Posts by Half banana

16

Why I constantly write letters to the Watchtower Society

by UnshackleTheChains in

hi all.. for many years now, i have been writing letters to bethel in new york and london.

i have also written to the charity commission, the bbc and more to highlight the harmful teachings and policies of the watchtower society.

i realise that some may view this as futile and understand why they might feel this way,; especially considering the pharisaical stonewall-like attitude displayed by the leadership of watchtower.. some reasons i do so is because i feel that constructive criticism is essential in helping to bring about change.

Half banana

Well done Unshackle but I do think that your letters to outsiders such as the charity commission and the press are better directed.

I'm not so keen for improvement within the Org; surely it is better that there are fewer authoritarian bodies misleading millions of innocent people based on false premises?

According to their perceived 'divine mandate' of being Gods earthly agents it would be impossible for them to accept instructions and ideas from outsiders and most especially from apostates. (But now I think of it they have done so before regarding several doctrines,"the great crowd" interpretation was one such).

When we do see them yielding to some form of democracy then we will know they are becoming desperate for survival, the next step will be to siphon off all of the remaining wealth before they scuttle the good ship Watchtower.

33

The Second Coming of Christ

by maccauk in

the second coming of christ was in the 1st century at the destruction of jerusalem the temple the law and the old covenants.

so the new eternal covenant came into force in which people of every tribe tongue and naation would enter into.

the new jerusalem not built by human hands nor with bricks and mortar its spiritual cannot be seen but people will stream to it the sin issue is done there is no more judgment for those in christ .

Half banana

It is impossible to arrive at a set of incontrovertible doctrines drawn from the Bible.

49

Dietary Quirks Among JWs

by millie210 in

i recently had to accompany an older family member out of state to a family reunion.

it was a big reunion and not much was overtly made of the fact that i am "misguided" and not attending meetings (lost soul that i am) which was nice.

the thing i noticed that i was most struck by was all the dietary quirks in evidence during our 3 days together.

Half banana

Gluten intolerance and other allergies are very real, sometimes fatal and have nothing to do with being highly strung as you say Sparky.

Among JWs as for many outside the cult, individuals hear of problems others have with certain foods and because of their reputation (like gluten) they avoid them as if this information will benefit them also. I remember a stupid sister who ate all and any medicines since she reasoned that medicine was there to help you. It is this sort of thinking which drives superstitious people to collect food fads and prohibitions. When I was a JW I did find JWs were most susceptible to this type of thinking but through lack of of data it would be hard to compare the frequencies with the general population.

16

Ok I feel like a dumb ass. Men have one less rib than women..

by James Mixon in

why in the hell would we (men) have one less rib...help me folks the adam and eve story has screwed up my thinking...

Half banana

Apes do have penis bones but not humans.........was Adam a gorilla?

49

Dietary Quirks Among JWs

by millie210 in

i recently had to accompany an older family member out of state to a family reunion.

it was a big reunion and not much was overtly made of the fact that i am "misguided" and not attending meetings (lost soul that i am) which was nice.

the thing i noticed that i was most struck by was all the dietary quirks in evidence during our 3 days together.

Half banana

I'm glad you came back Freddo 'cos I was going to mention the highly strung theory and add to it that food and health fads among JWs seem to be part of the same disorder spectrum.

If you are navigating life relying on "special" and unconventional information like you have to in the JW delusion, it is likely that this reliance is not just limited to religion. Religion, health and diet are connected by a need to observe certain demands and certain taboos, which however are often based on faulty reasoning. They share the hallmark of superstition that as long as you do this or that, you will be all right-- as your inner voice tells you.

36

is armageddon starting ?

by stan livedeath in

the sky is so dark here in the south of the uk.

could be armageddon starting.. or then it could be dust particles in the atmosphere..

Half banana

Thank goodness its over! The dark yellow sky with its eerie light has given way to bright sunshine and the streets are littered with corpses. I guess that was armageddon?

33

The Creation of Jesus

by berrygerry in

seeing a trinity thread.. can a jw apologist explain what (not who) is jesus?.

prior to the creation of everything 13.7 billion years ago (draw close book), jehovah created jesus as his firstborn, his only-begotten.. there was nothing else - no stars, no dust, no matter - just jehovah - and then, just jehovah and jesus.

so, what was jesus?.

Half banana

Freeman, are you are the fish who took the angler's bait, or are you just explaining what the Greek text literally means without believing it?

21

Many Witnesses are just plain tired out!

by UnshackleTheChains in

i believe that many witnesses are tired out or at least tiring out.

i know....... because i am tired out!.

imagine going to college for 20 years not knowing when college is finished.

Half banana

Unshackle, why can't you tell them that you are just fine? It would encourage others to wake up as well.

I met a 'sister' in the street about a year after I left and she asked me how I was and I said "Absolutely fine," and as if she was expecting me to be ill from leaving the org she said to me, "What are you on? Most of the bros and sisters in the congregation are on anti depressants!"

19

October 10, 2017 TO ALL CONGREGATIONS Re: Branch Relocation Newsletter (UK)

by wifibandit in

october 10, 2017 to all congregations re: branch relocation—newsletter.

britain branch relocation project edition 6 autumn 2017.

Half banana

Among the many boasts for this building is a "biodiverse" roof.

Does it have its own ecosystem with animals, trees and plants, fungi etc? Wouldn't an ordinary leakproof one do the job?

33

The Creation of Jesus

by berrygerry in

seeing a trinity thread.. can a jw apologist explain what (not who) is jesus?.

prior to the creation of everything 13.7 billion years ago (draw close book), jehovah created jesus as his firstborn, his only-begotten.. there was nothing else - no stars, no dust, no matter - just jehovah - and then, just jehovah and jesus.

so, what was jesus?.

Half banana

Sorry Bg but I am not a JW apologist but would like one to answer as well!

The Bible is not a factual treatise on how things came about, it is instead an innocent story for illiterate people. It was based on universal assumptions that were culturally shared such as the idea that gods existed in the heavens; a superior place but similar to the 'mundane' realm of Earth and responsible for all events and tragedies down here. Genesis (which was borrowed from Egyptian sources) was written from ignorance of realities but a fair and believable guess for its time.

However to believe it now would be stupid and that includes thinking there is a spirit creator who created an invisible son.

Get with it people we are dealing with myths, it was only the Roman Catholic church which selected the texts and demanded that people should regard them as sacred.