Posts by Rydor

38

Empathizing with homosexual struggles as a hertosexual

by sabastious in

when i was a bible fundamentalist jehovah's witness it was easy for me to dismiss homosexuality as a sin and move onto the next, more interesting, topic.

it is much more complicated than that for me at this point in my life.. i think about it this way:.

what if i, a heterosexual, were raised in a community where everybody was homosexual and heterosexuality had a harsh taboo attached to it.

Rydor

Sabastious:

I myself have struggled with these feelings (although not gay myself) for quite awhile. I'll recommend a book to you that really opened my eyes. It's called "Stranger at the Gate" written by Mel White. It's essentially an autobiography about trying to reconcile his Christian faith with his homosexuality. To summarize: he suffered hell for decades before finally deciding to accept who he was. He is still Christian and believes that Christendom has misinterpreted passages relating to homosexuality. I, on the other hand, believe the Bible does condemn homosexuality, and it's one of the main reasons I'm no longer a believer.

11

Is the New Testament Just a Pagan Corruption of the Old Testament?

by Diest in

i find myself asking that question more and more of late.. my first reason is the claim of a virgin birth.

all of the jewish sources i read say that isaiah 7:14 does not talk about a virgin birth, but rather a birth to a young maiden.

it was only the greek septuagint that shifted this belief to a virgin birth that is similar to their greek myths.. .

Rydor

I used to believe that Old and New Testaments were one united work, but on closer examination it seems like in a lot of instances the NT writers drew on OT texts and then misapplied them (as JWs do) to events that were happening in their time.

For example, in Matthew 2, Herod commands the slaughter of all male boys 2 years old and younger. The author then says that this event was in fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah, which read, "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more." Here Jeremiah 31:15 is being quoted. However if you go to the actual verse in Jeremiah, and read the entire chapter, you will find that the context is different. Chapters 30 and 31 of Jeremiah are a song in which restoration and a delivery from captivity is promised for the people of Israel. The only "prophecy" is that the Israelites will be restored to their homeland. The very next verse (v. 16) reads, "Thus says the LORD, Restrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For 'your work will be rewarded,' declares the LORD, And your children will return to their own territory."

When we consider the verse in the original context, it becomes clear that the "children" spoken of are the Israelites themselves. There is absolutely nothing in the original context that hints that this verse has some sort of broader application, certainly nothing that indicates it refers to a literal slaughter of children hundreds of years in the future.

I feel the same way about Isaiah chapter 7. Before deciding whether there is prophetic reference to Jesus or not, it's best to read the entire chapter and ask yourself "What's really being said here?"

To summarize, two kings named Rezin and Pekah have waged war against Jerusalem. God tells Ahaz the king of Israel that he should not be worried; that those two kings will not overthrow Jerusalem. God then permits Ahaz to ask for sign, so that he will know for sure these things will come true. Ahaz refuses, but God provides one anyway:

"Behold, a (hebrew: alma) will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken"

Notice then, that the important part of the prophecy is not the birth of the child itself, but rather the short time that would pass before the two invading kings were overthrown. I'm no expert on child psychology, but a child can distinguish between good and evil at....2 years? 3 years? In any event, this is basic thrust of the prophecy: "In just a few years these kings will no longer trouble you."

If you read just verse 14 of this chapter (with the hebrew word alma translated as "virgin"), then I can see how that looks like a strong link to the story of Jesus. But when you understand the events that prompted this prophecy and then read about the child eating "curds" and "honey" and two kings being "forsaken" then the parallel starts to fall apart.

32

Still Amazed to Have Escaped

by leavingwt in

jw
friends

i escaped the wt more than three years ago.

yet, even today, i'm still amazed, surprised and thankful that i got out.

it's easy for me to imagine having never getting the information i needed to make a clean break.

Rydor

LeavingWT,

I've been out for nearly five years now and every so often I still get those feelings. I'll think back to ten years ago, what it felt like.....Sunday morning, bright 10am sun in my face....stepping out of the car at the end of a street and looking down.....at all....those....houses....never having a clue as to what I was going to say.....praying that every one of them would be a not-at-home. Oh yes, I still remember that sense of dread, and when I do I get down on my knees and thank whatever higher powers may or may not exist that I was able to break free.

I was like you too. The chances of me getting out were virtually nil. My service partner and I were JW "poster boys." Pioneers, ministerial servants, intelligent, well-spoken, and generally liked by everyone in the congregation. I never made it to Bethel but certainly had aspirations and submitted two applications. My one weakness was women. After years of Watchtower-imposed celibacy I got to the breaking point and it finally led to my being disfellowshipped. It took nearly two years of "drying out" time for me to have enough courage to read Crisis of Conscience, which started the exit process.

It's a hell of a thing, going from believing that you will never grow old and never die, to finally accepting that yes, you will. The one ugly question that looms before you is, "Now what?" And decades of Watchtower dependency make answering that question very difficult.

57

The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

Rydor

Wow, does this forum have a "sticky" function? Because this post deserves one.

You hit several nails right on their respective heads.

Good job, man.

18

WT books thrown into the dumpster...

by NVR2L8 in

jw
friends

for the last few weeks i have been pretty busy as we were moving to a new house.

my wife did most of the packing but when it came to the move, i realized that there are things we own that we had forgotten about because we haven't used them for years!

on top of the list was old wt publications that no longer contain the "truth" and publications available on the wt cd.

Rydor

Hah, I was just reminded of a time about ten years ago when I was with my pioneer partner leafing through some old bound volumes. I found an article (from the 70's I think) entitled, "The Homosexual Lifestyle - Just How Gay Is It?"

Well when I read the title I just lost it! I motioned for my partner to come over and when he read the title he too broke out into hysterical laughter. Ah fun times...

19

My association with this organisation is coming to its end!

by TimothyT in

im posting from my boyfriend's house!

im having a week here with him to get away from things and to enjoy myself.

recently i came out to my entire family that im gay.

Rydor

If I were you, and if you want to truly be free from the JWs, I think I would research the many valid reasons to give up on this religion - outside of just the gay issue.

I'll second this. It's great you're getting out but there's a high chance you're going to suffer pangs of guilt over not associating with the Watchtower Society. To really be free you need to examine for yourself the mountains of evidence proving the Watchtower is not, and never was "God's organization." Reading former Governing Body member Raymond Franz's "Crisis of Conscience" is a great place to start. It's very well-written and not mean-spirited like you might expect. It sheds a lot of light on things like the changing of the 1914 doctrine and the predictions that Armageddon would come in 1975. I think it's currently out of print but you can find it online as a PDF. For me, reading it lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I think it will for you too.

10

Guitar skills!

by fade_away in

jw
friends

i never really liked any kingdom melody they played at the kh, but i found this video of a kid who makes these songs sound pretty cool.

he plays them on an electric distorted guitar.

(the devil's instrument...the one he uses in heavy metal)).

Rydor

"Pharaoh's char-iots and his mi-li-ta-ry for-ces have been cast in to-OOOO tthe-EEEE SSSSEEEEAAA!"

I always liked singing that triplet on the word "military."

71

Just Tell Us In Plain English

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

if god has instructions for sincere people why can't he just tell us what they are in plain language?.

he could do that and some people would fall in line and others wouldn't.. if i was god, that's what i would do.. as a parent, that's what i do with my kids.. i am so tired of all the guesswork..

Rydor

Ever seen "The Matrix?"

There's a scene in the movie where the main character, who thinks he's been living in the real world the whole time, finally wakes up and finds himself in the REAL real world. He then asks his rescuer, "Why are my muscles so weak?" To which the man responds, "You've never used them."

I think JW's who wake up are in a similar situation. When children develop into adults, they should gradually develop a belief system, a way of viewing the world. They should develop the ability to distinguish right and wrong. Basically, a moral compass.

But those raised in the Watchtower have never had the opportunity to develop in this way, to go through this process of "self-discovery." They've been spoon-fed a pre-fabricated system of beliefs and told "This is correct. Believe this." And if there's ever any doubt about whether something is "right" or not, what do they do? Rather than use their own mind to think it over, they ask an elder, or search for a relevant Watchtower article, or call the headquarters. For a JW then, the part of their brain used to determine the "correctness" of something has, likely, never been used.

When I finally realized the truth about the Watchtower about 3 years ago, a difficult process began. I was so used to doing what was "right," and after realizing that what I thought was "right" was actually wrong, I found myself with a strong desire to seek out what was really "right." In essence, I was hoping to be handed another set of beliefs that would be the "right one." Thus I would avoid the arduous process of figuring all this stuff out on my own. I think probably a lot of Witnesses fall into this trap, since we're trained to think in terms of "sects" and "denominations." There's a tendency to reason, "Well if this organization is wrong then I'll just find the right one!" The presupposition being that there IS one true religion or organization. But the reality is there's no simple solution like that. There's no getting around it, you have to use your brain, and excercise muscles you may not have used before, in order to come to your own (hopefully sane) conclusions.

So in short, I can empathize with your feelings. You're quite normal to feel that way, and it gets better in time. :)

25

A Big Thanks to John Williams at Bethel

by mentallyfree31 in

jw
friends

about five years ago, john williams came to philadelphia, ms as a visiting bethel speaker for our special assembly day.

i was well acquainted with him, as he had been to my kh before as a special weekend speaker, and also to a neighboring congregation.

in his afernoon talk, he goes off about social network websites and he made this statement: "brothers, make no mistake about it, myspace is no place for christians".

Rydor

For me that moment came during a circuit overseer visit back in the early 2000's. The public talk that was being given at the time consisted of a verse-by-verse explanation of Psalm 91. Psalm 91:3 reads,

"For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence."

The application that the CO gave, which was of course the one given to him in the outline, was that "snare" Jehovah saves us from was nationalism..... NATIONALISM!!! I thought to myself, "So you're telling me that, when David was composing this song, thousands of years ago, he was praising God for saving his people from NATIONALISM????" The idea was beyond ridiculous. For me it was the first time that I believed the organization was wrong about something.

Of course, the standard dub-thinking took over: "Well, they're not quite right about this, but it's still God's organization. I'll just keep this to myself and Jehovah will work things out in time."

8

Song: 'The Bible--A Priceless Treasure', then concluding prayer

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

brings faithful slaves and popes to humankind.. its meaning's subject to interpretations.

that can at times truly screw with your mind.. this often-misused book is called the bible--.

'twas written long ago and then compiled.

Rydor

I know that was insanely long, but...if you've been to any district convention, you know that feeling of thinking, if I close my eyes any longer, I'm going to fall from this stadium seat to my grisly death.

Oh God, isn't that the truth! I don't think there's been a single district convention where I didn't almost lose my balance during a prayer. One year my cousin decided to time the closing prayer; afterward he told me "That was eight minutes long!"