Posts by andrekish

2

I knew a man who disfellowshipped his son.

by andrekish in

i knew a man who wouldn't talk to his own son.

i am neither the man nor the son.

the son is a very disillusioned friend.. i have to be careful with how this is said in order not to blame any innocent group by mistake.

andrekish

I knew a man who wouldn't talk to his own son. I am neither the man nor the son. The son is a very disillusioned friend.

I have to be careful with how this is said in order not to blame any innocent group by mistake.

The man was a religious man and went to his local religious place of worship and all associated get togethers. His son didn't want to go to this place of worship, it seemed like mind control to him. So he went to the pub, smoked pot, and got involved in very petty crime so his Dad disowned him.

Then the man who wouldn't talk to his son was arrested and jailed for sexual abuse of children within his religious group. He had been doing it for 40 years and it was his job to investigate such things.

How does any group deal with that? When it has taken it's eye off of the ball and innocents have been traumatised.

But far, far more importantly, how does the innocent son carry the weight of his father's crimes? How could he ever go back to the group?

42

Looking back to what happened since sept 2012... i must say its brilliant !

by insidetheKH in

jw
friends

who thought in the early months of 2012 that such a rebranding would take place in only a matter of 24 months?.

they managed to go from an antique looking and boring website (watchtower.org) with hardly any attractive content to go to a fresh looking new website with stuff for everyone, families, children, teenagers.. movies, and short videos about almost everything and new ones added every month.

cartoons, animation video's , interviews, picture activities all kind of projects, many audio files like dramatic bible readings, dramas and music, online research tools, new brochures for kids (off and online) etc.

andrekish

I'd objectively suggest a program relating to the questions raised here be aired on JWTV channel. To give everyone a fair chance to speak in public.

It's silly when any organization doesn't answer valid questions since then it can justifiably appear like a cover up and leave people infuriated.

Perhaps JWTV is the tip of a new iceberg? Maybe a radical rethink about how things are done is on the horizon so maybe dis-fellowshipping and shunning may end soon. I hope so in order that families not get destroyed without good cause. Guessing that my opinions about God are more valid than yours surely doesn't entitle me to wreck my family without their agreement..

The Mormons called me 'Heretic' as they threw me out, but I was using a OiuJa board at the time. I watched them do much worse and told them how wrong I thought they were. So they threw in 'Blasphemer' as well. Moi? I just asked them proper questions and got absolutely nowhere.

Things in the JW Org may be about to change and I hope they do, for their sakes, if nothing else. Us folk who are already savvy using modern media can already demonstrate how mad we can all be at times. JWs, being human, are simply as human as the rest and as mad at times. I do strongly believe they mean well.

As a final thought, do they have any science TV?

11

A Tutting of Christians

by andrekish in

a tutting of christians:.

a tutting of muslims:.

a tutting of jews:.

andrekish

Hi folks - please, please don't be offended. This was posted under humour but all I hear is a Tutting of Posts.

Phizzy, Splash, Stillin, - that's the spirit. It's far nicer than some hateful stuff around the world and when we all take ourselves too seriously.

But I stand admonished. May I kindly ask how humour is spam, though? Have no intention of spamming anything so if this is I apologise.

My wife suggests the collect noun for a group of elders' wives is simply: DANGER.

11

A Tutting of Christians

by andrekish in

a tutting of christians:.

a tutting of muslims:.

a tutting of jews:.

andrekish

A Tutting of Christians:

Tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt.

You're doomed.

A Tutting of Muslims:

Tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt.

You're doomed.

A Tutting of Jews:

Tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt.

You're doomed.

You have to be fair in these things so that's me doomed again (and now possibly the cause of a Jihad or on some-one's hit list).

Is that tutting I can hear?

40

Need advice on a comeback to my wife: when she is in cult mode she says faith without works is dead.

by goingthruthemotions in

so 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).

andrekish

This may sound flippant so please ignore if inappropriate.

Never having lived with any Witnesses I can image you've already tried this though,

Perhaps another approach could be to explain that that method of communication, door-to-door, is scaring people. This method of delivery of message hardly works. I wonder if their governing body can accept that the world has modernised and door-to-door canvassing is causing people to think they are mad.

Three million people were motivated to march in Paris after a few days. Objectively, the activity of getting any kind of message out there has to keep up with the times. The Witnesses who I have seen standing in the High Streets in the UK have had much more success, but still end up with a pile of litter nearby.

Canvassing in this way is not the best use of evangelising time, Paris was. This makes me wonder how effective their marketing strategies are. Opinion only but they only get 1 out of 10 here for marketing. If people won't talk to them because they believe they are odd in their evangelising then they will not even get to begin to explain the message they are entrusted with.

But I admire everyone who tries so my very best wishes to both of you, and perhaps to your wife, don't give up trying because you mean well.

In conclusion, faith without effective works is rather pointless if sin is not doing your best. If the governing body can't see this then maybe it's time to retire them to a nursing home and let some people do it properly, eh? Just because they ain't dead yet doesn't make every word they say true. Sometimes it's easy to stick one's religious head up one's religious rectum and not see the light of God, eh, you miserable old farts over there in HQ? I'm not trying to defend Jehovah's people from any one here. I'm trying to defend Jehovah from his people who've gone insane. They have the message to mankind correct but they've gone and got the rules a bit confused.

1

I thought I'd write how doomed I am

by andrekish in

i thought i'd write a poem, like,to prove how doomed i am.i do not see the world like you.oh poo, that's me kerbammed.they say that god is gonna wipe usfrom the face of earth.they say we're damned and off to hell.if we treat this with mirth.what was the point of making thisentire universeif all god does is wipe us outa moment after birth?us humans are as mad as hell,we're bonkers through and through.and now a bible's in our hands,uh oh, please look out you.it's unexploded, not gone off yetit's ticking just for us.we'll bring it round now to your placeand really make a fuss.if you ignore our knock at doorand do not let us in.we'll have to quote this book at you'coz you've committed sin.it says so in this book here, look.that prove's the end's begun.from chapter one to final page.oh what a lot of fun.if you don't get down on your knees and worship god with mei'll get upset and write a blog so everyone can see.and then, i'll say, on blog todaythat you're extremely doomed.we're going down the pan you know.a pan with lots of rooms.we really don't need other mento tell how bad we are.

if we don't put the brakes on thiswe all know what must follow.consuming everything in sightand munching through the earth.will kill all life here anywayon this place of our birth.so why would god then intervene and kill us in despairwhen we can do it anyway?no help is needed there.that's not what this is all about.god only means the best.do unto others, etcetra,then god can do the rest.he don't want you to be a slavejust upright noble man.he isn't out to dominate.that isn't in the plan.so what he's done is give you lifehere in this pile of pooso you can see here for yourselfthe best that you could do.and here we see what happens whenwe go and fekk it up.we drink the juices of our filthand that's a bitter cup.so cry and moan and say no godhow dare he treat us thus?to go and let our children dieand hide away from us.but is there here, on earth, a bookthat does explain it all?that tells us how we could behaveand how to have a ball.if god is just then future times will have to recompensewith all the tears wiped from our eyes.it's what makes loving sense.if god is love then from abovesomething will soon be sentto end this mess and repossessthe planet from us men.then raise us up, just recreatethe dna that's man.so up we pop and on we walkto learn what can be done.when man in harmony with allthat's just and strong and wisecan walk forever, head held high,with god clear in his eyes.god says he will reveal himselfso there can be no doubt.it simply hasn't happened yetare we allowed to shout?we're hanging on by skin of teethin all this misery.but i'm impatient, hurry pleaseoh god, i want to see.if i am doomed for writing thisif these words drag me downthen god is not the god of loveand i am not his man.. .

i do go on a bit, eh?.

andrekish

I thought i'd write a poem, like,
To prove how doomed I am.
I do not see the world like you.
Oh poo, that's me kerbammed.

They say that God is gonna wipe us
From the face of earth.
They say we're damned and off to hell.
If we treat this with mirth.

What was the point of making this
Entire universe
If all God does is wipe us out
A moment after birth?

Us humans are as mad as hell,
We're bonkers through and through.
And now a Bible's in our hands,
Uh oh, please look out you.

It's Unexploded, not gone off yet
It's ticking just for us.
We'll bring it round now to your place
And really make a fuss.

If you ignore our knock at door
And do not let us in.
We'll have to quote this book at you
'Coz you've committed sin.

It says so in this book here, look.
That prove's the end's begun.
From chapter one to final page.
Oh what a lot of fun.

If you don't get down on your knees
And worship God with me
I'll get upset and write a blog
So everyone can see.

And then, I'll say, on blog today
That you're extremely doomed.
We're going down the pan you know.
A Pan with lots of rooms.

We really don't need other men
To tell how bad we are.
If we don't put the brakes on this
We all know what must follow.

Consuming everything in sight
And munching through the earth.
Will kill all life here anyway
On this place of our birth.

So why would God then intervene
And kill us in despair
when we can do it anyway?
No help is needed there.

That's not what this is all about.
God only means the best.
Do unto others, etcetra,
Then God can do the rest.

He don't want you to be a slave
Just upright noble man.
He isn't out to dominate.
That isn't in the plan.

So what He's done is give you life
Here in this pile of poo
So you can see here for yourself
The best that you could do.

And here we see what happens when
We go and fekk it up.
We drink the juices of our filth
And that's a bitter cup.

So cry and moan and say no God
How dare he treat us thus?
To go and let our children die
And hide away from us.

But is there here, on earth, a book
That does explain it all?
That tells us how we could behave
And how to have a ball.

If God is just then future times
will have to recompense
With all the tears wiped from our eyes.
It's what makes loving sense.

If God is love then from above
Something will soon be sent
To end this mess and repossess
The planet from us men.

Then raise us up, just recreate
the DNA that's man.
So up we pop and on we walk
To learn what can be done.

When man in harmony with all
That's just and strong and wise
Can walk forever, head held high,
With God clear in his eyes.

God says He will reveal Himself
So there can be no doubt.
It simply hasn't happened yet
Are we allowed to shout?

We're hanging on by skin of teeth
In all this misery.
But I'm impatient, Hurry please
Oh God, I want to see.

If I am doomed for writing this
If these words drag me down
Then God is not the God of Love
And I am not His man.

I do go on a bit, eh?

10

Islamaphobia

by Joe Grundy in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzwzfpzw0ps.

je suis charlie.

andrekish

The problem here is on BOTH sides potentially. It is true that Islam indicates that the 'infidel', non-believer should be killed. I know for a personal fact having been given a promotional book about Islam by a practicing Muslim - who did not agree with the opening words of the book: "Kill the infidel, kill him." Those are the verbatim actual real life words. Kinda made me question Islam 'coz that means peace, not kill. This killing off of us infidels is being promoted amongst many of the fanatics and extremists within Islam.

Kind of reminds me of the fanatical Christians hurling abuse at the funerals of homosexual or lesbian folk. And the Israelis marching to promote the war against Palestine, or what's left of it these days. Or the Hamas marches demanding the end of the Jews. And Ukraine didn't do itself any favours over the last few years either.

We have extreme people amongst us who happily find any excuse to harm of kill anyone they have a mind to.

In the UK years ago the Brits found a good excuse to annihilate German cities with hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. I have no sympathy for any serving military personnel who go and get themselves hurt in war since it takes at least two sides to argue and they are one of the sides with weapons that kill wherever they are pointed. The Germans had at that time, however, dreamed up, what seemed to them a good idea, and they slaughtered millions. There is no country with clean hands.

Islamic extremism is today's western media and government target. Western Governments and media are the target of Islamic theocracies. So why do both sides always keep killing civilians who get in their way? The West is as guilty as the East. The North is as guilty as the South. All kill civilians.

They are all terrorists. None has the right to drop a bomb amongst civilians. None has the right to point any weapon at a child and pull the trigger. The history of humanity is littered with the blood and bones and guts and brains of man spilled everywhere.

In fact - most of human kind are indeed terrorists - they end up supporting mad reasons to kill each other.

(Je ne suis pas Charlie 'coz he's rude to people and I have more intelligence than to go around deliberately winding up the people with guns - especially since we all know they will use them if provoked - and there ain't no such thing as freedom of speech anywhere - for example only here just ask those who promote child abuse - some stuff IS illegal and very rightly so.)

32

How would you respond to this defense made on behalf of The Watchtower's Child Abuse lawsuits?

by adjusted knowledge in

details of the society's child abuse policies have been published in jehovah's witnesses' publications, although more specific guidelines are only made available to elders, or on request.

press releases issued by the watch tower society's office of public information confirm that if a person accused of molestation repeatedly denies the charges of his victim, and there is no other witness to the incident, "the elders cannot take action within the congregation at that time", but would report to authorities if required by local laws.

our families jehovahs witnesses and child protection.

andrekish

Locally, area and names withheld, the elder in charge of investigating this type of abuse was the very person doing it for almost 40 years. None of the abused dare speak out.

Have to admit that this area is a minefield so to anyone who has ever been at the bad end of this type of stuff I can only say 'keep cheerful if you can and if you are currently being abused please tell some-one who you can trust.' There seem to be wolves everywhere.

20

Do current JWs like to have Bible discussions?

by Magnum in

on another thread rufus t. firefly made this interesting comment:.

my wife is a "zealous" regular pioneer who never talks about the bible or "the truth" and who has no interest in conducting a bible study with anyone.

this is how one remains a jw.. i decided to start a new thread to discuss this, since i didn't want to veer completely off the topic of the original thread.. i can relate to what rufus said - not concerning my wife, but other close jw family members.

andrekish

Hello. Hope I'm not speaking out of turn here since I never actually joined the WTBS so I may be unqualified to say the following:

I have a feeling that the message distribution methods, ie, Watchtower and Awake plus associated published materials are a little out of date as a medium these days. Very few youngsters want to pick up a magazine or leaflet or even a book since modern media is internet and video/social media driven. In today's world if a person says 'verse this and chapter' they get very little further attention. I cannot help but wonder how this affects the young JWs since the info they require is generally in a format that is considered 'Old Fashioned' and irrelevant. It won't make the young JWs appear anything but boring and out of touch to their peers. This may be part of the reasons that youngsters in the JW congregation are hesitant to speak.

It could be that a radical overhaul of the way the information available to Witnesses is needed. I recently noticed cartoons and videos on the JW Broadcasting channel so the organisation is slowly updating but could be far more interactive online - ie, publish all materials online so that we can all see what they are talking about. There is very little info about the king of the north/south etc, etc, online yet in a modern format that young Witnesses would feel proud to show their friends. I'm not trying to overly moan at the JW Old-Guard here - they can't help being old, can they? I do think they need radical modernisation though, and a vast amount of greater transparency.

It would be great to see a pioneer in the street with a tablet PC given the huge amount of info available online. All queries and debates could be thoroughly investigated with any curious person and the truth of the words that Witnesses speak can be verified or dismissed. Witnesses appear to have very little training in modern day witnessing. At their disposal is the greatest information online database humanity has ever had at it's disposal but I have yet to see any JW using modern technology to get their message across. They seem scared of it's ability to corrupt them.

No wonder they keep quiet.

3

Why I Love Christmas

by andrekish in

i love celebrating something with goodness at its' true core, even christmas.

some would condemn me for this but that is their concern, not mine.. i think satan is real and i think father christmas and santa claus are like satan's claws at this time of year 'coz we all go bonkers and buy everything in site and overdo things totally.

but that's not christmas to me.

andrekish

I love celebrating something with goodness at its' true core, even Christmas. Some would condemn me for this but that is their concern, not mine.

I think Satan is real and I think Father Christmas and Santa Claus are like Satan's claws at this time of year 'coz we all go bonkers and buy everything in site and overdo things totally.

But that's not Christmas to me. I learned about the true spirit of Christmas as a child and it will never wane in me. Christmas is a time of joy and peace and wonder. It is a time when the humans who recall the wonder they felt as a child try to provide this feeling in their kids. But then so many silly beggars go and swamp their dear little ones with all sorts of crap they do not need in their young lives. Or even worse, celebrate Christmas but fail to teach their kids what it is all about. Jesus was born one day a while back and that's very nice but I wasn't there so take it on advice from others and refuse to fight over it. So to wish happy birthday to Christ I raise a glass and say thank you. I would to anyone who took a bullet for me, on every occassion I could.

Kids should know a feeling like Christmas Eve, the joy of expectation. It will prepare them for what follows the coming apocalypse. Then it will truly be Christmas Eve, when all of our hopes are fulfilled and when our dead folk come back to prepare for Christmas Day.

The day after Christ hands back his kindgom to his Creator and those of us, possibly most of us once will see for ourselves, after this coming apocalypse, that this is actually for real. And from then on every day will be just like Christmas Day. And then we can all celebrate properly because there will be peace among men of goodwill. I have here no delusions of grandeur nor ego. I genuinely think this is gonna happen for real but I may not live to see it happen 'coz I'm just a speck of dust in the wind. A tiny mind in an ocean of humanity, worth no more than that

This world today, is on the eve of a proper Christmas Eve, falsely celebrating Christmas-Online.com. So I put up the lights and decorations to remind me of what is to come.

This is not contrary to the teachings of the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society, but permits me to decorate my home for my disabled wife (non Jehovah's Witness) and not go crazy 'coz some-one thinks from afar that I can't be trusted. Instead I will guard my heart above all things - even some of the doctrines of others and enjoy each year the almost-peace that occurs on earth every 25th December. I remember being told about peace on earth as a little child and it sounded great.

So I don't celebrate a pagan festival, nor a commercial one. I celebrate the future when every knee will bow at a certain name. And I am convinced that when the prophecies of the old scrolls are fulfilled everyone will be glad to be alive.

And that is what Christmas should be about so it is in my house 'coz even the most fanatical evangelists from whatever group can't argue against that or else they are misquoting a Bible.