theliberator

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Posts by theliberator

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  162

  Do you still believe in God?

  by FormerlySandL in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i never thought i would admit it, but i don't.

  i might superstitiously have some kind of doubt but digging a bit deeper in my heart i really don't believe in god.

  as a human i could never just sit and watch people be tortured, live years of abuse, suffer from illness and disabilities and all the other awful things people have to endure day after day without doing something about it.

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  theliberator

  I most certainly do. But after leaving the Watchtower, I learned quickly that I never knew what real faith was. The Watchtower is a loud voice that screams day and night. Due to group dynamics, and the apparent "evidence" that they are God's people and we lived in the last days, it is easy to say you have faith in the Bible. But then after you are out, the Bible becomes this much quieter book that sits on a shelf that many choose to ignore. It only speaks when you take time to open it and meditate on it. I personally read everything I could get my hands on. Both pro and anti God. I wasn't afraid. But as the year went by, God was a constant voice that could not be ignored. I did not abandon him quickly, even though I read many things and had to test my faith. I would simply relax and read everything and allow his spirit to guide me. And what I found was truly amazing. All of my major questions were answered. I found a peace of mind that I never had with the Watchtower. Jesus said: John: 6. 44. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." I began to see that this was something that I wasn't going to find proof of online. If we allow time, we experience the truthfulness of these words. But if we are not patient, and we expect God to give us this great sign, it is not going to happen. But it is the little things that we discern through his word that saves us. When I left the Watchtower, I was very depressed and alone. Did not know where or what to do. I knew I was losing all family and friends. But one evening, I opened my Bible and I ran into these verses. John: 9. 34. They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out. 35. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36. He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" 37. Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you." These words touched me. This blind man was thrown out. Similar to my situation. But Jesus was aware of what happened. And he asked the question in verse 35. Those words were the beginning of my journey and I am now convinced that God is not far from each one of us.
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  11

  Just a simple question.

  by Sabin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you think it is easier for an elder to wake up to the wtbts because of the position he is in which gives him access to info that the rank & file would not be privy to, or do you think it would be harder for him to wake up because of all the prestige/power/admiration he receives as a result of being an elder, or does it come down to something else entirely?.

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  theliberator

  I was an elder for 14 years. I was removed for no given reason. But that is another story. As an elder, I don't know if I would have had time to think things through. That is why the Watchtower wants to keep you busy. But what happened next is what made me "weaker". I joined sign-language for four years. In that silent environment, I was getting "nudged" repeatedly. The arrogance of the sign-language group jumps out at you like a shark. Elders pioneering but not going in service. Just driving endless miles literally doing nothing yet attacking at any given moment. To make a long story short, being relieved of elders garbage, allowed me to run with the information I found against the Watchtower. I was out overnight. I was very shaken by it. However, my mind was now ripe to accept it. I believe if you are an elder heart and soul, it is hard to wake up. But if you are run down, tired, or doubted accepting this in the first place, it is easier to wake up.
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  52

  Does the WT attract needy dysfunctional type of people?

  by William Penwell in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  in your personal experience, do you think that the wt attracts needy types of people?

  over the years, my experience is that they do attract very needy, insecure, dysfunctional, types.

  i had an acquaintance that i just basically cut off.

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  theliberator

  It most certainly does. In my former congregation, we had many, what I call, "lock outs". Basically always having prior arrangements for service. Always 4 normal people with no room to spare. It was done intentionally. Especially by elders. Leaving people like me to be victimized by what I called the "wack pack". Our congregation had a large one and growing.
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  21

  Evolution is a Fact #20 - Lucy in the Sky ....

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when donald johanson and his colleagues returned to the afar region of ethiopia in 1974 they were full of optimism.

  it was their second season searching for human fossils around hadar.

  the previous november johanson had found a fossilised knee joint that was dated to more than 3 million years ago.

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  theliberator

  Cofty, I would say you are very informed about evolution. No doubt about it. You obsess over it like I did Watchtowers. But you need to understand. Some of us are just not convinced. When I left the tower, I read everything. The God Delusion, Blind Watchmaker, and other evolution 101 books. But honestly, Dawkins drove me back to the scriptures. That guy is not a scientist by any stretch of the imagination. The other books are vague. Even the more elaborate ones tell you this became that. And that became this because they needed it. I just feel like I am being taken for a ride. Nothing personal cofty, but this evolution stuff feels like a big scam to me. Almost like a much larger indoctrination to secularise me. When Darwin started down this road, were his motives pure? Did he want to find out how God created things? Of course not. His motive was to find reasons to kick God out of the picture. Especially when he lost his child. And so I feel it really didn't have a good foundation to begin with. Do I feel schools need to teach God and creation? Heck no. But schools need to be honest about things. I was looking for a link that expresses how I feel. Here it is below. Personally, I think forums give bad impressions of people due to the fact that worldviews clash. You cofty come off arrogant at times. I don't believe you are. I believe you are simply passionate. But you must understand, some of us are sincerely not sold on this. We have read many things, but for many of us, it is like some are with the Bible, "I need more proof!"

  www.discovery.org/a/2335
  
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  21

  Evolution is a Fact #20 - Lucy in the Sky ....

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when donald johanson and his colleagues returned to the afar region of ethiopia in 1974 they were full of optimism.

  it was their second season searching for human fossils around hadar.

  the previous november johanson had found a fossilised knee joint that was dated to more than 3 million years ago.

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  theliberator

  Lucy? Really???

  There are so many critics of Lucy it isn't even funny. It reminds me of what people say about the Bible. First, it takes faith. Second, they have added to it. Third, they make the final product look better than it actually is. I want to believe in "Lucy", but like many atheists say about "sky daddy". Well, "Lucy in the sky" ...Hmm.... I see a parallel.
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  37

  Notable changes of the JWs org, in the last five years or so

  by glenster in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been updating the links at my web site and i'm working on the gtjbrooklyn pages now.

  what would you say are the several biggest changesin the jws organization/rules in the last five years or so?

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  theliberator

  They are more focused on the now and all that it entails. The new meeting format, New Bible, jw org, tv station, carts, and other garbage. But even though Splane made a fool of himself with overlapping crap, the urgency of Armageddon has really waned in the past 5 years.
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  19

  A Good Decade

  by theliberator in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if you were really into the organization back in the 80's, you have to admit, that it was the peak of the organization.

  it was a time of high energy and excitement.

  like any nation, it reaches a peak and then it declines.

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  theliberator

  Ok FayeDunaway. You just ignited some serious dark flashbacks. I am now getting sick.😕
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  19

  A Good Decade

  by theliberator in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if you were really into the organization back in the 80's, you have to admit, that it was the peak of the organization.

  it was a time of high energy and excitement.

  like any nation, it reaches a peak and then it declines.

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  theliberator

  If you were really into the organization back in the 80's, you have to admit, that it was the peak of the organization. It was a time of high energy and excitement. Like any nation, it reaches a peak and then it declines. The 1975 crap was behind them. They can now move forward. Many "deep", "high quality" books were released such as Revelation Climax, Reference Bible, New songbook, among others. Entire series of Watchtower magazines would focus on one subject. Of course it was Armageddon. For the first time, the organization video was released on VHS. For many, that was the first time we ever were able to look at the processes of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The drama cassette tapes were released. I personally memorized most of the "Jehovah's Name to Declared in All the Earth" drama. Their was much talk of "peace and security" in the world and of course the Wt. ran with it. The generation of 1914 was still alive and had enough energy to last awhile before they needed "new light". Armageddon seemed closer than any other time. I feel they talked more about it more then, than they do now. People were coming in by droves. The anointed were dropping in numbers and this number was in the KM. This added to the urgency. It is actually very sad when a true believer reflects on this. It was a time of excitement and hope. But like a dream, it had to end. If only it were true.
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  12

  I had a bizarre dream the other night

  by Freeandclear in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  quick recap.

  i'm 44, been df'd about a 10 months.

  got baptized when i was 18, in and out of the borg for years due to guilt.

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  theliberator

  I don't completely believe in dream interpretation. However, some dreams, like repetitive ones, or bizarre dreams, may definitely have a meaning for you personally. Your dream seems to capture what many feel on this forum. Namely, that this religion has changed so much and has become so bizarre, that it is unattractive to most people. And of course, the fact that the assembly hall was basically empty, shows just how depressing it has really become. In fact, your dream sounds scary. I had nightmares after discovering TTATT. In my dream, Russell's pyramid was being erected by Rutherford. The pyramid was in two pieces. In my dream, Rutherford was topping off the top of the pyramid with the all seeing eye. This would be repeated several times. The dream had the grain of an old film. I would wake up scared and sweating. Why? It was because I now discovered just how dark and frightening of an organization I was in. An organization that I loved and supported all my life. It was like the moonies. I will never walk into a KH again. For me, that dream has meaning. I am literally scared to death of a KH.
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  58

  Mind Body Dualism

  by Coded Logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've never found dualism - the idea that the mind and the brain are two different substances with the mind being "immaterial" or "non-material" - a valid manner in which to address consciousness or any mysteries relating to it.

  to show the reasons why i think it's bad metaphysics i'll use analogous reasoning to make a case for my newly made up "mystic essence".. for hundreds of years scientists have studied plants and animals all across the world.

  but they still can't explain where ecosystems come from.

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  theliberator

  I actually love this topic. It has been argued for thousands of years. Why? Because no matter how you slice it, we will never know how consciousness exists. Oh we may say it originates here or there. But how? We will never know. But one thing is for sure, you can talk about the "mind" simply being a product of chemical reactions till the cows come home ( and you are correct), but no matter what comes out of your mouth on this forum, your HEART tells you that you are greater than the sum of the parts. You can deny that all you want, but you (plural) are full of crap. Speaking of heart, has it occurred to you that it is only in recent years that scientists are beginning to see that the heart is more than just a pump? It is known as the "little brain". The heart's reaction, was once viewed as the byproduct of the brains thoughts or feelings. But now, that may be changing. Scientists are only beginning to learn about this. In otherwords, the issue is far more complex than imagined. Here is for starters: http://www.mindfulmuscle.com/heart-has-consciousness-knows-before-brain/

  What can I say? Hmmm.... Well my heart says...

  "I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well." - Psalm: 139:14

  And your SOUL knows that as well.