Posts by Anders Andersen

160

Beliefs About What Caused the Universe

by Perry in

the universe can be observed to be expanding.. an expanding universe must have had a beginning.

whatever begins to exist had a cause.

therefore the universe had a cause.

Anders Andersen

Perry: "We can see the forest is on fire. Every forest fire has an Ignitor. What is the Ignitor for this forest fire?"

Most sensible people: "We don't know yet, but there are several things we can think of: lightning, a camp fire, sun rays through a looking glass, a hot car exhaust, heat-producing bacteria...and probably processes we dont even know about now. Let's try and find out."

Perry: "It must be Prometheus because it says so in this cool ancient story I like!"

Some people need zero evidence to jump from a question to a very specific answer. Even when their answer isn't very logical at all. Or when all possible answers are far beyond our realm and current comprehension.

There is no arguing with (or against) that.

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

Anders Andersen

Dad, do you really think I am mature enough to make such an important decision as dedicating my life to Jehovah?
Of course you are!
So you really respect my decision and support me when I would be treated badly for it, for example at school?
Yes! Your mother and I are verry happy you're geting baptised! We'll always be there for you!
I am very glad that you think I am mature enough for this kind of decisions. And that you respect my decision and support me no mater what. Thing is, I decided that I can't get baptised this convention. Or anytime before I'm 18. Please show you respect my mature decision, and support me no matter what. Don't pressure me. Thanks. I love you.

Of course, this is the model presentation you can adapt to your situation. And it might not go like this at all. But talk to your parents. Many times, one of them is more sensitive for the emotions of the children; talk to that parent first.

Don't fight them (back). Don't shout (back). But be firm.

What you do or say when some guys try to pressure you into smoking? What would you do or say when a guy tried to pressure you into having sex with him? Watchtower Corp. is about to rape your mind. Your parents don't know what you know, and they are about to help Watchtower Corp. Politely, but firmly tell them to stand down.

Please talk to some counselor not related to the cult, like at school or something. There is a reason you're out here asking internet strangers for help. You need help. And since we don't know you or your parents in person, there not much we can do than shout DON'T DO IT!

Whatever your decision and actions, we're here for you. Own your own mind; you are more free at your age than most of us at 35.

Stay strong.

10

questions

by Schilderijtje in

we are two students from holland, who would like some information about jehovah witnesses.

especially about the invisible return of jesus.

on which bible scripts do you ground this?

Anders Andersen

Hier ook. PM als je wilt.

Or continue in English on the forum.

32

Are the anointed really "lovely people"?

by purrpurr in

i've personally never met any of those who claim to be anointed but the other jw's who have are always unanimous in their praise of how lovely and what wonderful people they are.

and i don't mean the gb i mean common or garden anointed.

i was told that when they speak about being in heaven that they almost "seem to glow".. is this right?

Anders Andersen

I knew the DO/CO fulano mentioned, and confirm his story.

In my city there was an old lady anointed. Imagine one of those old hunched strange ladies that feed doves on town square? That's her, but minus the bird feed and plus the WT/Awake.

She had been DFED for immorality and reinstated later, anointed all the way anyway.

Always out in FS, especially street preaching. A known face in town.

Once she app roaches a guy in a wheelchair, reads a verse: 'look, you can walk again!' They guy politely declined the lit offer. "Then just keep in your wheelchair!" she blurted out, and rushed off

Final years she became even weirder, shouting at bank telllers when she was out of money and stuff. Probably first signs of dementia.

She was quite kind, but quite weird as well. Not someone I would trust with my kingdom...

28

I cringe when I think about the talks I gave.

by James Mixon in

you brothers who gave talks do you thinks about the crap you spoke from the platform.. thirty years old, no knowledge what so ever of the world we live in, barely making the grade.

to graduate from high school, a year and half in jc college and now with schooling of jw higher.

education i thought i was a hell of a speaker.

Anders Andersen

@Ttdtt:

It describes almost any elder in any congregation.

It describes almost every Jdub.

It described me when I was still in, thinking I knew so much about God, the Bible, and science. I'm still baffled by the sheer ignorance that presented itself as expertise.

There is a reason the GB and regular JW trudge on....and this is it. If they would be aware of how little they actually know, they'd cry their heart out.

The few who know they don't know jack (like the guys that wrote the Insight books) either leave or kill their own minds with increasing zeal just to silence their inner voice saying "WTF ARE YOU DOING!"

28

I cringe when I think about the talks I gave.

by James Mixon in

you brothers who gave talks do you thinks about the crap you spoke from the platform.. thirty years old, no knowledge what so ever of the world we live in, barely making the grade.

to graduate from high school, a year and half in jc college and now with schooling of jw higher.

education i thought i was a hell of a speaker.

Anders Andersen

This is the Dunning-Kruger effect...

171

RC 2016 Leaks & Releases

by wifibandit in

in an effort to reduce the number of posts, this year i will try to add links to this post.

now, on with the leaks & releases!

first up.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nzvwhflss4.

Anders Andersen

@wifibandit

Thanks for all your leaks.

As for your idea of combining all leaks into this single thread (if I understood your post correctly): I'm afraid it will be a lot harder for all of to keep track of when we should read this thread, or not. Also discussions that result from different leaks will be mixed, leading to very confusing conversations.

My strong preference is: one leak, one thread. Please reconsider your position.

Otoh, as long as you keep leaking, I'll be happy to put in the added effort to keep track of stuff :-D

13

Contradictions of the "no blood" policy....

by stuckinarut2 in

so according to witnesses, the bible states that all blood is sacred, and once it leaves the body's circulatory system it must be "poured out on the ground" to show respect to jehovah.. it mustn't be eaten or transfused.. so how do they justify it being ok to take in fractions of blood components when these have been produced from donated whole blood?.

the whole blood was not "poured out".

it was taken to a laboratory, stored, manipulated, put through processes to separate parts of it, broken down etc.... it certainly was not "dealt with in a sacred way".. and yet these blood fractions are deemed "ok" by the society?.

Anders Andersen

Yeah, JW farmers are not allowed to use blood-based crop fertilizers, because that would be disrespectful and too commercial. Yet the fertilizer would actually be poored out on the ground.

But accepting all kinds of commercially produced blood fractions and blood-based medicine is ok. Making your living working for SABM, writing procedures on when to administer blood is ok too.

Geez how could I ever have believed all these inconsistent rules...

36

Gorby says goodbye

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

my eyes for ttatt opened in 1995 with the generation change and the wt magazine stated "some witness thought that the generation started in 1914".

since 1997, with internet at low speed, i followed h2o hourglass, www.xjw.com and later on www.jehovahs-witness.net.. did a bachelor and post bachelor since then.. now, nearly completed with fading, i feel it's time to go on with my life and do some other things, spending more time with my wife abd children instead of thinking about jw topics in my head.

goal is being a better person and less grumpy at 45.... everything what could be said is already said.

Anders Andersen

Gorbatchov,

Take care! I'm happy you have reached this point. Not thinking about the cult at all is even more free than the freedom of thinking about it whatever you want.

Het allerbeste. Geniet van de zomer, en alles wat daarna komt!

Regards,

Anders

29

Where did Jehovah go ?

by Deleteandrestart in

for the many years i was mentally " in " the congregation, i equated the organisation as interchangeable with the persona of jehovah, in effect whatever the organisation said or thought, that was what jehovah thought and that was what jehovah said.... it was that simple.

so when i found out the ttatt and the cynical moves of the organisation over the years,including 1975 , the donation arrangements, the united nations, etc i was devastated and thought " where's jehovah in all of this?".

the god who i'd poured my heart out to on many occasions and who i thought was silently listening and hearing my pleas ..... was not there , .

Anders Andersen

In a way I am grateful that I have been raised as a Witness. Finally (after 35 years) seeing through all the JW nonsense freed me of all faith based & religious superstitions. Getting rid of JW beliefs = getting rid of Jehovah/God for me.

Had I been raised in a less cult-like religion, I might have believed the tales until I died, even if I ever rejected the group.

I'm quite sure Jehovah is nowhere to be found. If he, or any other god who cares, is to be found anywhere, they're too good at hide-and-seek. Or they don't care. I imitate God by not caring either.