Posts by Half banana

17

Today's WT Paragraph 4

by Slidin Fast in

i thought that this little gem deserved a thread of it's own.. 4. why is it important for us to be present at the memorial if at all possible?.

4 reflect on the importance of attending the memorial.

remember, congregation meetings are part of our worship.

Half banana

Attendance at the JW memorial benefits no one except boosting the pride of the governing body and their hapless followers.

The objective seems to be to get as many people who can't think for themselves along to one specific meeting. It's a pointless exercise except to be able to brag. Why would anyone else be impressed with the numbers attending? JWs never miss an opportunity to pat themselves on the back.

Why is it wrong? Because the memorial is just another superstition with its roots in folk belief. In fact the "last supper" was borrowed directly from Mithraism from the sacrificial death of the saviour Mithra who was commemorated once a year at the spring equinox by the use of symbolic cakes and wine. And (dare I mention it again) that Mithraism found spiritual strength in the memorial story because human sacrifice was the most potent tribal magic available.

By the time of the Roman empire, they had forbidden literal human sacrifice so religious rituals continued the sentiments of the sacrifice in symbol only, and this was what Christianity borrowed from Mithraism for its own use. Jesus' death was just a cut and paste job. Bamboozle the gullible with 'holy' superstitions and it's only the priesthood (read JW governing body) who truly benefit.

3

We are all victims of abuse, both emotional and spiritual-Stand Tall

by CovertsadJW in

good morning, .

sexual abuse is most certainly the most horrific type of child abuse, but the more i read the more i realize that anyone born into the "cult" is a victim.

we are all victims of lying, emotional and spiritual abuse over years or over decades.

Half banana

Well said, Covertsad, the JW organisation is downright abusive. It is only concerned with its reputation, never does it consider the feelings or welfare of its flock. The only criterion for interest in its membership is if they loyally believe the rubbish they teach. Children are abused by being trapped into the JW cult by baptism before they are able to recognise the significance of the commitment. Members are expected to give their lives to this money making cult at the expense of losing the natural birthright to fulfil their own hopes and dreams.

JW org is an abusive cult.

5

A Theocratic Government

by BluesBrother in

the watchtower has long proudly proclaimed that the wts " is in no way democratic but theocratic" and looks forward to a theocratic government in the new world.

it is seen as the best thing possible.

it is interesting watching the news media to see that theocratic governments are seen in a low light and that form of government is a dirty word , it sèems.

Half banana

And yet paradise under a perfect "theocratic rule"rule is the lure for punters to join the JW religion.

If only people would reason things out instead of clinging on to impossible dreams. If they did they would start to live their own lives instead of the total waste of life prescribed by JW org.

5

A Theocratic Government

by BluesBrother in

the watchtower has long proudly proclaimed that the wts " is in no way democratic but theocratic" and looks forward to a theocratic government in the new world.

it is seen as the best thing possible.

it is interesting watching the news media to see that theocratic governments are seen in a low light and that form of government is a dirty word , it sèems.

Half banana

There is much irony here. For the true believer the idea of "God ruling" sounds perfect but the facts of history show that theocratic governments have proved to be among the most tyrannical and bloodthirsty ever devised. Think ISIS.

I think this is partly because humans have projected onto an imaginary and paternalistic spirit being two idealistic qualities; absolute perfection and a clinical intolerance, neither of which chime with human values. Like the idea of paradise it sounds good but cannot exist outside of the imagination. Theocratic rule and JW's paradise are both dystopian.

32

How many are PIMO ??

by Phizzy in

i know we cannot answer this, how many are physically in, mentally out (pimo), but i heard an amazing piece of news the other day.. an ex-p.o and ex-elder, a long time regular pioneer, and when i knew him a stalwart believer, went for a drink with another jw who has actually left, but is not df or anything.. in the course of conversation he came out with this bombshell "well, i am actually an atheist now, i just go along to keep my wife happy".. i also heard of a number of youngsters that i know personally who are simply living their life as they want, whilst making sure they don't get df'd for family and social reasons.. if as it seems the pimo's are a huge number, could there be a huge " awakening" where they all realize they are in a huge group, and they all say " eff it, lets call it a day on all the jw s**t ".

?.

wishful thinking, but.....just possible ?.

Half banana

It’s an interesting situation Phizzy, the demands of the WT cult involve conformity and being seen to be part of the membership is part of being in the JW social club. If you no longer believe the WT tripe, to get around being shunned members become PIMO. (Phisically In Mentally Out) PIMOs have to put up with severe frustration knowing JWs are a fraud but locked in socially and POMIs live with the guilt of believing but don’t attend, I don’t know which is worse.

I spoke with a PIMO friend today and he thought about about 6 out of 70 (9%) of the attendees in his cong are PIMO. These do not answer up at meetings, have absolute minimum contribution to the org, they just attend. This figure does not include those conflicted souls who carry on a pretense of believing. Perhaps another what 3 or 5%, how can we know? Then there probably is a larger proportion who have major doubts and given an excuse or opportunity would love to be free of the org. So I reckon about one million JWs don’t really believe and another million would leave given the dropping of shunning penalties.

The big difficulty is that awake JWs cannot get together to plan a mass breakout because to admit being PIMO is likely to be rewarded by an inquisition and then shunning—at the moment.

As Wake me points out from Pinker's quote, the situation could escalate to the extent that PIMO's will become the norm and only the true believers will remain unable to see the fraud. The religion will become a hollow shell, all about appearances, and is likely to implode eventually when a majority are just seat fillers. The young in particular these days are not believers just club members.

18

The earthly resurrection pipe dream

by Sour Grapes in

i woke up this morning thinking about when my mom died about 10 years ago.

she was an avid jdub and was confident that she would be resurrected to an earthly paradise petting zoo.

if i would today go to my mom's house and because god brought her back to life, saw her sitting in her favorite chair, would she really be my mom?

Half banana

Resurrection is simply something encountered in myth and fairytale. Nobody has ever been resurrected to live again or forever... a pipe dream.

Reincarnation literally meaning: making flesh again, another pipe dream.

The soul: a traditional fantasy.

Sensible people get to grips early on in their life that EVERYONE dies.

27

Have you ever "partaken" at the memorial

by NikL in

jw
friends

it's that time of year again.. trying to decide if i should or shouldn't.

:-).

Half banana

Geevee, listen to the language of a ritual sacrificial death of a man followed by eating his flesh and drinking his blood..............This, like much of Biblical folklore harkens back to Stone Age tribal purification and communion rites.

The Bible is almost completely based on pagan and astrological precedents.

Cleverly the Roman church happily sanctified as much pagan belief as it could to adopt as many pagan believers as possible and take them under its catholic umbrella in the third and fourth centuries. Later, having absorbed pagan folklore, it banned and destroyed all non Roman Catholic texts and forbade all non Roman Catholic ritual condemning it as pagan in the fifth century.

Et voila, Christianity!

34

Is My Wife Awakening?

by My Name is of No Consequence in

every now and then, my wife will talk about how things are not making sense within the org.

i usually just dismiss it as her playing mind games with me.

for example, she would ask why there are so many branches being closed or why so many congregations are being merged.

Half banana

It's looking hopeful MNionC! Reward your wife's new insights with something unrelated to religion.

58

March 2018 Broadcast - When quotes become rumors

by Listener in

this months broadcast is presented by losche and he discusses the need for trust in the fds.

the following is transcribed from the 12.30 mark.. satan also has the scheme to spread rumors about our brothers including the faithful slave.

the method of spreading rumors is not new.

Half banana

There is so much wrong with this, complete hypocrisy and defensiveness. The governing body are more than rattled, they are waking up to the new reality of an organisation under constant attack from the press and from those who have left their religion as well as declining income and a loss of faith among JWs.

We are witnessing the turmoil coming to the bridge of an ocean going liner when it has hit an iceberg. I think the iceberg has reality stamped on it.

Soon, just before Armageddon, the remaining members of the Slave will be taken to heaven.

This is paranoid talk

The major message here from the gb is that the true believers should not believe rumours even if printed. By the same token nothing the Watchtower or JW org preach is ever more than untestable rumour: Jehovah, Armageddon, Jesus Christ, Adam and Eve, the Slave, heaven and going to heaven--all unsubstantiated rumours and not facts.

JWs will soon be clinging to the wreckage

52

Funny News From My Old Congragation - Elder Fight!

by pale.emperor in

i haven't stopped laughing since i heard this.

a pimo in my last congregation told me that an elder has been removed from his elder position.

apparently he grabbed another elder by the throat, put him up against a wall in the back room and punched him in on the nose... during an elders meeting on thursday evening after the meeting.. the congregation were running round like headless chickens wondering what to do?

Half banana

Keep em coming PE, you are very good value for money! (and much appreciated)