((((Grandma Grace))))
I'm not like this in real life, but I miss the family I thought I had.
Retro
Retrovirus
JoinedPosts by Retrovirus
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59
I don't belong here anymore
by sizemik inthese are some things i have been thinking about .
.. when i first found this site i registered immediately ... never was a "lurker" ... and i've been here about six months.. everyone was very warm welcoming and i felt at home very quickly ... very pleasant at the time, but as time has progressed i look back and feel a bit "love-bombed" ... much like a religion i used to belong to.. i have found that this site is a bit "cliquey" ... groups of posters frequent at similar times and enjoy their familiarity with each other and that's great ... but they also sometimes exhibit a coolness toward those outside their clique ... almost as if your 'post count' is the first thing by which you are "judged" ... much like a religion i used to belong to.
some posters develop a personal dislike for others and not only jump on their threads but even deliver the odd "slap" on unrelated threads to increase the discomfort for the object of their dislike ... not unlike a religion i once belonged to.. some posters even follow others around the board looking to counter or use snide or clever put downs at every opportunity ... a kind of intellectual "rivalry" that was common to those in that religion i used to belong to.. many posters like to use 'in-house' jargon and labels eg; "newbies" for those recently joined.
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59
I don't belong here anymore
by sizemik inthese are some things i have been thinking about .
.. when i first found this site i registered immediately ... never was a "lurker" ... and i've been here about six months.. everyone was very warm welcoming and i felt at home very quickly ... very pleasant at the time, but as time has progressed i look back and feel a bit "love-bombed" ... much like a religion i used to belong to.. i have found that this site is a bit "cliquey" ... groups of posters frequent at similar times and enjoy their familiarity with each other and that's great ... but they also sometimes exhibit a coolness toward those outside their clique ... almost as if your 'post count' is the first thing by which you are "judged" ... much like a religion i used to belong to.
some posters develop a personal dislike for others and not only jump on their threads but even deliver the odd "slap" on unrelated threads to increase the discomfort for the object of their dislike ... not unlike a religion i once belonged to.. some posters even follow others around the board looking to counter or use snide or clever put downs at every opportunity ... a kind of intellectual "rivalry" that was common to those in that religion i used to belong to.. many posters like to use 'in-house' jargon and labels eg; "newbies" for those recently joined.
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Retrovirus
Hi Sizemik,
You'll be missed! Hope you reconsider.
As a non-jw (and I definitely feel like an outsider ) this place helps me understand the jws in my life. What I'm learning is that there is no jw and worldly difference - except in the minds of active jws. Cliques, gossip, judgementalism and personal preferences happen everywhere. Especially I'm familiar with them in my family, which is another reason to be here.
What I'm trying to say is, its not what we encounter, or what it reminds us of. I need to figure out the best way of understanding and dealing with it. This is particularly important if it pushes my buttons.
Good luck in any case,
Retro
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43
So here I am!
by jwmanager inhello to everyone!
i guess the easiest way to introduce myself is by letting you know i'm headisspinning's husband.
it might take a little bit for me to open up, but i enjoy reading the posts and responses on here.
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Retrovirus
Welcome, Jwmanager!
I'm not a jw; "failed" my "studies" and did not progress so am probably bad association. Sorry for the tough times you're going through. I can partly understand as I went thru a messy divorce when my kids were small and then raised them as a single parent with a number of disruptions from the ex - and also trouble with my own family.
Still, looking back, it really is a time that I'm grateful for. I grew up a lot as a person and if I'd stayed married I'd never have gained the confidence, independence, perspective etc that I have now.
I devoutly hope that you and your wife will grow and gain from this, and impart that strength to your children.
Retro
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18
"Do You Think They Are Extremist Publications?" Well, Yes!
by metatron infrom the may 1 watchtower, complaining about those poor misunderstood witnesses in russia, who are (gasp!
) actually accused of being extremists!
can you imagine!.
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Retrovirus
Great quote, Coondawg, and I'm against banning any books too. Is that what the Russian government wants to do? Dopes!
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73
New Believers, Studying.
by cupcakekourtney88 inhey y'all!
my name is kourtney and i am new to this form and jehovah witnesses.
right now i am studying the book "what does the bible really teach".
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Retrovirus
Learning to understand the Bible is fine. Just don't blindly trust a single source to get everything right!
I hope your sister isn't a baptised jw? MY SIL is, and over the years she has changed a lot. She limits contact with me because I am "worldly" - that means, not a jw, and therefore "bad association".
That's not in the book, but just ask your jw contacts "could you have a close friend outside the religion?"
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73
New Believers, Studying.
by cupcakekourtney88 inhey y'all!
my name is kourtney and i am new to this form and jehovah witnesses.
right now i am studying the book "what does the bible really teach".
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Retrovirus
Hi again Kourtney!
I'm at work and haven't got it with me but here are a few things:
1. evolution happened. The story of Noah's ark is a myth. If it were factual, think of the numbers of animals that would have had to evolve in 4000 years!
2. The Bible contains numerous internal contradictions. The first is between Genesis 1 and 2. (the order of creation). Would a loving, fatherly God give us such a confusion and then wipe out those who didn't interpret it "properly"?
3. "Jehovah" is not God's name. There was no "j" sound in hebrew. Also Jesus told us to call God "our father", not by a name.
There's plenty more. . . Retro
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New Believers, Studying.
by cupcakekourtney88 inhey y'all!
my name is kourtney and i am new to this form and jehovah witnesses.
right now i am studying the book "what does the bible really teach".
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Retrovirus
Welcome, Kourtney!
I studied for several months and still have "What does the bible Really Teach".
I found many problems with the literature provided and am happy to go into detail if you wish. My jws could not answer them either, and chose to discontinue the sessions.
Remember that the Bible encourages peope to "make sure of all things" 1 Thess 5:21. If something is wrong, it's no good trying to stick with it because it is comforting or whatever.
There is a wealth of information on the net; I suggest jwfacts for a good start.
Most people here are no longer believing JWs. I will never become one either.
Retro
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18
"Do You Think They Are Extremist Publications?" Well, Yes!
by metatron infrom the may 1 watchtower, complaining about those poor misunderstood witnesses in russia, who are (gasp!
) actually accused of being extremists!
can you imagine!.
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Retrovirus
There is a distinction between "labelling them extremist" (fair enough, IMHO) and banning the religion (not only draconian but likely to backfire as it fuels their of persecution)
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19
Making a fetish out of bible inerrancy
by Terry inthe catholic church dominated christianity for a thousand and a half years without any successful christian competitor.. challenges came and went, but, the central authority won out.. catholic power stemmed from a simple idea: peter was bestowed by jesus and installed as the first leader or pope.. peter, then, passed his authority down successively; one pope followed another.. the central authority of catholicism was magisterium.. if you don't know what magisterium means you might want to look hard at the definition:.
the divinely appointed authority in the catholic church consisting of the pope and bishops whose purpose is to teach and establish the true faith without error.
the magisterium alone, according to catholicism, has the right to interpret the word of god.. www.carm.org/catholic-terminology.
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Retrovirus
Terry,
I really enjoy your posts, thanks! Have another!
But when you write By OVER stating the authority of scripture christianity has shattered like a brick through a plate glass window
Doesn't that leave out the Christians who do not believe the Bible to be inerrant? Or have I misunderstood?
Retro
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JW ADVANTAGES vs DISADVANTAGES
by DesirousOfChange inthis earlier topic [why do it feel bad about my children leaving jw religion?
] is what causes me to ask this question:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/208031/1/why-do-i-feel-bad-about-my-children-leaving-the-jw-religion.
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Retrovirus
Desirous of Change wrote:
Courage is surely an understatement. Someone who has been in for decades feels like they have nothing else to turn to. It's all they know. If you're a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation JDub, surely much/most of your family is also "in". All of your friends are other JDubs. You have built a life revolving around JDub tradition. You have taken a stand on things with all your "worldly" peers at school or work or non-witness family. Maybe you have "recruits" in that respect you for "all that you are" in the Truth.....
Then BAM! Something awakens you.........you start looking at things critically (oh, oh, the WT warns about those who are critical -- it's the first sign)..... you take off the blinders and.........(that's where I am).......
.............well you know the rest.
How long does this period of denial last?
How long before you get over the concern that everything bad happening in your life is divine justice?
DOC I agree, entirely, courage is too small a word. Yet Martin Luther once said "Here I stand; I can do no other".
The WT warns about those who are critical - yet the Bible asks for critical thought - "examine all things; hold fast to those which are fine". Great change for good has been brought about by those who refused to have their thinking controlled by governments and religions, but followed their conscience.
As a non-jw I cannot say how long denial lasts. I stayed in denial about some family stuff for decades before I was forced to deal with it . The delay didn't help one bit.
There are books and sites that will help with the concern that everything bad happening in your life is divine justice. They are frequently referred to on this site. You'll realise by now that God either loves all of us or none - not a particular religion.
I wish you all good things, and encouragement, strength and support on your journey. . Happy to talk any time you'd like to.
Retro