Posts by Retrovirus

18

One baptism...

by NeverKnew in

i just realized, i have to explain the joke so you guys will get it.

in some churches, communion is open to anyone who has been baptised regardless of denomination or church affiliation at baptism.

so, even though one may be confirmed or baptised at one church, it can be acceptable to go to another church and receive communion.

And to start, please let me apologise for the "parting shot". I have read many reasonable and informative posts from you and this seemed different, but I should not try to guess at reasons. The hot and humid night we had here in Melbourne didn't help me much.

The group of Witnesses that blocked my path so that I had to slow for the child did happen - but only once, 3 years ago. I was seriously irritated then. I would agree it is not typical.

Also, just to clarify; the OP was not mine; I don't know NeverKnew at all. I have been to many churches; my birth religion is inclusive and liberal, and have taken communion at several. From my perspective the jw practice of only a few select "valid" communicants is very strange and I think many would find it so.

Retro

18

One baptism...

by NeverKnew in

i just realized, i have to explain the joke so you guys will get it.

in some churches, communion is open to anyone who has been baptised regardless of denomination or church affiliation at baptism.

so, even though one may be confirmed or baptised at one church, it can be acceptable to go to another church and receive communion.

Retrovirus

Well, I guess if you are literal minded you'd say that

Well, I am

In general, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't

Only because of their arrogance and black-and-white thinking. And yes, I know it's the cult personality and many, most jws are really nice people.

If they did literally accost you (please look up the word in the dictionary - it has an overtly confrontational meaning), you'd complain

Disappointing to see that you taking an arrogant approach yourself. When I'm out walking and a group of people block the path so that I cannot avoid a child offering me a tract, that's accosting.

Besides, there is a significant difference between approaching people in public spaces to proselytize and entering people's places of worship to feign puzzlement and outrage. Do you not see the difference?

So my porch is a public place now? But yes, of course I see the difference. Nevertheless, as the OP made clear (the first line did mention "joke") there was no intention of doing that.

Moreover, one of the most tired lines people give for their own crossing of the line in their behavior is, "Other people do it".

Perfectly true, quite irrelevant. See above.

Generally I enjoy your posts. Hope you feel better soon. Retro

18

One baptism...

by NeverKnew in

i just realized, i have to explain the joke so you guys will get it.

in some churches, communion is open to anyone who has been baptised regardless of denomination or church affiliation at baptism.

so, even though one may be confirmed or baptised at one church, it can be acceptable to go to another church and receive communion.

Retrovirus

Steve2 said

Now if JWs approached you on the street and, unsolicited, boldly declared your baptism to be invalid, your reaction would be understandable

But . . that's what they do, isn't it? Except for the "boldly" part. They accost people in the street and at their doors, unsolicited. They disguise the message "you are not a true Christian" until they have established ascendency in a "bible study". They invite unsuspecting believers and atheists to their "memorial" as a first step to telling them how bad and wrong their belief system is. And . . .is the baptism of a non-jw ever regarded as valid?

In my case their only interest in my beliefs was to pick them apart and try to convince me of flaws. Of course, it wasn't a reciprocal exchange of views.

Showing them how their beliefs and practices look to an unindoctrinated outsider might just give them a glimpse of the real world.

Retro

18

One baptism...

by NeverKnew in

i just realized, i have to explain the joke so you guys will get it.

in some churches, communion is open to anyone who has been baptised regardless of denomination or church affiliation at baptism.

so, even though one may be confirmed or baptised at one church, it can be acceptable to go to another church and receive communion.

Retrovirus

As another non-jw, I think this be interesting. Any thoughts from jws and ex-jws?

Retro

39

Is it disrespectful to call God by his name?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

this seems to me to be yet another flawed reasoning from the wt.

god is supposed to be jw's "father".

it always seemed a bit strange even when i was mentally in, the argument they used to support using the name jehovah.

Retrovirus

I askedthe jw ladies who "studied" wit me about that, especially given the instruction and example of Jesus. Their opening and closing prayers were full of "Jehovah God" this and that, as if He needed reminding. They avoided answering directly, as so often.

Slightly tangential, they justified "Jehovah" rather than "Yahweh" as it was the most popular usage in the world. I asked "in Satan's world?" Another change of topic followed.

Retro

43

Recorded Judicial Meeting by 19 year old

by BlindersOff1 in

.

he runs circles around the dogmatic elders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lko0vmqfyau.

Retrovirus

From AnnOMaley's post:

Some of his defense in the JC sounded disingenuous - he hadn't just been 'asking questions' in his videos, but he had been large as life, no attempt at disguise, 'brazenly' attacking the org and its teachings. His commentary about the JC segments showed how cocky he was about it all. How he expected to pull off a successful 'I'm just an innocent being picked on for asking questions' act, I don't know.

Sure, he was no innocent. That's shown by the recordings. He had indeed been 'brazenly' ( ) attacking the Org, but his point that the Org trains its ministers to attack any and all other belief systems is valid.

I think the videos were aimed at the public, rather than jws and be very glad to recommend them to anyone considering studying with jws.

Retro

23

Curious About My Disfellowshipping.

by vajeni82 in

i recently read an interesting thread (is there a 'third' way to leave?

) that talked about fading instead of being df'd or da'd.

i myself had planned to fade, but was df'd instead.

Retrovirus

Vajeni82, welcome!

I had only been out of the battered women's shelter for a few days when the elders came to visit. They knocked on the door and then moved so I couldn't see them through the peephole. When I opened the door they said they need to speak to me and gave me a time to meet them at the KH

This is just shocking. And this is the religion that claims it can be identified by the "love among them". . .

23

WT wisdom - Same sex attraction does not mean you are gay

by irondork in

given the confusion faced by gay youth in trying to navigate through a larger, hetero culture, the last thing these kids need is for a religious "authority" to come along and tell them they don't really exist.

that is exactly what the wt has done with this article at jw.org:.

http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/teenagers/ask/pressure-to-be-gay/.

Retrovirus

Agree, Magotan, it is insulting.

I'm glad you've come to see the control and propaganda for what is is, and that makes you free.

Retro

40

Non JW involved with a JW

by LostInTranslation in

i am a non jw who has been doing a fair amount of research on my own in hopes of finding some answers and understanding for my current heartwrenching situation:.

i have been dating a man for the last while, and we grew very close, very quickly.. .

suddenly he has pulled away from me, gotten very skittish and says he feels like he is leading a double life, and isn't ready for a relationship.. all the while stating that his impending divorce is the reason for his cold feet, which could be understandable except the marriage was very much "over" long ago.

Retrovirus

Welcome from another non-jw, LIT!

May i suggest you read jgnat's posts, especially her story, here? She is a non, married to a jw, and he also wasn't forthcoming about his involvement. You will also get a perspective on the cult and normal personalities that might help.

It must have been very hurtful to find that an old friend, more than friend, who reconnected so well with you, was so secretive about a most important part of his life.

JWs target people with problems as low self esteem lets them impose their way of life. They also do not respect personal boundaries, nor are they necessarily honest with those outside what they call the "truth".

it's good that you are researching the jws. Please do nothing in a hurry.

All the best, Retro

12

How do I keep from being an enabler while not appearing like Satan

by marriedtoajw in

jw
friends

one thing that i havn't mentioned in any of my posts is that i have a 26 year old son along with the 4 kids that my wife and i have together.

i became a father very young, 15 to be exact.

that's a whole other issue but not on this post.

Retrovirus

Garyneal has a point but. . .

he has yet to get his first job, wants to go to every meeting, does not have a good sence of reality and is overall just like his mother. I love my wife, but she has always been taken care of either by her parents or me

it doesn't sound as if he'll be easy to dislodge. Yet it can be done; my youngest was similar but has now moved out and is earning a living. Perhaps, in your wife's avbsence, appeal to what interests him. Does he enjoy music and concerts? Would he like to have a decent car? Travel? Does he plan to marry one day?

Present financial independence as desirable - which, after all, it is. Then discuss a plan and motivate him. No pocket money or handouts, he needs to earn it! By all means involve the older brother and anyone else who might help.

Leave the religion and meetings right out of this. How could you be Satan when you're just enabling him to become the head of his own household one day?

There's a good chance that as he develops a life the meetings will become less important to him.

Good luck, Retro