Posts by EdenOne

60

Are You "Technically" Still A Jehovah's Witness?

by minimus in

jw
friends

even if you don't regard yourself as a practicing jw, some may view you simply as inactive, a lost sheep, etc.. if you were baptized but not disfellowshipped or disassociated, you may still be a jw---right?

your thoughts please..

EdenOne

I've stopped attending meetings and reporting time following my JC last September. When my public reproof was announced on the mid-week meeting, me and son stood up in the middle of the KH and walked out. I only returned for the memorial (for my wife's sake) and to my wife's mother funeral. I'm thus inactive and fading. Most people still talk to me, but only if circumstances force contact, and otherwise I'm ostensively shunned from any social activity with other Witnesses. No one has reached out to me, elders included - although I told one of them informally, that I wouldn't welcome any shepherding visit, and I suppose he passed the message along to the BOE. To my dismay, my wife went back in, and is having a 'recovery study' with a Bethel heavy's wife. I can tell she's been instructed not to discuss anything "spiritual" with me. In my professional circle of contacts, if the topic comes up, I identify myself as having been in the past a JW, but no longer actively associating with them. I've been facing a mild and prolonged depression because of this whole process, but it'll get better.

Eden

29

"do not go beyond the things written"

by stuckinarut2 in

thanks to bu2b and splash who mentioned this quote in another thread!.

but i thought it deserved a thread all of its own, such is the impact of this:.

the very best example of going beyond the things written comes from a 2008 watchtower.

EdenOne

Well spotted. Obviously, in their own eyes, the GB's writings are of equal value to the Bible.

Eden

52

Writing Department Interview on "The Generation."

by cappytan in

jw
friends

a member of the writing department was gracious enough to allow me to interview him about the "overlapping generation" doctrine.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eo1o5qmagu.

EdenOne

Brilliant ! Thanks cappy :)

Eden

109

Did judge Rutherford piss off Hitler

by greenhornet in

the jws at the time in germany where considered part of the aryan race, (since they were not jews).

then things changed for the jws after rutherford mailed a letter to hitler bragging about jehovahs kingdom on earth.. so can we add this to the bloodshed that that the watchtower corp is responsible for?.

EdenOne

Fascinating stuff, thank you.

I would only add two tidbits: I have the book "The Nurenberg Interviews" and the two references found there by SS officers about Jehovah's Witneses are very favorable. The only complaint really made there was the fact that they were "pacifists" - meaning, they refused to serve the armed forces.

Also, one thing that I have always wondered. In several publications, it is mentioned an episode where Hitler receives a letter from Rutherford where he threats that Jehovah will destroy the Reich, and Hitler explodes in rage and swears something like "This race shall be exterminated from Germany". I always wondered: Who witnessed this? Where is this account taken from? Or it it all just made-up stuff?

Eden

69

Average Age of this Forum?

by Garrett in

jw
friends

heyo!.

i'm quite interested in knowing the average age of those of us who use this forum.

i made a quick strawpoll that you can find at the following link: http://strawpoll.me/4340636 just pick an age and click "vote" if you wish to participate.. admins: if this breaks any rules, i apologize in advance..

EdenOne

43 here

22

How do JW's know that the bible is inspired?

by cappytan in

asked a friend of mine this question the other day.

here was his answer: "well, because paul said, 'all scripture is inspired of god...'".

but seriously, that argument is like saying, "the bible is inspired because it says so!

EdenOne

So funny, Morpheus!

Eden

113

Are you religious or are you spiritual? Wake up to what?

by Deltawave in

there is a huge difference between been religious and been spiritual.

been religious is about been superior to others in the sight of god.

however, been spiritual is about self awareness, inner peace and unity with the natural world.

EdenOne

I have a problem with the reality that you're an abuser. Too bad if you're oblivious of that reality.

Eden

113

Are you religious or are you spiritual? Wake up to what?

by Deltawave in

there is a huge difference between been religious and been spiritual.

been religious is about been superior to others in the sight of god.

however, been spiritual is about self awareness, inner peace and unity with the natural world.

EdenOne

I can't help it if you getting called out for making false statements feels like a personal attack to you.

It's one thing to tell me: "You're wrong. Because..."

It's another thing to say: "You're dishonest."

The first I take it well. The second, I don't. It's not about compartmentalization; it's about urbanity.

Eden

113

Are you religious or are you spiritual? Wake up to what?

by Deltawave in

there is a huge difference between been religious and been spiritual.

been religious is about been superior to others in the sight of god.

however, been spiritual is about self awareness, inner peace and unity with the natural world.

EdenOne

Vivian: Please show where, on this thread, I have insulted a person rather than discuss the content of the post.

I have, but you don't think it qualifies as a personal attack / insult. I beg to differ. It's certainly not my imagination when I'm the object of it, perhaps you can ask your interlocutor if he/she felt personally offended by your remark. Besides, it is perfectly possible to insult someone all the while staying on topic. I recommend you reading "Churchill's Wit" for an example of that.

In the future, please don't pretend I get offended at your attempts to insult me (...) I find it pretty damn amusing.

Perhaps you can point out where have I have shown such pretense? Or is it just your imagination? In any case, it's good to know that you find it amusing.

Eden

113

Are you religious or are you spiritual? Wake up to what?

by Deltawave in

there is a huge difference between been religious and been spiritual.

been religious is about been superior to others in the sight of god.

however, been spiritual is about self awareness, inner peace and unity with the natural world.

EdenOne

Calling dishonesty dishonest is an accurate representation and not a personal attack.

Since I assume you CAN read, then you should know that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about a common technique you use, which is to qualify what others say or think in such a way that you implicitly attack that person's intelligence, integrity and character - therefore, in essence, a sly form of ad hominem. And then you complaint you become the recipient of ad hominem as well? Therefore, if you deceitfully claim you don't attack others personally, but merely their ideas, when if fact that's precisely what you do, how shall we call that? That's right - dishonesty.

And btw - this will save me another post - to reply to your thoughtful comment in another thread: My fantasies are only about tasteful items, therefore ... no.

Eden