Posts by shepherdless

27

The two paths of exJWs

by Simon in

it's easy to think of exjws as being a single amorphous group but the more i think about it, the more i believe that there are two distinct sub-groups and wonder if you agree.. there are those who believe and those who don't.

i know that seems obvious but let's break it down a bit more.

there are those who don't and never believed and some who are looking for a religion to match their beliefs.. i used to think this split would be between born-ins and converts but of course it's possible for born-ins to be believers although i suspect that many, like with other faiths, do so simply because they have never experienced anything else or made a conscious choice.

shepherdless

Simon - There are those who believe and those who don't. I know that seems obvious but let's break it down a bit more. There are those who don't and never believed and some who are looking for a religion to match their beliefs.

I don't think this is unique to JWism. It seems to be in the DNA of many humans to seek out or imagine a god or gods. Virtually every society in the past invented gods of one sort or other, and that deity (or deities) significantly defined that society. Perhaps humans with the "god" gene had a genetic advantage because they were more easily aligned into large groups or tribes and had a survival advantage over those not so aligned.

To quote Voltaire in around 1770: "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."

91

My brother died last night

by LisaRose in

jw
friends

i found out this morning that my brother died last night, he was also an ex jw, 73 years old and died of heart disease and kidney failure.

it was not totally unexpected, as he had been in poor health, but it's a blow, especially as i just lost another brother two years ago.

there were six of us, now only four.

shepherdless

Condolences, from me as well.

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

shepherdless

Hi BlackWolf, plenty of good advice from others here. I can't add to that. The strategy of Lisa Rose a couple of posts above, is a good strategy.

I was once pressured into something major when I knew it wasn't right. I know how that feels. I can tell you it is a lot worse, long term, if you give into that pressure.

It sounds like you are not going to make the same mistake. That takes strength of character. Well done! Things may be tough now, but if you get through this, you will look back on this episode of your life, and be proud of yourself for being true to your principles.

Best wishes

241

Another generation....

by joey jojo in

it has been 21 years since the 1995 article that pretty much buried the idea of the '1914 generation'.. remember those guys?

the ones born in 1914 that would still be alive when the end of the system arrived.. i'm glad i'm old enough to remember going from door to door, preaching this belief.

the reason i say that is because i have a lot of 'still in' jw friends and family.

shepherdless

Marked - 1935, "great crowd" vs "other sheep"

22

When a crime is commited?

by Drifting Away in

jw
friends

i responded to someone on another thread, but would love to know this answer.. if a victim adult or child goes to elders and claims they were abused, don't they have to have clergy confidentiality?

so i was told that they encourage the victim to contact authorities , and they contact bethel, but arent there hands tied if the victim does not want to go to authorities?

an elder made the comment to me once.

shepherdless

I agree with Sir82. I add the following:

Do they have penitent clergy confidentiality? Depends on country, and in some countries, which state you are in. Laws protecting penitent clergy privilege only exist in some countries, and tend to be broader and more defined in various states of USA than anywhere else in the world. Even in USA, pertinent clergy privilege does not seem to extend to anything much further than a penitent confession. It certainly would not cover a victim accusation.

Do they encourage the victim to go to the authorities? From the ARC, the answer would appear to be a clear no.

Are their hands tied if the victim does not want to go to the authorities? In some jurisdictions now, there are mandatory reporting requirements where children are concerned. It would be a criminal offence not to report.

28

Proof God Does NOT Exist

by Hadriel in

o.k.

here's just a little fun, you guys can run with it.. if god existed would he allow the whacktower to be in business?

just sayin... lol.

shepherdless

Thanks prologos. The question has me stumped as well, and has for years, which is why I asked it here.

28

Proof God Does NOT Exist

by Hadriel in

o.k.

here's just a little fun, you guys can run with it.. if god existed would he allow the whacktower to be in business?

just sayin... lol.

shepherdless

Prologos, who or what created this time-lord?

28

Proof God Does NOT Exist

by Hadriel in

o.k.

here's just a little fun, you guys can run with it.. if god existed would he allow the whacktower to be in business?

just sayin... lol.

shepherdless

The best argument I know against the existence of God is along the lines:

If God created the Universe, who created God? And who created the creator of God? And who created the creator of the creator of God...etc

Even though it is a common question asked, including on this site, I have never seen a sensible answer or response to that argument from a believer. Usually they completely ignore it. Does anyone have an answer?

52

Any thought behind your " Avatar"

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

i think that's the correct phrase?

anyway when i first came here, that little picture that "the rebel" hides behind, was a self portrait of a very sad man, who simply had too much knowledge.

now i feel after 7 months here, i should repaint that " avetor" give some happiness to the eyes, and a contented smile to the lips.. in short my " avetor" was a self portrait of a man with too much knowledge.

shepherdless

To state the obvious, by name and avatar is a play on the biblical shepherd/sheep metaphor. I personally do not believe the God of the bible exists (except in people's heads), hence I am "shepherdless". The pic is of a black sheep to indicate I am happy not to conform.

I always thought the shepherd/sheep metaphor to be actually appropriate. Shepherds only care for their sheep for the purposes of fleecing them, and/or to butcher them later. Shepherds use techniques such as fear etc to manipulate sheep and keep them under control. Sheep don't know that their shepherds are not what they seem, until too late.

5

Anointed rule as soon as they get to heaven. Is this another flip flop ?

by wannaexit in

i remember hearing that the anointed that died would start ruling at the start of the thousand year reign.

now it seems they are teaching that these deluded bozos that die get to rule right now in heaven.

when did this teaching change?

shepherdless

I apologize if this is a silly question, but did the 1000 year reign start in 1914, or does it only start at Armageddon?