Posts by Retrovirus

31

My brother is now being trained as a Circut Overseer.

by Voices in

jw
friends

i received a phone call from my mother (who is still a jw, but very accepting of me still as her loving son, even though i was disfellowshiped for questioning the oranization and choosing the bible over the watchtower at that time).

she makes normal talk, just regular stuff pertaining to situations of ours.

about me coming to visit, and or her coming.

Retrovirus

Voices,

I've done the despair and depression thing, several times. and a main reason was that my parents constantly compared us as kids and judged (you'll never be as good at this as x).

Therapy is hard. It's difficult to face the truth about ourselves, and change is probably hardest of all. But these things are real, and lead to a real, better life.

You are no more a sinner than anyone else. If you are still religious, you know that the Bible teaches this too; if not, sin is a useless concept anyway!

You are a person whom life has given the insight and motivation to pursue a hard path that will lead to better things. Use it, work through it and I wish you all happiness.

Retro

47

I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS !!!!!!!!!!!

by wasblind in

1) i think it's ridiculous to tell anyone when and how to use something they paid for ( computers and internet service ).

2) i think it's ridiculous to tell married couples how to act in the bedroom.

3) i think it's ridiculous to tell people what kinda cars they should buy ( 4 door for fieldservice ).

Retrovirus

That adults send their small children to strangers with pamphlets because they fear rejection.

That studying is equated to underlining supplied material and giving answers reword what was just read.

That a CO can tell an audience that the jws could rebuild Haiti faster than all the relief crews and everyone applauds.

15

Condemn the Adulterers Too

by Spade in

condemn the adulterers too.

may 21, 2010. from jill carroll, houston religion expert and author.

this weeks' news brought us the story of a catholic elementary school rescinding the acceptance of a child because his parents are lesbians.

Retrovirus

Cut n pastes are boring. that leaves the title and the last sentence.

So, the title. "Condemn the Adulterers too"? Christianity is about condemnation? Not necessarily.

Does it escape anyone's notice that Jehovah's Witnesses maintain this consistency regarding divorce and remarriage? They do

By "maintain consistency", you mean that they condemn? Yes, it does seem so.

23

Question

by is there help out there in

jw
friends

do you think that jw are more stressed out than worldly people.

like feeling that they are not doing enought to please jehovah, not doing enought field service and not attending enought meeting etc.

if this is the case on top of most jw suffer from depression.

Retrovirus

Some critics reference bias or scientifically flawed studies as evidence of higher levels of mental illness amongst Jehovah's Witnesses in comparison with contemporary society and attempt to identify reasons why this could be the case

The link on "critics" goes to jwfacts! Well done, Spade! But now you need to refute it.

The Mental Health of Jehovah's Witnesses by John Spencer is widely quoted though the findings are dubious. This found that in the 3 year period from 1971 to and including 1973, 7,546 inpatients were admitted to the West Australian Mental Health Service Psychiatric Hospitals, of which 50 were active Witnesses. This represents a rate of 2.54/1000 for the general population and 4.17/1000 for Jehovah's Witnesses.

That's a worry, considering that jws are discouraged from seeking professional help. True happiness is found in more meetings, more study, more field service, isn't it?

Psychiatric and psychological evaluations don't ask about or include religion in their assessments. A legitimate psychiatric hospital doesn't maintain religious beliefs in their patient records. Some studies were conducted while Jehovah's Witnesses were being persecuted by the secular authorities in the 1940's. This can hardly be deemed scientifically accurate or non-bias

Any reference for what psychological evaluations do or don't include, or just "take my word for it"? The Spencer study was conducted in the 1970s, not the 1940s, so the second sentence is irrelevant.

Retro

32

How many of the Ten Commandments does the WBT$ Break everyday?..

by OUTLAW in

jw
friends

how many of the ten commandments... does the wbt$ break everyday?...

the wbt$ has set themselves up as spokesman for god..jesus is out of a job..in watchtower world..the wbt$=god.

all images are forbidden in watchtower world..except the watchtower image... the wbt$ gods name jehovah,is a 14th century catholic translation mistake... the wbt$ doesn`t like jw`s to take sundays off..screw the sabbath... .

Retrovirus

Surely Moses would have faced a JC if he came up with one suggestion counter to the prevailing "light", let alone 10!

69

You jackasses in Bethel or at the Branch, need to cut me a check.........

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

tuesday night, i drove to a couple of older sister's homes, and dropped off their magazines, and kindom ministries.

thursday night, i went to the meeting and cleaned and locked up the building.

i also dropped someone off who earlier recieved a ride to the hall but their ride couldn't come back to take them home.

Retrovirus

Hi MLE,

As a never-jw perhaps our experiences are different, but your anger felt very familiar to me.

For 17 years I was married to a man who dreamed big, and did bankruptcies. I effectively enabled this be staying in secure and well-paid employment. I was often angry, especially after children arrived. Didn't want to break up the marriage because I'd upset the kids, my parents and siblings, let everone down, lose contact with people who accepted us as a couple, all that.

Eventually he made the move. At least I recovered enough sense to start the divorce. Yes, it was hard being a single parent, and quite a bit of what I'd feared came true. Lots of ups and downs.

Now I'm almost twice your age. My children are healthy and happy young adults. I have a great job, presence in the community, a financially secure partner (not husband; stuff that!) and my siblings and I are civil to each other.

My one real regret is the time I wasted just "holding on".

You are quite gifted in commenting on life, and deserve to live it instead. Please, get an education at least!

(Hoping you are asleep and don't read this till morning.)

All the best, Retro

28

Hey,Its almost 10 am,on a Sunday!!!

by aquagirl in

how come you all are not on the way to or at a meeting?lol.so what are you all doing instead?im lying in gthe sun on my couch,w/a cup of coffee,surrounded by cats and guitars and plants.the house is empty,and im listening to the icicles melt..bliss......

Retrovirus

Hi Vampire,

It'sunday morning here; one of my 2 cherished sleep-in days. Weekdays I'm on the road at 6:30. A beautiful sunny day with a crisp, cool start. I'll be driving to my daughters' place soon for a little swap meet, then shoppin, cleaning, sunday papers. Last week my jw ladies told me they share a KH, one month meetings are Sunday morning, the next afternoons. Doesn't sound like fun either way!

Retro

382

The Gentile Times Reconsidered

by Spade in

disproving the date 1914 as a significant year in bible prophecy is of great importance to some (e.g.

carl o. jonsson).

along with the meticulous details of bible and secular chronology, broadening one's horizons when assessing exactly what this date represents when compared against the 6000 years of human history likewise has merit.

Retrovirus

That's funny, Spade!

The Bible is crystal clear when iterating prophetic words in which sound conclusions can be reached

So why is it so murky to the Watchtower? Why all the failed prophecies? Why do they need overlapping generations? When will they "reach a sound conclusion"?

Retro

65

So I finished reading the Origin of Species last night.....

by Mr. Falcon in

jw
friends

...oh my.. i am not trying to start a creation vs. evolution debate, but something else really did stand out in my mind upon reading this "infamous" book.

and that is that the theory of evolution is a very complex and at times, logically interesting theory.

it makes valid points as well as asking fair and legitimate questions of the theory of creation.

Retrovirus

Mr Falcon

But I really did want to state how reading evolution AND creationist literature at least affords me the opportunity to understand and respect both arguments, instead of arrogantly walking around proclaiming that I have all the answers as to how or why we are on this planet

Very intersting thread! One of my jw ladies just dropped off a copy of "The neck of the giraffe" by Francis Hitching.

I'm impressed that they went to that length after I complained of quotes out of context, and calling Francis H an "authority"

I've only started it, but get the impression that he was trying to stir up controversy, yet claim a scientific perspective.

Somehow I doubt that they (jw ladies) will read it, even though they provided it.

Retro

81

Here i am....

by makersmark in

here i am - born in truth, hard-core spiritual everything all my life, early reg.pioneer, ms, elder, assembly parts, tour at bethel, etc, married now...... i'm trying to examine jw teachings a little closer...... i've spent the last two weeks reading many many posts, info , references on where ex-jw's are coming from.

i'm kind of concerned about a few things lately..... honestly - some points make sense to me - some don't - here are my general thoughts:.

-wt getting un membership for access to library - doesnt bother me - some passports and other governement documents have similar forms and requirements..... -blood issue - some counterpoints to the jw 'rules' makes sense (original intent of scripture is unbled animals, white blood cells similar in mothers milk) etc -however a lot of 'apostate' reasonings and proof are inaccurate.

Retrovirus

MakersMark,

Welcome, and thank you for your thoughts. Most posters are happy to see new members, and it is always good to remind us what the forum looks like to a lurker wondering whether or not to join in.

Retro