Posts by peacefulpete

22

Even after many years out, why can't you stop thinking about them.

by liam in

there is a lot of exjws who have been out 10-20-30-50 years, but for some reason, when they see a group of jehovah's witnesses, sitting by their carts, drinking coffee, scrolling through phones, laughing, something inside happens.

most can't explain it.

some say it makes their blood boil.

peacefulpete

JohnR1975 is on to something. For those who understood what was happening and left on their own accord, seem to more quickly deal with emotional aspects. For others for whom it the leaving was accompanied with a sense of powerlessness, it lingers far longer. I personally never felt anything like hate. I felt relief, I felt sympathy, I felt irritation with some overzealous individuals. Having researched religion, not just mine, gave me perspective. If I were to hate everyone who believed in myths and stories, I'd become a hater of mankind.

As far as 'thinking about them' after decades out. It has been a useful experience, we've helped a number of people similarly abused by other religions, much of it crosses over. Also,I have hoped that a sober approach to studying the ancient religion of Jews and Christians has been of value for others. This site has helped many, as long as we don't use it as a weapon to stir hate or as a megaphone for divisive politics, it will continue to help many more.

6

Letter of Disassociation to Former Religions / Baptism Questions ?

by HereIam60 in

this was prompted by some comments in another thread, but since it was somewhat "off" the original topic, i'm posting/asking seperately.... i was born in 1960, and baptized as a infant in a catholic church.

obviously i have no personal memory of this, and only know, because i was told, and we had a family photo of my parents holding me before the baptismal font while the priest prepared to do the sprinkling.

i was taken probably no more than 3 times to the catholic church in my early childhood and had no clue as to what was going on.. from the ages of 10 to 12 i attended a methodist sunday school, rarely the actual church service, but sang with the class in an annual christmas presentation in the church.. in the 1980s, studying with jehovah's witnesses, and considering baptism, i was told i had to write a letter to any religious group i had previously been involved with, stating i no longer wished any contact, wanted to be removed from their membership lists and witnessing as to why...(separation from satan's world, false religion, babylon etc.).

peacefulpete

You will need to be sure to cancel your candle-of-the-month subscription as well. Also renounce the Lost Sock Rescue Society and cut off all contact with Over Thinkers Anonymous.

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

Humans are typically pretty decent without religion or with. (I know you think that means a God made them) However ideologically driven movements/religions redefine morality in the interest of the group, not the greater peace of society.

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

Ok, then you believe atheists and Christians as people are moral equals.

. Atheists and Religionists with cultlike ideologies and authority of the State are a recipe for oppression. The churches that had the power to oppress perceived 'heretics' or nonconformists have always used it.

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

Are you really going to argue that Christians are no worse than atheists? That's a strange argument to make by someone who claims Christians are morally superior. But, since you brought it up, yes, ideologically blinded atheists (Leninists, Khmer nationalists etc.) are every bit as dangerous as ideologically blinded religionists.

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

Imagine if the WT somehow got political power of the state. If technology would allow it, it looks like they wish to carpet bomb cities and kill everyone who are not JW’s

We don't have to imagine very hard, as we have the record of history of when the Catholic church (or Lutherans or Puritans etc.) had the power of the State.

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

There is nothing especially peaceful or loving in the words of 2 Peter.

2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies,....bringing swift destruction on themselves. ..... Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell.... putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; ..... if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, ... if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; .....to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment..... This is especially true of those who ....despise authority (church leaders).

But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish..... These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

Or if you prefer you can read the same material in the book of Jude, which was the source for 2 Peter.

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

It says God wants everyone to repent and live, ....

And what did the protoOrthodox writer mean by "repent" other than become a Christian of the same sect as himself?

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

We should get back to that mentality,......

Who are 'we'? Are you yet feigning being a JW?

the Bible clearly states that God wishes all to attain to repentance and be saved.

That phrase is lifted from a pseudonymously written epistle offering an excuse for the destruction of the world to not yet have happened as promised. It amounts to the very same thing as the WT overlapping generation drivel. The writer of 2 Peter wasn't renouncing the destruction of the world but by indefinitely delaying the promised destruction for the sake of a vaguely defined greater good rendered the original promise effectively meaningless.

32

A gospel of LOVE or a gospel of HATE?

by JanH in

jw
friends

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1961, p. 596; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 11/15 1952, p. 703; bold added).

" (the watchtower, 10/1 1952, p. 599; bold added).

peacefulpete

Christianity at its core is a Jekyll and Hyde affair. It was borne out of hostility and oppression. Hundreds of years of militant Jewish idealism followed by unspeakable horrors left an indelible mark of the new faith. Christians, like their Jewish predecessors, wished for peace and love but more often than not practiced intolerance and inflexibility. Peaceful Christians, if not an oxymoron, are an anomaly. Most all Christian faiths speak a good game about peace but harbor fantasies of hellfire or world destruction.