Posts by The Rebel

44

I appreciate "our" free speech.

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

i had given serious consideration too leaving the board.

i rationalised my views on " muslims" we're not held by the majority so i should leave.

but this would have been wrong thinking, instead i should appreciate the platform i was given to debate with free speech.

The Rebel

When I was on the ministry, I worked with a brother and he thought he was extremely clever, he would never use one word when ten were more confusing. I also noted if by a miracle we found a householder even slightly interested in our message, by the time we left the door he had frightened the householder away.

And yes he was a pioneer.

So free speech is great, but if the person giving it knocks on your door, is wearing a tie and holding a bible in his hand, my advice is " free speech" can be extremely boring to listen to.

10

Worship of Men?

by HereIgo in

i remember when i was in as a teenager, some time around 2006, samuel herd of the governing body came to dedicate our newly built hall.

i remember bumping into him accidentally and a brother pulled me aside and half jokingly and half seriously telling me that i should be more careful around jehovah's anointed ones.

it was quite comical to say the least.

The Rebel

Q) What examples of J Ws putting " men" on a pedestal have you seen.

A) " Women" can also be put on a pedestal. Single elderly sisters who attend and participate at every meeting, and never miss an opportunity to be on the ministry, are often used as a guilt trip.

Sadly when they get too old to be of use, they tend to get forgotten. However when they die, if they owned property guess who likely inherits?

A) The Watchtower

B) The Watchtower.

Answer :-

The Watchtower.

6

Did Watchtower get any money from the Holocaust Victim Assets Litigation?

by jwfacts in

the holocaust victim assets litigation (swiss banks) cv-96-4849 is a fund to compensate people suffering from the holocaust.

as stated at swissbankclaims.com/index.asp (3 mar 2006);.

"this is the official information website for the holocaust victim assets litigation against swiss banks and other swiss entities.

The Rebel

As I understand it, if it wasn't for Rutherford changing his support for Hitler ( See the declaration of facts, printed in the 1934 yearbook) Here is a tit bit :-

" Instead of being against the principals advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely for such principals"

However when Hitler wanted to confiscate religious property, Rutherford went to "WAR" ( With his pen, and the safety of living in America) against Hitler. This and the fact he had members refusing to " Heil Hitler" nor join the army, and other stupid rules is why Hitler had J. Ws sent to concentration camps.

So if any compensation is due, the claim should be made against the W.T by the relatives of those that perished, due to Rutherfords irresponsible behavior, to his faithful German followers. ( No witness went to a concentration camp due to following God, it was sadly for following a false organisation)

Fortunatly claims against the W.T for ruining life's are now happening with Child abuse claims.

10

Worship of Men?

by HereIgo in

i remember when i was in as a teenager, some time around 2006, samuel herd of the governing body came to dedicate our newly built hall.

i remember bumping into him accidentally and a brother pulled me aside and half jokingly and half seriously telling me that i should be more careful around jehovah's anointed ones.

it was quite comical to say the least.

The Rebel

q) What examples of J.Ws putting men on a pedestal have you seen?

A) We had a weird brother, he never worked, nor supported his wife, but lived on his allotment, made wine from grapes he trod on with his feet in the bath, and on the ministry or at the K.H I noted he always stunk of garlic. I could go on all day about his eccentricities, but I will finnish with a comment he often made to me " I don't want you or the brothers to put me on a pedestal"

44

I appreciate "our" free speech.

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

i had given serious consideration too leaving the board.

i rationalised my views on " muslims" we're not held by the majority so i should leave.

but this would have been wrong thinking, instead i should appreciate the platform i was given to debate with free speech.

The Rebel

I had given serious consideration too leaving the board. I rationalised my views on " Muslims" we're not held by the majority so I should leave. But this would have been wrong thinking, instead I should appreciate the platform I was given to debate with free speech. Something I was denied in the Watchtower.

I would therefore like to thank, all those who respected my free speech. I have noted, not once was I given a dislike for my " minority" view comments, but I instead received positive counter opinion, delivered in a helpful way to help me evaluate my viewpoint. This has been extremely helpful in me seeing the bigger picture.

The " bigger" picture to me is :-

A) minority views should be heard

B) and respectfully challenged.

That's what " free-speech" is about, and that's what makes debating forums worth participating on. And I truly appreciate having that voice, having come from an organisation that denied free speech.

16

JWs and Pacifism

by pale.emperor in

pacifismˈpasɪfɪz(ə)mnoun: pacifismthe belief that war and violence are unjustifiable and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means.. .

one thing that always irked me as a witness was their pacifism.

i totally agree that non violence is a wonderful way to live, but at the same time whenever i'd read or watch something about nazi germany i always thought being a pacifist in that environment wouldn't work.

The Rebel

My Aunt is a Quaker, and I think their definition of " pacifist" is, that by dong any act of harm to another person, you are really hurting yourself. I should mention we don't have many " quackers" in the world. ( I mean Quakers)

71

Breaking News, London: Van Ploughs into Pedestrians

by Simon in

3 male passengers then get out and start stabbing / shooting people according to early reports.. but it could have been anyone for any reason, who knows, possibly jehovahs witnesses or amish.. maybe we'll never know the reason but i'm sure there will be people praying for those involved and hashtags.. thus solving the problem once and for all.. just "life in a big city" according to the muslim mayor of london, sadiq khan..

The Rebel

Simon " Does anybody fall for this shit anymore?"

Of course sometimes there's a reason to have a " real" quarrel, but sometimes their is just plan blikerning. ( yes I know it's bickering not blickernng, but that's my point, " same" words and statements just need to be corrected)

Simon if as you say that was " A fake " Muslim" protest then those "Muslims"staging " that " fake " Muslim" protest didn't believe in what they were protesting. Are you are saying they were :-

a) Bullshiters

B) Actors

C) something I need enlightenment on.

I am confused.

Do you have any evidence to support your statement " Does anyone fall for this shit anymore?

p.s if I was C.N.N staging that news report, I would have had a Muslim police officer not two black police officers in attendance.

30

Bret Weinstein: Evergreen State College Racism Controversy

by Simon in

great discussion, well worth watching.

covers racism, the bubble that some people live in vs the reality that resulted in trumps election and more (and jws get a mention too).. the rubin report (and many of the guests he has on) repeatedly knock it out of the park with sensible, calm and important analysis and commentary on important issues to our society.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-feapcgxnyy.

The Rebel

My name is " Mike" I am an ex "J.W" I use the name " The Rebel"

Thats who I am. And i hope my contribution on this site helps those leaving or escaping the J.W organisation.

As for "Bret Weinstein"...well ....I thnk sometimes when we leave the " universe" we explore the " world" and then we come down to " earth". Then we discover the " universe" we lived in was a lie. Sadly. Also it takes years to build a new life, and close the door on the past.

So my advice is if like me, you like football, watch the " Champions League" final tonight( Juventos V Real Madrid) and be grateful you have escaped going to tomorrow's Sunday meetings. Be " SELFISH" enjoy life. Why the hell should you care who the hell "Bret Weinstein" is?

Thats not to say I don't respect, those that have left years ago. In fact, believe me,with these " old timers" ex-JWs we can have "mature" "meaningful" and "adult" conversations. I just think these more "mature" thinkers have come from the healed, and can therefore talk about things I don't understand.

23

How Do You Get Most of Your News?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i read that many people get their news from facebook.

i look online mostly at fox news and the drudge report.

very seldom do i look at cnn.😎.

The Rebel

Q) How do I get most of my news?

A) Rummers and innuendos.

11

Christian Church Destroyed by ISIS Rebuilt by Muslim Residents

by cofty in

muslims in mosul have helped rebuild a christian church that had been destroyed by isis.. iraq has one of the smallest, but oldest, christian communities in the world but isis oversaw the destruction of iraqi churches, books and christian spaces during their occupation of the city..... it's heartening to see both the military defeat of isis in mosul and the desire for normal relationships shown by the inter-faith community.. there is hope..

The Rebel

Konceptual99 " " Of course. They were doing what they thought was good but there are a whole bunch of fundamentalists who would class them as apostates............"

The Rebel :- I agreee, totally, but I also believe, an army of fundamentalists, will never win and wipe out every bit of goodness in the heart of all its " members" , what ever the religion.( And if that's not the case, how do places like this exist?)

And I believe this because, I believe most people don't want to wipe each other out, regardless of their religion. That's not to say I didn't once look forward to Armageddon :-(

But I think, with intergration and the mixing of cultures we have an opportunity to beat fundermentalist control...for me that's personally a more palatable way to go.