Posts by Retrovirus

24

Why do we care?

by fade_away in

jw
friends

ok this thread might get my ass kicked by some of you in here, but don't take it the wrong way...i'm just curious, why do we care so much about the wt calling us "mentally diseased"?

i mean haven't we said far worse things about the wt and gb in this forum?

(i include myself)...i know many of us got all bent out of shape because of those two words they used on us and some of us are trying to get the law on our side, but if we could file lawsuits against them, then i'm sure they can just as easily get their money back by accusing us of "hate speech" and having this website shut down.

Retrovirus

Slightly off topic but. . .from Greybeard's post 97 on P1:

How do they violate Jesus words at Matthew 5:22? The Watchtower itself explains this in 2006, 2/15 “Questions From Readers” article asks this: What three dangers was Jesus warning against at Matthew 5:22 ?

"What, then, did the expression “despicable fool” signify? The word used here sounded similar to a Hebrew term that means “rebellious,” or “mutinous.” It designates a person as morally worthless, an apostate and a rebel against God. So the person addressing his fellow as a “despicable fool” is as much as saying that his brother should receive a punishment fit for a rebel against God, everlasting destruction. From God’s standpoint, the one uttering such a condemnation against another could merit that severe sentence—everlasting destruction—himself.— Deuteronomy 19:17-19 ."

How do they get away with this stuff? A word "sounded similar" to a Hebrew term that means "rebellious or mutinous" which designates "apostate"???

Anyone in the real world would be laughed out of the country for such leaps of illogic!

105

I've lurked a long time: JW's produce some of the most paranoid humans

by Unlearn in

jw
friends

i'll keep this brief for now.. long time lurker (4 years or so).. born-in, elder, used on district level (last talk i gave before i left was the baptisimal talk), and lots of hard time put in...before i finally made the move to split.

it's a long stoy, much like many of yours...but with it's own little interesting twists.

more details in the future, perhaps.. as i said, ive lurked here for a while.. its funny: for a long time i'd only come on late at night.

Retrovirus

Welcome, Unlearn!

Wonder how many more long-term lurkers are out there? Hi to you too!

53

Nov.15th WT - Quotes Dissing - Internet, Higher Education, Earning a Living

by flipper in

jw
friends

as most of us here are aware the wt society is using the " kool-aid " , or witness only version as i call it - to indoctrinate and intimidate jw members through fear and guilt to avoid anything that takes their devotion and attention away from allegiance to the wt society's ambitions.

so the wt society is amping up it's control methods once again in various articles in this issue as well.. first off - notice this quote from page 14 , paragraph 16 , regarding how " dangerous " allegedly the internet is.

it states, " these desires ( of the world ) involve such things as promiscuity, prominence , and possessions.

Retrovirus

Mr Flipper, I'm just writing to Senator Nick Xenophon about the shunning issue. This makes it worse again; discouraging children from having a decent education and/or career, denying them worldly friends, pushing them into early baptism, and then . . when they back away from the borg, cutting them loose!

It should be a criminal offence!

12

If all of us are JW... Then...

by jakeyen in

jw
friends

many of us who lend money will not be paid.

victims of pedophiles will not receive justice.

criminals will not be jailed.

Retrovirus

We wouldn't have any doors to knock on! What would they do instead as a time-filler waster?

15

Thanks Y'all

by The Fence in

been lurking for over a year now, "bout time i posted my story.. in 1985 i was your regular 19 yo just digging life & looking forwared to what the future had in store.

this was also when i met my first serious girlfriend.

in 1993 i moved to toronto from ottawa in order to work more.

Retrovirus

Welcome, The Fence! Great first post and looking forward to more!

Retro

53

Nov.15th WT - Quotes Dissing - Internet, Higher Education, Earning a Living

by flipper in

jw
friends

as most of us here are aware the wt society is using the " kool-aid " , or witness only version as i call it - to indoctrinate and intimidate jw members through fear and guilt to avoid anything that takes their devotion and attention away from allegiance to the wt society's ambitions.

so the wt society is amping up it's control methods once again in various articles in this issue as well.. first off - notice this quote from page 14 , paragraph 16 , regarding how " dangerous " allegedly the internet is.

it states, " these desires ( of the world ) involve such things as promiscuity, prominence , and possessions.

Retrovirus

This brings to mind the thread about the WT's subtle deception.

Vigilant Christians refrain from using the world to the full with regard to higher education. Many people in this world consider higher education an indispensable stepping-stone to prestige and an affluent life. But we Christians live as temporary residents and pursue different goals . We avoid "minding lofty things ". Consequently, young Christians are encouraged to pursue spiritual goals, getting ONLY AS MUCH EDUCATION AS IS REQUIRED to meet their BASIC NEEDS

So, nothing is defined. How high is "higher education"? Isn't it probable that in poorer countries that bar would be set lower? And this miserable article would discourage even the education within their reach!

And what are "Basic needs"? Wouldn't these include health care, a home without a mortgage, the ability to raise and educate children, look after elderly parents, fund a retirement? And how can these be assured without a decent income?

Associating undefined "higher education" with "prestige and an affluent life" - as if that is the only reason it is undertaken - is grossly dishonest!

15

Belief to non-belief

by Awen in

have anyone here went from being a very strict believer in god to a non-believer?.

actually i think many are.. but outside of the usual answers of "god doesn't exist" (which you must have had some very valid reasons for), were there many things that caused you to come to this conclusion?

i was watching a southpark video about joseph smith and the mormons and i thought it very funny that anyone could actually believe any of that stuff.

Retrovirus

Great thread and OP, Awen!

I've been reading and asking questions about religion all my life. The Bible is certainly not the definitive word from God unless S/He has a warped sense of humour or cannot avoid self contradiction.

So what do we really have that is reliable? If the Bible isn't a reliable source then how do we know that the spiritual experiences many claim to have (myself included) aren't products of our shared experiences with the JW and our own unconscious minds via intuition?

IMO, we don't have anything "reliable", ie, self-consistent, provable and logical to us. I have also had what I think is a spiritual experience, possibly more than one. Where it came from, I simply don't know, but it helped me get through a very bad time in my life.

And that is the single reason why I don't reject it or explain it away.

One thing I do believe is that there are many things we don't yet know. I choose to fill the unknown areas with optimism, and rely on facts, probabilities and the Golden Rule for day to day living. Not having certainty is a lot better than the dry, materialistic, narrow-minded doctrines of fundamentalist religions. Let alone when they are demonstrably wrong!

So far my relationship with Christ has gotten me through some very tough times that I don't think I could have handled on my own. Does this make me delusional to have trust in someone I cannot see or touch? As far as modern psychiatry in concerned, yes it probably does

As sciences go, psychology and psychiatry have spotty track records at best!

19

Does God Care About Animals? gA Dec 2011

by Gladring in

according to the article in the dec 2011 awake although.

man was eventually permitted to use them for.

food and other practical purposes, god never.

Retrovirus

Ichneumons thus serve as another example of the diversity and balance of living things that man has yet to comprehend fully.

Yet . .

Although one may describe this insect group as ruthless parasites, ichneumon wasps serve an important purpose. Their larvae feed on insects that are harmful to food crops, including chinch bugs, boll weevils, codling moths, and asparagus beetles, to name a few. So ichneumons evidently control the proliferation of agricultural pests.

Evidently, the wt has all the answers, even when "man" doesn't. And the difficult cases, such as ichneumons preying on spiders that also help control insects, are simply disregarded.

6

Questions for those who are christians, not JW

by umadevi in

jw
friends

hello, i don't post often but i have made it a daily habit to come here.

currently i am not into any religion after exiting the wtbts.

i have no knowledge about christianity other than what was taught by wtbts.

Retrovirus

Hi Umadevi! How are you managing, you and your boy?

Back to topic - I'm a member of a small, inclusive Unitarian-like religion. Roughly, we believe that actions are more important than creeds, and the only "core beliefs" are to love God and love others as yourself. I'm not very regular in attending meetings but do enjoy those that I attend. We discuss and compare personal beliefs without judging and it's great to get a different perspective - without having to subscribe to it!

To me a spiritual life means connecting rather than following a set of rules. For me it's important to connect, as I'm an introvert by nature. So, I take a lady shopping (she has severe health probs and I'm a palliative care volunteer), and help out with the local Adult education Center. I'm also a member of the local Amnesty International group, and donate to two African chariities, one through work.

Why did I join my religion? I'm a born-in and it fits my needs. The differences from the wt are pretty clear, I think!

Retro

69

WT Society Alters their History as " The Party " did in George Orwell's 1984

by flipper in

jw
friends

finally my wife and i got around to reading george orwell's " 1984 " .

as many of you know who have read the book that " the party " or " big brother " as the ruling power in the book is called ; constantly changes records of it's past dealings so as to deceive the public about any false forecasts they may have mistakenly made ; in an effort to put forth a positive image of itself it destroys past embarrassing records or paperwork which would expose the " party " as a failure.

much the way the wt society has altered their history to deceive the public and their own members.. notice this quote from george orwell's " 1984 " on pg.

Retrovirus

Hi Mr Flipper!

Yesterday I read this article on Freeminds. It shows a scary number of similarities with 1984. Especially the "hidden library" of history. Very thought provoking!

Retro