Posts by IslandWoman

18

What Is A Cult? -- Part# 3

by ros in

jw
friends

<center>the 'c'-word debate: .

what is a c-u-l-t?</center>.

whether a religious group like jehovah's witnesses qualifies for being defined as a cult.

IslandWoman

aChristian,

By the way, I just noticed that you have been spending much too much time on this board. Since you have been here you have made on average 1.1937321 posts per day. I, on the other hand, have averaged only 1.1772853 posts per day. Try to spend your time more productively!

LOL, OK I guess you caught me!

I just need work sometimes. So lonely you know!!!! Spent my life as a JW speaking about God, I cannot stop just because I no longer carry their name.

Good "seeing" you aChristian. I always read your posts on the "C" forum.

Take Care!
IW

18

What Is A Cult? -- Part# 3

by ros in

jw
friends

<center>the 'c'-word debate: .

what is a c-u-l-t?</center>.

whether a religious group like jehovah's witnesses qualifies for being defined as a cult.

IslandWoman

Ros,

I can't see where the churches follow his instruction any more than they do that of Jesus.

The NT writers made rules, they set up a religious hierarchy, they gave many more do's and don'ts than Jesus. Jesus never mentioned deacons or elders, never said to watch out for bad associations (actually he seemed to revel in getting to know those who were considered "bad associations"), never set up rules for acceptable behavior for older men, never restricted women from speaking their mind, never set up a rule for determining who among the aged women were worthy of monetary help etc.!

Can't you see? Jesus' teachings were very different than Paul's and the other NT writers. He preached love and a reliance on God, they preached a system. It is the reliance on that system that has fed the religious apostasy! The "tree" has produced rotten fruit not because of Jesus but because of the NT writers who were not satisfied with the purity of Jesus' teachings; they needed to make something more.

IW

18

What Is A Cult? -- Part# 3

by ros in

jw
friends

<center>the 'c'-word debate: .

what is a c-u-l-t?</center>.

whether a religious group like jehovah's witnesses qualifies for being defined as a cult.

IslandWoman

Ros,

The New Testament has been the breeding ground for many false religions and cults. The Watchtower just happens to be the one we fell into!

Look to the NT for blame, it has caused much pain and bigotry throughout the world. The Watchtower is simply a result of the teachings of Paul and the other NT writers taken seriously! Every religion that carefully applies the words of Paul goes the wrong way. Paul taught division; us verses them. It is this division that has empowered immoral religious men and has led sincere people down the wrong path. Paul is the Father of all Christian cults and false Christian religions!

He betrayed Jesus in a way far greater than Judas Iscariot! Jesus spoke against pharisaical rule, Paul established a pharisaical religion based on the beautiful reputation of a man he had never met!

IW

7

I MUST SHARE THE BLAME

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

i was baptized at the age of sixteen and i believed jehovah's witnesses were god's approved people.

they said what i wanted to believe.

it sounded good: a worldwide brotherhood who would not go to war against each other, a strict adherence to god's word, the teaching that god could not burn people in hell because he was a loving god, a striving to be approved by god by doing good works, etc.. i believed.

IslandWoman

Terafera,

I am sure she did what she thought was right

It's so hard to be a Mom! We love our "little gals and guys" so much! Many times we put our own need to protect them above their need to be who they are or who they want to be. It's not easy for either side!

Thanks for your reply, it meant a lot to me.

IW

5

Good Ideas for Ex-Dubs!

by Mindchild in

jw
friends

inspired by the april, 2002 issue of unte reader about socially cool ideas to help fix the world and spark your own creativity, i began to think that there are a lot of creative people on this board that might have suggestions of how to make a new ex-dubs life more enjoyable and their recovery more positive.. yes, of course there is therapy and reading c of c and these are something that many will benefit from but can we be more creative than this?

here are a few ideas i adapted from the article that might have some appeal to someone coming out.. 1. plant a tree to mark your exodus from the borg.

this can be a healing symbol to a individual to become life positive instead of following a life negative course.

IslandWoman

Hi Mindchild,

Just wondering. Are you still hoping to have the international apostofest you spoke of? If so, where and when?

IW

7

I MUST SHARE THE BLAME

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

i was baptized at the age of sixteen and i believed jehovah's witnesses were god's approved people.

they said what i wanted to believe.

it sounded good: a worldwide brotherhood who would not go to war against each other, a strict adherence to god's word, the teaching that god could not burn people in hell because he was a loving god, a striving to be approved by god by doing good works, etc.. i believed.

IslandWoman

Refiners Fire,

Blow me down. Ive been an apostate so long I forgot why I joined in the first place.

LOL, yes we did join for what at the time seemed to us as darned good reasons!

I think that some of what we believed was just so damned good that it caused us to overlook the bad.

If only we could have kept the good and gotten rid of the bad!!!

IW

7

I MUST SHARE THE BLAME

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

i was baptized at the age of sixteen and i believed jehovah's witnesses were god's approved people.

they said what i wanted to believe.

it sounded good: a worldwide brotherhood who would not go to war against each other, a strict adherence to god's word, the teaching that god could not burn people in hell because he was a loving god, a striving to be approved by god by doing good works, etc.. i believed.

IslandWoman

VioletAnai and Chezza,

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, we were led then we led our children or others. This is the reality of our JW life.

I have come to believe that it is dishonest to blame the Society or the Governing Body for everything. We are also to blame because we wanted to believe so bad and that desire blinded our eyes.

I think this recognition of responsibility is necessary to our truly leaving the Watchtower. IMO, we should recognize not only their faults but also our own need to believe them no matter what they said, then, move on and recognize that this is life. There is no guarantee, no absolute good group or people; there are only individuals who strive for good.

Take Care,
IW

7

I MUST SHARE THE BLAME

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

i was baptized at the age of sixteen and i believed jehovah's witnesses were god's approved people.

they said what i wanted to believe.

it sounded good: a worldwide brotherhood who would not go to war against each other, a strict adherence to god's word, the teaching that god could not burn people in hell because he was a loving god, a striving to be approved by god by doing good works, etc.. i believed.

IslandWoman

I was baptized at the age of sixteen and I believed Jehovah's Witnesses were God's approved people. They said what I wanted to believe. It sounded good: a worldwide brotherhood who would not go to war against each other, a strict adherence to God's word, the teaching that God could not burn people in hell because he was a loving God, a striving to be approved by God by doing good works, etc.

I believed. I read their books and read the Bible, still I believed. I went to their meetings and associated with many at the hall and still I continued to believe. I went to District Conventions and Circuit Assemblies, still everything looked good to me. I knew the stand on blood, I accepted it. I knew those disfellowshipped would be shunned, I accepted it. I accepted everything.

Therefore, I must share the blame. When I taught my kids the Watchtower line it wasn't the GB teaching them, it was me. It wasn't the GB they trusted really, it was their mother they trusted and it was their mother who taught them in turn to trust the GB.

I MUST SHARE THE BLAME!

IW

8

Move the Al Quaida prisoners!

by Norm in

jw
friends

many are concerned with the conditions of the prisoner held in cuba.

it appears that their conditions are far better then what happens to refugees in australia.. it is quite shocking to read what goes on in australia regarding their treatment of refugees.isnt it wonderful how these lovely and caring australian nation are so happy to keep women and children in concentration camps out in the desert for years?

how great it is to know that we have australia among the international federation of civilized nations, where human rights and particularly childrens right are of major concern, particularly if these children are non australian.. norm

IslandWoman

Norm,

The title of your thread: "Move the Al Quaida prisoners!". What does that have to do with the situation you describe in Australia? Are you suggesting the Al Quaida prisoners in Cuba should be subjected to the same conditions as the Australian refugees?

IW

23

Widowed DO takes 30 yr old Wife!!!

by ISP in

jw
friends

widowed d.o.

bro derek carter has caused something of a stir by marrying a 30yr old pioneer sister that is at least half his age.

if you ever saw bro carter you would notice a strong resemblance to 'uncle fester' of the adams family.

IslandWoman

LOL, I guess so LB. But you know there are many May/December marriages outside of the JWs also. I don't think they all end up regretting their choice.

Well, at any rate if these two got married because they really loved each other then I wish them the best.

Take Care,
IW