Posts by millie210

65

Introducing...ME

by Heartsafire in

jw
friends

long time lurker here.

i'm a fifth gen born-in baptized jw.

to say i've been struggling with doubts is an understatement.

millie210

Heartsafire
I hope I didn't offend anybody in my original post by saying your posts make me laugh. I mean no disrespect at all. What I meant to say is that I'm stoked to read everyone's unique perspectives, and I really identify with gripes about the Borg. It's been such a relief to find people that I can relate to and who can relate to me in my weird situation. *wipes away happy tear*

No one will be offended by that!

One thing we all agree on is what a tremendous relief it is to just be ourselves, finally.

I love this place. I think it saved me from years of struggling and being sad on my own.

I am so glad youre here for that very reason.

Welcome, welcome, welcome!

120

The right to shun - wrong?

by Simon in

many people are understandably upset and angry at the notion that jws have the right to shun people.

it seems such an obvious "no brainer" cruel and inhuman thing to do - it must be wrong ... surely?.

of course we look at things from the perspective of those hurt and harmed by shunning.

millie210

Simon
Everyone has to have the right to shun people. There is simply no way on earth that the opposite can be legislated for.

You are right Simon.

Shunning is a behavioral response normal to humans.

Anthropologically speaking, shunning happens for heinous actions that threaten group well being. This would result in the shunned ones immediate survival being at risk and thus a return to conforming to group behavior.

What is wrong is the Org took this basic human behavior and harnessed it in to a weapon of their own. THEY tell you who to shun and not shun based not on things people would naturally exclude someone over but based instead on warped concepts and ideals they have come up with.

It is clever group manipulation and JWs are certainly not the only ones who have utilized it.

As man evolves and adapts to a modern world, hopefully this behavior will be recognized as

what it is and will be shunned itself! Imagine that. A world where people shun the concept of shunning.

Then it would fall out of vogue and new tools that work better would be employed by high control groups.

But people on their own? They are always going to shun various individuals based on their own ideas. That is the part that is hard wired in to us.

Which is what makes it the very reason any attempts to legislate it will be relatively ineffective.

16

Adjusting

by cognac in

jw
friends

just feel like i could never make it on the outside world.

i was never able to adjust, except in being a mom and in business.

those are the only things that i feel strong in.

millie210

Hi cognac,

Being able to cope well with being a mom and also being good in business is really quite the accomplishment.

Is there a slight chance that maybe you are a little hard on yourself and dont see how well you really do?

I dont know you and am not trying to "armchair psychology" you, I was just struck by the fact that you are successful at two very important things and I find that impressive.

28

CO just confirmed worldwide construction halt and possible JW.ORG news of it

by LevelThePlayingField in

just had the co visit tonight.

i asked him if he had heard about the worldwide halt of construction besides warwick and to my surprise he said he heard the same thing.

then he went on and add that also some branches are closing and some bethelites going into pioneering but, "all because of the preaching work now.

millie210

Funny how last January they didnt want to call the elders together to meet about the preaching work.

They did however call a meeting of the elders to announce the "greatest construction/building work the world has ever seen".

We had several threads about it

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/40380001/upcoming-meeting-re-kh-construction

15

2015 Questions and Answers!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

2015, questions and answers!.

.. these are some of the questions we have received and the answers to those questions.. .. 1. what happened a few months back when atlantis had to disappear.. .. answer: it wasn't so much that atlantis had to disappear.

it was that atlantis had to take a break due to a serious family situation.

millie210

You all sound like such interesting people and I appreciate learning more about you. Thanks so much for all you do (Atlantis AND Petra)

I have always wanted to thank you and now I have.

21

On a need to know basis - The Letter

by no-zombie in

we've just had our sunday meeting and the letter was read out to the congregation.. however, there was no mention of the bethel lay-offs or the building program shut-downs.. looks like we are on a need to know basis, here in australia..

millie210

I know what you mean StarTrekAngel.

I think it might be because the announcement at Bethel, the annual meeting and the letter were all events that happened so close together.

21

On a need to know basis - The Letter

by no-zombie in

we've just had our sunday meeting and the letter was read out to the congregation.. however, there was no mention of the bethel lay-offs or the building program shut-downs.. looks like we are on a need to know basis, here in australia..

millie210

2 things happened.

1) An announcement was made at morning worship at Bethels around the world that there would be cut backs in the constuction work and also a large number of Bethelites were going to be sent home in a downsizing move..

2) A letter was read at the meeting Oct. 4th explaining the midweek meeting change, the new simplified Bible Teach book and the revamped Organization book.

----------------------------------------

#1 was not mentioned in the letter that was read.

All JWs who are at online sites know about the announcement at Bethel morning worship because it is on the JW friendly forums and they are talking about it.

Most Witnesses who are not online as much for their JW information - still dont know about the construction halt and the Bethelites being sent home.

49

New member checking in

by Old Major in

jw
friends

been reading for about 2 and a half years, thought i would take the plunge and sign up.. my circumstances... i live in uk, serving as ms. i am fully awake.

i can not leave due to family, so just treating the meetings as a bit of a social club.

i would like to give out more details, but i think you all know the drill.. complete disillusionment and i suppose natural curiosity woke me up.. don't know what else to say right now, just hello, and i hope to get to know some of you guys better.

millie210

Hi Old Major, .

I have learned more about the religion, the Bible and life in general here than I ever did from the Org.

Since you have been reading here for awhile Im sure you know what I mean by that.

Treating the meetings as a social club sounds like a great technique.

A very warm welcome to you!

22

Jehovah's Chariot slams into reverse!

by apocalypse in

the question i will be asking dubs at the hall this week is, "since jesus is directing the slave.... why has he done a 180..?".

last sunday we studied how jesus is directing the slave to build an average of 5 kingdom halls a day since 2000. why has he changed his mind and gone in the completely opposite direction?.

if this 'change' is not securely lodged in their craw by the time i am through, then i will eat my hat..

millie210

The chariot runs in circles...

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

Diogenesister
millie210 I agree with you, and although I am someone who has followed that formulae to a tee and am now an athiest I feel very uncomfortable with the fact that thiests are nervous about expressing their views on this forum. I love the idea of you following your own path, thats cool. Thats what we should all be about here - ACCEPTANCE.
I personally am still grieving over Jesus.I really miss him being in my life. I know it seems foolish but there it is.

Thank you for your post Diogenesister.

You sound like exactly the type of atheist I would enjoy talking to and listening to..

I wish more atheists and theists could talk in an environment free of "listen to me! I know the only right way!"

Maybe one day it will happen..