Posts by Xanthippe

53

Spirituality

by Jonathan Drake in

if you are a current practitioner of some religious faith i would appreciate it if you abstained from this thread entirely.

im curious if anyone has had what could be discribed as a spiritual experience.

i'm currently reading sam harris book waking up and it's very good so far.

Yes I have JD but I am not going to describe them on this forum so that some of the philistines here can tear my experiences to pieces just for their own amusement. Very interested in Sam Harris's book, thanks. Totally agree with him and have felt for years, religion has hijacked spirituality, it annoys me intensely.

I also feel that's why religion has such a hold over people because the feelings we have are part of the human experience, part of our evolutionary development, they are real, not delusional, but we don't know what's going on and sometimes people are frightened by these things. Religion comes along and gives people pathetic, trite explanations that make them feel safe, warm and cosy. Who wants to feel safe, warm and cosy? Bring it on!

12

A lesson on bitterness

by FlyingHighNow in

jw
friends

ponder, contemplate, discuss.

this is a public service announcement.

https://www.facebook.com/ariannahuffington/photos/a.158003868278.115593.17893008278/10152529838228279/?type=1&theater.

Xanthippe

I'm actually not bitter. Sometimes I get angry but anger motivates me to change something in my life. There are so many ways to screw up your life or have it screwed up for you by your parents, this cult is just one of them.

15

Who Is Your Favorite Late Show Talk Host Of All Time?

by minimus in

jw
friends

johnny carson is still the king.

i thought jay leno was very funny.

letterman did nothing for me.

Xanthippe

Graham Norton

40

Spiritual AMNESTY -- Return to Jehovah

by FusionTheism in

basically, from what i can tell from the new return to jehovah brochure, is that the governing body is now offering amnesty to anyone who has been gone from the congregation but now wants to return.. it claims it doesn't matter what sins you've done, or what caused you to leave, if you repent to jehovah and ask the elders to help you, and return to the meetings, you'll be warmly welcomed with no disciplinary action or judgment against you..

Xanthippe

Isn't apostasy the unforgivable sin or is that spandex?

49

New WT video: Like taking money from a baby!

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

just when you thought may's jw dot org video featuring wide-eyed cult lunatic gb lett guilting the masses into giving every last dime they have couldn't be topped, your children will now be fed a guilt-inducing cartoon in which they are guilted into giving every last cent they have to the wt cult.

the wt entitles this one, "give us your money!

even your children are to be shaken down!

Xanthippe

I can't remember which building project it was but they kept bragging that couples had sold their wedding rings and children had emptied their piggy banks to finance it. Does this organisation have no shame? That begging cartoon is vile. Get your children out of this cult please!

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?

Xanthippe

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.