Posts by FadeToBlack

76

Humans have been on the earth for 6,000 years?

by make yourself in

so i just heard this today at the meeting.

honestly i've never really paid much attention too it, but i know it's out of place.

can anyone shed some factual and historical light on this subject?

FadeToBlack

I think perhaps, everyone is missing JB's point. He is not saying (I hope) that there was no human activity on the earth long before the supposed creation date of Adam (according to WT) in 4026... I thought he was just saying that before writing came about, and actually quite a bit of time after that, there was no concept of creating a historical record of anything. The concept of creating a written, historical record of past events was actually a much later event. Most of early writing attempts are not at all attempts to provide a historical record.

A good question is actually: who was the first historian?

40

Don't Miss the Meetings - Hebrews 10:24, 25 Re-examined

by Oubliette in

i recently got an unsolicited lecture from a well-intentioned but nevertheless misguided jw friend.

the gist of it was that i needed to go to all the meetings or i would miss out on "everlasting life.".

i responded that i do not need to go to meetings to have a relationship with god.

FadeToBlack

Marked. Needed for discussion for wife this week. She was very disappointed that I did not attend the meeting today (conclusion of CO visit). We had a brief discussion before she left and agreed to continue our bible reading/discussions. She said she also has some scriptures she wants to get my viewpoint on, and this for sure will probably be the first.

126

This is my first post

by Make Lemonade in

i wanted to express appreciation to the members of this forum.

there are resources here that are deep.

like we heard from the stage, "what is your depth and breadth of bible knowledge?

FadeToBlack

That lemonade is going to taste mighty fine one day soon. Good for you.

85

My Elderette is returning today to CONDUCT another conversation...

by Faithful Witness in

she has had 42 years of training and indoctrination.

i'm feeling sort of nervous, but also looking forward to it.

this will be our second scheduled session together, and we never did agree on a topic.. i'm assuming she will come with an agenda and another prepared presentation.

FadeToBlack

Thanks for that info about the 'Truth' book Terry. I will be busy the rest of this weekend trying to find both copies.

35

What do you do when your job makes you wanna puke your face off?

by Julia Orwell in

jw
friends

i'm talking like makes you physically sick and emotionally frazzled just thinking about it.

i'm talking like you hate it to the point you'd rather go without than work at it just for the money.

you'd live on cheap korean packet noodles for the next year instead of exchanging your labor for this job's money.. well, this is how i feel about teaching and tutoring.

FadeToBlack

Julia, go with your passion. You have the talent and you like it. Maybe you were never really cut out to be a teacher (or involved in education system) to begin with. I had a friend who left teaching english in public schools (in Poland) because of the lack of interest on student's part and went to strictly private lessons. She is very happy now. All her students are there, because they want to be. Probably once, long ago teaching was really rewarding. I've done a lot of professional training and it can be rewarding - just depends on the audience.

But back to the art. Don't give up on that. Part of the problem with being a JW is that all of our passions and interests were forced to the back burner to put kingdom interests first. You would have time for that later. Right... We sacrificed careers and passions for the borg. What a shame. You are still young, so you have time to pursue 'your' interests. It sounds like your husband is supportive, and if you are willing to do seasonal work to help out, go for it.

Nice work on your FB page. Don't give up.

80

My Experience and how I finally let myself see the truth

by OneEyedJoe in

first off - for those lurkers who feel guilty just for being on this site and reading this (even if you don't read any further, as it is your right to choose that course) i want you to know that you're not alone in what you're going through or in what you are feeling.

if you read on, i hope my experience may be of some small help to you.. this may be long, but i'll try to organize it in a way that doesn't make it painful to read.

to start, i feel it is most beneficial if i'm upfront and honest with my goals from posting this, which are (in order of the degree to which they motivated me):.

FadeToBlack

Welcome OEJ. Enjoyed reading that. I think you are just another good example of why the WT doesn't want people going to college/university. They lose all control in the process. You are exposed to other thinking, information, and lifestyles; and, if you got a real education, you are actually encouraged to develop critical thinking skills. Comgrats on a big first step forward with the rest of your life....

105

Is my clinging on to a belief in a Creator doing me any harm?

by KateWild in

i use the word clinging, as i feel that is what i am doing.

as far as my knowledge of science, namely chemistry is concerned, i am satisfied there is evidence of a creator.

i am happy to believe this.

FadeToBlack

Your best post yet KW. Lots of good responses. Too bad it wasn't ever like this at the KH!

21

The tower of Babel

by Crazyguy in

in the bible story nimrod is having all the people build a tower to the heavens and god didn't like it so he caused there to be different languages all a miss so no one could understand one another.

so thats the bible story anyway, what about reality.

in my limited research of ancient history its come to my attention that the main language written and spoken was akad or akkadian.

FadeToBlack

Hey CrazyGuy,

From what I have read the Sumerians were around long before the folks from Akkad arrived on the scene (2340). Please check writings of Thorkild Jacobsen for more details. But, I get your point. It seems to me that Tower of babel account does not need to follow flood account chronologically. It just appeared there for some reason. Of course it is all made up, but that is besides the point.

49

My personal movie review: Darren Aronofsky's NOAH

by Terry in

jw
friends

noah, my movie review.

you may have already judged this film and you've never seen it!

like many of its critics, you think you know what you're going to see and .

FadeToBlack

Great review and follow-up comments Terry. I will for sure try to get the still-in wife to go see it. Should make for some interesting discussions.

30

Anyone been watchtower conductor

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

jw
friends

i think there is a good chance i'm going to be asked to be the watchtower conductor.

on the one hand, i'll find it quite difficult some weeks having to go along with what is written.

on the other hand, there'll be opportunities to ask controversial questions (within limits).

FadeToBlack

NewYork44M laid out the format perfectly. I still remember when I first started attending. I was asked to be a WT reader. I was in college and could correctly pronounce all the words and make it sound professional. One time, the conductor ran out of time, and of course it was my fault even though he spent 20 minutes on the first 5 paragraphs! He called an immediate meeting after the regular meeting with all WT readers. After listening to his rant for a few minutes, I raised my hand and pointed out that the society recommends that the conductor spend a minimum amount of time on the introductory paragraphs. Needless to say, I wasn't used to often after that in this congregation for that 'privilege'.