It is also a euphemism for "what have you done wrong?" or "are you dangerous or just weak?" - if you have to choose you probably already know choose to be seen as weak rather than dangerous. They tolerate "weakness" in others because it makes them feel strong and if they don't sense that you are there to undermine anyone's faith then they just pity you - which they also get great joy from.
Posts by bafh
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16What exactly is encouragement?
by naazira inwhen elders want to meet with an inactive person to encourage them, what does this really mean?
encouragement is a term thrown around by the organisation.
does this encouragement usually consist of prying into the inactive one's lifestyle?.
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48
If this isn't the truth, then what is our hope?
by Gigi2121 ini'm new here but not new to researching and questioning the jw beliefs.
i have quite a story.... one that's been haunting me for awhile... but first, i'd like to hear what people have to say about this topic question, please.. -gigi.
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bafh
Your only hope is being present. Looking to the future for something "better" pulls a person out of experiencing their life right now - the good and the bad. Without being grounded and present, it is easier to be reactive than proactive and that leaves few if any choices in how your life turns out.
So believe in yourself and you won't need to "Hope" for something else.
And just in case you are still wondering:
NO ONE IS COMING TO HELP!
bafh. :-)
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23
A sensible fix for the Jehovah's Witness "two witness rule" when dealing with child sex abuse
by Watchtower-Free injehovah's witnesses could retain their two witness rule for internal judicial.
congregation matters .
but in the case of a child abuse allegation they should .
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bafh
I don't understand how they don't report child abuse when in many states clergy are considered mandatory reporters. I think this is considered a legal exception to the clergy privilege they claim to follow.
Funny how they are "not clergy" in every other aspect, and they suddenly are "clergy" when it comes to this.
It is just disgusting. What bothers me more is that they seem unphased by what is happening to the children. Ashe's testimony was sort of, "it's not our problem. we provide spiritual protection, not physical." So does not follow Christ's example. Why did Jesus feed people physical food before the spiritual food? It is not one or the other, it is both - even the Catholics know that.
UGH.
BAFH
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42
National Public Radio (NPR) broadcasts today about JWs. Do you want to hear the secrets of what this religion has been keeping under wraps?
by AndersonsInfo into all those who frequent this discussion board:.
we just wanted you to know that an investigative public radio program named reveal, produced by cir (center for investigative reporting) and prx, will present today, saturday, february 14th, the results of new investigations uncovering hidden stories.
in this weeks story, there will be three different topics covered.
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bafh
So disgusting. They just use circular reasoning to justify their protection of predators. Ugh. -
40
Need advice on a comeback to my wife: when she is in cult mode she says faith without works is dead.
by goingthruthemotions inso i have gotten into arguements with my wife in the past about this cult.
now a days after reading steve hassan books...i just try and avoid anything jdub with her.
try to keep her in authentic mode..(not sure she really has one).
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bafh
The issue is not that works and faith are unrelated - they are. I think it is what most rational people would say is having integrity - practice what you preach, etc. We all know people who tout different values but who are inauthentic or even hippocritical because their actions do not match their words.
I think the issue is that JWs have a narrow definition of "works" and that they rank them on a completely made up and unofficial scale of spirituality. So while we have a wide variety of works demonstrated by Jesus - JWs only count a fraction of those as being worthy of replication. [i.e preaching and helping the poor in the congregation if they are "worthy"] If one chooses to express their spirituality by serving a larger population of poor or needy in some way (i.e Mother Theresa) it does not count because it is not "preaching" their current doctrine. Of course none of us are able to heal in the way Christ did - but there is healing that we can each contribute to others that demonstrates love on a much more fundamental level than even preaching - listening, encouraging, supporting, etc.
What I find interesting is that Jesus wove the meeting of the crowd's physical needs with their spiritual needs and he prioritized them: physical, then spiritual. In modern times, we may be familiar with Mazlow's heirarchy of needs. On the bottom are physical needs: sleep, food, safety, etc. Only when these fundamental needs are met are people able to think about the "higher" needs of spirituality.
As an organization, JWs biggest weakness is their black and white thinking and their limited acceptance of what "counts". Of course there is also all of the unwritten judgement that people do as they rate each other on how spiritual they are - and all of it - as far as i have experienced - is how well a person fits into the social hierarchy. And how well one fits into that social structure is based on what the congregation can observe - and it encourages a works for show type of atmosphere, a need to be visible.
I happen to be a successful single business woman who is open to marriage but not pining for a man. I am completely self supporting; live alone; have time and money to travel and am educated with a wide variety of interests. If I ever lost my mind and went back for some reason, there is no way I would pioneer. There isn't a slot for me in the congregation.
When I left, I was having panic attacks every time I walked into the building. Now that I only attend for weddings, funerals and the Memorial - I am MUCH happier, and able to be myself. I actually feel like a more spiritual person because I am able to express my reflection of love, acceptance, support, etc in ways that are appropriate to situations I find myself in. These for the most part are not observable to anyone else, and would not count in any way within the congregation.
ok, that was a long rant. I guess my short answer is to agree with your wife, and then ask what her definition of "works" is. And what types of things count. If she can broaden that definition, it will be helpful because it will open the way for her to be more open minded on other issues.
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52
Why I like Jehovah's Witnesses
by undercover witness ini keep reading that jehovah's witnesses are in effect monsters.
i keep reading that they kinda leave chaos and distrust in their wake.
so i simply wondered if anyone had anything nice to say about them?.
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bafh
You are definitely in the wrong place. If you really feel that way you are wasting your time trying to convince anyone else on here of that. You should probably join the JW forums if there are any left. -
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talk me off the cliff please
by sowhatnow inmy son, at age 25 finally, was able to get accepted into a community college.
but i dont have words of joy to share with him.
im instead dizzy with fear of possible financial failure.
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bafh
Everything is your fear, your anxiety, your judgement. This isn't about you this is about him. And no doubt he is a bright capable man. From what you describe, everything he's said is true.
There is good debt and bad debt - bad debt is generally for things, TV, eating out, etc good debt is called an investment and it can lead to better things education generally improves a person as a person and gives them skills to provide for themselves through meaningful work
I'd suggest that you get counseling to deal with your anxiety because that is all about you not trusting yourself and has nothing to do with the reality of what you describe
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inheritance
by truthseeker100 ini have a good life and i am now worth around 3 million us.
my two children have their university degrees and a promising future.
what should i do with my money?
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bafh
Discuss your options with a financial planner. Set up trust funds for your kids and grandkids. Invest a portion wisely and grow the pot. Buy real estate, businesses, etc. generate and grow your cash flow. -
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OMG - January JW Broadcast - be sure to only talk to people who think like you
by bafh ini couldn't stand it.
it was so horrible.
they really want people to stay simple and obedient.
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bafh
BetterGuyNow you can watch at tv.jw.org.
And you are not that far out of the loop. The "broadcasting" only started in November and the buttons are new last year too.
it occurs to me that this is where they are going to "publish their most outlandish indoctrination. Less likely to be attacked as their printed work perhaps. Easy to take down if something causes too much controversy - more control than those pesky magazines which you can't edit or wipe out of existence as quickly and easily as a video.
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OMG - January JW Broadcast - be sure to only talk to people who think like you
by bafh ini couldn't stand it.
it was so horrible.
they really want people to stay simple and obedient.
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bafh
I couldn't stand it. It was so horrible. They really want people to stay simple and obedient. Damn.
Dont nut immerse yourself in "learning." And only hang out with people just like you