DanaBug

Joined

• started 8 topics
• posted 629 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by DanaBug

• 
  32

  Watch "Dr. Phil" on Wednesday

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  subject of the show: "is this a cult?".

  i hope they do a good job, my wife watches him every day.. hope steve hassan is a guest..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  You can read the transcript and watch clips on his site. But yeah, I'd love to see the whole thing.
• 
  101

  The Danger of Credulous Research of Jehovah's Witnesses on the Internet

  by Spade in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  http://www.watchtower21.org/2011/02/danger-of-naive-and-credulous-research.html.

  it's been my experience so far, that anything a person wants to find out about jehovahs witnesses, they can find out from jehovahs witnesses.

  any and all information ever published by jehovah witnesses is accessible to all.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  DanaBug, that sounds like a description of Papal infallibility.

  Parts of it could be. At least the Catholics can trace it back to Peter and they are allowed to question and discuss doctrine freely. JW's choosing is invisible and they don't provide any evidence for it such as the spiritual food at that time that Jesus found worthy. They quote one parable from Jesus. I know they don't claim to be infallible. But think about it, if you make it known that you don't believe the generation is overlapping, what would happen if you're a baptized witness? If a witness says they don't believe this organization was chosen by Jesus in 1919, what happens? And then how are they thought of if they refuse to change their belief and get kicked out? Does any good person leave the JW's? If that belief changed later, would the df'd person be apologized to and welcomed back? How do JW's view the world and other Christians? Do they say you can read the Bible and understand it without their help? What do they say is the only religion that has the truth? What outside sources do JW's read regarding religion and the Bible? How many ex-JW stories have you read that have the same pattern of grievances? How many books, articles, and news shows have documented abuse, whether it's of a child or spiritual? And their Jonestown kool-aid is refusing blood transfusions. It's happens more slowly over a longer period of time so people don't notice it, but it's the same thing.

  Just go over the list, one by one and see if it fits. If it walks like a duck...
• 
  101

  The Danger of Credulous Research of Jehovah's Witnesses on the Internet

  by Spade in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  http://www.watchtower21.org/2011/02/danger-of-naive-and-credulous-research.html.

  it's been my experience so far, that anything a person wants to find out about jehovahs witnesses, they can find out from jehovahs witnesses.

  any and all information ever published by jehovah witnesses is accessible to all.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  I have family members that are Jehovah's Witnesses. I can't honestly say Jehovah's Witnesses are a false religion. It's proud in my opinion to rant and rave about how you don't need God for anything. Other religions small and large don't show the same integrity and Bible insight that they do. They're not your typical cult as many here pass them off as. It's actually more disturbing that a forum that advertises itself as a neutral forum to discuss anything pertaining to Jehovah's Witnesses is 99% full of former members.

  Spade,

  They are a false religion. They pick scriptures that fit their beliefs and ignore the ones disprove them. Heck, they do that with most of the New Testament by claiming it only applies to the anointed. Just look a little closer. Where does the Bible say we have to be members of an organization or that our attitude towards the faithful and discreet slave determines our surviving Armageddon? Where does it say there are two classes of Christians with two seperate hopes? Where does it say you can not be part of the new covenant and have everlasting life? Show me one scripture that says any of that. And they themselves say they're not inspired, so why believe what uninspired men say over the Bible?

  You may find it proud to claim you don't need God for anything, but that does nothing to refute what that person says at all. Ad hominem.

  They don't have anymore biblical insight than any other denomination. In fact they have less because of the misleading methods and faulty logic they use and the scriptures they ignore. Where are the JW biblical scholars and theologians? Are they the ones writing the magazines and publications?

  They are a typical cult. Their methods are less obvious to the unaware. But they fit the description perfectly. It's more disturbing to me that on a JW forum, very few Witnesses post here. And why is that? Are they instructed not to? Aren't they told former members are "feeding at the table of demons" and they risk their relationship with Jehovah if they associate with them? Guilt and fear. It's a cult, dear. I wish with all my being it wasn't. I have family in there.

  Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.

  1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.

  2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.

  3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.

  4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.

  5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.

  6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.

  7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.

  8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".

  9. The group/leader is always right.

  10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.

  http://www.rickross.com/warningsigns.html
• 
  20

  So Caitlin isn't ignored as the other kids pass Valentines at school

  by cabasilas in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm getting my education degree this year and am working in a practicum placement in an elementary classroom (5th grade).

  it's a very practical way to see first-hand how teachers teach, discipline and help mold their students.

  one student is a jw.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  That is such a great idea! Her parents might be hard-pressed to find anything wrong with that. Kind of like a present given at Christmas that's not wrapped.

  I always found V day the hardest, even though it was one day. I got cards and just couldn't refuse them. I felt like such a jerk when I didn't have anything in return. Then I'd feel guilty for taking them and have to trash them before I got home or hide them until I could. I hope that sticks with her, how it felt to be included.
• 
  18

  I am frustrated!

  by JRK in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been talking to my jw mother.

  about all of my angst.. it totally flies over her head.. the un is no big deal.

  the generation is no big deal.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  JRK,

  If it's any help, I know how you feel. I don't think there's any chance of waking up my dad or mom. Every time I try, it goes in one ear out the other. I feel obligated to try. It's torture, reading that crap looking for ways to use it to my advantage never knowing if I'm getting anywhere at all. But there will come a time when I'll just have to let it go and move on. I can't keep torturing myself, it's not good for my mental health. I don't know at what point I'll feel satisfied I've done all I've can, but I think it's coming soon.

  So I don't have any advice for you, just compassion. Flipper and OTWO gave some good advice though.
• 
  12

  Guy Pierce (of GB): Special Talk (Education)

  by pirata in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i got some notes from a talk that guy pierce of the governing body gave in the past few years.

  there was a good portion on eduation.

  these are the relevant notes (not a transcript):.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  That is the saddest experience I've ever heard. The guy gave up his life's work after studying with JW's. He gave up helping people to peddle magazines. Depressing.
• 
  85

  University student's JW based honors thesis research. PLEASE HELP!

  by honorsthesis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/defectedmembers_honorsthesis.

  hello community,.

  my name is brett w., and i am senior undergraduate student at the university of florida.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  honorsthesis, you have a pm.
• 
  25

  Movies you want to see when they come out

  by Lady Lee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  they aren't even made yet but the talk is there.

  hobbits or whatever it will be called - prequel to lord of the rings.

  1 or possibly 2 more bourne movies.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  No, it's not a problem with my hearing. It's how my brain reacts. If I hear something else, especially if it's a noise I find irritating, I can't focus and understand what someone's saying. I hear it but it doesn't translate.
• 
  38

  The WT Headship Principle (tm): Did you ever REALLY buy it?

  by Open mind in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i believed that god was the big boss and his first-line supervisor was jesus.. .

  everything beyond that got a bit shaky for me throughout my jw life.. .

  but this bit, i never bought into for even an instant: the husband is the head of the wife.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  I watched my mother with this. She had to ask to get her hair cut. I really think this principle is why I thought of her as less than...how do I say it? It was clear to us, by way of our dad, that she was more emotional than logical, and that was a bad thing. It wasn't as smart, kwim? But that was part of our lives too. I asked every year until I was 13 to get my ears pierced, then finally I just did it myself at home with some help from my mom. And the hair thing? Screw that! It's my effin' hair! So I never asked about my hair (already knew the answer), I just went and did it. But my mom never did.

  To be fair, my dad wasn't abusively controlling, but he was controlling. That principle just made him that much more controlling. He was always right, always. He though very logically and thoroughly about things and made his decision, and no input from you was going to change that decision, because he'd already thought of it. It's really frustrating to live with and the main reason I did what I did to get df'd. I feel for my mom, I really do. I honestly think if it wasn't for this principle, she would've left him a long time ago or at least would've put her foot down about some things, and I think it would've been really good for her. It got to the point when I was a teenager, she had to ask him for money for every little thing as she wasn't responsible enough to manage it herself. Seriously.

  And I'm so glad my SO has never heard this idea, lol! We're a team, not a hierarchy. I like it that way.
• 
  25

  Movies you want to see when they come out

  by Lady Lee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  they aren't even made yet but the talk is there.

  hobbits or whatever it will be called - prequel to lord of the rings.

  1 or possibly 2 more bourne movies.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  DanaBug

  I loved the LOTR movies. Watching all the extras, they did the very best they could do, I think. I'm excited the Hobbit's finally getting made!

  Kill Bill 3?? I'm going to have to watch KB 2 again, I thought the story ended there. Hmm...

  I can't stand to go the theater--can't hear the movie for all the popcorn crunching, lol! So we wait till they come out on DVD. I want to see Black Swan, Losing My Religion, and Gnomeo and Juliet looks really cute.