Posts by Silverleaf

11

What are people/parent so scared of in life, that makes them join the JW's?

by run dont walk in

jw
friends

i asked my mom this recently, and did not get an answer ..... she just said because it's the truth, and became very flustered.. death ???.

kids falling into drugs ???.

pregnancy ???.

Silverleaf

I agree with yxl1. Religion began to help people explain the unexplainable, but now that we know why eclipses happen, why drought happens, what causes death and illness, it's fear that keeps a lot of people in these religions. We all want to know what comes after, and it makes some kind of logical sense that if you're 'good' in this life you get a great reward, if you're bad, you get punished, so people are attracted to a regimented set of rules that allows them to be 'good' without having to think for themselves.

Silverleaf

26

Harry Potter Mania

by Shakita in

jw
friends

my daughter and i just love the harry potter books.

we are eagerly awaiting the 5th book in the series which should be delivered to my home on saturday.

anyone here pre-order the book?.

Silverleaf

My husband pre-ordered the book. We love them. There will be a race to the mailbox on Saturday to see who gets their hands on it first!

As someone who has always wanted to be a writer, I have the utmost respect and adulation for Ms. Rowling. She's done something most aspiring writers [ and most successful ones ] only dream of. She's made her mark on the world and she has touched millions of people. Truly amazing.

As for the people who are afraid of Harry Potter and think it's demonic or teaches children witchcraft - they are the height of ignorance. Anyone who knows anything about real witchcraft knows what Harry practices is not real, it's cinematic. Anyone who critcizes the books without reading them isn't worth the effort to debate with.

My kids are a little too young yet to really be able to enjoy the books, though they've seen the movies. Hopefully by the time the NEXT one comes out my daughter will be able to begin reading the first one, but she'll be at least 18 before I allow her to read the Bible. {I don't want any of THAT crazy stuff in her head at an impressionable age.}

Silverleaf

9

Thank you (referring to previous message)

by Juliana in

jw
friends

i am very inexperienced with message boards, so had to start a new branch of conversation, not knowing how to reply within the same one ... if that makes any sense.

i thank everyone for their offers of private discussions, and i would certainly be grateful to have people to talk to ... the thing is, i haven't yet worked out how to do this!.

your advice was really invaluable.

Silverleaf

Dear Juliana,

I'm glad we didn't scare you off. If only more women would make the same promise to themselves to that you did. Looking for a man who will treat you with repsect and dignity is the best thing you can do for yourself. Marriage should be a partnership - not a dictatorship and you deserve a spouse who will not have to hide you from his family, make excuses or be made to feel spiritually weak for choosing to marry you. When you do meet the right man, and you will, it will be that much more meaningful to you because of this experience.

Best of luck, and I hope you stick around. This is an interesting place, even if you are not a JW.

Silverleaf

35

My Becoming a JW

by Juliana in

jw
friends

i was raised non-religious.

i don't call myself an atheist as such because i don't like to label anyone, but i don't actually believe in god (though i am christian in background, and several branches of family family are roman catholic).

my fiance knows this.

Silverleaf

Juliana,

It's hard to give up someone you love, but the posters on this board know what they're talking about. I was engaged to a JW many years ago and I was fortunate enough [also not having been raised in a religious household] to see the writing on the wall. I was heartbroken to end the relationship, but looking back - now that I am a Pagan, married to a Pagan and raising my children Pagan, I can see all the misery I saved myself.

Please think long and hard about your relationship with your fiance. Love is not enough to get through the problems you will face dealing with this destructive religion. Bear in mind most importantly that he is required to put his religion first at all times, not YOU, not your CHILDREN, his RELIGION is first always. If he is truly honest he will tell you that, and you need to be fully aware of that fact before you get into a situation, like marriage, that you can't get out of easily.

I wish you luck,

Silverleaf

3

What would you say to a Mormon dealing with this?

by John Corrill in

jw
friends

ive been reading up on the latter-day saint (mormon) doctrine of polygamy.

information on the church website (http://www.lds.org) says:

"in this dispensation, the lord commanded some of the early saints to practice plural marriage.

Silverleaf

Hi John,

I'm not and never have been a JW so I don't know if I really qualify to answer, but the question was interesting. If I had a friend who was LDS and wanted advice I would likely say, if you don't want to be kicked out of the church, tell everyone you believe in the doctrines wholeheartedly and then do what you think is right. They can't force you to have more than one wife, since that practice is illegal. Of course I'd add, if you have to lie to stay in the good graces of your religious faith, what good is your religion, really?

My personal opinion on the subject is that the polygamy beliefs are horse crap and yet more indication that the Mormons are no where near the 'true' religion.

Silverleaf

34

How many children is too many today?

by JH in

jw
friends

years ago, families were huge.

it wasn't rare to see families of 9 or 10 children.

today things are so different.

Silverleaf

My mother was the youngest of 8. Her oldest sister was married before she [my mother] was born. I guess that wasn't unusual in the 1940s. I've got two and that's plenty for me. Fortunately my DH agrees.

Silverleaf

79

What's the worst sin that you knew a JW commited? Espec. Elders, Bethelites

by FreeofGuilt in

the po of my congregation was screwing another elders wife- i have more, but i wanna hear yours!

kristine

Silverleaf

I don't mean to hijack the post, but this quote from Proverbs really got to me:

Proverbs 6:16-19: " There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul:

lofty eyes - "Keep your eyes on the prize?"

, a false tongue, - Armageddon will surely come in 1975

and hands that are shedding innocent blood, - don't give that child a blood transfusion, let him die!

a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, - don't save for retirement, the new system will be here by then

feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, - if a pedophile repents, let him back in the congregation

a false witness that launches forth lies, - that person who got DF'd must have been demonized, you know she sleeps with smurfs

and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers - shun worldly people, even they're your own family

Now was that six or seven? I forget.

Silverleaf

79

What's the worst sin that you knew a JW commited? Espec. Elders, Bethelites

by FreeofGuilt in

the po of my congregation was screwing another elders wife- i have more, but i wanna hear yours!

kristine

Silverleaf

[I apologize if this posts twice]

SOJ, can you please clarify,

Proverbs 6:16-19: " There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers."

Did you misquote or is this yet another inconsistency in the Bible?

Silverleaf

79

What's the worst sin that you knew a JW commited? Espec. Elders, Bethelites

by FreeofGuilt in

the po of my congregation was screwing another elders wife- i have more, but i wanna hear yours!

kristine

Silverleaf

SOJ,

Can you clarify this:

Proverbs 6:16-19: " There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers."

Did you miss quote, or is this yet another inconsistency in the Bible? If so, I'll have to add it to my list.

Silverleaf

105

I lost my baby

by kelpie in

i come to you with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes.

tuesday 27th may 2003 at 12.30 am, i misscarried my first baby.

i was 9 weeks pregnant.

Silverleaf

I'm so sorry Kelpie. The most important thing you can do now is take care of yourself.

Silverleaf