Posts by Searching

8

Watchtower Writings vs Christian Philosophers

by Boredposter in

watchtower writings used to have some meat to them.

they have been increasingly watered down and simplified.

i think we all recognize that.

Searching

While not a book per say, I do highly recommend the website Biologos which was actually founded by Francis Collins (The leader of the Human Genome Project). There are a wealth of articles from various writers, such as "Genesis and the Flood: The Importance of Genre" & "Why the Church Needs Multiple Theories of Original Sin"

Reading through the articles and picking up some of the books from a few of the more prominent writers (such as N.T Wright) totally changed my view on a lot of things, the bible specially.

It's honestly a wonder how the Watchtower can still fling around its tracts and act like this is the most ground-breaking and satisfying ~spiritual food~ that anyone has to offer, when they never even attempt to challenge themselves and their teachings. Half of what they teach are simple basic teachings, and the other half wind up being just straight up wrong.

4

Concerned about my mother.

by Searching in

i'm sure the date january 2018 + 'message of judgement' has been kicking around the exjw's various forums for a while now, and the more i think about it, the more i get worried.

not for myself really, but for my mother especially.

i guess you could consider her to be pomi (physically out, mentally in) she's faded in the sense that she doesn't go to meetings, doesn't really live by many of the rules any longer, is in a relationship with a worldly man, etc etc etc, however, she still considers herself to be a witness, and will defend the org if need be.

Searching

I suppose a little of both. Although for the most part I'm most concerned about something like Jonestown happening again, or that my family who is still within the Org may, when all is said and done, not be able to cope with the reality that what they were taught has all been a lie. I know I was in a pretty dark place for a few months after waking up. I'm worry about my mothers mental health in response to all of this.

I guess I don't really expect the GB to make them all "drink the kool-aid" but I worry they'll encourage people to become even more secluded; another 1975 except this time with more spotlight on it thanks to the internet.

4

Concerned about my mother.

by Searching in

i'm sure the date january 2018 + 'message of judgement' has been kicking around the exjw's various forums for a while now, and the more i think about it, the more i get worried.

not for myself really, but for my mother especially.

i guess you could consider her to be pomi (physically out, mentally in) she's faded in the sense that she doesn't go to meetings, doesn't really live by many of the rules any longer, is in a relationship with a worldly man, etc etc etc, however, she still considers herself to be a witness, and will defend the org if need be.

Searching

I'm sure the date January 2018 + 'Message of Judgement' has been kicking around the ExJW's various forums for a while now, and the more I think about it, the more I get worried. Not for myself really, but for my mother especially. I guess you could consider her to be POMI (Physically Out, Mentally In) she's faded in the sense that she doesn't go to meetings, doesn't really live by many of the rules any longer, is in a relationship with a worldly man, etc etc etc, however, she still considers herself to be a Witness, and will defend the Org if need be.

My grandparents are Uber Witnesses as I've mentioned before, my grandfather is an Elder and I just worry they'll call my mom, and she will get into a huge panic, in turn of course urging us and my brothers back to the meetings. My older brother is an atheist, my younger brother doesn't speak of religion at all so I"m not sure what his belief is, but I'm positive he doesn't believe the Watchtower is "the truth" and I am a non-denominational Christian. None of us believe any longer, and I am terrified of if/when that day comes when finally our mom will have to choose between us and returning. She said she would never shun us, but even so, if she were to go back to the meetings alone, I would be besides myself with worry. I guess the anniversary of the Jonestown Massacre got me pretty shaken up.

I don't know, I guess this has just been on my mind for a while now. I'm praying that whatever happens, its not enough to make my worst fears come true.

16

Scientific, Credible Discovery - Earthquakes are set to increase in 2018

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

it has already been published and presented in a geology conference:it has been discovered that the earth´s rotation slows down a few milliseconds every so often, and when it slows down, about 5 years later there is a 5-year period where the frequency of large earthquakes around magnitude 7 or greater increases about 20-30%.so according to scientists, in 2018, around the tropical areas, we should expect around 20 major earthquakes, compared to the 15 average on a normal year.jw´s are likely to jump on this as "evidence" of the time of the end, and will probably be misquoted in a watchtower publication sometime soon.here are some news organizations covering the story:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/18/2018-set-to-be-year-of-big-earthquakeshttps://qz.com/1133304/as-earths-rotation-slows-2018-could-see-a-spike-in-large-earthquakes/.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/881536/earthquake-prediction-mexico-richter-scale-ring-of-firehttps://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4946729/earthquake-increase-earth-rotation-roger-bilham-tropical-region-2018/.

etc etc...here is the scientific paper (which i can´t read but if someone has access to the pdf, could you please share)?http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017gl074934/epdf?referrer_access_token=vbjkmgywttzofhkv3apupu4keas67k9qmdwultwmo8osvaslebfxhkk77yb6sfsjhcerrw6swpzkusqjvujli_iu4gpw3lhc8e988dzdvec-5e-nim3hd0bi_0wog1sqonpw4hesqbrwop_lp7uqignbyksopgnvatka48pyb2lonanvz5ehpaiaha2fika5y95lacwwxr1brsy2kk1m282ispv2uju5qsssy2kdzun57jytp1h56-wbice9ov6ipd93rnykjxybd3ykm7bjpa%3d%3dhere is the presentation to the geological society of america:.

Searching

I think it's wonderful that they've managed to figure this out. This will no doubt help in terms of disaster prevention & relief efforts, if we know when years will be particularly bad, and the regions that will be most affected.

You are probably right that Watchtower will try to twist this, despite the fact that they've simply discovered a pattern, one that has been happening every what was it? Every 32 years or so?

9

Sun Rise

by Been there in

jw
friends

good morning everyone,.

if anyone remembers, sunrises, and sunsets are my time with god.

i wish i had a scanner (that worked) to show you the most unique sunrise i have seen in my life.

Searching

Funnily enough, I feel the same way about sunrises!

I feel as though that is the most peaceful and serene time of day, when the light hits my room just right, it illuminates the entire room in pink or purple or orange, whichever color is most prominent that day. Walking down to my kitchen in total silence, just enjoying the look of the sky while I get a cup of coffee and beginning my daily mediation is truly the closest I feel to God during my day. When the sky seemingly changes colors before your very eyes and the world starts to come awake - you hear the birds and the sounds of people starting to get up and get ready for the day.

22

Which Bible Translation

by moreconfusedthanever in

i have seen a few comments about the nwt being an altered version of the bible and i must admit that when they released the new one it did not sit right with me.. i want to read the bible but not the nwt.

i also do not want to read one that has the thee and thou and ye etc because that will do my head in.. what translations do you recommend?.

Searching

I use the New King James Version (NKJV) but thats just a personal preference, since it was the Bible we used to own before getting the NWT.

39

I need some help

by Akid48 in

well let me start with my age is 13 and i have been thinking about this jw thing and i need help i just dont know if i want to be one any more.. the help i need is some one to send me some links to places i can research i just dont know if i want to study with a jw any more..

Searching

I second the advice to not get baptized unless that is YOUR choice. Getting baptized makes things a whole lot more difficult if you in the end decide that you want to leave.

JWFacts, as everyone else has mentioned is a wealth of information, and is honestly the main reason that I woke up, but there are also a lot of youtube channels that you can go to that have information in a easy to understand way, with their own personal experiences and struggles. I'd recommend EXJW Critical Thinker, JWStruggle, & John Cedars. Those folk were the main ones who helped me, but there are TONS more out there.

This is a really confusing time for sure, and you are in a tight spot because at 13, they might not listen, simply because of your age. Hell - I know if I learned this at your age my parents would have punished me, then sent me off to my grandparents so I could get an ear-full more.

But right now, the most important thing for you is to keep learning, don't stop researching, but also don't try to start a fight with your family over differing viewpoints. For the time being you might have to go with the flow, but learning the truth early will pay off in the long run.

29

Do You Ever Think Of ALL The Wasted Time Because You Were a JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the longer you are out the more you see how a cult steals all your time, resources and energy.

we wasted so much because we were witnesses!

👎.

Searching

I try not to think about it, honestly. My heart aches whenever I try; especially considering that my mother, grandparents, and great grandmother are still in the Org. The fact that I was taught to fear every single thing in life, and that the God we were worshiping might just kill me if I wasn't good enough, and I might just bear witness to the destruction of 90% of life on earth, you can't do that to a child and expect them to grow up okay.

But I have a great love for my family, regardless of the pain that I went through in the past, I'd do it again if it meant that I got to keep being known as their sister/daughter.

44

A WTF Moment While In the WTS

by Searching in

has anyone else had a moment, while still within the organization (and before learning ttatt) that caused them to stop and go, "this is kind of messed up.".

for instance, back i believe in the early 2000's, i was attending a dc with my family.

it was announced at the beginning of the convention that there was going to be a special announcement at the end, so for everyone to please try to remain until the very end of the meeting.

Searching

Has anyone else had a moment, while still within the Organization (and before learning TTATT) that caused them to stop and go, "This is kind of messed up."

For instance, back I believe in the early 2000's, I was attending a DC with my family. It was announced at the beginning of the convention that there was going to be a special announcement at the end, so for everyone to please try to remain until the very end of the meeting.

Well that point rolls around and it's announced that due to the economy and increasing gas prices - that they were going to put a halt to the monday (tuesday? its been a while) meetings, so that people could more easily attend the longer meetings on thursdays & sundays.

Afterwards my family stayed and chatted with the family that was sitting next to us, a mother and her two children I believe. And she was talking about how she had gotten so excited about the announcement, she was certain it was that it was going to be that Armageddon was coming. She exclaimed that her children had been so excited that they'd rushed outside to grab the camera.

I remember staring at her and then looking over at her kids, who couldn't have been more then six or seven years old and thinking 'this is the most messed up thing I have ever heard come out of someones mouth.' To my mothers credit, she smiled at laughed it off, but I think it really perturbed her as well.

48

"You're going to die in Armageddon"

by Jules Saturn in

i'm sure i am not the only one to have heard this come out of the mouths of my loved ones.

it's a very painful thing to hear, especially when it comes from the people like your own parents/family.

even after i've been told that, they would say "we'll just continue life without you.

Searching

To add to the verses that @FedUpJW put forth

(Colossians 3:13) Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:2) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
(1 Peter 4:8) Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Ask them if, making such claims - wishing death upon you - and stating that they will not mourn your passing; if that is them truly taking these verses to heart.