apparently going to the kingdom hall and getting out in the door to door ministry is the best way to get over the loss of a loved one.
who'dve thunk it?.
stash: /intesoft-inc.appspot.com/post/80e3cef960fd4eee9fd5cd757c438581.html
Hi dub,
I read that they did that here on a thread somewhere a few years ago.
So I started watching for it.
I got my mind blown too...
Of course it was a short trip for me...I didnt even know they made those names and experiences up until I read here. I thought they were real.
apparently going to the kingdom hall and getting out in the door to door ministry is the best way to get over the loss of a loved one.
who'dve thunk it?.
stash: /intesoft-inc.appspot.com/post/80e3cef960fd4eee9fd5cd757c438581.html
It does the same thing that volunteering does.
It gets you out of the house and thinking of others.
It is no more or no less (although I could argue it is less lol)
But the Org would NEVER say you should volunteer for any group in the community except theirs.
just stopping by to share this... .
after seeing a watchtower representative paste the same thing over and over, about jw.org being available in 850 languages.... we all know how the watchtower loves to boast about the number of languages it translates into.
what are the facts?
I am not sure no-zombie but I think I remember someone on a thread talking about partnerships in some countries to help preserve indigenous dialects by use of publications in those languages and the Orgs attempt to provide materials to the few who still use the nearly extinct languages?
It seems (if memory serves) the Org was getting some funding or grants provided by government sources in this attempt?
If that is so, that information is the kind of thing the Org would have kept as secret as it could but once it made its way on to "apostate" websites, they would have jumped to get ahead of it and put out their statement about it.
apparently going to the kingdom hall and getting out in the door to door ministry is the best way to get over the loss of a loved one.
who'dve thunk it?.
stash: /intesoft-inc.appspot.com/post/80e3cef960fd4eee9fd5cd757c438581.html
Funny how you can see the subtle (or not so subtle but somewhat pathetic actually) tools being used to steer your thinking about what you are reading...
In this little section Pale provided, I noticed that they named the modern day concerned "sister" Ann.
A way for the article writers to help underscore their attempt to identify the biblical Hannah with their fictitious "Ann" in the readers mind.
When I saw the girl being helped was named "Paula" I left off reading looking for some mention of Paul and BAM. Yep theres the reference to Paul. LOL
When you are swimming along in your stream of consciousness like an unsuspecting little guppy just gulping in the water and happy to be there (this is my analogy of myself when I used to attend meetings) you dont notice all the little "tie ins" and cross overs they are throwing at you.
But your subconscious does and it feels "satisfied" and "convinced" when all the little subtleties all mesh. When all the little threads get tied in to a nice neat package complete with a bow on top!
This MUST be the truth! Look how good it feels and it all worked out!
(Notice how "Paulas" mom even came back? Could "Paulas" life have possibly be any better????)
I also thought it was funny that in the last paragraph on the right column, they encourage you to study with other peoples children in a public place so others cant "misconstrue" what you are doing.
Like when the congregation pedophile is molesting the children?
Ok! Way to spit on your forest fire there ORG.
Good going!
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.
Hi Libby and a big welcome!
I left after a lifetime of being a JW. Daughter of an elder, wife of an elder, mother of 2 elders etc etc etc.
I felt a huge hole which I decided to replace with a huge "whole".
By that I mean I decided to take this opportunity of being out or in between or whatever I was, as a time to look at everything and I do mean everything!
I told myself I would give myself the gift of a year to explore without consequence.
Ah freedom to think!
As a JW, I thought I was a thinking person but it was such an illusion. NOW I am becoming a thinking person. Finally.
As to baptism, one interesting point concerning that topic as it relates to Jehovahs Witnesses.....
Isnt it interesting that they stress that is completely necessary but then if you are ever disfellowhipped you are still baptized? Or if you go inactive - you will most likely die at the Great Armageddon of course, but! You are still baptized.
So what facet of all the Jehovahs Witness steps to redemption and salvation are they really concerned about? Is it baptism? Is it the ransom sacrifice? Is it avoiding disfellowshipping? Is it staying active according to their definition?
I eventually came to see (I wont bore you with all my research) that baptism as well as other things, have been co-opted by ALL religions to bind people to the religion.
Separating out "God" from "religion" was a fascinating journey for me. A little like pulling out a splinter...painful at first but boy oh boy it makes everything so much better afterwards!
As for prayer, I put that in the category of meditation and other techniques to raise awareness and use our reflective capacities. Whether prayer is "heard" or not - if it is useful - do it.
That is part of the beauty of being free to find your way now. As to the scary part (all that freedom with no defined boundries) you have this place to read at and ask questions.
When you come here, you will get advice from some of the sincerest people I have ever met. They will approach your concerns from every angle possible and in the doing of that, you will find things that are exactly what you need and useful for your unique situation.
Reading here I constantly feel I am standing on the shoulders of giants.
So enjoy your process my friend.
I want to give you a quote I love, because it speaks to the amazing potential that is around us, maybe you will like it too.
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. - Bertrand Russell
a common thing that jws point to as proof of god's blessing is the supposed cooperation between people of many different backgrounds.
however, i think there should be a distinction drawn between collaborations that are performed through true tolerance and open-mindedness towards another's point of view, and collaborations that are the result of a high level of conformity by its participants.. the former sort can be seen, for example, in the un, which while not perfect, i believe does try its best to foster true cooperation between people of all nations.
the latter of sort of cooperation, however, is more akin to the type found in communist dictatorships or countries controlled predominantly by a single religion which doesn't care to protect the rights of those in the religious minority.
Remember the Pepsi commercial where they pulled a bunch of people together to sing and hold up a Pepsi?
Those people did a convincing job. They probably were swept up in the moment (plus they were paid) and perhaps believed they really would help world peace.
They were a group of strangers pretending to be something....
that is exactly what jehovahs witnesses are doing.
People are drawn in and saturated in the idea of global unity and "love" so they each assume the persona and seeing each other do it reinforces it.
greetings, friends:.
the following is one of those now-i've-heard-everything field experiences.. this morning i went to a client's home to collect on work done.
while we were talking, the phone rang, she picked up, and told me she didn't recognize the caller id.
So they are either "cold calling" because the community is gated and they cant get in, OR Mary was perceived as showing interest previously and they are trying to consider her as a "return visit" maybe?
Either way it sounds like "we cant come to you so you come to us" doesnt it?
there were many addressed to me.
for example, i once had a sister tell me i was gambling because i liked playing skill crane (the machine where you have to try to pick up prizes like stuffed animals) at the arcade.
i then fired back a her: "you saw the r-rated movie 'backdraft.
Anyone remember mood rings back in the 70s?
All of us teenagers were told that if we wore them to the meeting for field service we would not be allowed to go unless we took them off first.
An elders wife wore one but she was weird and got mad easily so no one dared take hers away.
Proof right there that it is better to be prone to anger and NOT to cultivate the fruitage of the spirit - unless you want your mood ring confiscated.
i was a baptised brother born in a jw family with my dad as the elder.
i left (or fade) a year ago and i am still a student studying in college.
i would like to post something here since i have quite a complicated feeling after a year out.
Hi and welcome and your English was very clear!
i had given serious consideration too leaving the board.
i rationalised my views on " muslims" we're not held by the majority so i should leave.
but this would have been wrong thinking, instead i should appreciate the platform i was given to debate with free speech.
(I'm sorry the hate filled rhetoric stops me having dialogue with the more reasonable members here.)
It doesnt.
I am reasonable.
I am your friend.
I am here.
The only thing that can possibly stop a dialogue between you and me is either you or me.
((you know I love you))
