Posts by Undecided

28

Help me... please...

by mindfield in

jw
friends

it's funny how 2 hours can make you question the doubts you've had for months.

just got home from the hall after speaking with an elder... had a friendly chat about my doubts... finally culminating in my admitting that i didn't believe the discreet slave really existed, and that all my jw beliefs were non-existent.

2 hours.

Undecided

Hi Fed Up,

The more you look for answers, the more you will come to realize there are no answers that are based on fact when it comes to proving any religion to be true. Religion is based on faith, and faith is just some idea that is rooted in your emotions and imagination, sometimes put there by some ancient writtings, when examined closely are usually full of contradictions and must be explained by some founder of that religion to support their particular view of truth.

No one knows the full truth of the universe and why we are here and what God truly is. There is no proof, only conjecture.

Enjoy your life while you are young, using good judgement learned from observing life, treating others kindly as you would want to be treated, as this will bring you a measure of happiness. Life can deal you some cruel blows, but it can also bring much joy.

Ken P.

27

Logic of God escapes me

by Amazing in

jw
friends

in past posts i have placed god on trial by questioning two issues: 1) the issues in the graden of eden, and the severe punishment of the entire human race for a very minor act of eating fruit.

2) god ordering the extermination of entire cities, including every last man, woman, child, baby, and even livestock.. results: the result on this forum have be mixed as expected, but showed a range from suport to tryuionmg top explain these events with reasoning, logic, or plausibilities.

some felt that i might be losing my faith.

Undecided

Hi Amazing,

You seem to be about where I am in my search for God. The bible just doesn't seem to answer my questions about God's nature and purpose of creation. The differences of attitude in the Hebrew and Greek scriptures just doesn't seem to be the same God.

And what about the bible's description of heavenly rebelion? Has all God's creation gone bad?

I have about given up on finding an answer that would explain why the creation lives for a while, then dies, which includes the universe.

If you can find any substantial answers I would appreciate you letting me know. You seem to be going through the same struggle that I am.

Ken P.

4

Rweconciling with My Life Long Friend

by Amazing in

jw
friends

july 1966: my best friend (ken) and i had known each other since 1956, when i was 5 and he was four.

we did everything together, play cars and toy armies, cowboys and indians, trick-or-treating, movies, swimming, disneyland, sleep-overs, boy scouts, camping, long talks, sneaking cirgaettes, getting caught, and we even had a few fist fights and yelling matches.

but we were more than friends, we were as close as brothers.

Undecided

Hi Amazing,

I was raised as a JW and my best friend was a "worldly" person. We attended all classes together in school and played together as youths, and when we were teenagers we went out almost every night except meeting nights, to a movie, pool hall or just wondering around town. We were on the basketball team and my dad the PO came to some of the games. Our congregation was a little different from those in later years. We are still good friends, almost like brothers. I even dated some worldly girls when I was in high school. My youth was a great time and the "truth" didn't completely dominate my life, even though I vacation pioneered during my summer vacation from school. My friend was a good moral person and still is. I will never forget our great times together.

I guess that's why I'm not bitter toward the WT and the former brothers. They were never able to control me to the extent that some others were controlled.

Ken P.

15

A Call to my Priest

by Amazing in

jw
friends

1969: i was still studying with the jws, attending meetings, and preparing for baptism.

one of the requirements was that i notify my previous religion, the roman catholic church where i was baptized as a baby in 1951, and demand they remove me from membership.. catholic policy: i wrote to my priest in southern california to follow-up on the jw requirement to write to the catholic church and demand removal.

but, unlike most churches, the catholic church never removes anyone from the membership.

Undecided

Hi Amazing,

Like you,I like the feeling of doing some kind deed because it feels right to me, not because it involves some God, religion, or rule of man. Your story made me feel good also, and I can imagine how it helped you feel better. I sometimes have a selfish streak, but I will help others whenever I can. I pick up people sometimes when they need a ride, help if they are broke down on the road etc. but other times I am a litte self centered when I examine myself. I am trying to overcome this tendency. I was taken advantage of one night by someone who came to my door for help and I am more skeptical since.

Thanks,

Ken P.

8

Family Picnic Pictures

by Undecided in

jw
friends

my family went on a picnic in the hills of virginia, about an hours drive from home.

we had so much fun and the trees were beautiful.

life can be so good at times.. .

Undecided

Hi,

Thanks for the comments.

This area of Virginia is near Stuart,in Patrick County Va. When I was a teenager, about 50 years ago, this was our congregation's unassigned territory. That ment there was no congregation in Patrick Co. and our congregation took on the task of calling on all the homes in the county. We had some great times back then, we would pack a lunch and have dinner at some picnic table in the area we were in. I can still
remember calling at several of the houses we passed on the way up to our picnic site. We wasted our time though, there is still no congregation in Patrick Co. that I know of. Those mountain people are smarter than we thought.

We went down some roads that would drag the bottom of the car, ruts and humps, rocks etc. We made it down them though, in a 49 Chevy. My wife has a step uncle that lives up there. We stopped by while we were up there. It had been many years since she had seen him. He and his wife are in their eighties, and live down and old road where he lived when my wife was a kid. An interesting visit, they still lived like they were in the 30s.

CritterSitter, I right clicked your picture box and copied the url from properties and went to the site and looked at your picture, when I returned to the board your picture was displayed properly. Don't ask me why, I don't know???

Another picnic Picture of my Grandaughter.

Ken P.

8

Family Picnic Pictures

by Undecided in

jw
friends

my family went on a picnic in the hills of virginia, about an hours drive from home.

we had so much fun and the trees were beautiful.

life can be so good at times.. .

Undecided

Hi All,

My family went on a picnic in the hills of Virginia, about an hours drive from home. We had so much fun and the trees were beautiful. Life can be so good at times.

My wife and children.

Old mill near where we had the picnic.

Hope the pictures work correctly. This is a beautiful area of the country.

Ken P.

79

When God created Adm, did he knw that Adam wd sin?

by D wiltshire in

jw
friends

when god created adam and eve did he foreknow that they would sin?.

this is taken from the reasoning book:.

when god created adam, did he know that adam would sin?.

Undecided

Hi,

What bothers me about this matter of the test is another of God's creation went bad before man. The Devil was the influence that caused Eve to go bad.(According to the legend) What would happen if the Devil realized his mistake and pleaded for forgiveness and tried to preach to all his fallen brothers?

With humans the first pair failed, so all following humans were flawed. With angels there was no genetic tendency to sin, they all chose that course individually, legions of them. What does this show us about free will and God's creative success? It doesn't look too good for the ones who become perfect in the future heaven or earth(depending on your religious faith as to where you will be).

What caused the flaw to occur in the spirit world, why did some fail and others remain faithful? Could others fail in the future and start another wickedness spree? Will God stop freewill so it won't happen again?

None of this madness makes any sense to my feeble brain. Please GOD, I need help that I can understand.

Ken P.

76

Years in v. Years Out

by Billygoat in

jw
friends

i'd like to find out how many years collectively we have acquired in the wts.

please list how many years you were/have been a jw.

please also list how many years you have been out.

Undecided

In from birth, baptised at 7yrs, again at 25yrs. Still not DF'd. In 40 out 25. Still can't understand God.

Ken P.

28

South Carolina

by Yerusalyim in

jw
friends

ok, i'm getting lonely and desperate (in spite of my loving wife and great kids) who here lives in or near south carolina, specifically, columbia.. yerusalyim.

"vanity!

it's my favorite sin!".

Undecided

Hi Betweenworlds,

I'm in the piedmont section of NC also, Eden near Greensboro. Maybe we could have dinner or something??

Ken P.

Didn't notice you were female, your husband and my wife might not like that too well, well maybe we could include them.

20

State of My Faith

by Amazing in

jw
friends

some have wondered about where i come from on the topic of faith.

and, as we all ponder our past jw religion, and the events of the day, i need to take some time to address matters of my faith, as i look for some answers.. when adam was created, god did not wait for adam to play a guessing game and start praying.

rather, god reached out to adam.

Undecided

Hi Amazing,

You about described my state of faith or lack thereof. When I see how complex the life we see in nature is, and how there are so many flaws, it makes me wonder if a perfect God really created it, and yet I can't dismiss the idea that there is a Creator somewhere out there. It's driving me crazy. I want to know God and he won't let himself be found by me. When I see all those who claim to know him and see their behavior it belies their claim.

I've about used up my life at almost 66, I hope that when I die there is something out there, but it's just a hope to hang on to. I haven't heard of anyone who has any evidence of having God communicate with them, except in their own mind, or some ancient book. May you find peace in your search.

Ken P.