scratchme1010

Joined

• started 8 topics
• posted 2,992 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by scratchme1010

• 
  25

  Not going to say a word

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-0p-5x2g4w.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  OMG!
• 
  20

  Thanks, but no thanks!

  by FadeToBlack in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  that was essentially my reply to a recent sms i got from the elder of the group i am supposed to be in, requesting a visit to encourage me and get to know me better.

  my wife has been attending english language meetings in warsaw for the last year or so (i have never been) and i think they are getting antsy about where i stand.

  i've met many of them at events my wife hosted at our house, but so far nobody has pressed me on the issue of my inactivity.. at one of the events, an elder mentioned that he'd heard i 'had been' a jw for many years and he was curious what first attracted me to the org.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  Great way dealing with them. Now, if they would just go away...
• 
  21

  Republicans Are Not Welcome!

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the owner of the used apple store in derry new hampshire has put on his facebook that republicans are evil and they are not welcome in his store.

  he has done tv interviews now saying that republicans simply should not try to come in and he can generally tell if someone is a republican.

  it is interesting that a business owner can bar someone because of their political opinions but if a business owner conscientiously couldn’t make a cake for a gay couple,they are in legal jeopardy..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  It is interesting that a business owner can bar someone because of their political opinions but if a business owner conscientiously couldn’t make a cake for a gay couple,they are in legal jeopardy.
  

  And suddenly that matters because it's republicans? The rest of the real world deals with that on a daily basis. What's your point?
• 
  11

  Priming the Pump

  by days of future passed in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the definition of priming the pump, is put to water manually into the casing of the pump so that it will create a seal and draw the water up.

  it's a term used for economics but i like to use it when i am trying to hopefully help a jw, escape.

  i view it as a long term endeavor.. whenever there are videos for upcoming conventions, i'll try to work the main theme into a conversation with them.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  One more thing: as noble as you might think that what you are doing is, you can also cause harm to people. If you do not acknowledge that your greatly-intended thoughts and actions can cause harm, can be misconstrued, can backfire, and can hurt other people, you will be doing a disservice.

  Remember: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. There are reasons why that saying exists. Good luck.
• 
  10

  ExJW as opposed to present JW

  by Phoebe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  sorry, i had no idea what to title this!.

  i was speaking to a sister this week via email and i said i was appalled by anthony morris's recent talk in trinidad and tobago when he said if you haven't been in the ministry for two weeks god looks down on your hands and what does he see?

  he sees blood and you will lose your life.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  Even when it comes down to child abuse, she brushes it off. Everything.
  

  That's what brainwashing looks like. However, it might seem like it's not having any effect on her, but it might. If you look at a lot of people here, what opened their eyes are very different things. Some people start thinking more critically when there's too much that doesn't make sense, others when they feel shunned and don't see any benefit in remaining loyal to that organization, and some others for some other reasons.

  I'd say stay in conversation and don't have any expectations of her reaction being different than what you have experienced so far. She is paying attention, her curiosity may awaken by something you say at some point. Please keep in mind that what woke you up may not be what does other people. They are blindly following that organization and conditioned to feel that such blind devotion is ok.

  Have you tried asking her things, instead of always pointing things to her and telling her things? If you don't know the real reasons why she's in that organization, you might be missing what you should address. As much as they claim that they are all the same "sheep", they are human beings with their own thoughts and their own diverse reasons to be there. Address her individual thoughts and reasons to be a JW.
• 
  96

  Oh Boy! Beards are "stumbling blocks" again ... from Stephen Lett

  by freddo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so this week's midweek meeting video about stumbling others has lett spouting and gurning rubbish again.. if you can't take the whole 9 minutes go from 5:50 to get the context and 6:45 for the "beard" mention.. https://youtu.be/ezv1ici5cwo.

  oh, well - at least they shoot themselves in the foot with this doublespeak.

  single.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  Don't understand why people keep broadcasting what they say. We already know he's full of it.
• 
  15

  Facing my own mortality!

  by eyeuse2badub in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i’m 71 years old now.

  seven decades plus.

  but, i put that in perspective owing to the fact that my older brother died in 1992 at the age of only 51. it was a very sobering time for me even though i was only 45 at the time.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  How are you dealing with the thought of your mortality?
  

  I'm not. Nothing too deep to say about that on my part. I'm still too busy living.
• 
  8

  What does the WT say in response to the Bible command of human sacrifice?

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in the bible at exodus 22:29 and numbers 3:13 its very specific that the first born males belong to god.

  at leviticus 27:28,29 is specifically says all that is given to the lord even the sons can not be ransomed and are to be destroyed.

  this makes it clear that human sacrifice of the first born males was expected.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  This makes it clear that human sacrifice of the first born males was expected. So what does the WT say to try and get around this?
  

  Conveniently, that part of the bible was abolished by Jesus, which is why it's called the "old testament". Not so with the same Leviticus part that they use to hate gay people, though. To them that part is as good as new.
• 
  12

  Recent New Testament translation causing a stir

  by careful in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  sharp-witted and well-educated eastern orthodox philosopher and theologian david bentley hart, now a fellow at notre dame, has produced a nt translation (yale univ press 2017) that is causing a major stir.

  one-man translations are pretty rare any more, but this one is making a real splash, largely because it does not surrender to the group/translation committee mentality.. .

  even though it's been out only a few months, it's already been reviewed several times in well-known publications.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  Thanks for the information.
• 
  11

  Priming the Pump

  by days of future passed in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the definition of priming the pump, is put to water manually into the casing of the pump so that it will create a seal and draw the water up.

  it's a term used for economics but i like to use it when i am trying to hopefully help a jw, escape.

  i view it as a long term endeavor.. whenever there are videos for upcoming conventions, i'll try to work the main theme into a conversation with them.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  scratchme1010

  Can only answer for myself here but I really don't want anyone else to waste opportunities the way I have. Even if I can get them to buck the trend by, for example, not turning down the chance to get an education. I don't care about their faith, per sa.
  

  Thanks you for the clarification. That's perfectly understandable and kind. One thing to consider, however, is that people are in that organization for many reasons, and many of those reasons have absolutely nothing to do with their teachings. Furthermore, a lot of people become very angry, dysfunctional, depressed, even suicidal once they find that they have wasted time and energy, and that they have made important life decisions based on the WT nonsense. Showing them TTATT is not enough. What kind of follow up or further support can you provide?

  Is there a plan to address those? To many people in there, since some cannot even articulate all their teachings because that's not what they are there for, how do you plan to help them? Again, many people are not there because of what they teach, but for what they FEEL. Some know that a lot of what they say makes no sense, but they stay JWs because:

  • They want to protect their investment
  • To hold onto family, or to keep the family together
  • Because their relationships can be real and solid
  • Pride, or to avoid embarrassment
  • Fear of what awaits outside of what has become their comfort zone

  Showing them logic and great reasons to dismiss the WT teachings addresses only one of the many reasons why some JWs remain JWs. Just look at some of the posts of people here who are PIMO. Most can't care less about their teachings. They are not there because they believe in that organization.