Posts by ThinkerBelle

8

Religion Project

by Darren Doody in

jw
friends

i've recently taken a particular interest in the jehovah's witness belief, and as a result, have decided to do a project on this belief as part of my college study.

i am a student teacher in ireland, so, i am undertaking this project from an educational perspective; i want to see how jehovah's witnesses are catered for in religious education in schools, and if there are any ways one could improve it.

i would appreciate if anyone could give their opinion on this topic.

ThinkerBelle

Just wanted to step in and clarify the "Higher Education" MO witnesses have. In print and most talks, they encourage to not pursue education more than is necessary (not banning it), so they don't like the idea of an 18 year old staying on campus under worldly influence, but they recognize that sometimes schooling is necessary beyond the mandated. The interpretation and enforcement is of course not universal as many JW ideas aren't. Service is of course pushed first as others stated and trying to offer yourself up full-time as a goal. I've known plenty of elder's kids that went to college (myself included) and their fathers weren't removed. I think much of it depends on the enforcement of "the rules" in your area and who you know. A couple of those kids are elders themselves now, but their fathers were highly respected in the inner circle. You will find some old timers still touting the "no college" mantra, but that is far from the norm now.

For what it's worth, I'm born-in PIMO.

42

I HATE JW funerals

by jws in

jw
friends

jw funeral last night.

it was about half an hour from start to finish.

they opened with basic facts about the person.

ThinkerBelle

Oh, no, another one Captain?!?!

In this case it was female, Eurpean name, but not strange and similar to an English name, which is the one the elder chose to use. I'd say the name, but it would be too identifying. This relative was very well liked and it was standing room only so most people were aware of the error and unbelieving relatives there too. Very little was said about her life, but definitely played up the sales pitch......didn't work on the unbelievers, they were not impressed with it, LOL.

42

I HATE JW funerals

by jws in

jw
friends

jw funeral last night.

it was about half an hour from start to finish.

they opened with basic facts about the person.

ThinkerBelle

Try having the funeral talk of my very dear relative given by an elder friend of another family member that didn't know the deceased personally and mispronounced their name the whole talk.....talk about impersonal and disheartening.

46

What Makes Someone Become a JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

my excuse is that i was born in the religion.

but if someone wasn’t, why would they become one?.

ThinkerBelle

Even people "born into" a religion are responsible for their own decisions once they become legal adults. So anyone that gets baptized after reaching the legal age of adulthood has chosen this religion.

Still. you're right it's definitely a choice - but a different from that of the choice to convert when you're an adult with no JW background to normalize the choice.

While the born-in does make a choice, it is completely different from someone that comes in later so I have to agree with Steve here. Also, most born-ins end up baptized before they are legal adults because the religion pushes child baptism to hook 'em in, that fact can't be glazed over either. Personal experience, I got baptized as a teen because I was tired of everyone asking me when I was going to do it (most of my friends had been dunked already). I honestly didn't want to do it, but felt like I didn't have a choice.

For the OP, people love to be part of a community and that is exactly what the JWs offer; everything looks great in the beginning.

27

At the annual meeting right now . . .

by neat blue dog in

i'm at the recorded meeting right now.

trying to hide my disgust sitting up front listening to geoffrey jackson quibble about the pharisaical minutai of sanctification vs. vindication.

the audience is thrilled that they now have 'permission' to say god's name can be vindicated.

ThinkerBelle

I'm here too, Neat, trying to control my facial expressions. How bout when those brothers "turned the matter over to prayer" when having issues with fabricators. Biggest inner eyeroll ever!!

16

Daily Text July 21, 2017: Jehovah is a loving father?

by Sanchy in

jw
friends

is jehovah really a loving and compassionate "father" to his children?

as a jw i would have definitely answered "yes", followed by the typical "he allows suffering, but doesn't cause it", or perhaps the "he has created us to enjoy life and wants us to be happy" mumbo jumbo.

today's daily text demonstrate this reasoning (bold mine):.

ThinkerBelle

Great analogies! I always wondered how loving Jehovah could be when he killed all the "evil" during Noah's flood leaving righteous man only (presumably....i know better now) and then let the Earth go right back to the way it was - what was the point of that? That's not loving at all especially considering the promises he made in the Bible, supposedly.

41

Where do I go now?

by Libby in

jw
friends

so i thought my purpose was to serve jehovah and get baptised.

where do i go now to get baptised?

is baptism even a requirement for serving god or was that just for the disciples and people of that time.

ThinkerBelle

Welcome, Libby. I started questioning the religion of my birth several years back and had many of the same questions you do. While I'm still today trying to figure my beliefs out - I think I align most with deism at this point - this board has been vary helpful in my journey as was returning to school. Unlike for my friend who felt completely betrayed when discovering TTATT, I was never fully "in" to begin with. Sure I followed the rigmarole of it all and got baptized because it was expected of me, but I never felt fully ingrained by it so I had no problem leaving mentally from the org. I would recommend reading the Bible without Watchtower aids as others have suggested and not the NWT version. I bought one that had commentary so I could see what various faiths believe. I began studying Christianity's roots and then delved into world and ancient religions. I think what really opened my eyes was studying the skeptics and philosophers of the 18th century. In particular, if you like deeper reading, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume was a great read for someone in discovery mode. That said, you just have to start at square one with your beliefs and where you want to go from here. I am the eternal optimist so the doom of Armageddon never plagued me - I choose to live life as I want not as how an organization wants me to. I do feel a spiritual need, but don't think that religion is the answer to life's problems. I am not worried about dying, but making the most of the days I have with the people closest to me. What happens when we die? There are any number of ways to believe that will fulfill your inner need whether you want to look on it spiritually or scientifically or both. I figure I'll find out when I'm gone; life is short so I'm not going to wrestle with the unknown. On the matter of prayer, I was never a pray-er, but occasionally in times of despair when I have no one else to turn to, I will offer one up to whomever may be listening; it is more a matter of relief for myself than of a religious requirement.

36

What is the basis for advising “Don’t pursue higher studies”?

by venus in

two elders who visited my friend last week encouraged her not to pursue higher studies.

it seems they are dishing out the same old stuff: “the end is imminent, and this is the time to do more in the service; hence don’t waste your resources on higher studies.”.

i wonder whether there was some official communiqué (something that is sent out recently like letter to the elders, or kingdom ministry article …).

ThinkerBelle

Elders in our hall feel differently and don't discourage it anymore, but it's pretty techy in my town and many people have degrees. I guess it depends on the opinion of the body whether they say something or not.

9

Which elder letter talking about Warwick...

by ThinkerBelle in

my spouse and i were talking about something that was written last year (thinking about spring time maybe) that was in a letter read to the elders only talking about warwick and it mentioned - or hinted at maybe - that the righteous resurrected of old would have rooms made there (ya know, like carrying on the whole beth sarim idea again).

at first i thought this info was in a watchtower, but couldn't find it and that's when honey thought it was in a letter instead and might not have been public info.

does this ring a bell for anyone?

ThinkerBelle

LOL, I figured this board would be all over something like that. I think it may have just been something local considering the source - maybe from the elder's school. I wouldn't be surprised though considering the history.

9

Which elder letter talking about Warwick...

by ThinkerBelle in

my spouse and i were talking about something that was written last year (thinking about spring time maybe) that was in a letter read to the elders only talking about warwick and it mentioned - or hinted at maybe - that the righteous resurrected of old would have rooms made there (ya know, like carrying on the whole beth sarim idea again).

at first i thought this info was in a watchtower, but couldn't find it and that's when honey thought it was in a letter instead and might not have been public info.

does this ring a bell for anyone?

ThinkerBelle

My spouse and I were talking about something that was written last year (thinking about spring time maybe) that was in a letter read to the elders only talking about Warwick and it mentioned - or hinted at maybe - that the righteous resurrected of old would have rooms made there (ya know, like carrying on the whole Beth Sarim idea again). At first I thought this info was in a Watchtower, but couldn't find it and that's when honey thought it was in a letter instead and might not have been public info. Does this ring a bell for anyone? We talked about it when it happened (still have family in that had mentioned it) but can't for the life of me remember the reference point to it.

Thanks if you know what I'm rambling about. :)