Posts by problemaddict

22

JW family trying to compensate for us being "spiritually weak" through increased activity

by cedars in

jw
friends

hi folks.

one of the things that has been most frustrating for my wife and i since beginning our fade as been the way certain family members have responded by ramping up their own involvement in the organization seemingly in a bizarre attempt to compensate for our lack of activity.. close relatives who were once doing precious little study and weren't going out of their way to attend meetings or go on the ministry are now studying every morning and busting a gut to attend "theocratic" arrangements.. it makes no sense to me, because salvation is supposed to be based on the beliefs and actions of each individual, not on those of his or her loved ones.

just what is the logic by which they think they can make things better by doing more themselves?.

problemaddict

While that is not neccesarily my experience (wife is beginning to see the light, family and friends in tact and doing their thing), I think DR is onto something. When people sometimes are confronted with a hard truth, or a feeling of "attack" real or imagined, they can start to dig deeper into routine. It is comfortable and safe.

They are not doing more thinking they are going to be helping you make it. They are doing more, because they are compelled to do more. If it is related to you, its probably because of their own frustration or questions. You are probably a pretty reasonable person, and at one time maybe you were looked up to.

I take one thing back. My mother has seemed to kind of step it up a bit. She is upset her boy is no longer a JW. She feels she failed, so she compensates with routine and what is comfortable.

32

New to studies Thank You

by mysticalwolf40 in

jw
friends

i am fairly new to learning the truth with jehovah's witnesses.

we have been having 2 home bible studies a week for over 4 months now and we started going to the kingdom hall 3+ months now.

i am enjoying my studies and the brothers and sisters are wonderful .

problemaddict

Hello mystic wolf,

I have been one of Jehovah's Witnesses my entire life. I am now in my early thirties, and have begun to question certain things. Among them are the doctrine of refusing blood transfusuions even though the bible says nothing of this. In fact, if you took a blood transfusion and did not offer them repentance, you could be kicked out all together. Then if anyone spoke to you, THEY could be kicked out.

This didn't sound like something Jesus would approve of to me. Jehovah's Witnesses can be wonderful people. My wife is, my mother is, my friends are. But, the organization that runs the religion has some things to answer for.

www.jwfacts.com is a good place to start.

Unfortunately, it is all true and verifyable. Most JW's try to paint sites such as that as lies, but there is evidence to back up its claims.

Either way i hope you are doing well, and welcome to the board. If you have any questions at all, many of us have been bible students for decades. We are happy to offer our thoughts. The ultimate choice resides with you of course.

Welcome.

73

Bitter apostates

by Laika in

witnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.

when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.

it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.

problemaddict

Some of south parks finest work. With Scientology and the LDS in the rear view.....I have no idea what they are waiting for with the JW's.

This is not flattering, but it is pretty accurate according to Mormon beliefs. I have read the BoM, DOC 1 and 2,and Words of Wisdom. My grandmother converted to Mormanism in her 80's, and interestingly enough her assets were almost entirely left to the LDS church.

My mother studied with them before becoming a JW. I guess I could have been a mormon just as I was a JW.

Cool steel, what you may be interested to know is I recently met a person touting the second book of mormon. He translated it in the 90's using the seer stones on loan to him from one of your Quorum of 12, and apparently has the gift. It speak all about the Mormon church needing to get back to its roots. Abandoning austentatious temples was key. Then he said it unlocks the mysteries of the robotic age.

Since his story mimicks that of Joseph Smiths, I am sure it will be easy to join this new group and move forward with them on their quest for truth!

I will say, the Mormons believing that they have acurrent prophet who is in direct contact with Goid as the need may be, is certainly "owning" their changes. With all of the Book of Mormon revisions for example, you can just say hey......God wanted those out....he told our prophet and they confirmed with the bishops and the Quorum of 12 agreed and now we are good to go!

Much better than "new light" don't you think.

73

Bitter apostates

by Laika in

witnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.

when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.

it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.

problemaddict

Oh my! A mormon apologist? Say it ain't so!

Cold steel with all due respect, while the shunning program Mormons engage in is not as ridgid, or as communal, it does exist. Mormon theology is based on the same faith in things that can't be proven theology as JW's. Maybe even moreso. A cursory read of the earlier texts of the BoM, reveal Joseph Smith writing with an almost comical in and out of old english kind of tooling. In fact, much of the book of mormon is restated KJV verses.

They claim to be the reestablishment of the first Christians just like JW's. Where you guys I think jump them in wackiness, is the idea that you can become a divine being (God), over your own universe at the higher escaleons of heaven. As God is man can become.....I believe is the GBHS phrase of note. Baptizing the dead, the colonization of Indians, not to mention, Joseph Smiths magic stones and the plates being taken back to heaven. Noone can see these things to see if they ever existed, yet they spawned an entire movement. Its impressive that he got so many people to believe him. Especially when there is no evidence of most of what the BoM claims archeologically speaking from these two mysterious groups of people. Olmec? I dont' think so. No elephants in south america.

I have nothing but respect for LDS ideals, just like I do for most JW's. However, I cannot see how if one believes in the bible, tha one could possibly except the LDS chuch as the restablishment of the true Christian congregation. At least you guys don't mind making money, getting neck deep in politics, and going to war for whatever nation you belong to.

I also at least applaud the exercise in attempting to find after the fact evidence for what you already belive using actual scholars and guys with training. JW's leaving this to the random smart apologist has really hurt them.

The parallels with JW's are actually staggering. Brigham Young was kind of like your Juge Rutherford even. :)

15

Congregation meetings conducted in the prison

by His Excellency in

jw
friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-vjlssg3xi.

problemaddict

This is conflicting. On the one hand, someones life is certainly being improved by having a moral standard they adhere to, where before they maybe did not. The man seems to really care about them. On the other hand, saying JW's are all about education, is dubious at best.

I am not in the JW's only harm others camp, and I think this is a virtue. However, joining a high control group is not the only way out for these guys. I can't say i personalyl am doing naythign to enrich their lives though.

113

What's The STRANGEST Thing You've Seen At A Kingdom Hall?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i saw a fight break out on the platform between an elder and a unbelieving husband who accused the elder of f---ing his wife.

he then threw the lectern on the floor and pushed the elder.

it was cool.......

problemaddict

pig human hybrids? apostate lizards?

I have nothing to top this. I did serve in a foreign country so we had all manner of power trips and odd things coming from the stage in droves. One brother who kind of ran the joint, railed against colored shirts. I mean it was like a crazy long local needs, and all about colored shirts not being suitable for the stage.

I had the next part, and guess what was wearing. I think because it was light blue it didn't set him off, but I was from another country so even though he was an elder, I figured out i kind of "outranked" him.

Hilarious.

14

Disney's The Lone Ranger - This movie is awful - DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

by Las Malvinas son Argentinas in

jw
friends

i never really liked the 'pirates' movies that much, so i don't know how i was talked into this one.

it's a shame because johnny depp is much better than these quirky roles he is now assigned to play.

just hope he puts a few million of this payday in his kid's college fund.

problemaddict

I walked out. What a mess of a script. Movies used to be decent. People used to actually sit down and write them. Now its all about the markeing, and then they just slap some mess together.

81

What Is The Most Absurd JW Belief or View?

by minimus in

jw
friends

there are many silly doctines and viewpoints.. one of the strangest ones is the blood doctrine.. why anyone could logically accept this belief is beyond reason..

problemaddict

Blood. Hands down. Its the reason I woke up. Plus having to explain the wacky things written in the WT. It was light getting brighter, it was an old lady in front of me with the blinker on.

62

This is my first time. Please be patient.

by Miss.Fit in

i have never posted before.

i have been lurking for a few days and have decided to give it a try.

the subject of child abuse caught my eye.

problemaddict

Use google chrome or firefox. Internet explorer has issues here.

5

Don't know Jehovah

by Crazyguy in

where did the gb come up with the idea that one has to know jehovah in order to be saved and survive armageddon?

what scriptures???

the new testament is all about the spreading the 'good news of christ', so how did they come up with this crap?.

problemaddict

Well if you happen to believe in the bible for what its worth, its not a stretch to at least connect some import to God, his name, and his puposes. If you think the bible is another book of fable and explains what humans grasp with using story and hyperbole, than you probably don't think that way.

But the bible specifically doesn't have a problem with you knowing Jehovah if that is your cup o tea.