Posts by RayoFlight2014

10

Lara Kaput ex JW on "insight" SBS TV program Australia.

by smiddy3 in

jw
friends

just stumbled across it tonite.

17/09/2019 @ 0830pm.

RayoFlight2014

Oops, thanks Smiddy3 and jwleaks for bringing this to our attention and providing links.

Cheers

RayoFlight2014.

10

Lara Kaput ex JW on "insight" SBS TV program Australia.

by smiddy3 in

jw
friends

just stumbled across it tonite.

17/09/2019 @ 0830pm.

This was such a good program, but it was only a snapshot of the lives of the participants. I felt the insight program was too short to really get into the deeper reasoning behind their family dysfunction.

Lara's family estrangement happened while they were witnesses, and it appears that watchtower disfellowship and shun policy was the catalyst or trigger that gave rise to the situation that family now has.

Still, we don't have a complete picture of the family dynamics and reasons why, after all those years, the members of the family that are no longer under the influence of watchtower cannot reconcile. And I think they would be better placed for reconciliation if they would take on board a measure of responsibility for how it has played out.

In a supportive mediation environment they should be able to determine where the blame squarely lies, partly watchtower, partly individual and partly circumstance.

Granted, the Jehovah's witness cult is responsible for the devastation of many families and is tearing the family unit apart by coercion and undue influence which is hostile to an already inherently dysfunctional family.

That being said, it wouldn't be fair and honest to put too much blame on watchtower when we can see, as evidenced by the other participants testimonies, that family estrangement can and does happen without having any ties to the jws/wts.

However, it is important to highlight the fact that all of these families' best chance at reconciliation comes...., not from religion, not from any god (jehovah or otherwise)and definitely not from those so called "witnesses" of jehovah who are more inclined to give a false witness and outright lie to prop up their morally mistaken beliefs and loyalties, .....rather from mediation by a secular "worldly" liaison.

There are pockets of badness within the watchtower corporation/ jws, just as there are in the global community, but there is goodness, love and caring also on both sides.

This is something that honest ones within the Jehovah's witnesses desperately need to wake up and acknowledge.

Only then will they become proactive toward healing and knowing what love is rather than waiting on jehovah to fail to arrive before they and the next-generations to time indefinite die.

35

The biggest mistake.

by Half banana in

a long time ago, before television radio and films, before printing, before the invention of writing, people listened only to the spoken word—and the cry of birds, the wind whistling through the trees and the sea crashing on the sea shore.

before written text they knew about the gods because high up there in the night sky was where they lived; gods, goddesses and immortal heroes.

the constellations told of their exploits.

RayoFlight2014

Hi again Half banana,

This is the kind of thing that I was referring to when I spoke of the evidence for, or what we can "know" about the beginnings of religious beliefs in the gods and how they evolved into the Bull gods El, Baal and yahweh.

I wonder if you have further information on websites or scholarly works that are less biased and more reliable as I really don't trust anything coming from religiously influenced writers or websites, they appear to be having the greatest presence and seem to be directing where the popular beliefs should lie.

The more reference material you can link to the more helpful it will be.

I appreciate that it will take me some time to go through, and this subject is quite time consuming but it would be good to get a leg up by someone like yourself who has already done a lot of ground work.

Thanks in advance for your help if you are able.

RayoFlight2014.

35

The biggest mistake.

by Half banana in

a long time ago, before television radio and films, before printing, before the invention of writing, people listened only to the spoken word—and the cry of birds, the wind whistling through the trees and the sea crashing on the sea shore.

before written text they knew about the gods because high up there in the night sky was where they lived; gods, goddesses and immortal heroes.

the constellations told of their exploits.

RayoFlight2014

Hi Half banana,

I didn't get it completely wrong about you having some connection to archeology.

Good on you for getting involved in such a practical and worthwhile pursuit of knowledge.

My name on yuku was the same; RayoFlight2014, I was only on the forum for a matter of months between late 2014 and mid 2015 if I remember correctly, when Tim unfortunately had to close the forum.

So I had only just made some people's acquaintance, such as yourself, before it shut down.

Thank you for that link I will check it out.

A few years ago I assisted my daughter with an assignment project on religion and I came across so much information that it was difficult to nail down what we could know as far as proper scholarly research without the need for a degree in archeology, history and linguistics.

Nevertheless I came across some interesting material that I will post here and hopefully get a measure of feedback from you on, if you're interested.

RayoFlight2014.

35

The biggest mistake.

by Half banana in

a long time ago, before television radio and films, before printing, before the invention of writing, people listened only to the spoken word—and the cry of birds, the wind whistling through the trees and the sea crashing on the sea shore.

before written text they knew about the gods because high up there in the night sky was where they lived; gods, goddesses and immortal heroes.

the constellations told of their exploits.

RayoFlight2014

Iriddle80,

The cow was probably Asherah; as this wife of El, mother and consort of Baal and yahweh was referred to.

35

The biggest mistake.

by Half banana in

a long time ago, before television radio and films, before printing, before the invention of writing, people listened only to the spoken word—and the cry of birds, the wind whistling through the trees and the sea crashing on the sea shore.

before written text they knew about the gods because high up there in the night sky was where they lived; gods, goddesses and immortal heroes.

the constellations told of their exploits.

RayoFlight2014

Hi Half banana,

I recognize you from the exjw yuku forum.

You are an archeologist if I remember correctly?

This us such an interesting topic to me.

Your insights into the history of the gods of archaic early humans is well above my level of comprehension, but I'm trying to keep up.

I would love to explore more about this subject of the historical beginnings of the gods and their relevant timelines, how they link to or depart from the religious traditions and evolve into or become other gods.

Are there any websites or books you could recommend that provide a comprehensive but easier to navigate timeline and explanation of how we can know where it all began (say 100,000 years ago ) through to modern day?

I find El's relationship to Asherah, Baal, yahweh, Hadad, El Shaddai etc. Intriguing. But what came before the bull headed god?

The mind boggles.

Thanks in advance.

RayoFlight2014.

6

visit to the doctor.

by zeb in

jw
friends

yes this am to discuss a coming procedure.. i told him i want nothing to do with the wt out of the twistings and bullshit they put up at the carc.. 'were they (wt) involved in that?

' says he.. and i told him a very brief run down..

RayoFlight2014

Hi zeb,

I'm at a loss too.

I have no idea what that procedure is, but it sounds like it could be quite painful.

CARC: Child Abuse Royal Commission?

Hope you are doing ok and your procedure goes well.

My father had a heart issue recently and he became delirious. But with patience and understanding and competent medical care he pulled through ok and has recovered.

I hope you have a good group of supporting friends and family to rally around you while you go through whatever medical issues you have to endure.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, zeb.

With care, RayoFlight2014.

34

Seeking advice

by Mizalisa in

jw
friends

i'm not a jw, nor was i raised jw.

for the past three years i have been involved with a man who was raised jw, who at first told me he no longer believed as they did, but who, it has become clear over time, has not told his family or religious community the truth.

he has strung me along for years, never introduced me to anyone in his life.

RayoFlight2014

Hello Mizalisa,

Its amazing how a perspective can change with a bit more information.

When I read your initial post I was like: give him a chance to work through the difficulties of leaving home and finding independence away from his parents.

But 32? 32 years old!! And still living with mummy and daddy?.... well that did it for me; this guy is financially dependant, a man-child who is by the sounds of it a male chauvinist just like my brother and father.

Make no mistake, they're good at hiding their misogynistic personality but it will surface when they feel comfortable doing so.

And as you said they have no qualms about lying.

You'll find men like that from all walks of life, so this can't be solely blamed on the cult, it's part of his inherent personality.

If he truly believes the cult indoctrination and refuses to research ( togther with you ) the child rape crisis and other Jehovah's witness related issues, then he has no business being in a relationship with anyone outside of the cult.

Indeed you have dodged a bullet.

And I would advise you to stay away from anyone who refuses to have their beliefs challenged and scrutinized.

Sorry you had to go through this, but it's better than continuing such a relationship.

Best of luck for the future.

RayoFlight2014.

74

The impact and consequences of being born into the jehovahs witness cult.

by RayoFlight2014 in

hi from new south wales australia.

fyi , it's tuesday 10th september 2:36am here.. i am categorically not going to blame the cult for every poor choice.

i am conscious of the fact that i was at a genetically determined disadvantage academically; i was never going to be outstanding in my achievements, no matter how hard i tried.

RayoFlight2014

To all,

Here's another REM song that impacted me greatly in the aftermath of leaving the religion I was born into.

Fortunately I never had suicidal thoughts.

And though I was literally alone, unable to share my grief, I felt surely I'm not the only one who can't reconcile with jw beliefs.

Years later I find out I was right.

https://youtu.be/5rOiW_xY-kc

74

The impact and consequences of being born into the jehovahs witness cult.

by RayoFlight2014 in

hi from new south wales australia.

fyi , it's tuesday 10th september 2:36am here.. i am categorically not going to blame the cult for every poor choice.

i am conscious of the fact that i was at a genetically determined disadvantage academically; i was never going to be outstanding in my achievements, no matter how hard i tried.

RayoFlight2014

Fink,

The internet and the access to vast quantities of verifiable information that it provides has been a huge game-changer for any organization that insists on hiding and misquoting information.

The internet wasn't something I could access in any meaningful way back in the 1990's. And it wasn't until 2015 when I had more than 300mb of data allowance per month on my phone.

Once I unlocked that door it was like entering another dimension.

Just WOW.