Posts by nugget

14

A RIGHT-eous conundrum!

by Fernando in

how can i be right with god?.

there are only two ways:.

work to prove, earn, deserve or pay for a right standing with god (unscriptural, and actually causes corruption)seek out and accept the free gift of imputed righteousness, and then be transformed or changed from inside by god's love (scriptural)a person spends his life in a religious system because he wants to be right with god.

nugget

It is a mistake to assume that there are only 2 options. Life is not either or.

20

Inquiry to my website: What to do about 16 yr old converting to JWs? I will send family JWN link

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

i received the following email today at my website, www.watchtowerdocuments.com.

please help this loving uncle with some advice:.

hello, i dont know if anyone can help me with this but i thought i would give it a shot.

nugget

you are dealing with young love and infatuation the more you attempt to pull them appart and take her away from the religion and the object of her affection then the stronger she will cling to him and it. At this stage it is important that the lines of communication are kept open and you do not lay down any ultimatums. Be careful not to tell her they are wrong or evil she will have been warned about pressure from family members and will see this as proof that they are right.

She is in the early stages of indoctrination getting lots of positive reinforcement and approval. People will be telling her how clever and great she is and giving her alot of pseudo affection. On top of this she is getting closer to her goal of being with her boyfriend. This is a concern because although in general the boys we fancy at 16 we loathe at 18, in the witness world the pressure is to marry young so young people make poor choices about marriage and enter a committment they are unprepared for.

What you can ask her is that she is being asked to make a lot of sacrifices for this boy, giving up Christmas, Birthdays, religious freedoms and changing religion he must be very special. What sacrifices has he made for her to show how much he loves her. Love is after all a reciprical arrangement. Remind her how much you love her just as she is and assure her that your love will never be conditional whatever she chooses to believe. Ask her to ask him and her bible study if she were to get baptised and then change her mind about the faith would the people in the hall still be warm and friendly would they still be her friend? Their love is conditional, people who choose to leave are shunned. if they say anything different to this then they will have lied to her and you can use this in the future.

Ask her if is correct that they are called the Truth. Such a religion is therefore holding itself to a very high standard. She is a fabulous girl so full of promise and potential. So if she is giving those fabulous qualities to anyone or anything she needs to be sure they are worthy of it. It is a serious commitment and she needs to be sure that she has done herself the justice of looking into the religion properly. If she was going to a college she would look at the prospectus and talk to current students but she would also research on line to see how independent people reviewed the college. Request that she treats this commitment just as seriously not only asking current witnesses but also checking on line to see how independent schloars view the faith. After all truth does not become a lie when someone checks into it.

Don't tell her too much get her to question and think. It is interesting that ICSA (international cult studies association) views the witnesses as a cult and is running a workshop in May in Philidelphia specifically about JWS. They are a good place to find counsellors and therapists who specialise in cults.

What is most improtant is that she knows you love her and will always love her. She is lucky to have such a supportive person on the outside.

14

As witnesses did we ever have a normal family life?

by nugget in

something i read about people born into cults and high control groups stuck with me.

this was that we have never known normal family relationships our family life has always been abnormal.

witnesses will argue that they spend time with their children and that they are constantly following bible based counsel on how to be good husbands, wives, parents and children.

nugget

Nambo it was interesting to see your take on things. I can't say that as a witness I ever experienced the giddy partyinging and socialising that you describe since a lot of congregations have in groups who socialise together and out groups who are rarely invited. High levels of social contact are actually discouraged and over the years approved social events have been reduced down and usually include some element of service. Some children grow up socially awkward because they have a very restricted life. Witneses are like all groups in as much as there is a variety of experiences.

Charlie Brown Jr so sorry that you are experiencing shunning. You did what you thought was best at the time and trusted the wrong people. Hopefully as your children share your genes they may realise the futility of what they are doing eventually.

Disillusioned Lost Lamb I agree witnesses have to sign post things because if they didn't people would realise they were being duped. They have to say they are the happiest people, and that worldly people have no natural affection otherwise JWs may make their own decisions about how happy, affectionate, loving and normal they are.

14

As witnesses did we ever have a normal family life?

by nugget in

something i read about people born into cults and high control groups stuck with me.

this was that we have never known normal family relationships our family life has always been abnormal.

witnesses will argue that they spend time with their children and that they are constantly following bible based counsel on how to be good husbands, wives, parents and children.

nugget

Loz you raise an interesting point. As witnesses we are taught that each one will render an account for himself to God. This means a lot of our focus is on how we are doing spiritually other people's spirituality only comes into focus if it seems weak and therefore an issue. The society makes us selfish and hard people if we follow it's edicts and the human cost is huge.

14

As witnesses did we ever have a normal family life?

by nugget in

something i read about people born into cults and high control groups stuck with me.

this was that we have never known normal family relationships our family life has always been abnormal.

witnesses will argue that they spend time with their children and that they are constantly following bible based counsel on how to be good husbands, wives, parents and children.

nugget

No child should have to live in fear of God's judgement although I spent 1975 in constant fear that my father, grandparents and friends would all be wiped out .

14

As witnesses did we ever have a normal family life?

by nugget in

something i read about people born into cults and high control groups stuck with me.

this was that we have never known normal family relationships our family life has always been abnormal.

witnesses will argue that they spend time with their children and that they are constantly following bible based counsel on how to be good husbands, wives, parents and children.

nugget

those particular kids will be lucky to make it to their teens without therapy

29

Fashion Models' badly damaged feet...

by ziddina in

i hope that this link works.... go to this link.... http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/trends/2012-spring-summer/mules/gallery# .

and click on one of the pictures.

that should start the "slide show".... then move your mouse/cursor over the picture.

nugget

yes true story it was a news item on this mornings breakfast TV.

29

Fashion Models' badly damaged feet...

by ziddina in

i hope that this link works.... go to this link.... http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/trends/2012-spring-summer/mules/gallery# .

and click on one of the pictures.

that should start the "slide show".... then move your mouse/cursor over the picture.

nugget

apparently now you can have implants put into your feet to cushion them if you wear high heels.

24

Yearbook 2011 bags this Site!!! Internet full of lies....but Faithful slave writters use UNIVERSITY libraries with 5 million books???

by Witness 007 in

yearbook 2011 p.9,10 "the spiritual food like physical food needs to be well prepared....the writting department follows the pattern of "tracing all things with accuracy.

} while the internet is a quick source of information, our researchers don't rely on blogs or poorly documented web entries {you guys} written by unidentified or unqualified persons.

{or everyone on this site!!

nugget

5 million books and yet the writing department doesn't know how to use an index. If they did I am sure they would have discovered 607 is rubbish by now. Doesn't matter how many books you have access to if you never read them.

14

As witnesses did we ever have a normal family life?

by nugget in

something i read about people born into cults and high control groups stuck with me.

this was that we have never known normal family relationships our family life has always been abnormal.

witnesses will argue that they spend time with their children and that they are constantly following bible based counsel on how to be good husbands, wives, parents and children.

nugget

Something I read about people born into cults and high control groups stuck with me. This was that we have never known normal family relationships our family life has always been abnormal. Witnesses will argue that they spend time with their children and that they are constantly following Bible based counsel on how to be good husbands, wives, parents and children. However underlying the advice to be a good family member is the message that the first loyalty is to the group. Loyalty to spouse and children is discouraged, there is no compromise since affection is conditional to group membership. In fact in talks the word loyalty is seldom used except in the context of sexual faithfulness.

So what did we miss, what was different? I appreciate that not every family outside a cult is perfect but what do normal good family relationships look like?

In a normal family there is a feeling of security it is a place where you can put forward ideas and question concepts without fear of rejection. Not everyone in the family is expected to agree with everyone else's point of view but will love each other anyway.

In a family you protect one another, if someone threatens the happiness of a family member then you support your family member offering comfort and try to help them through the problem.

In a normal family most parents would want their children to be happy and would support them to fufil their dreams and understand them if their life choices were different.

Normal families take pride in their children's achievements and do not try to discourage them or tell them they are being boastful or proud because they excelled at something and wanted to tell people about it.

Normal familes critically weigh up decisions they have to make and make choices based ontheir own critical thinking skills and values they have aquired throughout their lives. They do not consult magazines or ask other emotionally stunted men to decide for them.

These are just a few of the things that came to mind but I am sure that there are many others.