Posts by Rydor

39

What scripture bothered your concious?

by stillhurts in

jw
friends

i have been out 3 years.

i was baptized, never df'd.

ignored the 2 or 3 phone calls from the elders, and then they left me alone.

Rydor

Many scriptures bother me. Here's one account that springs to mind:

In Judges chapter 19 some Benjamites in the city of Gibeah basically go "Sodom and Gomorrah" on this traveler who stays the night there, and spend the whole night gang raping his concubine to the point of killing her.

The dude is understandably pissed and so he decides to let all the tribes of Israel know what was done, which he proceeds to do in a very icky way (I'll let you read that one.)

To make a long story short the rest of Israel decides to make war on the tribe of Benjamin. Now, rather than acting presumptuously and making war on their brother without permission, they actually ask Yahweh for guidance:

Now the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.” (Judges 20:18)

Now since the Almighty himself gave them battle instructions, you'd think that would mean he would, you know, lend them a helping hand....right?

Nope.

Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. 21 The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. (Judges 20:19-21)

So God tells the tribe of Judah to lead the offensive....and leaves 'em hanging. 22,000 men dead. 22,000 families without husbands and fathers.

So what do the Israelites do? Well again, rather than "pushing ahead" and doing what they want, they again consult the matter with the big guy. "Uh hey Yahweh, are you sure about this?"

22 But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. 23 rAnd the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord , “Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.” (Judges 20:22-23)

"Okay well there you have it: God himself gave us the green light...um...again!" Surely this god of love, this manly person of war, wouldn't leave us high and dry a second time?

24 So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who tdrew the sword. 26 Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to uBethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord .

A little puzzling hmmm? Now as the account goes on to show, they go up a third time and end up winning the battle. Still, the question arises: why did this supremely loving and just God knowingly send 40,000 men to their deaths? 40,000 sons, fathers, and husbands?

Oh, perhaps the Benjamites had iron chariots, and that's why he he couldn't help out the Israelites? In case you didn't know, iron chariots are God's one weakness:

The LORD was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots. (Judges 1:19)

Ah, the things you can find in the Bible...

3

For Gamers: The Humble Indie Bundle

by Rydor in

jw
friends

if you like video games even a little, you owe it to yourself to check this out:.

humble indie bundle.

basically, it's a collection of 8 excellent games from independent developers, for which you can pay any price you want (yes, as low as $0.01).. i've played two of them (braid and limbo) and they were fantastic.

Rydor

"VEEEERY nice collection. Thanks for the heads up!"

You're welcome!

I loved this part of Limbo...so creepy!

Limbo Spider

3

For Gamers: The Humble Indie Bundle

by Rydor in

jw
friends

if you like video games even a little, you owe it to yourself to check this out:.

humble indie bundle.

basically, it's a collection of 8 excellent games from independent developers, for which you can pay any price you want (yes, as low as $0.01).. i've played two of them (braid and limbo) and they were fantastic.

Rydor

If you like video games even a little, you owe it to yourself to check this out:

Humble Indie Bundle

Basically, it's a collection of 8 excellent games from independent developers, for which you can pay any price you want (yes, as low as $0.01).

I've played two of them (Braid and Limbo) and they were fantastic. Braid is an absolute masterpiece and worth the price of admission alone. It's a puzzle game that plays like Super Mario, except your character can manipulate the flow of time...this game gave my brain a hell of a workout and was immensely satisfying to finish.

Anyway, check it out!

57

Love of video games = love of violence? August 2012 Awake!

by sd-7 in

page 4-5:.

"video games: 'the uncomfortable fact is, videogames have an unhealthy obsession with bloodshed,' stated a british magazine for video-game enthusiasts.

it added: 'to some degree, a love of videogames demands a love of violence.

Rydor

So, Diablo III, approved for Witnesses or not?

I've never understood their thinking here. Do they realize the object of the game is to kill demons? Not worship them?

22

Do you still keep WTS literatures?

by umadevi in

jw
friends

i was cleaning my bookshelf earlier this week and got rid of all the wts magazines.

as for the books i haven't decided yet.

what about you?.

Rydor

I only have one copy of "Life Everlasting in the Freedom of the Sons of the True God" for use if I ever come across Witnesses unfamiliar with 1975. Oddly enough, I remember a circuit overseer during pioneer school who spoke very highly of the book and recommended it to us, with the offhand remark that "some of it is a little out of date."

I was considering compiling a binder of material on different subjects like 1975, the UN NGO, etc, but honestly that would require more effort than I'd like to give for this damn cult.

36

I need your advice to reach my daughters!

by Cirkeline in

i just spoke to my eldest daughter (i'll name her liv here) on the phone.

i am still shaking all over my body.

partly cause i'm scared to death, partly cause i feel there is a small hope.

Rydor

DO NOT mention Crisis of Conscience or any other "apostate" literature to them!! It's too soon and you will most likely drive a huge wedge between you and your daughters. I know this from personal experience.

I highly recommend you first read "Combatting Cult Mind Control" by Steve Hassan. That'll give you a better understanding of the mind of an indoctrinated person. There's some good guidelines in that book that will greatly increase your odds of success.

18

Shun Run/Walk 2012

by rawe in

jw
friends

i am planning a public awareness event for april 1, 2012, i calling "shun run/walk 2012" to draw attention to shunning policies of jehovah's witnesses.

i use to help out as a moderator on the ex-jehovah's witness recovery forum on yuku, so this is a cross post from that site.

what you'll see below is a letter i have sent to "sdb:ssy", the otherwise anonymous jw author from us branch who wrote me.

Rydor

Shun Run!! Hahahaha that's great!

If I lived in the area I might just participate....

182

"Get out of the bleachers and into the game"... Memorial 2012 demonstration.

by koolaid-man in

jw
friends

now is a good time to start making preparations for the memorial night demonstration at your kingdom hall thursday, april 5, 2012, after sundown.. close to 20 million people will attend this annual global witness event including active witnesses, relatives and friends of witnesses, bible studies,return visits and still attached former witnesses.

the evils of the watchtower org.have to be exposed and this is an ideal time to do it.. many around the world have been adversely affected by their association with jehovah's witnesses and you can be an instrumental force by standing tall and courageously exposing the watchtower organization.. there is no better way to let the watchtower know your revulsion than to broadcast and present your view by standing fearlessly, demonstrating in front of a kingdom hall.. i am fully aware that a handful of the internet therapists who post on this forum will not agree with this method of unmasking the watchtower.. those intolerant, contemptuous critics who will comment on this thread making harsh judgements and finding fault with those who protest are perhaps deep-down wishing they had the backbone to stop hiding in cyber-space, step away from their computer and "get out of the bleachers and into the game" .

lets make this a global event!......

Rydor

I am fully aware that a handful of the Internet therapists who post on this forum will not agree with this method of unmasking The Watchtower.
Those intolerant, contemptuous critics who will comment on this thread making harsh judgements and finding fault with those who protest are perhaps deep-down wishing they had the backbone to stop hiding in cyber-space, step away from their computer and "get out of the bleachers and into the game"

Nice ad hominem there.

Have you read Steve Hassan's "Combatting Cult Mind Control"? Direct attack methods are almost completely useless when dealing with cult members. I encountered protesting apostates a couple of times when I was in, and each time they came off as bitter raving lunatics. If anything, the perceived persecution only reinforced my belief that I was in the true religion.

19

Who's your favorite video game character of all time?

by sooner7nc in

jw
friends

"they're waiting for you gordon...in the test chamber.".

gordon freeman from half life.

captain price from cod.

Rydor

Thief Garrett

Probably my favorite video game character is Garrett from the "Thief" series on PC. He's a master thief, whose modus operandi is to stay in the shadows, and leave no trace he was ever there. He's highly intelligent, cynical, with a dry sense of humor. Despite the fact that Garrett earns his living by pilfering others' wealth, he's actually good at heart and in each game ends up begrudgingly saving humanity from a terrible fate.

32

Wasn't Armageddon Supposed to Happen in the First Century?

by losthobbit in

to me it's pretty obvious from these verses.... matthew 23:36, matthew 24:34, mark 13:30 and luke 21:32.

...that jesus, talking to his disciples, told them that armageddon would happen in their generation (the first century).

just wondering if everyone else sees it this way, or have i missed something?.

Rydor

From the very last chapter of the Bible:

"And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place." (Rev 22:6)
"And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book." (Rev 22:7)
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy." (Rev 22:10,11)
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (Rev 22:12)
"He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (Rev 22:20)

So Jesus tells his followers he will return quickly...no less than three times! So quickly, in fact, that anyone doing badness shouldn't even bother with repentence (v11). If you were the son of God, and planned on delaying your return for TWO MILLENIA at least, is this what you would tell your servants?