Posts by NewChapter

452

Faith... and Trust: The Same Things?

by AGuest in

in a discussion with some other dear ones, the question was asked as to what such ones put their faith in.

in response to one comment that"one can't function without faith," another disagreed, stating ones can, that "many do so every day... the ones who have trust" (in things like the sun rising in the east versus the west).

that trust extended to "faith" based "on nature and the natural order of things.

NewChapter

You don't disagree that higher education is frowned upon though. Or that the reading comprehension is just not there.

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said any such thing. I said that higher education if frowned on, but people still reached out for it. I NEVER even hinted that the reading comprehension is just not there. How many years of college do you think it takes to develop good reading comprehension skills? NONE. Got it?

I walk on eggshells, because if I challenge one your ideas too emphatically, the big guns come out. Cries of bullying, verbal abuse etc. I have held that it is proper to attack an idea, but that we should not attack the person. You have said that I should respect people's belief. So I watch. It turns out, that not only is it okay to disrespect other's beliefs (as that happens all the time from non-atheists) but it is also considered acceptable by some to attack intelligence.

JW's read these posts. They have been told that apostates lie about them. THEY know that most of them graduate high school with no resistance. I know that in individual families, things can't get weird, and parents are irresponsible---but JW's do not frown on education grades 9-12. Not at all.

Now I have challenged some ideas. I have criticized some actions. I have called out some misrepresentations. I am expecting the circus to begin. I hope I'm wrong.

452

Faith... and Trust: The Same Things?

by AGuest in

in a discussion with some other dear ones, the question was asked as to what such ones put their faith in.

in response to one comment that"one can't function without faith," another disagreed, stating ones can, that "many do so every day... the ones who have trust" (in things like the sun rising in the east versus the west).

that trust extended to "faith" based "on nature and the natural order of things.

NewChapter

More dishonesty (peace... truly... as I am not trying to insult you but only to get you to BE honest... about this and some other things, if you possibly can)? You are attempting to paint a situation where you've been falsely accused by asking for evidence NOT because you believe there isn't any (you know there is), but because you don't think I will present it (not that I cannot). Maybe you're right. Maybe you're not. Depends on how the wind blows tonight. Right now, you are right... because I'm not feeling petty enough to go make a search so as to "prove" anything on the matter. I don't have to. I know it's true... YOU know it's true... as to do most here. Besides, anyone one can do that just as well as I can, including you.

Please stop calling me dishonest. It isn't nice.

452

Faith... and Trust: The Same Things?

by AGuest in

in a discussion with some other dear ones, the question was asked as to what such ones put their faith in.

in response to one comment that"one can't function without faith," another disagreed, stating ones can, that "many do so every day... the ones who have trust" (in things like the sun rising in the east versus the west).

that trust extended to "faith" based "on nature and the natural order of things.

NewChapter

Now, I never joined, so I can't say anything much as to the witnesses other than what I have read on this forum. Just never got close enough to learn more than that. But it has seemed to me, based on the articles and others' testimony about their experiences, that education is not held to much importance... and higher education is certainly frowned upon. (except perhaps those who they need to serve them... like lawyers and such)

Well, no, I guess you never joined. I was in 3 different congregations in a 50 mile radius---from deep rural---to inner city---to the suburbs. I found that they often ignored the advice about higher education. I also found that education beyond the 8th grade WAS NOT held in contempt. The young JW's I knew all graduated from high school---some had spent their last two years of HS in college so when they graduated they had college credits and an HS diploma. I never heard of is said, including the literature, that would consider education beyond 8th grade as a waste of time. Now I know about some irresponsible parents that did not value education, but they weren't really getting that from the meetings. I know this because I was always buying graduation gifts and going to graduation parties.

Other kids attended vocational school while going to HS, so they learned a skill. I won't pretend there was no push back, but I saw many young people just shrugging it off and going to college anyway.

But that's not really the issue, because we know JW's are encouraged not to go far beyond HS, but they are encouraged to finish HS---which is 12 grades, not 8.

Maybe it is the area I live in. Yet I met a lot of people, and grade 12 and a high school diploma seemed to be pretty consistent. It was odd when one didn't reach that goal.

We are talking about the reading comprehension of those that don't agree with us. Now I will use the same reasoning with you. I think you have a reading comprehension problem, because when you read the bible, science, history you come to the wrong conclusion, and it is right there in front of you. I have been told that it is okay to say that. I don't think it is, because I think it is okay to attack ideas and not people. I don't necessarily think it is your reading comprehension that leads you to a different conclusion, I think it is your bias. So I'm not going to attack your intelligence, nor make up stories about people that do tend to finish highschool.

452

Faith... and Trust: The Same Things?

by AGuest in

in a discussion with some other dear ones, the question was asked as to what such ones put their faith in.

in response to one comment that"one can't function without faith," another disagreed, stating ones can, that "many do so every day... the ones who have trust" (in things like the sun rising in the east versus the west).

that trust extended to "faith" based "on nature and the natural order of things.

NewChapter

I just think when you accuse me of things, it is fair for me to be able to ask for evidence.

31

Did Sab get banned?

by Christ Alone in

jw
friends

i sure hope not.

if you're still around, please let us know that you're ok. you kinda worried me in your last thread.

hope you're ok, bro....

NewChapter

It's not a conscious entity---it doesn't get angry----it won't spit. It also won't take proactive action to save us. The sun does what it does with no concern of how what it does effects us.

I think you are having high anxiety and a sense of a loss of control because of some reading you are doing. It's an uncomfortable feeling when we look at the big picture and realize how fragile things can be, so a lot of us experience that. Perhaps in an effort to feel less helpless, you appealed to prophecy---to get a sense of control. That this happens because of our actions, therefore we can change our actions and avert tragedy.

But, Sab, the chances that anything cataclysmic can happen in the near future is so improbable as to not be a consideration. And even if such was going to happen, what are we going to do about it? I don't know if writing helps you purge the anxiety or if it feeds the anxiety, but you are experiencing distorted anxiety at the moment. You are not judging things properly. I know that kind of anxiety, and it will pass. I want it to pass for you quickly.

452

Faith... and Trust: The Same Things?

by AGuest in

in a discussion with some other dear ones, the question was asked as to what such ones put their faith in.

in response to one comment that"one can't function without faith," another disagreed, stating ones can, that "many do so every day... the ones who have trust" (in things like the sun rising in the east versus the west).

that trust extended to "faith" based "on nature and the natural order of things.

NewChapter

And you've said worse, way worse, IMHO. So to say this is... well, to put it mildly... mild.

You'll have to show me where this is true, because I believe that it is false.

31

Did Sab get banned?

by Christ Alone in

jw
friends

i sure hope not.

if you're still around, please let us know that you're ok. you kinda worried me in your last thread.

hope you're ok, bro....

NewChapter

Did a zookeepers sibling get banned?

Nope. They are just busy netting monkeys.

31

Did Sab get banned?

by Christ Alone in

jw
friends

i sure hope not.

if you're still around, please let us know that you're ok. you kinda worried me in your last thread.

hope you're ok, bro....

NewChapter

Yup, it was just like I needed to be Isaiah all of the sudden. You ever have that happen to you?

I'm going to answer this carefully---because I encourage help if help is needed. But here is how it works for me............

From one writer's perspective:

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with anxiety, or internal struggles. It's like a war, an armegeddon, in my brain. So I will write. I will write in strong epic language---it doesn't mean that I actually see it all that way---but the piece becomes a metaphor of what I am experiencing. It doesn't mean I think what I'm writing is real, but it IS an outpouring of the battles and concerns in my brain.

That's how I saw what you wrote. I say this carefully, because if there is something more to it, I don't want to brush that aside and say what you did is what I do, and it is helpful not hurtful.

Is that along the lines of what happened?

31

Did Sab get banned?

by Christ Alone in

jw
friends

i sure hope not.

if you're still around, please let us know that you're ok. you kinda worried me in your last thread.

hope you're ok, bro....

NewChapter

Look, the way I see the post is that Sab was stressed about some things, and he chose to express it in a very creative, symbolic way. At least that is how I understood it. Not to say there wasn't some distress, but when I write, I write similar type things to help me work it out. I don't post it here, but I just thought I recognized something more than an attack in that piece--------I could be wrong.

31

Did Sab get banned?

by Christ Alone in

jw
friends

i sure hope not.

if you're still around, please let us know that you're ok. you kinda worried me in your last thread.

hope you're ok, bro....

NewChapter

He found a genie in his hand of poker. Forgivable mistake!