Posts by Fernando

24

Field Service: Special Warnings?

by Joe Grundy in

i am not, never have been a jw.

raised in the plymouth brethren, now am an atheist.. .

i've recently had the 'benefit' of a couple of fs visits which i've previously reported here.. .

Fernando

Good question!

This is a real risky area for the WBT$, but...

Asking rather than telling is the way to open a closed mind. This can take time, patience, commitment and well thought out strategies - something few people have these days.

Probably reverse witnessing by workmates (again by means of questions) may pose a bigger danger to the WBT$.

I was asked to explain what the gospel is in one word! That simple!

Instinctively I knew I had been asked a Bible 101 question and was inexplicably ignorant of the answer. I was determined not to remain ignorant! Also one cannot continue following both the WBT$ and the gospel since they go in different directions. It did take 3½ years of intensive and exhilarating research (oddly enough in the WBT$'s own publications) until it was clear the gospel was not in their hearts and not on their lips, and we parted ways. In time it also became clear that all religion effectively is opposite to the gospel.

65

New ex-JW memoir coming out...

by brizzzy in

jw
friends

i don't post a ton here because i'm kinda shy.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0373892357?tag=thegirsguitoh-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkcode=as1&creativeasin=0373892357&adid=038ez4bjpam7bcsze5mq&.

that's the amazon link (which is currently the most affordable, i believe, but it's also available for preorder at b&n, borders, indiebound, and indigo-chapters if you're in canada, if you prefer one of those retailers).. .

Fernando

Congratulations on writing a book and getting it published - great achievement. May there be many more achievements and successes!

20

What does "everlasting life" mean?

by N.drew in

john 3:16. i'll just say that the way i understand it is i am existing in it, it is not existing in me.. 166 (ai?nios) does not focus on the future per se, but rather on the quality of the age (165 /ai?n) it relates to.

thus believers live in "eternal (166 /ai?nios) life" right now, experiencing this quality of god's life now as a present possession.

(note the gk present tense of having eternal life in jn 3:36, 5:24, 6:47; cf.

Fernando

Watchtower theology largely looks at earth as the only game in town - when it's full, no more babies.

I wonder how many humans we could accomodate in 100 billion expanding multiverses x 100 billion expanding galaxies x 100 billion stars (potential solar systems)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZiROWO6iVs

2

When will They Ever Learn? Probably Never

by Room 215 in

jw
friends

... that most humans, including - and especially jws -- yearn for normalcy in their lives -- some harmless enjoyment of life's pleasures, a measure of recognition and personal fulfillment for having lived an honorable, a sense of uniqueness and individuality, tolerance and respect for the individuality of others; a productive life of self-sufficiency; and the enjoyment of family and friends, especially in one's latter years.

all of this is denied them by an unremitting bombardment of guilt, mind-numbing repetition, thought control and behavior manipulation.

.

Fernando

Hey Room 215! I agree with the sentiments.

At any rate I do believe that LEARNING about DYSFUNCTION really is the point of the game (this life), and we that can see Watchtower dysfunction are doing quite well in that regard.

9

CULT CONFERENCE AUSTRALIA - 9&10 March 2012 - by CIFS.org.au

by Fernando in

received the email below today.. http://www.cifs.org.au/conference.php#dl.

http://www.cifs.org.au/brochurecifs2012conference.pdf.

Fernando

Thanks Sizemik. Yes I did see the highlights thread and some videos.

Apparently it seems there is a bit of a back story where the originally planned full scale Aug 2011 conference had to be postponed (to Mar 2012) due to some of the international speakers being threatened by certain cult/s in Australia.

BTW jwfacts.com has just been added to http://www.cifs.org.au/links.php .

7

Science vs Religion vs Spirituality?

by Fernando in

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Fernando

Spirituality has been described as the power that is in us but not of us. I'm still contemplating whether it can correctly be described as a sixth or higher sense and/or superconsciousness whereby we learn new things over and above what comes to us physically through our 5 senses.

Over 200 self-help groups such as the AA (alcohol), NA (narcotics) and GROW (mental health) are finding that a spiritual awakening is key in overcoming addiction.

Others, such as me, can confirm that an increased Spiritual Quotient has allowed me to beat my addiction to (supremacist self-righteous) religion, as well as leading to a reduction in prejudice and ignorance, and a general improvement in mental health.

Spirituality is about deep inner transformation and healing. It allows us to actually see and come to grips with dysfunction (especially within ourselves).

Since spirituality is absent from the Watchtower they are unable to see their dysfunction, addiction, blindness, confusion, inebriation and insanity.

Religion is about external transformation (self-righteous window dressing). Religion "has a failed past and a bankrupt future" (Robert Capon).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperConsciousness_Magazine

3

Are believers called to be Christians, or to help others become Christians?

by Fernando in

is this an unscriptural and sectarian (divisive) notion?.

the word christian/s appears only 3 times in scripture.. footnotes (for these 3 scriptures) in the aramaic english bible (by andrew gabriel roth) say that this label came from outside and was not used between believers or by the apostles in reference to themselves.. one imagines paul saying there is neither jew, nor christian, nor muslim, nor hindu....

Fernando

Hey wobble! For me the "God of Abraham" is our "heavenly father" whereas the "god of religion" is our evil step-father Satan the Devil.

Since we as believers share a common father with Jesus, he calls us his brothers.

(Hebrews 2:11) . . .For both he who is sanctifying [namely Jesus] and those who are being sanctified all [stem] from one [our heavenly father the "God of Abraham"], and for this cause he [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them “brothers,”

Religionists are said to have a different father: (John 8:44) . . .YOU are from YOUR father the Devil, and YOU wish to do the desires of YOUR father. . . .

10

Fallen humans are the MEDIATOR between God and man - WBT$ reaffirms

by Fernando in

some have been wondering if the watchtower might reinstate jesus after disfellowshipping him as the one mediator between god and man.. apparently not.. "future light" from march 2012 reaffirms that jesus has been indefinitely replaced by a ruling religious clergy class of mediators.. "those in the covenant are few, a mere 144,000. through them, millions from all nations will be blessed with everlasting life in an earthly paradise.

" (w2012 mar 01 p17, http://download.jw.org/files/media_magazines/wp_e_20120301.pdf).. "the anointed" in the nt/nc scriptures is always "ho kristos" or "the christ" - who the wbt$ has openly replaced (for several decades now) with a small group of fallen humans (11,824 false christs in 2011) who the blind sanhedrin (gb) lyingly claim to represent.. .

(thanks to "therevealer" for posting the above watchtower mar 2012 quote two days ago)..

Fernando

Thanks LoneWolf.

7

Do you find that understanding and explaining SPIRITUALITY "is like trying to squeeze mercury with a nutcracker"?

by Fernando in

this was the observation made by professor kieran flanagan who edited the compendium: "a sociology of spirituality".. .

at least the good news is that science is making a start in coming to grips with human spirituality.. one assumes our biggest advances will come from sbnr (spiritual but not religious) scientists since they are less constrained by religious baggage, dogma, sectarianism, divided loyalties, conflict-of-interest and other impediments..

Fernando

Hey Shades! I'm finding that its a journey and the words eventually come. One person described spirituality as: "the power in us, but not of us".

80

I feel ethically compromised by Rick Fearon being allowed to continue posting here

by sabastious in

jw
friends

i'm not entirely sure why, but rick has been the biggest trigger for me.

i have said some very mean things to him that i regret and i apologize to rick for them.

but what he is doing leaves me feeling dirty and i don't even know him.

Fernando

Had a quick look at six screens once and it wasn't my flavour, just ignored it since.

Should JWN disfellowship Rick? I don't think so.

Should Rick abide by forum posting guidelines? Obviously.

Should we ostracise and vilify Rick? Hell NO!

What about some compassion and generosity of spirit?

Who of us can claim to have left the WBT$ mentally unscathed? Surely we all exit unbalanced to one degree or another. Why can't we give Rick a smile and a hug along with some kind (even humorous) rebukes when needed? Any of us would be shocked at what we learn about ourselves in brutally honest CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) sessions with a good Psychologist! After decades of intentionally damaging "cognitive dissonance" what do we think a Psychiatrist would find in us even if only in small quantities: Schizophrenia, Bipolar, OCD, PD, and PTSD just for starters?!

Why can't we understand and accept his odd-ball angle. Agree to disagree. It seems he has chosen to respond to dishonest Watchtower propaganda in kind with the belief that this might bring them down. That's his game. Now that we know this, why not just let him play it (Johnny) until he sees or finds another way to deal with his own demons? The Watchtower plays (mind and word) games and consequently leads some ethically challenged dissenters to employ the same strategy against the Watchtower.

And how many of us struggle to find a new career or just plain income when exiting this abusive cult after several decades? Somehow I don't think Rick would reject suitable offers of employment or support (and possibly even therapy).