Posts by Xanthippe

16

lf you could be god would you and why and what would you change?

by atomant in

not sure if this question has been asked before but thought it would be interesting to read peoples response..

Xanthippe

If I could be God for a day apart from providing a cure for all diseases I would tell people that there's no need for religion. That nobody needs to be worshipped or appeased, that idea's part of humanities' childhood.

That there are no rules except treat other humans with knowledge, compassion and empathy. It's important to use your intelligence and your instincts together so stop ignoring feelings because they're part of your evolution.

Stop worrying about death and live now, to the fullest every day. There is no hell or punishment so just chill and enjoy life. That all bets are off so just wait and see.

34

Thinking about the end of the Watchtower

by JeffT in

jw
friends

first, a word about the watchtower’s financial position: nobody (outside the watchtower organization) knows.

the wtbs is not required to disclose its finances, and doesn’t.

we can speculate, but that is all we are doing.

Xanthippe

I can see people like my siblings thinking the US and UK child abuse court cases, Russian ban, ARC publicity and UK Charity Comission enquiry as persecution and the end is imminent. They might go into a sort of limbo when nothing happens similar to after 1975, but then what.

More depression and health problems I suspect, bodies and minds suffering as the cognitive dissonance becomes more entrenched. I don't expect a lot of suicides but just more illness and ruined lives.

40

How Many Here EVER Considered Going Back To Meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

once i left ,i was done.

in over 10 years i didn't return except for my mother's funeral.

did you ever re enter the kh after you left?.

Xanthippe

Like you Minimus only for my mother's funeral. My husband always said he'd take my daughter to a KH when she was old enough so he could show her how ridiculous it is and warn her off religious cults. He never got the chance berofe he passed away but she's bright enough to have worked it out for herself anyway. That's my girl!

6

family violence

by zeb in

jw
friends

this from the australian broadcasting commission (abc).. the aftershocks of the arc continue.. "thanks for your email, and for sharing some of your personal story.we are absolutely aware that violence exists in jehovah's witnesses families.

as this series is ongoing, we will be continuing to report on this issue for some time.

in the meantime, you might be interested to read the story of "jennifer" in a feature we published a few weeks back (link below).

Xanthippe

Brave woman, especially as she had young children and lost everyone when she left. Thanks Zeb. My father was violent to my mother before I was born. She kept the peace so he wouldn't continue, especially after she had four children so I only remember threats of violence. Typical story, she had a violent father and married a man who was violent.

Their marriage was miserable and I remember my mum going to the elders and asking if she could separate from him. They said you would have to remain single for the rest of your life. So she stayed and was very unhappy.

18

North Korea Has Gone and Done it Again

by cofty in

nk has fired another icbm over japan.. the missile flew 2,300 miles at an altitude of 480 miles.

a korean spokesman has said about japan, “the four islands of the archipelago should be sunken into the sea by the nuclear bomb of juche.

japan is no longer needed to exist near us”.

Xanthippe

South Korea has responded with two warning missiles. I got the alert email from the Sydney Morning Herald at 7am having registered with them when the last ARC news came out. Frightening news to wake up to. Someone needs to remove this maniac.

22

The Children Act: The Movie - By Ian McEwan and directed by Richard Eyre

by darkspilver in

richard eyre's film adaptation of ian mcewan's book the childen act has it's world premiere at the toronto international film festival in september 2017. the children act.

emma thompson and stanley tucci star in this adaptation of the novel by ian mcewan, about a high-court judge who finds personal and professional crises colliding when she is asked to rule in the case of a brilliant 18-year-old boy who is refusing the blood transfusion that would save his life.. adapted by booker prize–winning author ian mcewan from his own novel, this riveting drama stars two-time academy award winner emma thompson as a british high court judge tasked with making a decision that will speak to our most fraught questions regarding religious tolerance — and could mean life or death for an innocent young man.. judge fiona maye (emma thompson) is married to her work, which has become a problem for her husband, jack (stanley tucci), who announces that he wants to have an affair.

treating the matter more as an annoyance than a life-altering crisis, fiona kicks jack out and focuses on her current case.

Xanthippe

What's the UK release date? I can't find anything about it at cineworld or odeon.

8

Ever bump in to a JW acquaintance at the gym?

by Vetiver in

this has happened to me on 4 occasions.

3 times it was an elder and i simply pretended i didn't know him and avoided eye contact.

the other time was someone of my age that didn't really talk to me of the opposite sex.

Xanthippe

I've only ever bumped into my doctor in the gym, every January. By February he's gone.

41

My Mothers Ultimate Rejection

by What Now? in

i went into my mother's office to leave her a small note to say that we love and miss her and would love to get together.

i found this on her desk.

this is jehovah's witnesses.

Xanthippe

I'm so sorry What Now? I feel your pain, really I do. My mother rejected me and her only granddaughter for the sake of that cult, only relying on her other two daughters and son. I am sorry this hurts so much. I can only say it will get better. It's not her, it's the brainwashing.

The pain stems from, if my mother can't love me then WTF! I know! So sorry. Sending you a hug ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

40

What really should be the role of Women in the congregations?

by Old Navy in

the presumably "biblical" practice of limiting the way women participate in congregational matters of the wtborg cult inc. (as well as certain other sects of christendom) may be a gross mis-interpretation of what paul meant.

i'm inclined to agree completely with this account of what paul really meant.. thoughts anyone?

aren't women more deserving of greater participation and respect?.

Xanthippe

Doc, imagine if the OP had been something like 'what should be the role of black/Hispanic/Asian people in the congregation'. Then your reply would have been what, casual racism? I know you're only joking but casual sexism is difficult to understand if you're a man and have not been subject to it for decades in the cult.

22

As a JW how would you answer this if someone brought it up in the ministry?

by NikL in

as a jw i pretty much just went along with what was taught from the platform i didn't do any real bible study.

as a result, now that i am out of the org.

i find scriptures that blow my mind.. i am not sure how i would have reacted if someone had pointed this out to me when i was a jw but now i can't believe i've never noticed this before.

Xanthippe

Sorry NikL I didn't mean to offend. I didn't understand from you OP that you are a Christian. I just thought you wanted to show your wife something that the JWs have missed in the Bible to help her escape the cult, I misunderstood.

Yes if there is a God I can easily imagine he could be several places at once like particle entanglement. Or that he could pop in and out of different places with his Holy Spirit like a virtual particle.

My beliefs have been fluid since I left the cult too. Fluid is good I would think. Once they solidify then what are we? Boring and running out of ideas.