Posts by jgnat

8

Getting the ball rolling with dubs in FS

by Happy in

jw
friends

hope everyone's weekend is going well so far.

anyway, i just had two brothers show up at my door, and i was planning to bring up an issue they couldn't solve and befuddle and confuse them.

but, wouldn't ya know it, i couldn't just blurt out, "how do you explain the 1914 teaching?

jgnat

How about letting them lead the conversation for a while? As soon as they hit a stupid doctrine i.e. ; Babylon the Great; Jesus' invisible return, WT is the sole purveyor of the "truth", Satan rules the planet, 144,000 etc. etc. etc. Ask a stupid question back. Ask another question. And another. Let your eyebrows go up in incredulity. Really? You guys really believe that? Wow. I let my honey go on for quite a while, agreeing with what is reasonable, then burst out laughing at the ridiculous.

If you need some conversation starters, how about:

So what are you guys out here for? Do you get paid?
Is it true that Witnesses won't eat blood? What is that about?

29

What is the worst.....?

by teenyuck in

jw
friends

name you could call an old, bitter, hateful, ungrateful, sour woman?

i need some options when i next speak to my mother-in-law...

jgnat

Your MIL big on propriety? I don't think so. She is a boor to forget to say thank you. She will not acknowledge any nice thing you do for her. I have a sister-in-law like that. She treated me like an imbecile from first meeting. I watch her sacrifice her life for her mother. Do you know there is nobody in the family that does as much as her? It does not matter that my honey drove his parents to all doctor's appointments, shopping trips etc. for ten years. This woman will not be outdone. My strategy with her was to never, never, never shake her confidence in that first assessment of me. So if she showed up at her mom's house with a box of goodies that weighed twice as much as she did, I opened the door and watched her stagger in to the kitchen. I sat like a lump on the couch while she polished and vaccumed and clucked over the dustbunnies. I remained mute as she complained of back pain for the next two days. When I did anything for my MIL, I did it when that sister wasn't watching.

Gift basket? Cell phone? Computer? You are messing with your MIL's view of the world. She wants to be miserable. Your MIL can't be won over. You will never be able to prove to her that you are a nice person. If I were you I would stop trying.

55

Calling All Artists - Both Good and Crappy!

by Stephanus in

jw
friends

i fall into the latter category, i'm afraid.

below are the photo i worked from (taken on last year's cruise) and the watercolour i produced from it:.

post your scanned art in this thread!

jgnat

Here's one of mine. This is my broody son and the dog. The dog is always happy.

20

Not the study article, but.......

by ozziepost in

a long-held teaching of the wts is that god allowed time after the fall of adam and eve to demonstrate to all creation the rightness of his rule.

this is again repeated in a current issue of the watchtower:

why did god not immediately destroy the first human couple along with satan, the invisible instigator of their rebellion?

jgnat

True, the WTS may pay "lip service" to the concept that the devil is inferior, but many of their doctrines downgrade both the power of Jesus and Jehovah. For instance, my honey blames any sinful, bad, inappropriate behavior by someone as the influence of the devil in "this system of things". The WT materials are full of references that Babylon the Great, in fact, anything outside of the WTS as being under the influence of the devil. That means that beast is running 99% of the world's population!

In my opinion, the society gives way too much air time and way too much credit to the devil.

59

HELP!!! I need a name

by bluesapphire in

jw
friends

we can't agree on a name for our soon to be born baby boy.. i love the name tristen.

he hates it.. he wants a basic name like bobby, tony, etc.. is there a name that sounds like tristen but isn't?.

give me some ideas if you can.

jgnat

Compromise a little. Give the boy middle names for his two grandfathers. Find any way to agree with your hubby on the first name. Put both your favorites in a hat and chose. Please don't do what my cousins did. It has been a week since their girl was born, and they are still fighting over what her name will be. Right now, there is one name on the birth certificate (which the dad filled out) and another name she is called by her mommy.

18

Reinventing the WBTS

by link in

i realise that i could well get shot down in flames here but it is my personal belief that the wbts will make a concerted effort to reinvent itself in the not too distant future.. i also believe that at this very moment they are working on ways to change the major doctrines that have become a millstone for them, without causing major problems and a mass exodus of the r&f.

as i see it they have to leave the vast majority of their teachings intact whilst removing or changing the problem ones.. by receiving some sort of new light on 607 b.c.e.

they would be able to change, or completely do away with, the significance of 1914. although this would need to be the ultimate aim i think it would be difficult to achieve without altering many of their current interpretations of scriptural prophesy.

jgnat

The World Wide Church of God reinvented itself - apologized even - and lost half it's membership. In the process however, they humanized and normalized. So it is proven that change is possible for a former high-control organization.

The WTS has itself in a double-bind, however. It cannot apologize, since it claims to be the (nearly) infallible and only mouthpiece of Jehovah on earth. And Jehovah doesn't make mistakes. Also, and I find this most fascinating, it is run by committee. No captain is steering this ship, making the WTS as slow as a garbage scow powered with paddles. As the organization gentrifies, it is becoming more and more like the image of Christendom it so loves to revile - controlling, inflexible, and contrary to foundational Christian beliefs. The public images the WTS tries to convey are conflicting and confusing. A symptom, perhaps, of the multiple prirorities pursued by various committees. Here are some of the public images, as I see them:

Maverick, upstart, growing organization, speaking the "truth" over a crippled, ageing Christendom. This is losing some impact as the keystone WTS doctrines that were novel in the 1800's are getting passe'. The key WTS doctrines, if they were outlined plainly to a householder on first meeting, just sound weird. Also, newer, younger denominations are popping up and proving to be even livelier and relevant and growing today. The mainstream churches are also experiencing a refreshing and revival.
A dignified, clean organization as a refuge from a deteriorating, wicked world. For people wanting escape from their own addictions or a bad relationship, the clean "Christian" image is a strong draw. This still works great. As long as none of the dirt leaks out. Which explains the organization's obsession with keeping the organization "clean" and silencing dissenters. With the internet and the free flow of information, this image will be hard to keep up in the industrialized world. Because of this, I predict we will see decline in industrialized areas, and continued growth in the third world. Also, in many parts of the third world, the Catholic Church plays an important role in people's lives. Since the Catholic Church is one of the WTS's main targets, their doctrines will continue to have an appeal in these areas.
A noble organization with a venerated history. This seems to be a relatively new development. And only natural, as the organization ages. Consider the video on the sacrifices made by witnesses past; the German prisoners of war, and so on. By focusing on this image, the WTS is using nostalgia, rather than the reasonableness of its doctrines, to hold on to its members. I see this also in the apparent pride that JW's take in being second or third generation Witness. Correct me if I am wrong, but a multiple generation Witness has ready access to the priveledges offered by the society. The irony is that the organization is becoming more like the churches it loves to hate.

I wish the WTS would get rid of the disfellowshipping doctrine. Even if the WTS beast is large, it would be toothless, allowing members the freedom to come and go as they please. This would naturally result in a liberalizing of some of the most harmful WTS doctrines. I think the WTS can be helped along this road by hitting them where it hurts - the pocketbook. Go, lawsuits, go. If it gets too expensive to be extreme, the organization will change.

35

Single DF Sister Looking for Single DF Brother

by Honey in

hi everyone - this is my first time posting to this board.. in any event, i am a newly dfd sister (announcement made about a week ago) who is interested in corresponding with and meeting a dfd brother.

adding to my dilemma is the fact that i plan on returning to the organization which i know is the direct opposite of what some on this board want.

i am african american, 34 years of age and attractive.

jgnat

Honey, you are wanting two opposing things at the same time. For your own mental health, you have to pick one.

I understand that I can be reinstated in 6 months, but that does not eliminate my present desire to have a relationship

First of all, let's assume you want, more than anything, to be a good Jehovah's Witness girl. Even if you do get reinstated in six months, you will not be marriagable material. You are probably looking at several years of dedicated service to be acceptable to a good brother. Besides, to be a good Jehovah's Witness girl, you should be putting away your temporal natural desires for a higher, purer, calling. Your statement is very selfish and self-centered. Worldly, in fact. You want your desires taken care of right now. After all, the New World Order is coming any day, and that is where your focus is supposed to be. And the fella has to be on the same midwave as you - disfellowshipped, but eager to go back.

What if your primary goal is to have a meaningful relationship because you are painfully lonely? If that is your primary need, going back to the WTS is not going to help you. See above. If having a meaningful relationship soon is your primary goal, you may have to give up your desire to return. Again, expecting a fella to be on the same mindwave as you is pretty selfish. My honey and I have been together for three years now. I have become accustomed to his rhythms and habits, and he to mine. And believe me, he has some mighty strange habits. But no matter how much we are alike, he is still his own man with his own dreams. There are lots of great men out there, regardless of the status the WTS has given them. Why not concentrate on making friends, period, regardless of a person's supposed status? ....and let nature take its course.

36

Help! Neighbor starting a study

by Trotafox in

i am so furious.

the very zealous elderly pioneer sister who lives across the street (alberta) has been canvassing the neighborhood for studies.

i watch her walk up and down the street and being very friendly and helpful with her neighbors (all the while preaching to them i'm sure).

jgnat

That goodie basket sounds so lovely, and thoughtful too! Did you enjoy getting to know your neigbours a little better?

33

Paranoid Schizophrenia

by Nickey in

this is an issue that i've had to look into due to the extreme paranoia of my mother.

it's getting ridiculous.

and it get's worse everytime she reads the publications.

jgnat

And exactly what productive result would come of telling the elders about it?

33

Paranoid Schizophrenia

by Nickey in

this is an issue that i've had to look into due to the extreme paranoia of my mother.

it's getting ridiculous.

and it get's worse everytime she reads the publications.

jgnat

Red light! Red light! Your mother sounds like a master abuser. When the tables turn and the good child feels guilty, there are very bad things going on. Your mother will be OK on her own. Take care of yourself. It sounds like you are on the right track. I bet you will feel much better a few months from now.