Posts by clearpoison

18

Responses to the Feb 15 2012 Wife Beater Article

by discreetslave in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hntezntyv60.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlnttwkadag&feature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2db9jmvzri.

clearpoison

I've heard that all foreign translations did not contain the beating part, it was merely formulated as opposing.

CP

16

Divided Households... Can anyone relate?

by garyneal in

jw
friends

as some of you may know, ours is a 'divided household.

' a term use by jehovah's witnesses to describe households where one spouse is in 'the truthtm' and the other one isn't.

in some of them (like mine) the 'unbelieving spouse' (ubm) may actually express a faith in the god of the bible and in christianity and perhaps even go to church.

I grew up in such environment (family in bigger context) where for me important persons were some in and some out (da'd, inactive, fading, nvever in). I was thought to live along JW teachings but there was no shunning or bad feelings expressed against those out. I guess I had somewhat different childhood as I was allowed to participate in bdays, christmas and easter if I wanted to with my family, but ofcourse never at home. I saw both worlds and as celebration was never considered a big secret or no-no, in time it really did not matter to me. I learned the way to be part of it without participating. Religious differencies were never aired, at least in my presence. It was more like all parties respected others right to see the world as they wanted and live by that.

Today my own family could be considered divided one. I am not out officially, but I do not participate in any form of JW activity. My wife again is in and participates in activities, not fanatically but frequently. What comes to our kids, it was ofcourse a surprise for them when I told that I will not participate in JW activities any longer with them. On the other hand it might have been easy to adapt as I was not taking them in field service for years and our meeting attendance (because of me) was not frequent. In this situation my wife made decision to stay in and get her activities back to acceptable level. We made very clear that they should not consult me things concerning JW religion but talk with their mum. We agreed with my wife that I may talk about my own relation to religion, but I will not try to oppose her attempts to learn JW religion. Whenever we discuss about deeper things (my kids are way older than yours Gary) that include religious aspects I do as agreed, I tell my kids my personal view in things and we discuss around that, I tell them also how JW view this issue officially and ask them to discuss the mather further with their mum. Their situation is easier ofcourse as I am not opposing their learned belief or airing another religious view to them. My issues are of personal sort. I see clearly that they are not sure which path to go, I allways ask them to study these things according to JW education, and then considering how they personally relate to that, I have no idea if they do that. I really want that they know what JW doctrine and life is about, as this is the lifestyle their mum values. Then first make qualified decision about direction in their life. If they choose JW life I'm happy as long as they know what that means. If they choose life outside JW religion I'm happy too, as long they know what they left behind. I take them with me to some of my renewed non-JW related activities, this way showing how my life looks like today. Sometimes these collide with meetings but we let the kids decide what they attend, mostly mum has won . In a sense this is the same kind of life I lived, on the other side I participated in JW life and activities, but I could also experience the world outside the JW context.

CP

32

Why don't JWs do much in the way of charity work?

by ilikecheese in

jw
friends

so i argue with the boyfriend a lot about the fact that i think charitable work is every bit as important as preaching when it comes to serving god.

every church i've ever gone to has some sort of community outreach, if not several outreaches, that have little or nothing to do with preaching.

and i made the point that if these people know you're affiliated with a church, they'll think a little more kindly about christians, too, which would help in the whole witnessing arena.

clearpoison

What would be greater charity than donating eternal life to your fellow human?

CP

70

Acceptable and unacceptable dress for visiting Bethel

by smiddy in

i just came across this on another thread with pictures/photos ,is this for real ?

i couldnt beleive my eyes or ears?.

the control that this organization has over it`s members... is ..is ... well it`s a cult !!

clearpoison

I once visited a foreign Bethel home in suit trousers and shirt, but without a tie. I got counselled by my wife but not refused the tour. Maybe they thought I was this poor lady's unbelieving husband or something and they were mercyful against me. There is noway I would have taken my whole suit with me to long foreign tourist trips, I even attended local congregations in this unrespectful attire and was still warmly welcomed.

But the time I really got the looks was when I once dropped by in our local Bethel to collect some foreign literature. I was going to help my friend in timbering and Bethel was conveniently by the route, so I as I am very pragmatic person decided to combine this need I had. There I was, in Bethel lobby with my wind and waterproof outdoor attire asking someone to deliver some specific items in my list to me. Eventhough I must have been worse sight than the beast in revelation, I was actually allowed to follow one brother to literature depot inside the Bethel premises (much more than I anticipated) and then let out from back door. Wait a minute, maybe that was part of the plan. Well you guessed it right, I was counseled in forthcoming meeting by a Bethel brother in our congregation that there is no such situation in the world that justifies entering even the Bethel parking area in such clothing. Ok, I got that and never again went to Bethel to collect literature, but ordered them through our literature desk.

CP

70

Acceptable and unacceptable dress for visiting Bethel

by smiddy in

i just came across this on another thread with pictures/photos ,is this for real ?

i couldnt beleive my eyes or ears?.

the control that this organization has over it`s members... is ..is ... well it`s a cult !!

clearpoison

A similar kind of leaflet and rigorous rules can be found in respectable golf clubs. I doubt however if TW or Ernie or Phil or Ian would like to play a round of golf there in something else than portrayed there, they would be refused.

CP

27

do you think the GB are wondering why armargeddon dosn't come?

by highdose in

jw
friends

are they deluded enough to think that it must happen soon?

or are they just stringing everyone along?.

personaly i think that russell had good intentions and probably belived what he wrote ( although dosn't make it right) but i don't belive that any other gb has really belived the trash that is supposed to be the jw religon.

clearpoison

I really do not think so. They propably see this as opportunity for as many people as possible to learn about their belief and convert to it. They might even be worried about populations in China and India and similar, wondering how Jehovah would explain their destruction if real chance to reach out to them was never given. Just trying to remember the slogans flying when Russia got open for witnessing and comparing this situation. In that sense the renewed generation light must be kind of relief, even though they certainly think that Armageddon should come sooner than later. For them the appearance of Armageddon really do not matter afterall, as they believe even if they die today they will immediatelly start new life in heavens and that way will be able to observe Armageddon, even when not present here anymore.

That's how I think they might see it, I could be horribly wrong also

CP

15

The Reach Out WT Article, I don't know whether to scream or to laugh

by Quarterback in

jw
friends

i held off long enough in reading the wt article for the study in january.

there is was, two articles about reaching out for the office of elder.. after finishing the article my reaction to it was anger.

they made it seem that there is something wrong with you if you don't reach out in this way.. our congregation has more deleted elders than active elders.