if u don't mind saying if u r kiwi or aussie, and basic info like m/f, how long in, how long out, or if fading like me.. im female i live in aussie but born in nz fading the last few months.
know it ain't the truth, but am married with little kids and closest family and friends all in.
trying the slow fade and hoping my husband will do the same... being very gentle with him... .
Hi SkyGreen,
I'm a never-jw (friends and family in, "studied" for a year or so but it didn't 'take'). I'm female and in the Melbourne area; raised my children as a single parent. Welcome and good for you to have the courage to question. Your children will thank you for it
Retro
i am just curious, and not judging.
if you are a christian and you know that december 25th is not jesus' birthday, and may have pagan roots, then why celebrate it?
i was raised a dub as most of you know, and have learned the ttatt so i know how wrong they are about a lot.
It's a cultural thing. As for pagan roots - so what? JWs arbitrarily allow some (wedding rings, pinatas) and chuck a fit over others.
in the "what does the bible really teach" book, an attempt is made to illustrate the nature of satans challenge, as it explains suffering allowed to prove jehoahs' souvereignty.
on page 110 is given the illustration of a bright kid stepping up to the blackboard to show the elderly teacher (probably head of the teacher union chapter) * a more elegant way to solve those equations.
wt equates that situation to satans challenge.
The "classroom explanation" of Satan's rebellion was sent to me in a letter from my SIL. When she arranged for a local cong to contact me about t "Bible" "study" (without asking me first ) I realised it was from the Really Teach book.
I saw it as one of the many cues that to be a jw, you may not challenge authority. The teacher always knows best!
Retro
so i finally took a deep breath and watched the annual meeting report.
i found a little nugget before the "new light" discussion began.
there was a report about the "public preaching" that was taking place in manhattan.
Perhaps a kinder interpretation would be that Ethos is hindered by the jw black and white thinking. you know: all other churches are baad, seen one; seen them all. Only wt is different.
Ethos, please use the posting limitation to your advantage and read more than you write :)
i needed a prescription renewed and found out my old doc retired...met my new doc and took this opportunity to update my medical record...removed the no blood transfusion clause from my file.
i told the doctor that inconsistencies within my church's doctrines made it impossible for me to put my life at risk for no valid reason.
after throwing out my medical directive card, amending my medical record is another step toward totally breaking free from the cult.
Great decision!
I remember the article encouraging JW employees to rat out confidential information - an absolute disgrace! Hopefully the JW nurse won't check the records - or at least show enough sense to keep her job.
Retro
has anyone thought there is a god but he is not perfect.
maybe he is flawed not all knowing and looks at us the same as i look at ants?
people are either black or white.
If it isn't 'perfect', then what makes it [deity or 'god' or 'goddess' ] think that it is worthy of worship? And if it is perfect, is that a reason to worship it? Would it need worship?
this weekend was the convention for the southern san francisco bay area.
it was held at the santa clara convention center in the silicon valley http://www.santaclara.org/conventioncenter/ which is an improvement over the old s.f.
cow palace which is still used..just not as much.
Hi and welcome, cindyann!
Retro
in the 10/15 watchtower study edition on pg.
12 is the article " what kind of spirit do you show ?
" right away this article starts drawing the line of demarcation in the sand between who has the right to make decisions within jehovah's witnesses and who does not have the right to do so.
...i can just picture you all raising your hands and being called on by today's conductor, Flipper...
Really appreciate your making this point, Elephant! Here people can use their critical thinking skills rather than parroting the answer to a set question. What a difference!
Retro
in the 10/15 watchtower study edition on pg.
12 is the article " what kind of spirit do you show ?
" right away this article starts drawing the line of demarcation in the sand between who has the right to make decisions within jehovah's witnesses and who does not have the right to do so.
Hi Mr Flipper!
I know the false analogy of elder committee - medical treatment has been well addressed, but there is another aspect.
It deliberately reinforces the idea that the brother or sister asked to attend a meeting with elders is sick and in need of help, without ever having to make a case for this. Great way to erode self confidence and build fear!
Retro
so we all know the jw vocabulary is a weird one.
what words or phrases bugged you the most?.
a few of mine:.
Jehovah God (favorite of my "study" leader). How much reminding does He need?
