Retrovirus

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Posts by Retrovirus

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  44

  Quick Question (or two, or three)...

  by AGuest in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  may you all have peace!.

  although i realize the responses may not be "quick", a response on another thread prompts me to ask:.

  "what do you mean by "spiritual"?

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  Retrovirus

  Thanks for correcting my understanding, Shelby.

  Last year I completed training as a palliative care volunteer. One of the areas covered was identifying the "spiritual" needs of the patient and carers, and where possible linking with those who could help. Here "spiritual" covered everything bar physical; the need for peer companionship, atmosphere (eg country or seaside), music or craft, discussion on particular topics; religion was only a small part of it. So that's how I thought of the word.

  You have a point about the "governing body" - they seem more like dictators than governers! And "Armageddon" is constantly used and abused by the media in particular. The origins of words are interesting, but origins don't own words, any more than parents own children.

  Is there not another word that would better describe the "experience"?

  Well, I tried "insight".

  Wishing you peace also, Retro
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  44

  Quick Question (or two, or three)...

  by AGuest in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  may you all have peace!.

  although i realize the responses may not be "quick", a response on another thread prompts me to ask:.

  "what do you mean by "spiritual"?

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  Retrovirus

  Shelby asks

  Also, to anyone who's paying attention, is "spiritual" really an accurate word for those who don't believe IN the spirit [being]? I mean, the "man" other than the physical being?

  Why wouldn't it be? All the definitions Mr Flipper gave are legitimate and in common use. Is it reasonable to redefine the language to showcase a particular belief?

  Also, I responded to your OP question, which was much broader:

  What do you mean by "spiritual"? What is "spiritual" to you?"

  Beliefs change over time. Word definitions do too. I may be wrong, but get the impression you ask a question only to drive home a predetermined answer.

  Best wishes in any case, Retro
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  44

  Quick Question (or two, or three)...

  by AGuest in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  may you all have peace!.

  although i realize the responses may not be "quick", a response on another thread prompts me to ask:.

  "what do you mean by "spiritual"?

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  Retrovirus

  Hi Shelby,

  It's an interesting question and I don't have a complete answer, let alone a quick one.

  Whether I believe in God is moot. I certainly don't believe in the Bible OT God. Perhaps the best way I could explain it is that there are much better people than I, and better ones then them, and the "goodness" must come from somewhere. . .

  Yet I've had a "spiritual" experience; perhaps best to call it an insight. It greatly helped me at a low point in my life, and still gives me a perspective that helps me grow in tolerance and enjoyment of life.

  My present way of explaining it is that we don't know everything; in fact I don't think we know much. We have opinions or belief systems about what we are (physical and/or spiritual) that may or may not be right. Often "spiritual" or "supernatural" are just words to flag that we don't know.

  I'm OK with not knowing; that way new viewpoints and discoveries don't faze me.

  Retro
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  16

  Did you fake a prayer at the dinner table?

  by fade_away in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was terrible at prayers.

  it was hard for me to talk to someone i can't see or hear.

  everyone else put their heads down at the dinner table so i needed to do the same or i'll look suspicious.

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  Retrovirus

  When we did the "Bible Studies" I quickly realised that the opening and closing prayers were conducted by the study giver, or her husband when he came along (I didn't realise the rampant sexism then). There was a lot of "Jehovah" this and that, as if God needed to be reminded of his name, and I was allowed to say "amen" at the end.

  I learned to keep quiet till she was done, and then not say "amen". When she asked about that I explained that prayer is personal, and I preferred to keep it that way. Probably another reason why I'm "bad association". But really, it is the height of rudeness to impose your conversation with a (real or imaginary) God on others to teach them what you think are the correct forms.
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  70

  May 15th WT - Wives Should be Obedient, Submissive & Not Disagree

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  once again we received the may 15th " witness only " wt from our lurking jw friend.

  even though i've been out for over 7 years and haven't attended in that long - i never cease to be amazed at the arrogance of this patriarchal man pleasing wt society in it's dismissive attitude towards women .

  it's horrible.

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  Retrovirus

  Thanks Mr Flipper, It's great that you were regular in child support. All the sadder that your ex-wife was OK with turning your daughters away from you, or was that purely the religion?

  Also hope you feel better soon.

  Another thought, more on topic - I notice the watchtower seems to try and differentiate itself from other Christian religions; yet their notions on women's place fit right in with extreme fundamentalist protestant groups. Odd, isn't it? As other posters have said, they belong in the middle ages or further back.
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  70

  May 15th WT - Wives Should be Obedient, Submissive & Not Disagree

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  once again we received the may 15th " witness only " wt from our lurking jw friend.

  even though i've been out for over 7 years and haven't attended in that long - i never cease to be amazed at the arrogance of this patriarchal man pleasing wt society in it's dismissive attitude towards women .

  it's horrible.

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  Retrovirus

  Hi Flipper!

  A foolish woman likely squanders her family's hard-earned resources. A supportive wife is not like that. She COOPERATES with her husband in financial matters

  This 1950s viewpoint makes me so mad! Talk about painting with a broad brush! No wonder they don't print this rubbish in the door-to-door wt.

  I was by no means an obedient wife, but held a job, as almost all women do. I provided the main income working even through pregnancies while my ex started ventures which failed. After we separated I raised the children with no financial support from him.

  All my women friends earn, most in 2 income families. One who was the main breadwinner recently separated and therefore her family home had to be sold. I'm sure in the poorer countries where the jw are actively recruiting women work from dawn to dusk.

  What about if the husband squanders resources? Happens often enough! Sould the submissive wife COOPERATE right along?

  SHEESH!!! (rant mode off)
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  43

  WT KINGDOM FARM SOLD $$$$$

  by DannyHaszard in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  http://www.lansingstar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2454&itemid=66.

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  Retrovirus

  Hi and Welcome, U-Dontknow! You seem interested in wt history, for a non-witness.
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  35

  untitled

  by Dawn2011 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  i've been visiting this forum for quite awhile now, reading as much as i can about others in situations similar to mine.

  i've learned alot but i think i am ready to share and will really appreciate whatever advice/thoughts anyone has to offer.. i'm a "wordly" gal (non-demoninational christian) and have been dating a jw for a year.

  he has been a witness for about 34 yrs but has been inactive the past two due to the way he and his ex were treated when she was df'd for cheating/alcoholism.

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  Retrovirus

  Welcome Dawn2011!

  Keep reading and make up your own mind. A very good idea to read "Crisis of conscience" ; it will help you understand. Also have a look at the website jwfacts its written for people considering joining but provides great overall coverage.

  FWIW, I'm a non-jw with friends and family in. At a low point i did start to "study" with two jw ladies but the material was too silly. I believe i'm now "bad association".

  I hope you learn to understand how much your man is still in the thrall of this cult, and that you make the right decision. All my best wishes.

  Retro
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  73

  Is it the only True religion?

  by cupcakekourtney88 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  like the question is jehovah witness the true religion?

  is all others false, what do yall think?.

  i am confuse and just wanting to know others thoughts??

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  Retrovirus

  Kourtney, great quote, 2Peter 2:1 says it all. To me what Jesus teaches in the NT completely replaces the harsh genocidal God of the OT (I do sorta believe in God, but ordinary men wrote the Bible, and their understanding was shaped by their capacity and the time they lived in).

  If we follow the golden rule before any additional man-made rules we can't go far wrong. And if the jws did that, they couldn't shun their family and friends.
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  73

  Is it the only True religion?

  by cupcakekourtney88 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  like the question is jehovah witness the true religion?

  is all others false, what do yall think?.

  i am confuse and just wanting to know others thoughts??

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  Retrovirus

  kjw53 writes

  Strange that is exactly what has occured-All the men who made mistakes in the JW org are dead, and thus have paid the wages of sin. But one thing they have never done is stand in opposition to Jehovah. . .

  Are you sure they haven't? The pedeophiles whose crimes were covered by closed court settlements didn't stand against Jehovah? All the men who are now alive in Brooklyn don't make mistakes?

  Utter nonsense!