Posts by Xanthippe

60

What is God's Kingdom?

by Gods_Kingdom in

what is god's kingdom?

some say it is in your heart.

some say it is heaven.

Xanthippe

God's holy spirit also helps humble ones to understand what the Bible means if you pray for it and keep praying for it. The Bible says to study to show oneself approved....rightly dividing the words of truth.

Welcome Gods_Kingdom, this is just a very old argument to stop people questioning their teachings I'm afraid. The reasoning goes if this teaching doesn't make sense to you you are not humble enough.

So when some of the intelligent and well-read people here questioned the organisation's teachings they were not humble enough, hence they were disfellowshipped for apostasy.

Here is a scripture for you,

Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Beroea, and these, following their arrival, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest readiness of mind, carefully examine the scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. Acts17: 10, 11 (NWT 1963)

Most of the people on this forum have read the Bible and studied it for many years, I certainly have. However when what we read in the Bible didn't fit with what the GB said we questioned it as the Beroeans questioned Paul and Silas. Then they tossed us out of the religion. Strange isn't it?

26

Today's Watchtower Study, from Feb 15th " Jehovah Guides......."

by BluesBrother in

not a full critique but some points astounded me .

after decades of hearing them say how terrible the "critical times" are that we live in today.

i now hear :.

Xanthippe

This is all part of the move away from the end is coming one generation after 1914 I think. They now have been given a peaceful world to preach in for, oh maybe twenty or thirty more years, or even a hundred, depending how you overlap those generations.

14

OMG once and for all, whats this idea of a three fold prophesy??

by sowhatnow in

well it happened again, i got annoyed at my mom telling me all about the co visit , and i couldn't help myself, i said' oh god mom its like the pope is visiting, all that info can be told with the regular elders you don't need 'special' people .. subjects ensue,.

she says 'your misled, your so wrong, no one else on the planet has the beliefs that we do, we are the only ones with the truth, i dont follow men, bla bla.. , 40 minuets... , misquotes all over the place, isaiah this and that, yada yada ' j"vah has to have an earthy organization to give us the proper food, bla bla.

i say ' no jesus is gods mediator, we don't need men and were told not to listen to men for they are imperfect.

Xanthippe

In a recent thread a poster here said the type/ anti-type prophecies are supposed to be 'old light' now. Unless the Bible specifically states they have a two- fold or three-fold fulfilment. Can't find the recent post about it but perhaps someone else can find the watchtower ref. for you. Don't know if there's any point showing it to your Mum but good luck with it anyway.

19

Sorry, But Your Sad Story Doesn't Make Me Feel Better. Is it supposed to?

by Tempest in a Teacup in

jw
friends

i have very recently come out of a bout of severe depression which lasted for years.

i have ginormous underlying issues which i hardly talk about, especially to my family.. today my sister came in, wanting to force me to do something she wanted.

her strategy was to make me feel bad for feeling bad, just to show me that my problem (which she has no idea of but thinks she does) wasn't the biggest in the world.

Xanthippe

Tempest I had depression when I was in that religion. An elder kept coming up to me and telling me to keep smiling the Kingdom Smile. One day when he looked really fed up I told him to smile the Kingdom Smile, he never said it again.

When it comes to depression if someone hasn't had it they are clueless I'm afraid. Yes if they could only see our scars. I used to think if people could only feel what I'm feeling for five minutes.

24

One simple fact about Jesus that MATTERS . .

by nicolaou in

he had a human father.. all those doctrines of redemption, ransom and forgiveness come to nothing in the face of reality.

we need to look after each other..

Xanthippe

I'm not convinced he even existed. - Cofty

It's interesting that you've come around to this idea, you used to think there must be at least some historical basis for JC. Not that there is anything wrong with changing one's mind. I must say I have doubted for a while that he ever existed too.

11

Earthquake!.. and JW superstition.

by apocalypse in

while in service on saturday, i was sitting with an elder that i have known for years having a coffee break.

we were discussing the up-coming convention and what we had to do etc.

then, (there was a tv up on the wall in the coffee place where we were) on the screen burst the news of the nepal earthquake.

Xanthippe

I do find it strange that you look down on JW as pitifully superstitious yet you have known TTATT for 13 years, are still going on FS and believe in Jesus.

25

Dangerous "Pent up" feelings inside of most witnesses?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

i have often wondered if there is more harm done to people who are stifled or smothered from expressing their natural conduct, feelings or actions because of it being condemned by religious ideals?.

so if a person keeps suppressing their real personality and tries to mould themselves to the "perfect" or "ideal" version as expected from those controlling them, could they eventually "bust" so to speak?.

for instance, witnesses condemn many forms of entertainment.

Xanthippe

Sorry you've lost me Heaven?

15

Stress on young ones

by LHS123 in

jw
friends

i had a horrible conversation with my 14 year old last night which i regret.

im still in but doubting more and more every day.. she is recently baptized.

she is outgoing and gorgeous and make friends easily, although not so much with the sisters in our hall, who pick her up and drop her again regularly , leaving her out of parties etc but then bringing her back into the circle, dropping her again...and so on.

Xanthippe

It's so upsetting seeing a child distressed I know. Sadly in this religion the members are very oppressed by the GB and the elders that they judge and oppress one another in turn. You have one child out and your daughter is reaching out to her school friends which is good.

She is finding her way, but I know how heartbreaking it is to see a daughter upset. Yes the JWs will judge and exclude her if she makes friends at school but that will help her see what the religion is really like. I feel for you, hang in there.

25

Dangerous "Pent up" feelings inside of most witnesses?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

i have often wondered if there is more harm done to people who are stifled or smothered from expressing their natural conduct, feelings or actions because of it being condemned by religious ideals?.

so if a person keeps suppressing their real personality and tries to mould themselves to the "perfect" or "ideal" version as expected from those controlling them, could they eventually "bust" so to speak?.

for instance, witnesses condemn many forms of entertainment.

Xanthippe

The psychologist my husband and I went to see after leaving the WTS listened to our description of the rules and regulations regarding sexuality even within marriage that JW are subjected to and he said that kind of repression often leads to child abuse. This was twenty-six years ago and we said no there is no evidence of that!

32

Seeking support during confusing and stressful 'cognitive dissonance'

by LHS123 in

jw
friends

sorry for the long post but i need help.

ive been a jw for 20 years - still active and attending meetings, baptised at 18, i have recently become very dissillusioned.

a few reasons: ill treatment of my kids by a prominent 'assembly speaker' elder, then my son left the truth at 15 (not baptised) and was 'dropped' instantly, despite this community having been his whole life for 15 years.

Xanthippe

Hi LHS123. I know this is difficult just take a deep breath. You are an open- minded person who really cares about others. Like you I grew up in this religion, I'm in the UK too, pioneered because I thought I was saving lives. Sorry I know this is hard but it isn't the 'truth' just one of many thousands of religions.

Take your time don't do anything in a hurry. Just keep reading and keep venting here if it helps you. Welcome to the rest of your life.