Posts by confusedandalone

30

Leaving the Watchtower religion behind...are we ABLE to reconsider with FREEDOM what may NOT be "true?"

by Terry in

as we all now know, once you leave the watchtower religion you are exposed to the possibility of education for the first time.. an ex-jw discovers that the theocratic lessons they have learned were not all they were led to believe , i.e.

"accurate knowledge.".

is this story actually true?

confusedandalone

DeWandelaar, see that is the problem. We have HOLY TEXTS that are FROM GOD. Why should we have to add things or guess or interject "well maybe" etc...? If God wants us to know something in its totality why have 3 people write the same story and each one have bits the other doesn't? Then expect us to mush it all together. Why not just write one book that has every useful detail in it so there is no guesswork. Why does god want us to have to do guesswork and investigate. Honestly I think if the bible was the sole book good wanted all mankind to benefit from why not just write it out in stone on a mountain and make sure it was never harmed?

Why leave it on paper written by people that pushed and pulled to get some stuff there and other stuff removed. Why is the proper pronunciation of his name not preserved? So many questions and there will never be answers

30

Leaving the Watchtower religion behind...are we ABLE to reconsider with FREEDOM what may NOT be "true?"

by Terry in

as we all now know, once you leave the watchtower religion you are exposed to the possibility of education for the first time.. an ex-jw discovers that the theocratic lessons they have learned were not all they were led to believe , i.e.

"accurate knowledge.".

is this story actually true?

confusedandalone

Matthew 26:36-46 ---- So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

Luke 22:39-46 --- When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Mark 14:34-37 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.

It's wierd that the things he is saying are diff from Gospel to Gospel, the attitude is different, what he is asking about, the immediate actions are diff. Yet I never paid attention to it or even cared to because the message was so lovely. This is why it is never good for a DUB to actually read the bible outside of the WATCHTOWER framework because things begin to get sticky.

42

A question for elders and former elders who have served on JCs

by slimboyfat in

based on your experience of judicial committees, how would you advise someone who is due to meet with the elders and has asked for the best way to avoid being disfellowshipped?

is denying everything ever a successful strategy?

does addressing a letter to the elders threatening legal action if they disfellowship ever work?

confusedandalone

The only way to avoid DF'ing and still have people treat you like ahuman being as well as allow you to fade is to show repentance(fake or otherwise). There is no other option. Faking suicide and depression just leads to people thinking you are crazy and rumors of it spreading like wild fire. Imagine what happens when these elders talk and it becomes common knowledge that the person is suicidal or depressed. What about your meds? What about constant visits from elders hoping you aren't slitting your wrists? Just not worth it.

Repentance is so easy to fake. Just go in there looking dejected and and never let your words focus on you. Just keep saying how upset you are that you hurt Jehovah and how that causes you to change. How awful and sick you feel that Jehovah's name is dragged through the mud. How it hurts you to know that those actions you have engaged in will make the organization look and how badly you want to make this up to Jehovah. You would be hard-pressed to find even the most evil of committees to df you. As stated even if they do and you appeal it the possibility of you having it overturned is much much better than if you act like you are suicidal.

25

Whiskey with Cigars

by confusedandalone in

i know a few folks here are huge cigar fans, i am asking if anyone can tell me a good whiskey to go with cigars.. i am sure this is kind of a broad question but i ma having some folks over for poker this weekend and i am trying to set things up real nice like... lol.

i have the cigars ready - but i don't want to break out the cheap crown royal... any suggestions.

confusedandalone

I think I would like to get together with some of you gents for a night of poker and cigars

25

Whiskey with Cigars

by confusedandalone in

i know a few folks here are huge cigar fans, i am asking if anyone can tell me a good whiskey to go with cigars.. i am sure this is kind of a broad question but i ma having some folks over for poker this weekend and i am trying to set things up real nice like... lol.

i have the cigars ready - but i don't want to break out the cheap crown royal... any suggestions.

confusedandalone

Glander you are making it more difficult LOL. For some reason mentally I always lump brandy and Scotch together when I know full well they are different

25

Whiskey with Cigars

by confusedandalone in

i know a few folks here are huge cigar fans, i am asking if anyone can tell me a good whiskey to go with cigars.. i am sure this is kind of a broad question but i ma having some folks over for poker this weekend and i am trying to set things up real nice like... lol.

i have the cigars ready - but i don't want to break out the cheap crown royal... any suggestions.

confusedandalone

Thanks for these ideas guys. I have some Deanston 12 that I haven't opened yet.

I have had it awhile but I have no experience with it so I have not touched it yet. I live close to an ABC and they carry nearly everything there - they also let you taste. So I am going to take these names in with me and see which is best.

31

(dumb?) Fox News Host says Stupid Things to Scholar Who Wrote About Jesus

by fulltimestudent in

whether this woman asked these questions of her own accord, or they were written by staffers, is not the point.

the real point is how can people in a country with some of the world's best universities ask such dumb questions.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqhmllq-odw#at=13.

... and if you wonder what reza aslan's views are about jesus, listen to him here, courtesy of all saints church in pasadena a few days ago.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zi4o242d2s.

confusedandalone

And he ripped that woman a new one. However she is probably too ignorant to realize that he did.

25

Whiskey with Cigars

by confusedandalone in

i know a few folks here are huge cigar fans, i am asking if anyone can tell me a good whiskey to go with cigars.. i am sure this is kind of a broad question but i ma having some folks over for poker this weekend and i am trying to set things up real nice like... lol.

i have the cigars ready - but i don't want to break out the cheap crown royal... any suggestions.

confusedandalone

I know a few folks here are huge cigar fans, I am asking if anyone can tell me a good whiskey to go with cigars.

I am sure this is kind of a broad question but I ma having some folks over for poker this weekend and I am trying to set things up real nice like... LOL

I have the cigars ready - but I don't want to break out the cheap Crown Royal... any suggestions

42

A question for elders and former elders who have served on JCs

by slimboyfat in

based on your experience of judicial committees, how would you advise someone who is due to meet with the elders and has asked for the best way to avoid being disfellowshipped?

is denying everything ever a successful strategy?

does addressing a letter to the elders threatening legal action if they disfellowship ever work?

confusedandalone

Depression and any other excuse is going to be a shot in the dark. I have been on 1 committee where the person was bi-polar and no one cared.

What I have noticed in all the committees I was on in which someone avoided DE'ing they ALWAYS spoke about how hurt they are that Jehovah and his name were scarred by their actions. If something to that effect is not mentioned then it is assumed that the person only cares for themselves.

I would get out my shepherding book and show you that it basically states if a person shows true repentance then spare them. Point. Blank. Period.

Show as many "sincere" forms of repentence as possible. But as Istated before a very powerful line that I noticed stuck with me was where it speaks about how "true repentence many not be displayed up until their actions are put before them in the committee".

You can try legal action... it maaaay work. It may not.

You can try denying everything... that maaay work but if there is any proof at all you are screwed.

However if you demonstrate repentence and they still df you - which is against there own rules, and you appear before an appeal committee then you have a better chance..

Just my Opinion

P.S. - Also keep in mind threatening legal issues although if it saves you from a DF will still have you in a situation just as bad if not worse then if you were df'ed

Acting like you are depressed etc... will also cause you issues as well because it will get around that you have issues. Which maaay not be so bad so this is a viable option but I would not use it alone.

153

Shocking talk from 2013 District Convention urges parents to shun disfellowshipped children

by cedars in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yldwe_6jsu.

.

cedars.

confusedandalone

" Many of the "friends" turned up the scowling eyebrow, and we got a lot of flack for it, but in the end, I would just pull the "elder" card, and tell them to mind their own business. We took some heat, but it was worth it."

You were one of the good ones. As the org matures however there are fewer and fewer who act this way.