJWs are so lost. It's true they should not look to men but to God for help, but still, they are only human and the need for "fathers" is very real.

Thanks again, Amazing.

IW