Posts by Xanthippe

74

Is Prophecy important?

by EA916 in

hello, i am certainly new to all of this.

i have recently been studying the prophecy's, and i was wondering if they are of any importance at all?

Welcome EA916. No I don't think prophecies are important. Do you know of a prophecy that has ever come true? People have been giving prophecies for a very long time. In Ancient Greece the oracle or Sybil would give predictions for the future. Look up Nostrodamus who lived in the 16th century and fortold the future. It's not limited to the Bible.

I think when people are living in difficult circumstance, economically, personally or with health problems they have often looked to something supernatural for help. Now we look to scientific answers and modern medicine. Particularly in the past people were at the mercy of disease and cruel political tyrants. Happily the world has changed for the better for many of us. Where there are still terrible diseases and political tyranny we can help through international charities.

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

Xanthippe

It's a good question but I can't really say with all conviction because I love my family and we are very close despite WT shunning policies.
Kate xx

I'm confused Kate. You said your parents have never been JW, so I assume you joined as an adult and your kids are both mentally out. So how are your family close despite WT shunning policies?

Perhaps I am misunderstanding you but we all love or have loved our families and our replies to the OP have reflected how we have survived and moved on from having our hearts broken by them.

36

How long until the "Generation" gets Revised/Dropped?

by Lemonp in

if you don't already know this; the latest revision of the insight book has no mention of the "overlapping generation" bs online library, insight book .

obviously that change will not bee seen by the vast majority of people, so when will this "brighter light" shine through in a wt or assembly talk?

predictions?.

Xanthippe

Absalom, thanks. So they've removed a whole paragraph. Well that's why I went to the next page, I thought there's something missing here. So basically like other churches they are moving to the teaching that the second coming will come .... one day.

36

How long until the "Generation" gets Revised/Dropped?

by Lemonp in

if you don't already know this; the latest revision of the insight book has no mention of the "overlapping generation" bs online library, insight book .

obviously that change will not bee seen by the vast majority of people, so when will this "brighter light" shine through in a wt or assembly talk?

predictions?.

Xanthippe

However, he was also using the word “generation” with reference to humans whose lives would in some way be associated with the foretold events during his presence.—Mt 24.

Lemonparty, thanks. I can't get over the fact that these two lines are all the revised Insight book says about Jesus' presence. Not only no overlapping generations but no 1914 generation at all. I even went to the next page but that's on 'generosity'.

As you say they are sneakily dropping it, so that they can look back a couple of years from now in a Watchtower or convention and say we have said this for some time brothers.

By the way how do you know it's changed? Do you have a copy of the original?

71

A big hello and thank you

by iwasblind in

i just wanted to introduce myself and say a big hello to all of my mentally diseased friends.. i say friends because i have been lurking for some time so it feels like home (us lurkers are a bit scared and cautious so it takes a while).

i won't bore you with too many details, but i am a born in, currently serving as the cobe of a congregation.

my wife and i have pioneered for the last 10 years and were shaken awake by that ridiculous 15th july 2013 wt about the generation and 1914.. my wife who is much smarter than me has questioned for years.

Xanthippe

Welcome Iwasblind. Very pleased for you that you're both awake. Clever lady your wife! It's hard when you have all your family in. We didn't fade so I will let others advise you on that. Whatever works for you. My husband and I pioneered a similar length of time to you and your wife. Looking forward to hearing both of your thoughts.

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

Xanthippe

I am trying to gently wake my wife up so she doesn't freak out and divorce me to stay in the Truman show.

Then you say should I make my wife watch the May broadcast?

Can't you see that the words gently and make are contradictory here? A loving husband does not make his wife do anything.

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

Xanthippe

I learnt about boundaries when I left the JWs. Never heard the phrase with regard to human relationships in the first thirty years of my life. If my family wanted a relationship with me after twenty-seven years of acting like I died and as if my daughter had never been born, it would have to be on my terms, boundaries firmly in place. Their contacting me would be about their need to obey or whatever. Their needs are no longer my concern.

They have ripped the duty ties of family to shreds. All that remains is, do I want to associate with them? Would it make me happy? That I would have to decide at the time. After going through the pain barrier of terrible loneliness especially after losing my husband as well, I have learnt something huge and it is this, I no longer need them, they have nothing I need. 🎉🎈💥🎉

75

Rumor about the Imitate Jesus Convention

by FusionTheism in

i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.

Xanthippe

I've always thought either this cult lightens up on shunning and all the other rules or it will implode. All the other Christian churches have had to lighten up to survive. Nobody is getting burnt at the stake anymore. Read history, the Spanish Inquisition, whether you expect it or not , is no more.

31

Something terrible has just happened

by Crazyguy in

jw
friends

the neighbor child came over to play with my youngest child.

i think she's about 4 maybe 5. well anyway there was some strawberries out on the counter and she asked if she could have one and i said no.

when i looked over later i saw her sneak one.

Xanthippe

Crazyguy well done. It is a ridiculous story and all about an egomaniac who must be obeyed even by people wo are too new to know WTF is going on yet.

41

Paradise is going to suck!

by WasOnceBlind in

once you really start thinking about it, the whole paradise idea is kind of depressing.

i remember growing up as kids my sister was the first to tell my parents (admittedly very courageously) that she wasn't sure she wanted to live in paradise, it sounded boring living forever.

i thought she was dumb for thinking that, i mean playing with lions!!!!

Xanthippe

Wasonceblind, sorry if we are being flippant, we stopped believing in paradise a long time ago but you're right the separation from loved ones would be terribly painful. The grief would be appalling, it's a terrible teaching, but the WTS don't care about people being separated from their loved ones. Guess how we know that.