Posts by Fernando

19

Need Suggestions/examples: Guide to helping family & friends break free

by LisaRose in

jw
friends

i was going through my copy of steve hassan's combating cult mind control and it occurred to me that it would be great to have something like this specifically for us ex jehovah's witnesses.

while this is a great book, the examples he uses are mostly from people that were moonies, as steve is a former moonie and many people that have contacted him for help were relatives of moonies.

while cults all work basically the same, it would be nice to be have some ideas on things that are specific to jehovah's witnesses.

Fernando

Most JWs are sincere I believe and genuinely want to please God and live a good life.

The only problem is they can't tell the difference.

They don't even know there is a difference.

That is until you ask them:

"Is a right and clean standing with God earned or imputed?"

They will most likely answer "earned" which is completely contrary to the "good news" according to Paul who spoke repeatedly about how a righteous status is a "free gift".

Using the Watchtower library (even online) it is easy to check this by searching for and underlining each occurrence of the words righteous and righteousness in Paul's letters.

As soon as someone really gets that they cannot earn, deserve or pay for a right and clean standing then the apostate, legalistic and moralistic ruling religious clergy class lose their hold and power over them.

40

New Article - Watchtower View of Homosexuality

by jwfacts in

i have thought about writing this article for many years, and the awake!

2014 no.4 was the final straw.

there it states that jehovah's witnesses show no prejudice towards homosexuals, and "they neither mock nor mistreat people whose practices differ from their own.

Fernando

Great article and an important topic close to my heart.

Anyone up for a laugh?

JWFacts: "It is an incredible concept to put forward "that masturbation can lead into homosexuality." With over 95% of males admitting to masturbating, and only 5% of males being gay, it is impossible to find any meaningful correlation between the two."

Maybe there is a correlation after all? It looks like not admitting to masturbating can make one gay - watch out Watchtower!

19

Today's Text - Draw Close To God... (BUT HOW???)

by Divergent in

jw
friends

here's where i stand at the moment: i neither categorize myself as a theist, atheist, or agnostic.

i'm a freethinker and do not have a specific belief at the moment, unless something comes along which is 100% conclusive & convincing.

which brings us to tackling the elephant in the room, something that today's text has failed to do:.

Fernando

Two things are working for me on my journey:

turning my back on religion, and pursuing the scandalously liberating gospel of grace instead.

The real reason the Watchtower desperately feared Ray Franz and had him killed (aka DFd).

www.escapetoreality.org

7

Richard Dawkins on spirituality - please help

by Fernando in

jw
friends

i would like to better understand what richard dawkins is saying and would appreciate your help, views and opinions, including the implications:.

"far from being demeaning to human spiritual values, scientific rationalism is the crowning glory of the human spirit.

".

Fernando

I would like to better understand what Richard Dawkins is saying and would appreciate your help, views and opinions, including the implications:

"Far from being demeaning to human spiritual values, scientific rationalism is the crowning glory of the human spirit."

56

A fresh start

by FormerlySandL in

after the worst introduction i could ever make on the forum i would like to reintroduce myself and make a fresh start on the forum and hopefully over time i will be able to redeem myself.

i have changed my user name which was over dramatic and ridiculous in the cold light of day but for transparency and to show i am not trying to hide anything i have adapted the original name and it now has a more positive feel.

after reading a lot of posts on this forum i am feeling more optimistic about my future.

Fernando

Welcome FSNL.

It is a process.

It will get better.

Best wishes as you take a deep breath, relax and process...

Fernando

75

Evolution and Atheism - please help

by Fernando in

not being familiar with either, my question is:.

what is the relationship between evolution and atheism?.

i'd love to hear from anyone and everyone, and also from any perspective.. without limiting the conversation in any way, i would of course also appreciate comments that are simple, clear, direct and correct (as i don't have the capacity to do a phd in evolution or atheism)..

Fernando

Thank you all for a civilised discussion and for sharing your insights.

I was going to ask what proportion of atheists reject evolution, however Saintbertholdt beat me to it with his concise answer.

21

Thoughts during the meeting today

by stephanie61092 in

while i'm politely sitting during the meeting today, restraining myself from rolling my eyes as the brother drones on about how "having an independent spirit is devilish in nature" and "independence from gods organization only results in pain and strife", i only have one thought going through my mind over and over.

"what would happen if i pulled out a gun and blew my brains out in this kingdom hall?".

would anyone notice or care?

Fernando

Dear Stephanie

Awakening to TATT is painful.

Getting through the initial turbulence as intact as possible is crucial - a good (talking) therapist is invaluable.

There are a number of phases in this process.

For example grief and anger.

I pray you make it to the revenge phase with all guns blazing so to speak.

The best revenge on a miserable controlling cult is to live a full, successful, happy and moral life without any of their "help".

You can and will eventually get to this exciting and fun phase.

Your life will be better than you could ever have imagined.

You are free after all.

The possibilities are awesome.

Best wishes on the journey to a great future.

Fernando

PS - Oh and you no longer have to depend on a rabid cult for a cultist as a life partner...

75

Evolution and Atheism - please help

by Fernando in

not being familiar with either, my question is:.

what is the relationship between evolution and atheism?.

i'd love to hear from anyone and everyone, and also from any perspective.. without limiting the conversation in any way, i would of course also appreciate comments that are simple, clear, direct and correct (as i don't have the capacity to do a phd in evolution or atheism)..

Fernando

Thank you to all you kind folk for your inputs.

The picture is getting clearer.

I particularly like Finkelstein's concise summary.

For those whose insights into evolution led them to atheism, I would like to learn more about the stepping stones on the journey.

475

What is the alternative to JW?

by Formerbrother in

i mean this with all due respect, i would like to hear from genuine people who think jw have it wrong and then what is the truth?.

im not talking about silly little quibbles here and there.. is jehovah real?

the the bible is word?

Fernando

"What point are you making?"

This:

Formerbrother, please can you explain the Good News according to Paul from your heart, without missing any key aspects?

(Especially what we must do to have a right and clean standing with God)

75

Evolution and Atheism - please help

by Fernando in

not being familiar with either, my question is:.

what is the relationship between evolution and atheism?.

i'd love to hear from anyone and everyone, and also from any perspective.. without limiting the conversation in any way, i would of course also appreciate comments that are simple, clear, direct and correct (as i don't have the capacity to do a phd in evolution or atheism)..

Fernando

Not being familiar with either, my question is:

What is the relationship between evolution and atheism?

I'd love to hear from anyone and everyone, and also from any perspective.

Without limiting the conversation in any way, I would of course also appreciate comments that are simple, clear, direct and correct (as I don't have the capacity to do a PhD in evolution or atheism).