Posts by Oroborus21

11

Should JWs use crossroads?

by badboy in

jw
friends

.

not only does the word crossroad contain the word `cross', which is connected with paganism, but the ancient pagans revered crossroads in a supersitious way!.

should jws therefore use crossroads?

1) the term "cross" meaning an intersection or even two intersecting lines has been used for a long long time and it is such a ridiculous notion to think that just because one rejects the use of THE CROSS representing the implement of Christ's death that there should be some basis to shun ALL things which also can be descriptively referred to as a cross

2) THE CROSS is our english word used by some to describe the implement of Christ's death, but the original greek does not use such a term, using "stauros" or "xylon" instead. Later latin translations used "crux" in some places the root from which our English "cross" is derived from. Again it is just silly, even in jest, to suggest that other ENGLISH words that include "cross" has anything to do with not wanting to include THE CROSS in one's worship.

3) the idea of meeting the devil at a crossroads is an old one indeed, particularly in the Southern U.S. The best known legend concerning such is the faustian deal that the blues great, Robert Johnson, supposedly made with the devil, exchanging his soul for talent and fame.

4) the hacked and god-awful movie "Crossroads" is a mangled retelling of the Robert Johnson legend.

5) Getting back to the cross thing and bringing in the debate about the calendar/days, it just goes to show that a reasonable person (Jehovah's Witness) can easily distinguish between those things that would constitute idolatry/false worship such as using a cross or praying to a cross in worship (or worship of Mars for example) and non-worship related incidental (such as having a calendar with March on it or filling out a "crossword" puzzle.

--Eduardo

7

Some wackly questions 4 JEHOVAH'S WITNES

by badboy in

jw
friends

s.. do u believe that neanderthals/cro-magnons were bound 2 god in a covenant relationship?.

a religious group in america doesn't believe in saying the names of the days because they r of pagan origin,should u therefore do the same to prove u r less pagan?.

i wonder what answer i would receive?

Oroborus21

Howdy

Regarding Cro-Magnon, Neanderthals, etc. I think most witnesses would avoid the question.

I don't believe in evolution myself so my answer is that what we consider to be "primitive man" and have labeled these branches of "persons" of humanity are nothing more than just regular men living at that age. Now as we peer back at their way of life (our lenses are warped with our theories) we have distorted what were ordinary persons living in the simple conditions of that time. Let a 4 or 5 thousand years go by and see if the scientists of the future don't label us as some other distinct branch of human. It is silly.

As for the calendar/days of the week, etc. The plain fact of the matter is that witnesses pick and choose which "superstitious" and "pagan" customs or things with such connotations they will avoid or not avoid--COMPLETELY ARBITRARILY. All of which is dictated by the Society. If the Society says saying "God Bless You" is ok, all the witnesses would begin saying it. If the Society started its own non-pagan nomenclature for a calendar and days of the week, the Witnesses would follow it.

I have done a lot of research on superstitions etc. and the fact of the matter is that EVERY thing has some connotation depending on the cultural context. So the reality is to admit that one is just going to be arbitrary in this area or better yet not to worry about it at all.

--Eduardo

9

JW wifes

by happy man in

jw
friends

.

i have read that some of you here who leave the truth, have still your wife inn the religion, some of you have devorse beaucaurse you left and she still inn.. this must be a very difficult situaition.

myself have a very devoted jw wife,she is all that you here say jw are not, always ther fore the peopel who need help.always have here door open fore evryone .. go a lot in sevice, take care of evrything in the home , try to help evryone.. when i tell here some of this stuff, i see the brightness in here eyes was going down, happiness was perhaps littel bit away, now i must ask you who have been in this situation, can it realy be worth the price, to see your loved ones bee unhappy, and even perhaps lost ther hope and happiness..

Oroborus21

Howdy,

As the old saying goes: Ignorance is Bliss.

For witnesses it is doubly true.

Having said that, the issues you raise are profound and really there are no easy answers. anyone who has truly been immersed in the organization knows that.

It takes a strong and balanced person to both see the problems of the organization, including important foundational doctrines, and at the same time find some meaning, peace and joy in choosing to remain in full association with it. VERY FEW people have this strength.

You know your wife better than anyone. Different witnesses have different reactions, no one is the same. All you can do is conclude what you feel and believe is the best course for yourself and your family and strive to keep everything together.

There is comfort in the cave my friend but the sunlight is beautiful also.

-Eduardo

10

Had A Visit Today!

by Undecided in

jw
friends

i was in the yard and this car pulled up to the driveway and a couple of jws stepped out.

(one of them was the guy i mentioned the other day who made the unbelievable remarks) the co is in town and they invited me to the kh.

we talked a few minutes and i gave them a few things to think about.

Oroborus21

Howdy,

It is true that RF describes the governing body meetings, but isn't also true that when he was privy to such meeting it was 20 years ago?!

So many organizational changes have occurred since the late 70s isn't it just possible that meetings are not conducted the same way. I am not saying that I believe that all decisions are unanimous or that some voting procedure does not take place. The fact is I don't know.

My point is that several commentators rely upon CofC but this information is over two decades old.

comments?

-Eduardo

10

Well, shyit....played my hand....

by Xander in

hmmm....well, things should get interesting in a hurry.

for those who don't know my story, the wife and i were born into the org.

raised in it, baptised, both very good publishers, pioneered, et al.

Oroborus21

Funny i subscribe to Scientific American and I don't remember reading that article and I just finished this month's issue.

eduardo

26

Birthdays

by showme in

i have been dating a jw for about 4 months now.

i was curious about her beliefs in the beginning.

i had no idea what jw's believed.

Oroborus21

I know it is unusual on the NET but I just want to apologize for my atrocious spelling that hastily typed post.

Slightly OCD, Eduardo

26

Birthdays

by showme in

i have been dating a jw for about 4 months now.

i was curious about her beliefs in the beginning.

i had no idea what jw's believed.

Oroborus21

This is much ado about nothing!

B-days are not really condemned in the Bible. The most JWs can do then--since this JW cultural custom arose sometime during the hardline Rutherford days--is to find other scriptural hatracks.

One is point out that the "only other mention of B-days" in the bible is Herod's birthday where the end result of the account John the Baptist was beheaded. If you ask me beautiful dancing teen girls seems to have been the problem not the birthday itself.

Other things are brought up like "lighted tapers on sweet cakes" harking back to superstitions and worship of pagan gods. Therefore in a completely arbitrary to remain free from such things a birthday cake, and presents are avoided.

But this is just one example of where we, JWs, are completely arbitrary on avoiding superstitions and relics of false worship. I have read a book on superstitions and frankly pretty much anything you can think of has some superstitious or false-religious connotation or association!

To JWs that avoid B-day cakes, saying "Bless You" etc, I point out that they should not be eating breakfast cereal either!

After all it was precisely this meal of early grain harvest and milk that became a sacred offering consumed in the honor of the roman goodess of the harvest: Ceres (hence the name).

getting back to the topic, your girl will never figure out that B-days are no big deal unless she figures out other more important problems with some of the teachings.

In the meantime, enjoy things yourself, you are off the hook for an expected present, etc. but you know if you subtlely take her to dinner or by her a present (unwrapped) and present it to her the day before, evening before or next day, she will be happy none the less to receive it.

Many JWs unofficially celebrate birthdays this way--this is similar to the Thanksgiving celebrations in many JW households!--without having to directly confront the silliness of the "no-birthday celebration" rule/doctrine.

--Eduardo

24

"Work that will be completed in our 20th c...

by 67mustang in

i read an article about a 1989 watchtower that stated the preaching work would be completed in our 20th century, but was revised in the bound volume to say "in our day".

i told my brother this and he said, "if it's on the net about jw's it's a lie".

i want to prove to him it was a fact.

Oroborus21

Howdy,

Save your money, save your energy.

Even if you were holding both sources, one in your left the other in your right, in front of your brother's own eyes...he would not believe you.

Instead wrap the comforting smugness of being right tightly around you and shake your head sadly at your brother.

--Eduardo

12

About the two beheaded Witnesses

by Kingpawn in

i got to thinking about this at work a couple of nights ago.. a news story said that the two jw's killed weren't (apparently) proselytizing in the phillipines, which is described as a heavily muslim nation.

though they were found with avon products, avon said the two were neither employees nor representatives.. now, why would two jw's be in a heavily muslim land, possibly pretending to be something they're not?

were they just lugging the stuff from place to place for someone as a favor?.

Oroborus21

Hey Folks,

by "spies" I think he means CIA or such POSING as Jehovah's Witnesses (possible) NOT JWs spying.

silly!

Eduardo

19

Anybody from Los Angeles,CA

by carlitos71 in

looking to get in contact with any xjw's in la, especially in the southeast-downey,hp,bell

Oroborus21

Los Angeles Here, U.S.C. area for now, work downtown.