Posts by NameWithheld

Yes perhaps it was, but answer me this - was/is Bruno Bettelheim a JW himself? Associated in any way? Also, I would be interested to know where Bruno Bettelheim bases his assertation. Was he there in the camps to witness these events? I would trust an eye-witness over a someone who was passing on stories. Perhaps he was basing them on his interviews w/ survivors?

45

For those who don't believe in God

by freedom96 in

jw
friends

when we were witnesses, we certainly believed in god.

some of us were born into it, and others have perhaps come from other religions, while still others may never had any religious faith at all.

some here on the board now claim that there is no god at all.

NameWithheld

I want to live eternally, and I need God for that. No one can expect to live eternally without God's blessings.

JH, this is in no way a slam on you, nor am I trying to change your beliefs - honestly, I could care less what people personally choose to beleive one way or another. But I find the above interesting. Due to your desires/wants, you have created a god to give you what you want. How does that make it so? I find the above the same as saying "I want 3 magical wishes, and I need a genie in a bottle for that. No one can get 3 magical wishes without the genie". How is that any different?

6

what's in a name?

by peacefulpete in

perusing the insight books years ago it occured to me how many names of bible charactors seemed prophetic.

that is, their name matched to the story they appeared in.

"achan" for example means "bringer of trouble" and sure enough he was.

NameWithheld

Well, since the bible books that deal w/ early Isreal's history are a collection of myths, fables, and lore, and are at best exagerations of true events, it doesn't seem illogical that the names of the characters would be made to fit the story ...

45

For those who don't believe in God

by freedom96 in

jw
friends

when we were witnesses, we certainly believed in god.

some of us were born into it, and others have perhaps come from other religions, while still others may never had any religious faith at all.

some here on the board now claim that there is no god at all.

NameWithheld

Ditto just about everyone on this post. A re-examination of the way I was raised leads you right into examining just where/how this whole christain movement began and is/was supported. Throw in some reading about non-christain beliefs easily lets me see that all religions are 1) a human attempt to explain the unexplainable, and/or 2) a great way to exploit other humans for money, power, fame, worship, etc. Often #1 leads into #2 as the religion 'matures'.

11

Are you still looking for a meaning to life?

by sleepy in

jw
friends

.

i havent bothered thinking much about the deeper issues of life recently but why not start again i thought to my self, and i ask the questions what are we and how did we get here?and i ask these in the biggest sense ie, not how did we get here on earth but how and why did the whole show sart in the first place.. its easy to say the universe just happened , we just evolved and our conscious existance is just a freak of nature.but these answers sweep over the main issues which are far deeper.. i learnt to reject ghosts, gods, angels and supernatural phenomena , but my own existance is more perversely strange to a logical mind than any of these, and yet i do exist.. what the hell is it all about i wonder?

NameWithheld

I learnt to reject Ghosts, Gods, Angels and supernatural phenomena , but my own existance is more perversely strange to a logical mind than any of these, and yet I do exist.

Are you sure that you really exist? Prove it

43

Would you post as much if...

by Jourles in

jw
friends

...the number of posts next to your name was not there?

or what if the date from the time you signed up was missing?

do you think that some here crave the attention that they receive just by the amount of posts that they create?

NameWithheld

I only replied to you to bump up my posting count

53

Staying Awake Or Keeping In A Frenzy?

by AlanF in

we ex-jws know very well how much the watchtower society put us under pressure to believe that "armageddon is just around the corner".

they've been doing it in one form or another ever since charles taze russell began publishing his nonsense.

in 1877 he advocated that true christians should believe that christ would "take them home" in 1878. when that didn't happen he moved the event up to 1881. after that he focused on 1914.. the society is still doing pretty much the same thing, building up expectations and then revising them, decade after decade.

NameWithheld

Anyone up for a game of Fundingo?

I already have the "the bible is god's word because it says it's god's word' square filled in!

Edited by - NameWithheld on 8 January 2003 15:27:9

53

Staying Awake Or Keeping In A Frenzy?

by AlanF in

we ex-jws know very well how much the watchtower society put us under pressure to believe that "armageddon is just around the corner".

they've been doing it in one form or another ever since charles taze russell began publishing his nonsense.

in 1877 he advocated that true christians should believe that christ would "take them home" in 1878. when that didn't happen he moved the event up to 1881. after that he focused on 1914.. the society is still doing pretty much the same thing, building up expectations and then revising them, decade after decade.

NameWithheld

The sad part is that since no human being can convince you of the validity of the Bible as being the word of God, you force him to take action against you and all wicked ones around the earth, and he will.

The sad part is that since no human being can convince you of the validity of the Koran as being the word of God, you force him to take action against you and all the wicked ones around the earth, and he will.

16

My 89-year old grandpa now attending meetings

by YellowLab in

jw
friends

i never thought i'd see the day, but my 89-year old grandpa is now attending meetings.

a real life story i wanted to share with you all.

my grandma asked why he wanted to go to the hall.

NameWithheld

You know very well that JWs are not after peoples money, but to teach them how to know Jehovah better and have a chance at salvation.

Oh that is rich! So Sword, if it's not about the $$, answer me this (although I know you will not) - Why the multi page brochure that 'explains' the many wonderful ways you can give every dime you own to the WTBTS? Why the oh so predictable announcment every Sunday morning at an assembly about how pitifully short in cash they are, and couldn't we show our 'appretiation' of the wonderful spiritual food by donating to 'cover costs'? Why the oh so predictable yearly articles in the WT or ~~Asleep~~Awake mags about 'giving your valuable things to Jah' that once again outlines the many ways you can donate to the WTBTS? I won't get into the 'resolutions' passed at KH to cover the CO's 'expsenses', to donate to various WTBTS 'funds' etc.

Toward the end of my JWhood I was hearing pleads for $$$$ at EVERY meeting. All the while out the other side of their mouth they were jerking themselves off about how they didn't 'pass a collection plate or force donations'. What a joke.

This scam of taking people's estates at death has to one of the MOST distastful things in this very distastful ~~religion~~cult.