Posts by Spiral

61

Mental Illness

by Tallon in

over many years i have been pondering how mental illness has impacted upon jw's due to the effects of indoctrination.

in my case; when i was 21 i had a breakdown and was hospitalised for 6 weeks.

i was diagnosed with anxiety tension state disorder.

Spiral

I've experienced the same things with my JW friends and family. Probably 60-70% are depressed, and on some sort of medication.

Today I read the following article:

http://bigthink.com/philip-perry/former-fda-commissioner-believes-all-mental-illness-derives-from-a-common-source?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1493054317

"The idea is that we are "captured," or captivated by something in such a way that we can't let it go. According to the former pediatrician and Yale dean, capture is really a brain-based phenomenon. Not only that, but it can also become an overarching perspective through which we may view any obsession, disorder, mental illness addiction, and even suicide."

I believe this applies. JWs are "captured" mentally by the cycle of "religiousity".

61

Would human settlement of Mars invalidate Bible prophecy?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

i don't think this topic has been discussed before but yesterday i read something to the effect that trump wants a human mission to mars to be completed within his presidency.. with that being said, the watchtower teaches that what started on earth ends on earth, in other words, the fall of adam and eve would end with the passing of the 1,000 year millennial reign when christ destroys all his enemies, rebellious "perfect" humans, and the devil and his demons who are let out the abyss for a short while.

he then hands the kingdom back to his father.

an elder in my old congregation once told us during a public talk that he was an ardent astronomer but then referenced the scripture where it says, "the earth he has given to the sons of men" (psalms 115:16).

Spiral

That's a good question! The Bible does seem to be written on the assumption that man would always be on the earth; or more specifically, the earth is all there is for humans. So how would people who believe strictly in the Bible's world view take it if mankind expanded into space? Hmmmmm

13

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - WT buildings in Brooklyn shown in clip

by Scully in

jw
friends

see the video clip, at approx 2:55 in this segment:.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6rbaqwz1xc.

i don't know what it means that donald trump's son-in-law's father (charles kushner) bought those buildings, but thought it was interesting..

Spiral

Hi Finkelstein,

I kept hearing about how wonderful and pure the WT is, so once I said (just being a bit salty that day) well, they sold their buildings to Trump's SIL.

Silence..... not sure if that's as bad as selling a KH to a church (which they also do these days, although the rank and file try to ignore that, BUT try selling your house to a church) but the eyes glaze over.....

It's all so ridiculous, but then again, of course it is. In the real world you can (and should) sell your property to the highest and most qualified bidder.

13

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - WT buildings in Brooklyn shown in clip

by Scully in

jw
friends

see the video clip, at approx 2:55 in this segment:.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6rbaqwz1xc.

i don't know what it means that donald trump's son-in-law's father (charles kushner) bought those buildings, but thought it was interesting..

Spiral

Hi Scully,

I brought it up once (I was also contemplating this whole scenario), and no one in JW land knew. They only believe what they see on JW broadcasting. Same for Russia vs. nothing on Australia. If it's not on JW broadcasting it doesn't exist.

33

How many in your generation are still JW???

by Christian Gutierrez in

jw
friends

how many in your age group are still jehovahs witnesses?

from where we are at, there aren't many left.

each year it gets smaller and smaller haha .

Spiral

I couldn't even really tell you, I think most are long gone. We know a few "die-hards" but most of their children are out.

@Christian, what you mention about Katja's congregation is happening in my Mom's congregation. Several couples have grown children they "can't speak to" (again, of course, they could if they wanted to). A couple of these are getting really old, and yet they stubbornly hold to the rules even though they could really use some help from their adult children. Three other couples have grown children that are still JWs, but get no help whatsoever. So it begs the question, who will take care of these ones? The congregation is just worn out, poor, and not attracting any "new blood". At the memorial the thought crossed my mind that it was really a "mothballed" congregation, really sad. Nothing at all like its "glory days" in the 80s and early 90s.

The extra pressure of helping/managing elderly parents (that everyone in my generation is feeling) might just push this group "over the edge". Time will tell. Apparently the GB failed to plan for that.

20

April 15, 2017 BOE Re: Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall Construction Worldwide

by wifibandit in

april 15, 2017 to all bodies of elders re: kingdom hall and assembly hall construction worldwide.

versions: us, great britain, ireland.

Spiral

@JW GoneBad: Like Donald Trump, the GB of the WTBTS are beginning to realize that things are a little more complicated that they first thought!

Yeeeessssss! OMG, stuff actually costs money! And the great god of the universe isn't making it fall off trees! Whatever to do? Can't wait until they all get twitter accounts!

20

April 15, 2017 BOE Re: Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall Construction Worldwide

by wifibandit in

april 15, 2017 to all bodies of elders re: kingdom hall and assembly hall construction worldwide.

versions: us, great britain, ireland.

Spiral

And yet, when we were all growing up, they were always so proud that they never "passed the plate". They are so far gone from that now.

37

Was it just me or was something different about the memorial last night?

by kpop in

jw
friends

this was the first memorial that i declined to do any work for the memorial.

i was assigned as a parking attendant after getting downgraded from doing the sound and had no intention of doing either task but i had to attend for my family and continuation of my fade.

i sat there last night listening to the talk and couldn't help but shake my head as my brain attempted to process the bs.

Spiral

I have to say I always thought the Memorial was boring and stale. We once belonged to a congregation where everyone dressed up, but went out afterwards. (If you were special and a part of the "in" crowd you were invited.) At least that gave the occasion some spark.

Having said that, last night's Memorial was incredibly dull and boring. The talk had none of the details that btlc mentioned. I don't believe anything was mentioned about how many partakers worldwide either. Some references to what is going on in Russia in the beginning of the talk, and then droning on about vague details. No time to look up scriptures! (that was new). Couldn't wait to get out of the hall, and it seemed like everyone left in a hurry, not just us.

No one was especially dressed up, lots of noise even during the talk and wandering back and forth to the bathroom. Several "worldly" relatives just going to please JW family. Two I happen to know that are inactive (but still somewhat connected to the congregation) did not show. No partakers. No one knew how to sing the new songs.

Really, if this is the highlight of the year, it was especially flat.

27

Go bags?

by punkofnice in

i heard recently that there was a talk given at the kh about having a 'go bag' ready because the big 'a' must be soooo close as evidenced by syria and the russian jobo thing.. does anyone know if this 'go bag' thing is substantiated in publications or just a local nut job being paranoid and attention seeking?.

i also wonder about this 'go bag' thing, apparently, you need to make sure your biscuits (that's cookies to my over the pond friends), are not out of date.

don't carry water, it's too heavy.. too many questions do i have.

Spiral

I hadn't heard about the go-bag thing until I started helping my mom.

Regardless of how it started, everyone in this corner of the world thinks it's to be prepared for when the Big A hits, because everyone will be in meeting clothes in a bunker somewhere, living off their go-bags. Yikes!

As was mentioned, I think this might have started as one thing, but has become useful as a distraction and a focus of fear. As we all know (I heard this statement the other day), Trump being elected will bring on Armageddon. Get ready!

10

"Abuse of free will" - an Oxymoron?

by doubtfull1799 in

the society loves to talk about how adam and eve abused their gift of free will.

doesn't free will mean the freedom to choose?

how can exercising that freedom to choose then be classed as abusing the gift?

Spiral

I agree with all the posts above. The JW version of "free will" is just ludicrous.

Awhile back I was involved in a conversation where the JW was saying someone was "in trouble" with the brothers for something they'd done. (Not God mind you, but with "the brothers".) The statement was made that this person should have "known better" but they felt they were in the right, and we all have free will. My comment was "yes, but we all know what the real rules are (aka the unwritten ones you know you really have to follow)." This was met with a grumpy silence.

JWs don't have "free will" but they have been brainwashed into thinking they do. How sad is that.