Posts by Fernando

52

How many people on here have low self-esteem?

by Chemical Emotions in

jw
friends

i do, so i was just curious.. i know the org tends to attract/cause/contribute to people having low self-esteem, so i figure a lot of people must have it as bad or worse than me..

Fernando

I believe it is a challenge for every single person in a cult/religion.

Low self-esteem comes from knowing we don't measure up AND believing the lie that we have to.

I believe this condition afflicts mostly honesthearted and sincere persons. Members of the Pharisaic ruling religious clergy class mostly respond with "militant ignorance" and "malignant self-righteousness" to convince or deceive themselves that they do measure up. Their supremacist externalism creates the camel gulping and gnat straining "whitewashed graves" Jesus spoke of.

Religion demands that we "measure up" to be right with God by following the "right" religious rules, religious moral code, religious doctrine and religious knowledge.

The gospel however offers IMPUTED righteousness (justification) as a free and unmerited gift (Rom 3:22-24).

Religion demands that we "clean up" to be holy for God by stopping sinning.

The gospel however offers IMPUTED holiness (sanctification) as a free and unmerited gift.

Religion makes liars of those embracing it: "We all sin, and those who say they do not sin do not have the truth and are making God out to be a liar (1Jo 1:8-10)" - from it-2 p. 96.

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

Just a quick reminder for those in Australia.

32

Does your heart still race when suddenly coming accross a JW?

by Fernando in

it did for me even though i eventually walked out on my terms and fully convinced of the apostasy of the watchtower pharisees and sanhedrin (governing body).. initially it was very confusing and bewildering since i was a 3rd generation born-in and the watchtower was the only "reality" i'd known for more than 40 years.. a psychologist diagnosed ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) and recommended attending a cult conference and workshop for victims of psychological manipulation.

i learnt about "triggers" that cause turmoil and upset whilst one is suffering from ptsd.. for nearly 2 years i could not answer a phone without a minor panic attack.

i could only respond to voicemails.

Fernando

those nugget seedlings were washed on the fertile ground and carefully watered by compounded WT gaffs

Priceless, out4good3!

For those leaning away from RELIGION toward FAITH and SPIRITUALITY

by Fernando in

http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/escape-from-churchianity.html.

Fernando

http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/escape-from-churchianity.html

15

Regarding Acts 15 and a "Governing Body"

by Ding in

i couldn't find a window on which to post in xtreemlyconfused17's acts 15 thread, so i'm responding here.

some elder claimed that acts 15 shows the existence of a first century governing body.. quite the opposite!.

let's back up to acts 13. there, the holy spirit called saul (paul) and barnabas to missionary work.

Fernando

Great points Ding!

Of course it is considered "apostasy" to let the facts get in the way of the "true religion".

So, sadly only those with eyes will see...

Maybe you would also write for us on the Governing Body that did exist back then, namely the Sanhedrin...

9

what do u think of ACTS 15?

by xtreemlyconfused17 in

(please pardon my english quotes from the bible.

i'm trying to translate from swahili, i cant find my english bible lol).

so i had my bible study yesterday and my teacher came with an elder.

Fernando

Actually there was a Governing Body in the first century - it was called the Sanhedrin.

There was however no Governing Body amongst the early followers of Jesus who were directed by Holy Spirit instead.

It also seems to me that in this instance and in the matter of circumcision Jerusalem was the problem not the solution. They needed readjustment from Paul and the Holy Spirit.

(Galatians 2:11-14) . . .However, when Ce′phas came to Antioch, I resisted him face to face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before the arrival of certain men from James, he used to eat with people of the nations; but when they arrived, he went withdrawing and separating himself, in fear of those of the circumcised class. 13 The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Bar′na·bas was led along with them in their pretense. 14 But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said to Ce′phas before them all: “If you, though you are a Jew, live as the nations do, and not as Jews do, how is it that you are compelling people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice?”

21

FAQ "Do you believe that [Jehovah's Witnesses] are the only ones who will be saved?"

by wannabefree in

the spin from from www.jw-media.org.

do you believe that you are the only ones who will be saved?no.

many millions who have lived in centuries past and who were not jehovahs witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life.

Fernando

No to the question.

Sadly yes, wannabefree, I agree John 3:16 is not part of the "good news" according to the Watchtower and their followers.

Their "good news" is only about a FUTURE PHYSICAL paradise on earth. They have stumbled at the "stone of stumbling" and "rockmass of offense" and consequently disfellowshipped, shunned and deleted him.

(Proverbs 8:36) . . .But the one missing me is doing violence to his soul...

32

Does your heart still race when suddenly coming accross a JW?

by Fernando in

it did for me even though i eventually walked out on my terms and fully convinced of the apostasy of the watchtower pharisees and sanhedrin (governing body).. initially it was very confusing and bewildering since i was a 3rd generation born-in and the watchtower was the only "reality" i'd known for more than 40 years.. a psychologist diagnosed ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) and recommended attending a cult conference and workshop for victims of psychological manipulation.

i learnt about "triggers" that cause turmoil and upset whilst one is suffering from ptsd.. for nearly 2 years i could not answer a phone without a minor panic attack.

i could only respond to voicemails.

Fernando

It did for me even though I eventually walked out on my terms and fully convinced of the apostasy of the Watchtower Pharisees and Sanhedrin (Governing Body).

Initially it was very confusing and bewildering since I was a 3rd generation born-in and the Watchtower was the only "reality" I'd known for more than 40 years.

A Psychologist diagnosed PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and recommended attending a cult conference and workshop for victims of Psychological manipulation. I learnt about "triggers" that cause turmoil and upset whilst one is suffering from PTSD.

For nearly 2 years I could not answer a phone without a minor panic attack. I could only respond to voicemails. I wanted no communication from Watchtower Pharisees. Emails were much easier since I enjoy writing and felt in control of the situation. It was very liberating to respond to initial elder emails with faith and spirituality 101 questions that not a single elder on the whole body could or dared to answer.

Well the Seminar, Workshop, Psychotherapy, CBT, EMDRAA and an intense spiritual journey outside of religion have all helped me to a much more peaceful, stable and secure place. No more heart racing no matter who I bump into or who phones. It's a good place to be in, however rebuilding ones life from scratch takes loads of time, energy and resources...

I have met a number of exJWs also on a faith journey outside of religion and noted how we are all learning similar things apart from any organisation or group.

Oddly enough we have made friends with a lovely spiritually minded JW family who we imagine could respond favourably to the gospel in time. Others of course choose to avoid us like the plague whilst the Pharisees and Sanhedrin have kept them ignorant of the real reasons for our departure, namely the Watchtower's patently false gospel which excises the "good news" according to Paul, Moses, Isaiah, the Psalms and more.

Is it getting better for you when coming across JWs?

12

Does one need to believe in the trinity to have salvation

by free thought in

quote; " if god were not a trinity we could not be saved the reason is simple.

by sinning against the king [ jesus ] we sin against the whole universe and the penalty is eternal damnation .

therefore, god the son came down in the form of jesus and bore the wrath of god the father.

Fernando

Hey free thought!

As Tammy says, salvation means we are saved from bondage (captivity) to dysfunction (sin), sickness, suffering, death, evil and the devil.

And NO, we are NOT saved by achieving supremacist self-righteousness by means of following the "right" doctrines. This apostate notion is called "ethnocentrism" which was at work at Nicaea, and is at work in the Watchtower and all religion.

The trinity and the supposedly "correct" understanding of it has been a big red herring - not only peripheral to salvation but effectively antithetical to it.

It is no accident that religionists promote a counterfeit depleted or "truncated gospel" in place of the full, true and "unabridged gospel".

It is no accident that Watchtower "publishers of the good news" are ignorant of the "good news according to Paul" which makes up more than HALF the Bible's references to the "good news"! This is why they publish religion (doctrine, dogma, moralism, legalism, ethnocentrism, and Gnosticism) instead of the "good news". They are proselytisers (teachers of religion) and not evangelisers (teachers of the "good news").

5

Watchtower ROBOTS?

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtower robots?

today i uploaded a new article with graphic evidence of watchtowers model to create robots to conduct day-to-day operations of its religion business.

this article compares a survey of jehovahs witnesses conducted just prior to a doctrinal change with what the same community was doing immediately after that change.

Fernando

Hey Marvin!

Well researched and laid out. Thanks.

Just maybe one of the (7 million plus strong) "unconscious class" are awakened!