Posts by somebody

16

Question to adult convertees

by expatbrit in

jw
friends

i'm going through the forehead smacking phase of wt recovery.. how could i ever have believed this stuff?

(smack!).

and for so long?

:While talking to somebody the other night, ( :) ) I said, I have had concerns and doubts for a long time. I have not investigated or pursued these doubts, as most of us are taught that to do so is a "bad thing". There is something that I have known is bothering me. I have not in many years been able to put a finger on it. I am only now starting my quest for truth.

well..I'm somebody, and I was talking to you the other night. :-)
please don't lose track of God in your search. many have come out of the borg and gave the heave-ho to God. I can understand why they did, but I hope and pray you keep the faith.

stay here and let out your all! it's good for the soul..ask anyone here!

you know I love ya!

peace,
somebody

Edited by - somebody on 22 February 2001 23:3:51

20

GOOD AFTERNOON, JEHOVAH!

by Englishman in

jw
friends

isn`t it strange that jw`s have such a problem with ex`s?

try as they might to hang their watchtower labels onto me, i just don`t seem to be the person that they think that i should be!.

i think that i`ve become far more honest than the average jw.

somebody

expatbrit526,

:I too find the name Jehovah sticking in my throat because of the power of association.

How do we get over the sticking in the throat thing? I hate that! I feel like I'm giving the WBTS something by LETTING them make me feel the way I do about God's name. That's probably because I heard over and over that to question the "society" is to question God. And that just isn't true. It's another LIE! What group equates THEMSELVES as high as God? I only know !. And I don't want to be associated as far as baptism or idolism with them. How do we get over this? how are we able to say "Jehovah", without thinking about a printing company? !! Maybe we can help each othere. You seem to feel the stuck in the throat thing that I do. :-)

thanks, expatbrit516

peace,
somebody

7

JW's are they worse then any other religion????

by VeniceIT in

jw
friends

i know that most of us have asked out self this question at one time or other!

information control .

information control.

somebody

conflicted, how many PEOPLE(as opposed to religions) apply morals and values taught in the bible? Religion has NOTHING to do with the hearts of INDIVIDUALS. Do individauls have to have membership to a religion for salvation?

peace,
somebody

7

JW's are they worse then any other religion????

by VeniceIT in

jw
friends

i know that most of us have asked out self this question at one time or other!

information control .

information control.

somebody

Great post and great food for thought. My answer is YES though. Only because if you attend other churches, they don't judge other religions and the people that attend the churches as being part of satan's crowd, as the WBTS teaches. Other religions don't hop on every mistake other religions have made by printing " what does it's history show?" and then not allow people of their own religion (JW) to not even view it's own history. My opinion is that even though religions are religions, some are WORSE than others.

That's probably why Jesus wasn't any religion. Religion and politics DO go hand and hand. The WBTS hold hands with the CROOKED politicians. To aviod losing their SUPPORTERS, they'll say what they have to say.

I agree with "religion is a snare and a racket". But I believe that God isn't a snare or a racket.

God is free. And requires NO mind control.

and so there are my thoughts. :-)

peace,
somebody

16

Family Ties

by somebody in

jw
friends

another lie told to the media/public on the jw-medai site.. do you shun former members?.

those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned.

in compliance with the scriptures, however, members can be expelled for serious unchristian conduct, such as stealing, drunkenness, or adultery, if they do not repent and cease such actions.

somebody

nelly, if that was you who sent me the e-mail, THANK YOU! I apprecaite it. keep it coming!

I appreciate all other comments too. And I DO read them. I'm just one of those people that have to keep up and try and calm down and think, before I reply.

thank you ALL,
somebody

Edited by - somebody on 22 February 2001 18:23:40

20

GOOD AFTERNOON, JEHOVAH!

by Englishman in

jw
friends

isn`t it strange that jw`s have such a problem with ex`s?

try as they might to hang their watchtower labels onto me, i just don`t seem to be the person that they think that i should be!.

i think that i`ve become far more honest than the average jw.

somebody

As you can see, philo never thanked God for his/her change of heart. It had NOTHING to do with God. His/Her relationship and loyalty and sevitude is to the WTS. God had nothing to do with it, in his/her own words.
:Happy days. I was pretty good at shoplifting back then. Something the witnesses cured me of permanently. Thankyou WTS.

Who did he/she change his/her heart for? The WBTS! Why? Because he/she wants to save his/her own ass and only cares if he/or she is lives up to the WBTS expectations, and is AFRAID of death. Poeple like this don't care who they judge or hurt along the road of trying to save their own ass. Nothing spiritual about it. We all see who he/she looks for for salvation. Therefore, the change philo mad was never of the heart.

peace,
sombody

Edited by - somebody on 22 February 2001 17:46:13

Edited by - somebody on 22 February 2001 17:54:35

20

GOOD AFTERNOON, JEHOVAH!

by Englishman in

jw
friends

isn`t it strange that jw`s have such a problem with ex`s?

try as they might to hang their watchtower labels onto me, i just don`t seem to be the person that they think that i should be!.

i think that i`ve become far more honest than the average jw.

somebody

Good evening Englishman!

I have to agree with what you, aglise, and conflicted said. I MUCH agree with the fact that you still have your relationship with God. I have mine too, which only proves that as much as the WBTS tries, they can't cut off or disfellowship people from God. I don't know how the can even figure they can actually measure one's sprituality. If a relationshop is SPIRITUTUAL, then how can one human put a measure to it? How can people judge one another as being "spiritually weak" or "spiritually strong", "spiritaully immature", or "spiritually mature" ? It's beyond me.

I'm going to come out here and say something that I feel terrible saying, but I find that being involved with the JWs has totaly RUINED and DESTROYED the use of the name Jehovah for me. Every time I hear or use the word/name, in my mind, I equate it to "society". I can't stand to use God's name, after what the WBTS made it out to be. Instead of sanctifiying it for me, they managed to demonize it for me. I'd rather, and I DO...say, " Good afternoon, God!" I feel deep in my soul that I'm not associated with a publishing company by calling God, God. And I feel confident that God understands why I feel that way.

Thank you for the great post, and I too feel like I'm honest with God and myself now. I feel like I'm free to show love to ALL my fellow humans and also to make my own decision who are bad influences and who aren't for my family, and myself.

I understand what you're saying by you feel different with God. God does make one who served the WBTS much more aware of their own relationship with him.

peace,
somebody
PS...aren't you the one that has a great daughter who is 19? Hey...I have a great son who is 19! Too bad we are many moons apart! E-mail me and let me know what your wife and kids think about what you post. I have my own story to tell about what my family think.

Edited by - somebody on 22 February 2001 17:27:35

64

Family dynamics and the Org.

by LDH in

jw
friends

i have made a couple of remarks regarding family dynamics on other threads, but i thought it's be nice to start a new thread.... i'm no psychologist, but suffice it to say i see some similarities here.

(please add to/comment on these thoughts).

the organization wishes to be seen as our mother.

somebody

Here are 2 words that Xandit is too selfish for, has no room for, or use for in his life.

em*pa*thy (noun)

[Greek empatheia, literally, passion, from empathes emotional, from em- + pathos feelings, emotion -- more at PATHOS]pathy

First appeared 1904

1 : the imaginative projection of a subjective state into an object so that the object appears to be infused with it

2 : the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for this
------------------

sym*pa*thy (noun), plural -thies

[Latin sympathia, from Greek sympatheia, from sympathes having common feelings, sympathetic, from syn- + pathos feelings, emotion, experience -- more at PATHOS]

First appeared 1579

1 a : an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other

b : mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it

c : unity or harmony in action or effect

2 a : inclination to think or feel alike : emotional or intellectual accord

b : feeling of loyalty : tendency to favor or support <republican sympathies>

3 a : the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another

b : the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity <have ~ for the poor>

4 : the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some medium

synonym see ATTRACTION, PITY

14

The letter that started it all, 12-31-00

by silentlambs in

12-31-00. watchtower.

25 columbia heights.

brooklyn, ny 11201. dear brothers,.

somebody

Hi silentlambs and hello to everybody,

The society's policies SICKEN me! It is VERY clear that they don't give a shit about the child victims one bit. Seems they are more concerned with protecting their own assets. Seems that's ALL they care about.

Now, this elder committed NO sin is resigning as elder and speaking up for the children and protecting them, by going public with the way the society dictates to it's elders to operate in child molestation cases. If he gets disfellowshipped, I wonder what reason they'll invent to hand him over to the devil? I hope he publicly tells if he gets disfellowshipped.

One other thing I happened to notice in his letter is this:
-------------

The 3-14-97 Letter to Bodies of Elders, page 2, paragraph 5, states:

“It may be possible that some who were guilty of child molestation were or are now serving as elders, ministerial servants, or regular or special pioneers. Others may have been guilty of child molestation before they were baptized. The bodies of elders should not query individuals. However, the body of elders should discuss this matter and give the Society a report on anyone who is currently serving or who formerly served in a society-appointed position in your congregation who is known to have been guilty of child molestation in the past.” Paragraph 6 continues at the end: “this information is not to be made available to those not involved.”
----------------
Notice how it the letter to the elders, the society usues the phrase "society- appointed" in this sentence..."However, the body of elders should discuss this matter and give the Society a report on anyone who is currently serving or who formerly served in a society-appointed position in your congregation who is known to have been guilty of child molestation in the past.” When they publish the watchtowers, they tell all their followers that elders are appointed by the Holy Spirit!

watchtower..June 15, 2000 ...under the article, Honor The Ones Given Authority Over You"
Page12, paragraph3
"Congregation elders are worthy of our honor because 'the holy spirit has appointed them overseers, to shepard the congregation of God.'

When the society prints GARBAGE like this, the members feel like they are sinning against the Holy Spirit if they toss the advise of elders out the window. I wonder what elders think to themselves when the read this GARBAGE while sitting at meetings. For they know damn well who appointed them! It just adds to the LIST of LIES that the WBTS tells the poor rank and file.

God bless the elder who wrote this letter and stepped down from his SOCIETY-APPOINTED postion. I hope his example is followed by other elders who wish to be honest. It's great to see people speaking up for the children's safety and for all the victims of child molesters! Thank you for all that you are doing, silentlambs. Keep up the great work!

peace,
somebody
PS...have you evr noticed that the society capitalizes "society" when they print rubbish, but the don't capitalize Holy Spirit?

16

Family Ties

by somebody in

jw
friends

another lie told to the media/public on the jw-medai site.. do you shun former members?.

those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned.

in compliance with the scriptures, however, members can be expelled for serious unchristian conduct, such as stealing, drunkenness, or adultery, if they do not repent and cease such actions.

somebody

I'm fine, Englishman. thank you ..and I hope all is well with you.:-)

:Sorry, I dont mean to be condescending, its just that I`m sat here with my Bible, and I can`t seem to find a reference to Disfellowshipping / Disassociating.

:Please can someone post as to where exactly I can find a reference to the terms DF`ing / DA`ing in the scriptures?

No can do, my friend. It ain't in there.

actually, if you looked up "cutting off" or "cut off" you might find that phrase in the Bible. If you do, I'd be willing to bet that the scripture would have to do with judgement day and Jesus would be doing it. When Jesus said to STOP JUDGING and STOP CONDEMNING, and that God gave HIM the authority when he gave his Son for us....I gather he meant it. if judicial committees and disfellowhipping aren't judging and condemning, then I don't know what the hell is.

:Many Thanks,

:Yours in anticipation, ( I kinda like the sound of that ;-) )

:Englishman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi thinker,

:Questions from Readers

"Religion is the worship and service of the Devil and his associate demons .. Religion is the chief means that puts fear into the minds of the people and leads them into the Devil's snare .. Truly then, as stated, 'religion is a snare and a racket,' employed to collect money from them under false representations." {WT Jan 15 1940 29}

(they finally got one right !!!)

I agree!
When I was a JW, I remember that we weren't suppose to call it a religion. We were supposed to say, " It's not a religion, it's a way of life." I wonder when the WBTS started referring to themselves as a religion anyway. Before they collected billions? or after? Maybe once money is involved, it's was no longer considered "worship and sevice to the Devil" That's something for me to look into. :-)

peace,
somebody