Posts by Pathofthorns

33

Moment of Truth/ Cognitive Dissonance

by Zep in

jw
friends

so how long have all you guyz here been apostates anyway, just curious?.i mean, it must be kind of cool to reflect and think...."well, heck, i'm a damned freaking apostate" or altleast a closet apostate, of which most of you are, i think?, right?.yeah, such a cool label is "apostate" huh!.but i'm interested, just how did all here personnally come to realise 'the truth' aint really that?, what set you on that track and made you look outside the bounds of wt literature into so-called apostate areas.. and what finally convinced you that its all just a heap of nonsense?

and forced you to shockingly conclude you had been living a lie?.what did it do to you at that moment, i mean, how did you deal with this blatant self admission that the wt was wrong?

did it crack you up or what...or did you just laugh it off or something?..

Pathofthorns

it must be kind of cool to reflect and think...."Well, heck, i'm a damned freaking Apostate" or altleast a closet Apostate, of which most of you are, i think?, right?.Yeah, Such a cool label is "Apostate" huh!.

Funny, you sound like my friends when you put it that way. I think the term "apostate" seems almost a mockery in itself considering what it really means.

Its that when I think about what it really means, perhaps nothing hurts more than that label. I resent being lumped in with worst of all people in the world when I've only sought to really know the truth.

I think if we were so proud to be "apostates" we'd all be on H20 and not here. I see no reason to blatantly flaunt anything.

Most have taken their stand against Organizational policies that appear to be in direct conflict with their loyalties to God. Few are really apostates anyway.

Interesting comments Zep. I'll answer more of the questions you asked, but have to run now.

Path

10

TV Viewing Habits

by Seven in

interviewer:has watching tv affected you?.

wyant:yes.

sometimes when i'm around people, i find myself just watching them-as if i was watching a tv talk show-instead of participating in the conversation.

Pathofthorns

The knife, when you looked closely was just a Stanley knife, the ones you cut cardboard with.....obviously the prop guys couldn't find a switch blade....it just looked a little silly to me!

ha ha zep. I remember that too. PS. Love your use of "worldlies". That always cracks me up.

LOL! I remember the day they released that book at the distict assembly. They had all of the youth sit in a special section - just like they did way back when they released that book titled "Children" in the olden days.

I almost forgot about that Kristen. I think I still have that "special edition" with the note from the Governing Body in it. Probably a nice trip down memory lane for the guys like you said with the book Children.

I sure was "thrilled" to get my copy. (who uses that word anyway?) I think everyone skipped over to the sex section just to see what they had to say.

Never mind the chapters about the big "M". lol

Path

10

TV Viewing Habits

by Seven in

interviewer:has watching tv affected you?.

wyant:yes.

sometimes when i'm around people, i find myself just watching them-as if i was watching a tv talk show-instead of participating in the conversation.

Pathofthorns

It wasn't easy, though, I used to love those Saturday-morning cartoons.

You love that book don't you 7? LOL

Path

35

Most disgusting thing from Watchtower Corp.

by spectromize in

jw
friends

one thing that really doesn't add up with the organization and their registrating to be a corp.(yes i have to put this in quote sorry it's called non-profit corp.) is the very fact that they play in the worldly system of things while they tell you to keep out of it.

(while they see nothing wrong in themselves playing the stock market with other peoples money) think about it where did jesus say to register god's organization as a corporation?.

furthermore if you were living in jesus' period of time who would be the president-vice-president-secratary- treasurer-shareholders...?.

Pathofthorns

Welcome Deacon

But I still cant see where individuals benefit in the organisation.

Neither can I. The organizaton (whatever that is) collectively benefits. So where does that leave the window washing/office cleaning pioneer with 3 kids living on a shoe-string?

While no one lives lavishly (ie bethelites) there is a certain peace of mind knowing you get up, do your assignment knowing you have a place to sleep, and someone cooking your food for you. Conversely many brothers (and sisters) in their sixties are working their asses off, just to survive.

Where is the accountablity for bad advice (however well meant)?

Path

Edited by - Pathofthorns on 27 August 2000 10:28:8

35

Most disgusting thing from Watchtower Corp.

by spectromize in

jw
friends

one thing that really doesn't add up with the organization and their registrating to be a corp.(yes i have to put this in quote sorry it's called non-profit corp.) is the very fact that they play in the worldly system of things while they tell you to keep out of it.

(while they see nothing wrong in themselves playing the stock market with other peoples money) think about it where did jesus say to register god's organization as a corporation?.

furthermore if you were living in jesus' period of time who would be the president-vice-president-secratary- treasurer-shareholders...?.

Pathofthorns

I hate to play the role of Friend (lol)

But I don't see the Society chiefly interested in making money. Any organization, and especially one of this size and magnitude requires a huge amount of money to keep it going. To me it appears they are only looking out for their continued survival when dealing with money matters.

Relatively speaking, they don't even appear to be that extravagant or lavish in their building endeavours or how they choose to live.

The days of Rutherford's high living are gone, no caddilacs, body guards, expensive suits and booze, mansions in California.

This is not to say that I'm entirely without any cause for concern in the area. The Patterson project always made me wonder in the sense that in the late 80's, why would a 15 year building project be undertaken, when we were all under the impression "this generation (1914) would not pass away?"

Why could they not lay everything on the line, like the members who exercised full confidence and faith in their words by not "needlessly" planning for the future?

Forgoing education (which now is encouraged), brothers passing away leaving no life insurance benefits to their families (which now is encouraged), many people have been left "holding the bag" while the Society carries on having created a "safety net" for their own well-being.

From what I see, fewer people are putting all their eggs in one basket. People are playing catch-up with finances. The end seems distant and vague now to many. People are expressing their discontent by witholding donations.

It hardly seems fair that people did what they were told to do, then those who told them appear to beg off from any responsibility.

Path

11

legal wills- what do you do?

by Pathofthorns in

jw
friends

/.

edited by - pathofthorns on 3 december 2000 6:43:3

Pathofthorns

thanks waiting

i guess i should snap out of the melodramatic stuff eh? lol

The pizza and beer thing sounds good, but that's like an everyday staple food around here.

Maybe you could cook something good before you knock off.

Path

11

legal wills- what do you do?

by Pathofthorns in

jw
friends

/.

edited by - pathofthorns on 3 december 2000 6:43:3

Pathofthorns

.

Edited by - Pathofthorns on 3 December 2000 6:42:30

11

legal wills- what do you do?

by Pathofthorns in

jw
friends

/.

edited by - pathofthorns on 3 december 2000 6:43:3

Pathofthorns

/

Edited by - Pathofthorns on 3 December 2000 6:43:3

45

Blood = Organ Transplant Awake! '99

by waiting in

jw
friends

this was posted by jang at another forum, she had not seen it before either.. has this been questioned, talked about, etc?

i've not heard anything on it...... but then that's sometimes the case with me..

awake aug 22 1999 page 31 states: .

Pathofthorns

I think this years NO Blood Card renewal meeting in January will be interesting. I would suspect that the Society will have to issue cards with new wording, and will end up having to give more information on the reasons why.

Its very sad that the average Witness only knows to "abstain from blood" and actually believes that we do this. There is this paranoia that "blood is bad medicine" and will kill you, that there is absolutely no need for it.

I remember the paranoia well myself, this horrible feeling when I would forget my wallet with my card in it.

An interesting thing too, lots of DFed Witnesses still refuse blood, and many "know its the truth" because of what they believe our stand is on the matter.

Perhaps more will ask questions when the cards are changed.

The line:

"I also know that there are various dangers associated with blood transfusions. So I have decided to avoid such dangers and, instead, to accept whatever risks may seem to be involved in my choice of alternative nonblood management."

With new changes to policy, Witnesses are no longer protected from those dangers, and now face the same dangers if they choose certain permitted components of blood. The statement on the card is no longer accurate.

The term "nonblood management" is misleading to Witnesses and physicians who may believe nonblood to mean exactly how it sounds to include products derived from blood as well. After all, when you're dealing with a religion known for its fanatical stance on refusing blood, what doctor would not logically wonder if that includes the components that make it up as well?

I would love to know how this will work itself out. What a complete mess the Society has gotten itself into with this one.

Path

Edited by - Pathofthorns on 24 August 2000 6:29:32

50

Adam and Eve

by Kristen in

.. edited by - kristen on 31 august 2000 22:0:49. edited by - kristen on 18 september 2000 14:11:59

Pathofthorns

After all is said and done, probably the answer of the day: (IMO)

i dont have an opinion Waiting, it just let these issues lie, they dont bother me anymore...
You can drive yourself mad thinking about all this stuff, its not worth it!.Too much speculation is involved....looking for answers where there are none.

At some point when my mind is up to it, I'll look over the issues involved and all the sides to it. But when no one really knows anything for sure, when it seems just an exercise in speculation, what real difference does it make to how I live my life anyway?

Path