Posts by millie210

447

Does Anyone Still Believe in God?

by LaurenM in

do any of you ex-jw's still believe in god?

even with the new rebranding/softening of this religion, i still don't see how people can believe in him.

the god of the old testimate is an angry murderer who approved rapes and slavery and killed thousands of men, women and children.

millie210

Daniel1555

True.

I have a gay family member that I am extremely close to. I dont feelthat a literal take on the Bible and a belief in God have to line up entirely with one another necessarily..

The Bible is a book. The other (God) is an entity.

That is not to say that the Bible has no merit, there is merit in many things if you look at them from how they were intended. Many Holy Books exist, all working off that premise and bringing comfort and peace and wisdom to their readers.

Who was it that said - we dont see things as they are......we see things as we are?

I dont know much currently as I am wiping the hard drive of my belief system for a re format

But I do know that the fundamentalist JW approach to interpreting the Bible was incorrect.

447

Does Anyone Still Believe in God?

by LaurenM in

do any of you ex-jw's still believe in god?

even with the new rebranding/softening of this religion, i still don't see how people can believe in him.

the god of the old testimate is an angry murderer who approved rapes and slavery and killed thousands of men, women and children.

millie210

Saintbertholdt25 minutes ago

It is true many atheists are very zealous but those enthusiastic objections only really came to the fore after a group of religious folks decided to drive airplanes filled with fare paying passengers into some tall buildings. It dawned upon atheists that these people meant business and if religion went unchecked, well heck maybe we'd all be back herding goats and stoning rape victims in no time at all. Since then religion has become somewhat of a sticky topic for atheists where before they would have shrugged and returned to their crossword puzzle

Interesting comment Saintbertholdt,

I honestly never thought of what you mentioned but I can see how that would have jarred many previously quiet people in to being more vocal. That would include atheists, why not?

Sounds reasonable.

I had thought that the problem I had here specifically was that the personality of some seemed to still be so "Witness like"- super determined that they are right...THIS TIME. Just like they thought they were right - last time...(jw).

I dont want to be recruited I want to be persuaded.

One of the biggest draws to me is a life well lived. ANY one who is bitter, cynical or jaded is not standing where I want to end up.

Life is amazing and beautiful and ripe with possibility.

I always liked the JWs that reflected that mind set. Unfortunately, it has been proven to my personal satisfaction that the leadership doesnt have any substance (if it ever did - I am still reading old threads and learning the history of my "religion") and since everything works off a trickle down principle, the religion is running dry. So I am looking for greener pastures.

Optimistic people who are intrigued with the mystery of life as much as the documentation of it.

447

Does Anyone Still Believe in God?

by LaurenM in

do any of you ex-jw's still believe in god?

even with the new rebranding/softening of this religion, i still don't see how people can believe in him.

the god of the old testimate is an angry murderer who approved rapes and slavery and killed thousands of men, women and children.

millie210

I have put that question off to one side for now.

I cannot cope with leaving the religion, the fall out from my uber duber family AND wrestling with an issue that has plagued man for centuries.

When I get all that down to a dull roar I will begin to look at other things such as eternity and God and so on.

I think this is the right way to go about it for me. I dont want any beliief system I set up to in any way be a "response" to having been raised a JW.

I dont like the idea of hanging my future on a reaction to a negative. (the JW religion)

When I first began participating on this site, I realized there is a formula that is supposed to be followed of leaving, poking fun at the religion, look to science and lastly, become an atheist.

That feels like pressure.

I want to have my own experience - something the JWs do not allow.

I do wish there were more opportunities for friendly discussions about the topic but the folks here that believe in God are pretty quiet and the atheists are as zealous as the JWs.

NOT all of course, some are very respectful and patient but that doesnt seem to have been the waters I waded in to each time I tried to enter a discussion.

So I just quit.

That is when it dawned on me not to try to do it all at once. Take my time.

32

What makes WT think they can reassign Bethel volunteers to be Regular Pioneers.

by Zoos in

when the gb cuts loose 1600 volunteers, what makes them think they can continue telling them how they will spend their time?

i've read on many of these threads that the 1600 will be reassigned.

what, are they still under some sort of contract?.

millie210

To leave Bethel is to take a mighty tumble. In order to have any kind of dignity on doing so a person must have some kind of title.

The throwing them a bone title has always been that of special pioneer.

Its sad really.

14

help me to readjust my thinking about my hypocritical ex....

by losingit in

i am really struggling with this particular situation in my life, and i really need your help to readjust my thinking.

i am recently divorced from my ex-jw husband.

we were both disfellowshipped at around the same time about 2-3years ago.

millie210

In my experience when a man is mute in the face of an easy question, it is because he knows he doesnt have a good answer.

Being in "the truth" was hard on your marriage. It also sounds like he is a very immature individual apart from or because of being a JW.

The bottom line is, all the things you wanted to do that he is now doing (concerts, boating etc) are available to you also Those are things anyone can avail themselves of.

Could it be that in the marriage you were cast in the role of the "responsible" one while he filled the "role" of the "fun" one?

If so, now is the time for YOU to write your own role. All of your maturity and goal setting has paid off. You have a good job and most importantly you have a clear record of caring and being a loving parent with your girls. That is an incredible achievement. They may not understand now but they will when they are older.

So now is time for you to ease up a bit on yourself and realize you dont have to counteract his ying with your yang. You are not in a role of having to over balance to create balance.

Take a deep breath and start small. Find some girlfriends or a single parents group. Or maybe you have some other interest that you would like to pursue. There are a LOT of people who want and need a friend. If there isnt a single parents group - start one.

You have done all the hard part - now its time to re invent a little bit.

All the best to you - you can do this.

71

Any thoughts on the real reasons for droppng the 'school"

by sparrowdown in

jw
friends

my thoughts are.

1. they want to avoid being made to comply with any laws that come with anything classed as a "school" especially a school with children enrolled.. 2. the mid-week meeting has been dying in the ass for years and needs a revival.

i predict happy -clappy-sing-a-longs to be included in the program.. anyone else have any thoughts ??

millie210

blondie
If I remember correctly, before the book study was added to the lineup, the meetings last 1 hr 45 min. Is it still that with the book study? If not the adjustment has taken it back to the original time.
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE THE MORE IT STAYS THE SAME

Apparently the chariot is racing.....

in a circle.

64

E-Mail, Just recived. About Bethell adjustments.

by DwainBowman in

i just read an email from a friend, and she shared some very interesting emails from her friends about information on changes now happening at the bethels around the world.

here is the email: .

---------------------------------thanks sally, jesus is directing the org and all decisions and instructions to us may not seem practical from now on, neither will we understand the reasonings behind many of the changes that the organization makes.

millie210

Saintbertholdt7 hours ago
Hi Millie,
"At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. ALL OF US MUST BE READY TO OBEY ANY INSTRUCTIONS WE MAY RECEIVE, WHETHER THESE APPEAR SOUND FROM A STRATEGIC OR HUMAN STANDPOINT OR NOT. (4) Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith."
The Governing body knew very well.

Hi Saintbertholdt,

So true...

Isnt there a scripture about letting the one strapping on his sword not brag like the one taking it off?

They should probably read their own info...

64

E-Mail, Just recived. About Bethell adjustments.

by DwainBowman in

i just read an email from a friend, and she shared some very interesting emails from her friends about information on changes now happening at the bethels around the world.

here is the email: .

---------------------------------thanks sally, jesus is directing the org and all decisions and instructions to us may not seem practical from now on, neither will we understand the reasonings behind many of the changes that the organization makes.

millie210

OrphanCrow11 minutes ago

As we get closer to the end, some decisions may be made that we perhaps don’t understand, that may seem to go against all logic. Whatever the reasons, obeying and accepting those decisions will result in blessings.

And there we go.
When was that put out as a directive?
It seems like somebody(ies) higher up knew that big shakeups were going to happen. This is not news to somebody...

Is this it?

The November 15th, 2013 Watchtower Study article

Paragraph 17

"At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. ALL OF US MUST BE READY TO OBEY ANY INSTRUCTIONS WE MAY RECEIVE, WHETHER THESE APPEAR SOUND FROM A STRATEGIC OR HUMAN STANDPOINT OR NOT. (4) Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith."

135

Latest Leaked BOE letter to Elders Oct. 4th

by Watchtower-Free in

october 4, 2015. to all congregations.

re: new provisions announced atannual meeting.

dear brothers:.

millie210

Well I feel a personal sense of accomplishment knowing this OTWO.

I still remember getting a W in "Coherence through connectives" and having to work my way up to a G!

71

Any thoughts on the real reasons for droppng the 'school"

by sparrowdown in

jw
friends

my thoughts are.

1. they want to avoid being made to comply with any laws that come with anything classed as a "school" especially a school with children enrolled.. 2. the mid-week meeting has been dying in the ass for years and needs a revival.

i predict happy -clappy-sing-a-longs to be included in the program.. anyone else have any thoughts ??

millie210

The "new breed" of JW doesnt seem to support the school like the old timers did.

I have read here and in other places that some think the school was the best part of being a JW as far as really learning anything - how to do public speaking for instance.

In recent years, people dont show up for assignments, dont call ahead, etc. The various Halls around here had to abandon their 2nd schools due to lack of support for the arrangement.

The Org doesnt dare let anything look terminally ill. They have to jump in and "change" or "spin" it so that the appearance of being a busy and thriving Org is maintained.

So bye bye school and hello workbooks!