throughout the world there seems to be a resurgence of faith, probably less observable in europe where i live, but still evident.. russia is now orthodox, even the kgb (different initials now i know) has its own church !
even in india, a secular state in theory, the hindu influence is stronger than ever.
islam continues to get stronger, making its presence felt, and demanding special freedoms, even in secular france.. god/faith, whatever you want to call it, is making a comeback, despite rationalism being adopted by many.. will jw org benefit from this resurgence ?
Even in India, a secular State in theory, the Hindu influence is stronger than ever.
India has just legalised gay relationships which has always been against the Hindu religion and illegal for a very long time. When you see the devout Hindus bathing in filthy mosquito infested water in the 'holy' Ganges at five in the morning it does seem the religion is still strong but change is happening even there.
... that this forum, which is such an amazing resource for those needing support for their journey from watchtower's clutches has an increasingly present representation of unreasoning politically charged loudmouths..
Great thoughts from everyone. I believe in overlapping made the most interesting point, that we shouldn't baby new ex-JWs especially the young ones like himself. He wouldn't think about any of these political subjects without heated debates and name-calling to attract his attention. He would just stay ignorant.
Group hug?
... that this forum, which is such an amazing resource for those needing support for their journey from watchtower's clutches has an increasingly present representation of unreasoning politically charged loudmouths..
Well Wild Thing any time now we'll all be called snowflakes for disliking the name calling. Ten, nine, eight ........
... that this forum, which is such an amazing resource for those needing support for their journey from watchtower's clutches has an increasingly present representation of unreasoning politically charged loudmouths..
If Simon wants to start political threads that he spends days arguing on, it's his site, it's up to him I suppose.
Personally I didn't appreciate being classed in with a group of people by Simon on a political thread whose ignorant views I don't share and then all of us being called fucking idiots
I don't know what happened to his forum guidelines, especially 'be nice'. I'll say goodbye now just in case I don't get the chance to speak to you again Freddo. 😀
i have been invited to speak at an international cultic studies association workshop this fall.
i could use your help in focusing on my presentation subject.. these workshops are for former members of any cult or other high-control, authoritarian group, not just jehovah's witnesses.
last year, i spoke at one of their larger conferences in europe.
Good luck with your presentation JP.
https://missoulian.com/news/local/montana-jury-awards-two-women-m-in-sex-abuse-lawsuit/article_1bcabb7c-7381-574b-a2ba-e011cc0250a6.html.
montana jury awards two women $35m in sex abuse lawsuit against jehovah's witnesses .
a jury in northwestern montana awarded two women $35 million wednesday in their lawsuit against the local jehovah’s witnesses congregation and its worldwide headquarters.. .
Thank you Barbara, that's good news. l'm happy for those women and glad that justice is finally being done against this organization.
stan's recent post about the apostasy movie reminded me that i had watched it last month, so i thought i'd write a review.
please note this will probably contain some spoilers so if you care about that sort of thing hold off on reading this.. first i want to say that this is probably one of the most if not the most accurate and reasonable cinematic portrayals of jws.
however here is a list of little inaccuracies: an outdated view that preaching to all the world can 'make' the end come, jesus briefly portrayed with long hair, judicial reinstatement meetings being called "guidance meetings", a normal weekly public talk being introduced as "the first in a series of talks he's prepared for us", applause at the end of a local needs part, and a jw saying of god "you need to earn his love, it's conditional" ( i know this is basically true in practice but they'd rarely say it out loud).
Good review. I missed the allusion to the blood issue in that Soloman skit. Only a true mother doesn't want to see her baby die. Unless she's in a mind control cult of course. Good catch.
today's london times reports on the july ruling of the eu court that forces the organisation country to comply with data protection.. the action originated in finland but the ruling will affect every eu country.
the cult tried unsuccessfully to argue that the notes taken by jws in the door-to-door work were personal and not accessed by the congregation.
the court ruled that they are acting under the auspices of the congregation and therefore they must comply with data-protection laws.. keeping lists of do-not-calls also falls under this ruling.. why does the cult always feel that it is above the law?.
Why does the cult always feel that it is above the law? - cofty
Good question. Whatever happened to being in subjection to the superior authorities that are placed in their positions by God? - Rom. 13:1
it really hurt to hear brothers and sisters commenting about this at the meeting yesterday.. "as in solomon’s case, one of the greatest threats to spirituality is friendship with those who do not understand or respect jehovah’s standards.
some may be associated with the congregation but may be spiritually weak.
others could be relatives, neighbors, coworkers, or schoolmates who are not worshippers of jehovah.
"relatives, neighbors, coworkers, or schoolmates who are not worshippers of Jehovah" "do not understand or respect Jehovah’s standards". So everyone who doesn't agree with us, but we're definitely not a cult!
does anyone else feel overwhelmed on what to believe?.
i've been doing lots of research on beliefs, evolution, creationism but i feel no further forward about what i truly believe.
for example i looked at the fossil record and tiktaalic and thought great it proves a lot but then i've seen counter arguments on youtube of people basically saying its a load of rubbish and doesn't prove anything.
I'm just looking to see if others are doing similar research and are going or have gone through similar motions after they left and where they are now.
It took me a while to realise that JWs confuse evolution for which there is a huge amount of evidence with the origin of life on Earth which nobody has an answer to. They make jokes about how could amino acids have been produced in the ocean from chemicals with just the action of lightning and then got themselves out of this toxic environment to become proteins.
Nobody knows, although amino acids have been produced under laboratory conditions. Warm thermal vents within oceans is one theory now but no one knows for sure. However this has nothing to do with evolution which has been proved. The so-called missing links, transitional species that the JWs make fun of have been found. When I realised these two issues are quite separate I stared to make headway.
