I went out in field service on Christmas Day in 1973, when we were distributing the Kingdom News tract, "Has Religion Betrayed God and Man?" That was in the days when the KN tracts would be distributed for ten days only, so the Society had to have timed it deliberately to fall at Christmas. Most people were oblivious and just wanted to get back to their families, so they took the tract, which was all we were trying to get them to do. There was no suggestion of turning the visit into a discussion during tract distribution then; it was just get the tract into their hands and leave. There is only one person I specifically remember leaving the tract with that day. It was a man who came out and stood on his porch, took the tract, looked at the title, and then looked at me and said, "You know, you people have a lot of stones." I think that was the last year I ever went out in service on Christmas, even though I was in the organization for over 25 years after that.
NeonMadman
JoinedPosts by NeonMadman
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65
As a JW, what did you do on Christmas Day?
by Magwitch ingrowing up a jw, we always had family from out of town visit or we would go visit family.
it was fun to get together with my other jw cousins over christmas.
(however, it was hell going back to school in january as the only girl without a new sweater).. as a married jw though it was a different story.
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14
Do you believe in censoring information at all?
by sabastious inas witnesses we all grew up with our information heavily censored.
it has got me to thinking: do i think censoring information is ever a good thing?.
i had this bethelite friend back when i was a witness and he would be careful who he told about the craziness behind those doors.
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NeonMadman
Generally, I don't believe in censorship, though there might be necessary exceptions in matters of national security. The danger in such, of course, is that the privilege to censor for "national security" might be abused for political advantage.
I certainly don't believe that people should be ordered by religious authorities to avoid reading material that disagrees with the "party line." If a group of which one is a member tries to restrict his/her access to certain information, that should be a big red flag.
On a private basis, I believe that parents should exercise care as to what their children are reading or viewing. The younger the child, the more discernment should be used as to what material is appropriate. By the time a child reaches the mid-teens or so (the age could vary depending on the intellect and maturity of the child), there should be very little material that the parents would prohibit. I should emphasize that I'm talking here about intellectual material: I would consider pornography a separate issue when dealing with minors.
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65
As a JW, what did you do on Christmas Day?
by Magwitch ingrowing up a jw, we always had family from out of town visit or we would go visit family.
it was fun to get together with my other jw cousins over christmas.
(however, it was hell going back to school in january as the only girl without a new sweater).. as a married jw though it was a different story.
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NeonMadman
There was another family that we used to get together with on Christmas for many years. We would always go out for a Chinese dinner and then to a movie. Now that I, and that other family, are all ex-JW's, we often still get together around Christmas time, though they reserve the actual day for visiting with their own family. Now, we (that's me and my current wife; my ex is still a JW and I shun her as much as possible) usually meet up with my daughter (former pioneer, but also not involved with the JW's anymore) for Chinese and a movie, just to keep up the tradition. My wife's family always has their actual Christmas celebration on another day, so it works out very nicely.
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13
My oldest son
by mrsjones5 inis tutoring a friend who happens to have a mother who is a jw.
i've mentioned the mother here before, she knows my mother.
well, our sons have become good friends, they go back and forth between our homes to hang out and play video games.
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NeonMadman
If Jerry said something JWish to you, I'd take that as less of an indicator of his true feelings than what he said to your son. People who don't believe in the organization's teachings any more but have to stay in because of family matters and such tend to keep up appearances with non-JW's. I know that's how I was.
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23
Blue Mountain Fire
by mouthy injust heard dont know if you all know but the main lounge burned today .
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NeonMadman
Lots of precious memories there. I hope they will rebuild in time for next October.
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5
If hollywood did a parody of the 'FAITH IN ACTION' DVD.
by Joliette inwho (what famous actors, living or dead) would play the governing body members?
lol, just a funny thought..
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NeonMadman
And, of course, W C Fields as the Judge...
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Father of the Lie
by elder-schmelder incan someone show me a verse that shows satan telling a lie?.
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elder-schmelder.
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NeonMadman
Oh if only Adam had been Samuel L. Jackson.....
Personally, I'd rather Adam had been Chuck Norris.
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5
If hollywood did a parody of the 'FAITH IN ACTION' DVD.
by Joliette inwho (what famous actors, living or dead) would play the governing body members?
lol, just a funny thought..
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NeonMadman
I vote for Christopher Lloyd as Freddy.
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28
Following GB equals following Christ (Visual Aid)
by Rank&FileGuy in.
just a visual aid to help everyone understand what message they're conveying in the watchtower study this coming sunday.
it's funny but just by using their first names instead of "governing body" really brings home the ridiculousness of it.. -rfg.
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NeonMadman
Wow, the GB is down to only 8 guys now? Expect some new appointments soon...
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143
Did Jesus resurrect Himself?
by brotherdan inthis is a common scripture, but i find it interesting that it is in direct conflict to jw belief.
john 2:19 says, "jesus answered them, "destroy this temple, and i will raise it again in three days.
" the jews replied, "it has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?
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NeonMadman
God of the Bible raised Jesus from grave .If Jesus was dead someone else had to raise him .Only God could do that.
That's only true if death means non-existence as the JW's teach. If they are wrong about Jesus raising Himself, might they not be wrong about their understanding of what death is as well?