Posts by just n from bethel

62

Why did you "BORN IN's" leave?

by stillstuckcruz in

i'm sure at some point you have mentioed it somewhere on the site, perhaps several.

but this question is i guess personal.

for those her were born into the jdub religion, why did you leave at whatever point?

just n from bethel

I read the Bible.

And I got good grades in history, science, and math in college. If God wanted us to believe the bible - he shouldn't write it so that what happens in there is mathematically impossible (where to start ... flood, 6000 years of human histroy, development of languages, etc. etc.) Again, I just read the bible from a neutral perspective, several times actually, - realized the joke was on me.

So I've now told most of my close JW friends and family that I'm open to believe any of their teachings that they can present evidence that their belief is true. If it's the "truth" as they claim - they'll be able to present extraordinary proof to back their extraordinary claims. If it was the truth - it would 100% truthful. There will be no lies and no deception, no re-writing earth's history nor the organization's history for that matter. But matters like these must be presented to me from a neutral standpoint, being born in to a religion doesn't mean it's truth, and just because my parents believe it, and their parents believe it, and even my parents' parents believed it, doesn't mean it's truth.

So that's why I left - It was not a matter of choice really. I simply didn't believe because there was no evidence or assurance of the things hoped for (as taught by the bible and the WT). You can't be a JW and not believe 100%- unless you want to live your life as a hypocrite. Thus, I had no choice in the matter. Once I "tested the inspired expressions" I found them - not so inspired after all. That included the inspired expressions of the Bible and the WT. Therefore, it really wasn't up to me anymore, no matter how strong my desire for things to continue the same in my relationships with JW family and friends - it would never change the fact that no evidence existed to support the belief system of the JWs. When I asked my friends and family if they thought I should "pretend" or fake it - they all agreed that even they couldn't do that.

The interesting thing is, they agreed that they just don't need evidence to believe. I said, 'fair enough - you and 95% of the world that believe in some kind of supernatural intervening power, so you're not alone. I'm not going to disrespect you as a whole for doing what most of the planet does anyway - believing in the credulous.'

But, even though, there will be no evidence ever given to prove this supernatural or 'Bible from God' belief, I'm always open for it. MY JW friends and family know anytime they think they have found some extraordinary proof - I'm 100% completely open to look into it.

However, in the meantime, if the JWs want my respect as an organization, they should revise the blood policy to a conscience matter and all but do away with the DFing policy. And - they should apologize for so many of their past mistakes, like the blood policy. They, the GB, should apologize just like they tell their members to apologize for any wrong they have committed. If they were to do those three things, they'd at least have my respect to a minimal degree - like most other religions. I wouldn't believe them per se, but I would at least see that they were interested in the well being of their members. Until then, they have some very dangerous teachings that hurt families immensely, and in worst cases, cause the the needless death of children - children, who in all likelihood, will not be a JW when they grow up anyway. So I cannot consciously give them even the minimum amount of respect they so wish the world would give them.

81

How Many JWs Have You known Who Have Commited Suicide?

by Was New Boy in

jw
friends

james olsen and richaed wheellock both bethelites.. rich templet.

rich and james out of guilt, richard out of depression.. james and rich were both under 30 years old.. after richard wheelock (a bethel heavy) killed himself the society changed it's stand on whether suicides could be resurrectioned or not..

just n from bethel

kjw53 said:

And in which religion on the planet does no one commit suicide????? In which religion are there not aposters??? In which religion are their no pedophiles ???? Not one- so you are just targeting Jw,s out of fear of feeling dead inside of yourselves. guilt and fear come from the inside of a person it makes them reason wrongly in the 4% of brain that is being used, one of satans greatest weapons against the weak.

Ignoring your complete retarded ignorance about the 4% of the brain being used (which what the hell does that have to with this thread anyways - even though it's total rubbish) - you make an interesting point.

'Which religion does no one commit suicide?' The answer that the watchtower would love to give would be ... themselves, Jehovah's Witnesses. They love to brag that they are the happiest people on the earth. That the religion brings every single member joy and inner peace that could not be obtained anywhere else. That the Bible, with their interpretation and unique doctrines of it, helps every one solve their problems and deal with them better than anybody else of any other religion or belief system. JWs say that in the congregation, holy spirit is flowing - and that no problem any JW ever faces could be one that JWs, the congregation, the Bible & WT publications, lots and lots of door to door, prayer to a guy that doesn 't ever talk back, etc. etc. ... they say all of these activities combined on a regular basis will solve any problem of any JW member.

It's possible, like you said, that JWs don't have any more suicides than the rest of the world's religions. They sure don't have any less though. But that certainly makes their claims of the happiest people on the earth invalid. And that makes them no better or any different than any other religion.

So, even though you're taking an apologetic side, you help make the point that JWs are really no different and receive no extra blessings from God than any other religion.

120

Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Barbara Anderson sharing April 10th Australian Newspaper Article about WT and back ground checks

by AndersonsInfo in

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/former-witness-taking-on-watch-tower/story-fn6bfmgc-1226036543156.

former witness taking on watch tower graeme hammond from: sunday herald sun april 10, 201112:00ama former jehovah's witness is to launch a private criminal prosecution against the religion's world headquarters.

his action is in protest at its refusal to require church elders to submit to working with children police checks in victoria.

just n from bethel

The interesting point that should be brought up in court though is this: when a new appointment of elder of MS is made - they ask the brother if he has ever been involved in child molestation. That is the only specific question that they are asked. I also think it is on the bethel application.

Would a court find it interesting that JWs just ask and accept the answer given for elders and MSs? Why not do a backround check on at least the elders and MSs? I mean they're asking the question anyway - right? I think a court/judge/jury would agree that someone who had in the past been convicted of child abuse probably wouldn't answer those questions truthfully - so a background check would assure the congregation that at least all the elders and MSs had saely passed this simple requirement.

It really begs the question, at least re MSs and elders, 'if JWs are already inquiring about the history of their leaders in regards child abuse, why not use the legal resources that other religions are using to make sure their constituents' children are safe?'

39

Awesome quotes from JWN posters

by jay88 in

jw
friends

i will start it off with-thetrueone.

"postulating religionists are really illusionists by using suggestive words to accomplish a state of believability.

".

just n from bethel

I saw this once and couldn't stop laughing - each time I read it, I still break out in a little laughter:

For making my year sir82 - you have the best quote of all time in my mind

The topic was "So what does Jesus do all Day?"

He sits in a small room filled with electronic equipment, with headphones on, listening to millions of JW prayers, waiting for the "magic phrase" at the end.

Listening...listening...listening....

Ah! There it is!

"....in Jesus' name...amen"

OK, they got the right area code, I'll go ahead and patch that transmission on up to dad....

Next prayer starts....listening...listening...listening...

4

Were women and men of the film noir era more seductive and classy? Gloria Grahme for instance?

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

i like watching old black and white flicks on a rainy day.

someting about those kinds of films coincides well with dreary days.

something i noticed about those films, and that time, people were really dapper back then.

just n from bethel

Wait - that's Hedley Lamarr -

"What are you worried about? This is 1874... you'll be able to sue her!"

77

On Human Evolution

by TD in

jw
friends

it's a subject that comes up fairly often here (understandably) and very strong opinions are expressed.

much of the discussion seems to be counterproductive.. i'd like to propose a different approach.

we all know what each other's conclusions are (or at least we should by now).

just n from bethel

How would you decide which of these are truly ape and which of these are truly human and why?

Man this is so easy - I'd ask my lord Jehiccup Micaca and whatever he says is the truth. Period. End of Story.

189

AndersonsInfo

by minimus in

jw
friends

i am sick and tired of people putting down posters like the andersons!

they work hard to expose some things we might never have known about.

why some find fault with them, or ray franz before them, or maximus when he was here is beyond me.. be thankful for those that decide to come here and share what they know about this organization.. we get elders who are still in their positions and they share with us a lot of interesting news and perspectives.

just n from bethel

I still say give her a break. How many years did she work at Watchtower's writing department? Is it completely her fault if her writing skills occasionally refelect some remnants of WT's editorial training? I mean I've seen National Enquirer have less sensationalistic headlines than the Watchtower.

70

Heads up, the Local Needs part this week is a special talk on blood transfusions.

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

a brother called me to ask who was delivering the talk at our hall.

i didn't know what he was talking about.

he then explained to me that this week, for the local needs, congregations across the us will have a brother deliver a special outline on blood transfusions.. .

just n from bethel

The sad part is - most of the R&F - will never read into it that way. They still see doctors giving blood transfusions against their wishes as equivalent to rape .

So even though - there are more and more secret doors opening the way for JWs to be ok with blood transfusions, they're very well disguised.

Also, you still have to take in account that some doctors don't want to be sued by some religious fanatic. So while, a good doctor might understand the 'wink wink nudge nudge' another one might be like - 'ok - no blood - you're a JW - what I know about you is that you sue doctors that give blood to your children. With my workload and medicare paycuts, I don't have time to fight you on this. If you sign the liability release form, I'll let your kid die - no problem.'

So - unless the JWs sent out this new unofficial secret opening to doctors worldwide - there are still a lot of doctors who still think JWs will sue them if they give them or their family blood. Really, how irresponsible is it to have this ever-changing doctrine that if the R&F can't keep up with, how can doctors even know what kind of treatment they can legally give without getting court orders? I'm sure the medical community is very happy for the clear unambiguous direction JWs give them /sarcasm.

16

Why believing JWs should want to be annointed

by just n from bethel in

if you were a believing jw, especially born-in, you never really had the chance to determine if you had the heavenly or earthly hope.

you were raised - or taught in bible/book study - that your hope was, unequivocally, to live forever on paradise earth.

period.

just n from bethel

Gotcha. I'm right there with you. Now let's debate over unicorns.

16

Why believing JWs should want to be annointed

by just n from bethel in

if you were a believing jw, especially born-in, you never really had the chance to determine if you had the heavenly or earthly hope.

you were raised - or taught in bible/book study - that your hope was, unequivocally, to live forever on paradise earth.

period.

just n from bethel

What does it matter if everyone ends up on earth anyway.....

I'm not sure I follow you.

1) In case it wasn't obvious - it was my attempt at some memorial season satire.

2) For real though, if you do mean everyone, like everyone who has ever lived in the hundreds of thousands of years of human history - with no population control? Seriously - you think that would work out perfectly? I mean I guess if the Jewish Christian God was the One that could intervene - earth or heaven - wouldn't matter. But if you're going to write a book about living on earth - or wait - going to heaven - or whatever - then at least be bit less ambiguous if you want people to buy it.