Posts by Expanded-Mind

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over the last couple of years, i have done a lot of reading, and rather than answering my questions, it has made me think even more - particularly about god and the bible.. when i was kicked out of the wtbts, it was because of my personal belief in jesus.

Expanded-Mind

Hi, Paulapollos!

I also struggled with the same issues you noted in your original post. After leaving the Watchtower organization, I jumped head first into Evangelical Christianity. As I look back at that time, it is interesting to me that questions I had about the authority of the Watchtower Society surfaced and I began to ask the same questions of God, the Bible and Christianity.

As do others, I believe in God but no longer consider myself a Christian. I am a Deist. I believe that God's existence is evident through nature and all that we can know --- or need to know --- about God is revealed through nature and science. I have pondered many of the arguments of atheism, and agree with many of the arguments, but when it comes to the existence of God, the arguments against it just didn't convince me. But the thing is this: I am not longer obligated to keep my head in the sand. I can take an honest look at any and all teachings and views --- from any person or group --- without fear.

"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." Thomas Paine

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." Oliver Wendell Holmes

Best,

Expanded-Mind

9

Would you call this a sign?

by Lunatic Faith in

jw
friends

since i decided to leave off being a jw i have been pursuing an interest in new age/celtic religion.

i don't want anything to do with christianity any more, but don't have enough knowledge yet to completely abandon all belief in god.

i am also averse to accepting this life is all there is since i spent half of it wasting my time as a jw.. anyway, i have found a local coven that is looking for new members and is willing to train anyone who is new.

Expanded-Mind

15

Jesus will come as LIGHTNING IN THE SKY!

by psychiatric in

ok, so the witnesses will tell you until they are blue in the face, what they hold is the truth, and that jesus has returned already!

(supposedly in 1914, due to some bizarre calculation of theirs).

but didn't jesus say on many occasions, (several times in chapter 24 matt) that many will come about and say there is the christ!

Expanded-Mind

Hi, strymeckirules!

You wrote: "c t russell said jesus had a invisible return and has been invisibly present since 1914 ruling in the midst of his enemies. they took this stand after 1914 came and went with no visible jesus. instead of russell admitting he was wrong about his "pyramid" date, he lied and said he was right, jesus returned like russell said but "invisibly". you see, if he would have admitted then that he was wrong, he would have been admitting to being a false prophet. and then he would lose all the smart people following him."

Russell actually believed that Jesus was invisibly present from 1874. He did not change this view when 1914 didn't lead right into Armaggedon. If I remember correctly, the Society taught the 1874 date for the beginning of Jesus' invisible presence for a number of years (maybe until the 1930's?). It was the Society, not the other Bible Students who followed Russell's teachings, who changed the date for the beginning of the invisible presence from 1874 to 1914.

I am not defending all of Russell's views, but it is important when we discuss these things that we have all of our facts correct --- to the best of our ability --- so that when Jehovah's Witnesses or others who may read our posts do so, they will not find fault with our presentation of the "facts" (which they might view as a misrepresentation).

There are enough facts out there that show the dangers of the Watchtower Society's teachings, etc. that we don't need to, even inadvertently, misrepresent what either Russell taught or the Society teaches. I apologize for my directness... but when I was leaving the Watchtower organization, I heard some exJWs say some really outlandish things and it actually convinced me to STAY in the organization longer... thankfully I saw past the inaccuracies and read some really solid information about the JWs and I left.

My best regards to you...

Expanded-Mind

42

Did you miss out on "higher education" when a JW but go to college later?

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

i did.

still not finished with a degree yet but i'll get there.. how about you?.

Expanded-Mind

Interesting to read all the posts... I became a Witness in the early 70's and passed on going to college (yes, Armaggedon was imminent!), even though my parents (not JWs) would have paid for it.

I am in my 50's now --- have been in school full time since June 2009 --- and am finishing my last semester of full time school toward my BA/History major (finals are next week). I have one summer course to complete to get my degree, but will start looking for a full-time job and am hopeful (keeping fingers crossed! <laugh!>).

Best of luck to all of you... and, as has been said before, its never too late to go back (or start) if that is one of your dreams!

Best,

Expanded-Mind

8

Our History -- BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

by muzzy in

jw
friends

memorial is here, and it is the perfect time for me to make my big announcement.

i want this community to be the first to know.. i have finished writing my novel!

angels and women is the story of judge rutherford and the early history of the watchtower.

Expanded-Mind

Hi!

Just wanted to extend my congratulations... I'm finishing up my undergraduate degree, majoring in history, and I know the effort it has taken to merely write my senior thesis! How long did this take you to research and write?

I thought I'd let you know that the link in your post didn't appear to work when I clicked on it, however I copied your name and googled it and found your webpage.

I am not certain if you were aware, but there doesn't appear to be an email address to contact you through your webpage (at least not that jumped out at me). There was a link to "leave a comment" however when I clicked on it, it brought me back to the home page.

And one of the PDFs wouldn't open up... not sure if that is on my end or just a bad link on the site.

Not trying to be a downer! Really! Just want everyone who wishes to contact you to be able to do so!

I am looking forward to the book... I see that you are positing your book as "fiction"... or am I just misunderstanding your use of the term? Will it be based on the facts, but with artistic license to jazz it up?

Best of luck!

Expanded-Mind

8

Need advise... again...

by Expanded-Mind in

jw
friends

good morning.... on jan 3rd i posted that my son had recently contacted me and that i needed advice.

well, i need advice... again.... i have been very cautious about speaking with my son (a jw) about anything religious and have even been careful about talking with my daughter-in-law (who is catholic) about religion, but in a conversation i had with her a couple of weeks ago we had our first "real" conversation which included talking about why i left the jws and learning more about her faith and perspectives.

i did not intend to get into "religion" with her, but it was the normal flow of the conversation, since she is a very devout and active catholic and through her own reading before we even talked she had come to the conclusion that the watchtower is a cult (her words).

Expanded-Mind

Thanks for getting back to me Sleepingbeauty, Black Sheep and Grandma Jones! I really do appreciate your taking the time to respond!

Expanded-Mind

8

Need advise... again...

by Expanded-Mind in

jw
friends

good morning.... on jan 3rd i posted that my son had recently contacted me and that i needed advice.

well, i need advice... again.... i have been very cautious about speaking with my son (a jw) about anything religious and have even been careful about talking with my daughter-in-law (who is catholic) about religion, but in a conversation i had with her a couple of weeks ago we had our first "real" conversation which included talking about why i left the jws and learning more about her faith and perspectives.

i did not intend to get into "religion" with her, but it was the normal flow of the conversation, since she is a very devout and active catholic and through her own reading before we even talked she had come to the conclusion that the watchtower is a cult (her words).

Expanded-Mind

Good morning...

On Jan 3rd I posted that my son had recently contacted me and that I needed advice. Well, I need advice... again...

I have been very cautious about speaking with my son (a JW) about anything religious and have even been careful about talking with my daughter-in-law (who is Catholic) about religion, but in a conversation I had with her a couple of weeks ago we had our first "real" conversation which included talking about why I left the JWs and learning more about her faith and perspectives. I did not intend to get into "religion" with her, but it was the normal flow of the conversation, since she is a very devout and active Catholic and through her own reading BEFORE we even talked she had come to the conclusion that the Watchtower is a “cult” (her words). The conversation was great, since prior to that, talk had been limited to family matters, the weather, work, etc. Afterward, when I was reflecting on the conversation I wondered if it would come back to bite me. Well it did.

A week later, I called to talk to my son and he told me he had heard about the conversation I had with his wife and --- without opportunity to discuss why it happened --- he told me that didn't want me emailing or talking to her any longer. I tried to explain and he (apparently) hung up on me.

I wrote an email to them asking for forgiveness for treading where I probably shouldn't have, but to no avail as far as my son is concerned. On the other hand, I have had a couple of emails from my daughter-in-law and think she will continue to keep in touch with me. Since this email my son had blocked me from sending him email.

But now I wonder if I need to be cautious about what I say if indeed religion comes up again or if she has questions. As I said, she is well aware of issues with the Watchtower organization and --- from what she told me --- I know she has absolutely no interest in it at all. And I believe she wants to try and help him see the "light".

Do I not talk about religion out of respect for my son, even if she wants to? How do I help her, if she needs it? As you can guess, I don't wish to get in the middle of anything. How do I handle it if the subject comes up? I should add that my son and his wife have a little daugher, my granddaughter, who will be raised Catholic. I am really hoping that I am not cut off from seeing her for any reason.

To be honest, I am tired of the shunning and the walking on eggs with him (been doing this since he was a little kid, once he started standing up for his beliefs (even though I am fairly sure he was parroting his mother). Apparently he no longer attends the meetings, has mostly “worldly” friends and yes, married “outside the faith” of his own free will… somehow I am still the bad guy. Please understand that I love him to pieces and want to do whatever I can to help him, but sometimes I feel like a doormat. That’s just how I am feeling right now...

Any suggestions and thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

With gratefulness,

Expanded-Mind

14

Name some "superstar" Elders you know or met .

by Pitchess Co-Gen in

jw
friends

i'm from the south los angeles area and i was wondring who were the '''star'' elders, ministerial servants, pioneers, in your hometown or area?

they could be good or bad too..

Expanded-Mind

Hey, Man in Black...

You stated you knew a Keith Milkovich. I know this is a long shot, but is it possible the last name was spelled Malkovich? I knew a Keith Malkovich that was originally from the Chicago area, his wife's name was Mary. Not sure if it would be the same person, but he and his wife were from one of the hall I attended in the suburbs of Chicago.

Just curious if it could possibly be the same person.

Take care...

Expanded-Mind