Posts by Crisis of Conscience

50

"All religious belief distills down to faith in utterly unprovable stories."

by Franklin Massey in

jw
friends

i read this today on the board and want to ask, is the statement true?.

all religious belief distills down to faith in utterly unprovable stories.

i feel this way sometimes.

Crisis of Conscience

Franklin, I agree with Flipper about watching Religulous.

I admit that a lot of editing obviously was done to make the documentary fit into an alloted time and so you don't know the complete context of what a person said, but you get the idea. I enjoyed and have seen it quite a few times.

Due to that as well other things I have seen/read/thought about, I have come to the conclusion.................Faith defies logic. With faith, things don't have to make sense. Believing something's real or that it happened is enough.

My 2 cents.

CoC

61

Watchtower admits the KISS method works - Nov 1, 2011 WT, p. 24

by Alleymom in

the following posts and graphics refer to the k.i.s.s.

(keep it simple, sweetie) approach to 587/586 bce,.

which i introduced on july 12, 2003.. here is a link to the original thread:.

Crisis of Conscience

Thanks Alleymom!!

CoC

2

Has anyone here ever attended the WT's Annual General Meeting ?

by wobble in

jw
friends

my sister has been invited this year, i would be interested to hear first hand experience of what she may expect, the kind of (boring) stuff that will be on the agenda, and anything else.. why invite someone like her ?

i guess a kindly c.o has identified her as a loyal wt drone who has had no recognition.

she has been in full-time work for the wt for over forty years, most of those as a special pioneer, she never married, totally devoted to the religion.. nice that she is to be acknowledged, of course she will have to pay for her flight (from europe) and other expenses, and god, sorry, i mean the governing body, (the wt god), will not know who she is, or that she is there.. i can imagine that when she returns home ,she will be feted as a celebrity for getting so close to god , oops, done it again, the gb, and people will be under the impression that she is privy to some new "light".. what is the reality of this farce ?.

Crisis of Conscience

I was invited to go this year but had to pass it up because of previous arrangements.
However, I was in Bethel during the year 2000 and so attended one of them. I don't remember a whole lot since at that time it was the first time I realized this meeting went on every year, or even what was important about it.

Like an assembly, talks are given. Certain reports are also given as well as changes to structure, such as when the GB decided to no longer serve as Watchtower president, vice president, etc.

Also, there are updates on the "work", such as bans or bans that have been lifted, as well as known court cases not secret to the rank and file.

Sorry I can't be of more help. It's been a while.

CoC

24

KH = Private Property (No Trespassing sign)... wtf?

by Scully in

.

do other churches have "no trespassing" signs on the grounds?.

i don't recall ever seeing "private property - no trespassing" signs on other churches, especially ones that have a priest or minister available at all hours, or ones that offer space for community services or other kinds of events.. i wonder whether there is some kind of legal expectation of a charitable organization that pays no taxes to offer access for community services in order to maintain their tax free status.. anyone else ever see signs like this on kh property?.

Crisis of Conscience

@ Scully - It's sad , but true. The JW's may actually consider that act .........vandalism. LOL

CoC

24

KH = Private Property (No Trespassing sign)... wtf?

by Scully in

.

do other churches have "no trespassing" signs on the grounds?.

i don't recall ever seeing "private property - no trespassing" signs on other churches, especially ones that have a priest or minister available at all hours, or ones that offer space for community services or other kinds of events.. i wonder whether there is some kind of legal expectation of a charitable organization that pays no taxes to offer access for community services in order to maintain their tax free status.. anyone else ever see signs like this on kh property?.

Crisis of Conscience

Actually, one of the halls I attended was a triplex.
There was a no trespassing sign in the front.

As I understand it, it was put up only after apparently kids were riding their bikes through the property, mainly the driveway, as there was access to another street through a closed gate. (Bikes could easily go around it.)
I don't think the kids caused any trouble, but the driveway wasn't made to be a public road.
And so the sign went up. It's the only time I've ever seen at a hall.

Perhaps if there is concern of vandalism, this may also occur.

CoC

25

The Meetings Really Suck Lately

by Pika_Chu in

jw
friends

warning.....profanity ahead...wimps may want to leave this page.... perhaps it's stupid bringing this up when all you guys are up to speed with how the gb is full of shit anyway, but i just feel like complaining about it.

the borg is royally fucked up, and we need to call them out on it.. all the talks are about armageddon being close, closer than ever, etc.

you know, the usual crap...we've all heard a thousand times...puke puke.... then there's the added factor that everyone in my congo is actually convinced that they cannot miss even a single meeting.

Crisis of Conscience

LOL @ Farkel and shepherd! You are absolutely right, the pair of you. I have NOT begun to live. Baby steps though.

And I agree that living a double life will take a toll. That's why I don't do anything but attend the meetings. I gave up everything else because I knew the hypocrisy on my part behind it.

But, as most here realize, we don't all have the circumstances to do it the way y'all did. So I'll do it my way for now, even if I'm considered a coward. I know how far I've come and the changes I have been able to make. And therapy was the route to accomplish that. If it wasn't for that, I don't think I still would be in one piece.

I'm not offended in the least bit by what was said, and indeed appreciate the support. Why? Well, YOU'RE RIGHT! LOL And I'm working on getting away.

CoC

25

The Meetings Really Suck Lately

by Pika_Chu in

jw
friends

warning.....profanity ahead...wimps may want to leave this page.... perhaps it's stupid bringing this up when all you guys are up to speed with how the gb is full of shit anyway, but i just feel like complaining about it.

the borg is royally fucked up, and we need to call them out on it.. all the talks are about armageddon being close, closer than ever, etc.

you know, the usual crap...we've all heard a thousand times...puke puke.... then there's the added factor that everyone in my congo is actually convinced that they cannot miss even a single meeting.

Crisis of Conscience

How do I stay sane you ask? Therapy.
I went for a few months, stopped, and then went again to address different issues. One of the issues dealt with being a JW.
I also read a lot.
Both have been tremendous in helping my sanity, even despite still attending the meetings with my wife.
I find myself not having the anger I used to towards being misled.
However, in my head, I do utter the occasional FU when I hear nonsense spit out at a meeting.

CoC

55

Former JW. money counter at district conventions tells all.

by koolaid-man in

jw
friends

how much money flows into the watchtower coffers at their annual fund raiser the district convention?.

former witness lurene stanley working along with her high ranking jw.

husband had the opportunity to see what goes on in the back room at disrtict conventions.

Crisis of Conscience

Yes Watson. It's obvious many people here have a problem with premature...........evaluation. Me included. LOL
But really, Rick is obviously a scammer. I love to see him stagger for an explanation.

CoC

322

WT Nov. 1, 2011 (public) - When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed - Part 2

by AnnOMaly in

out now.. yes, yes, yessssss!

on p. 26-27 they talk about how the lunar positions on vat 4956 fit 588/7 bce!!!.

"clearly, much of the astronomical data in vat 4956 fits the year 588 b.c.e.

Crisis of Conscience

LOL @ Bungi Bill!!

I just want to offer my thanks to everyone for the excellent research and proof offered here.
Also thanks for allowing me the opportunity to 'research this for myself', as was The Watchtower's suggestion in this 2nd article. ;)

CoC

21

As A JW Were You Generally Feeling Guilty Over One Thing Or Another?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i believe the witnesses keep people in the cult by means of using guilt as a tool.

it seems people who leave the religion tend to stop using meds and anti-depressants.

exjws seem more content and less filled with worry and guilt.. what do you think?.

Crisis of Conscience

Yes, and quite often. But after getting some therapy I realized that the religion wasn't the only problem. My upbringing was also involved.

Now, I feel I am doing quite well in dealing with those feelings since discovering the root of it. It has reached the point that I can't remember the last time I had feelings of guilt, or at least in an overwhelming way.

I really have come to find a peace in my life that I can never recall having before. I still "am a JW", that is I attend the meetings with my wife, but am inactive in the ministry and don't participate in much of anything JW related.

And now, how did James Brown say it?

CoC