I think that kids being kids, they want to explore life. When you grow up with too many rules, you can tend to be more rebellious. And it just makes some young people all the more curious. Kids, as well as adults need balance in their lives. As it is, the JW kids aren't allowed to do much of anything. Everything is wrong. Music is all wrong, Dress is all wrong, cong. gatherings so strictly scrutinized, it takes all joy out of it for everyone. Yes, we do need guidelines and rules within reason. Please, by all means, use common sense when picking associates. This is all good advice. But, it seems JW kids arent't allowed to be spontaneous. Everything is TOO regulated.
Vitameatavegamin
JoinedPosts by Vitameatavegamin
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141
JW Kids Leave the Organization: Facts
by Maximus inthe october 1 watchtower 2001 features articles on training children "properly" and dealing with a "prodigal child.
the latest inside u.s. figures reveal that 86% of jw children leave the fold, with some 29% who eventually come back for reasons of family ties, most never "reaching out.
" that means over half leave permanently.
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We don't baptize children, do we?
by Kent injehovah's witnesses convene in biloxi .
by christine harvey .
the sun herald .
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Vitameatavegamin
I knew a 10 year old who was baptized a couple of years ago. As I sat at the assembly and watched the baptismal candidates, the ten year old was not paying one bit of attention to the baptismal talk. He sat and looked around the entire auditorium to see who was watching him. And when it came time to stand to answer the questions, the person sitting next to him had to poke him to tell him to stand, he was'nt even listening!! I think this is an example to the mindset of a child, baptism is a very serious decision, and I think children should not be allowed to do it. I was baptized at 14 and even that was to young! Looking back , I realize the only reason I did it was to look more mature or grown up, and also because my friends were doing it. And I had nothing but problems afterwards.
There are so many things in life you just aren't capable of figuring out until you are older and have experienced real life. What 7 year old or 10 year old could be mature enough to make a life decision like that? Good points you are making. Thanks!!
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How are you influencing the world spiritually?
by nakedheartpoet inthose of us who are in the ranks of dedicated witnessess what are you doing or plan to do to influence the world around you spiritaully?
like swelling our ranks or being a personal demonstration of the truth?
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Vitameatavegamin
Naked Poet,
As Witnesses, I belive we need to take a harder look as to what real spirituality constists of. Is spirituality how many meetings we attend per week or hours of field service put in per week? Or, is brother so and so's spirituality gaged upon whether or not he had a vasectomy because after all, we can't use him in the congregation if this becomes known. Or maybe we gage sister so and so's spirituality based upon the fact that she had her tubes tied because she has all the children she wants, because after all , she can't be used for any special privliges in the cong. if this becomes known, unless the Elders first determine whether or not she had this done for a good reason.
This is just an example of what can and does occur in congregations. It seems it is no longer about what is in your heart. It's all about who follows the "rules" the best. You can be a complete jackass but attend every meeting and be in everyones good graces. It just does'nt make sense anymore. Yes, I believe there is a loss of real spirituality within the JWs, as elsewhere. As people, we need to find out what the meaning of true spirituality is...... Thanks!
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Organized religion- Good or bad?
by Vitameatavegamin inhello again friends,.
i have recently been pondering some over some thoughts on organized religion.
the jws always refer to other religions as part of babylon the great, in which we should flee from.
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Vitameatavegamin
Just a Mom,
You're reply is fascinating! Very good obseravation, I think you are right. I feel that we do have a creator, and we should honor Him the best way we can. As a JW, I have observed to much emphasis on all the societys guidelines or rules, even when you listen to fellow Witnesses speak, you always hear "well, the SOCIETY says", they quote the society more than they do the actual Bible. These are all things I am wondering about for the first time in 20 years as a JW.
And the scripture you mentioned regarding the " gathering of ourselves together", is a good point. I never thought of it that way. The JWs always use that scrip. as the commandment to attend meetings. Gathering of ourselves could mean just association with fellow Christians, not the JW meaning of attending meetings. Very enlightening thoughts. Thanks and I look forward to more!
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How would you react to a sheparding call?
by friendorfoe input aside for a moment your statis of the organization, it's saturday morning and your on the other side of the ole familar knock.
"hello i'm brotherdoesnthavealife i haven't seen you in a while" how would you react?.
it happened to me after about 6 years of being inactive and it was an elder and a c.o.
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Vitameatavegamin
Sheparding calls are O.K., if they are what they should be. We have been inactive for about a year now and we have had one Elder come by. He was very nice, but we are basically ignored. Or, if they do come by, it is something disocuraging like "we are canceling you magazines at the Kingdom Hall; they cost money you know", this kind of garabage.
In the past, we have been accused of things we never did, nor had ever even heard of, and when we complained of never getting shep.call, they tried to say that speaking to us about an accusation was a shep. call. Unbelievable. It seems they only show up if they think there is a problem. The active people in our cong. are the ones that get shep. calls. Inactive do not. The reasoning here is that "we know where the Kingdom Hall is", very encouraging huh. The only time here they step up the Shep. calls is during the C.Os visit, guess they are trying to make a good impression. My congregation has a real attitude toward inactive people. They are not treated well. I feel as though I have committed some wrongdoing, even though we are in good standing. We are never included in gatherings, etc. Just an observation.....Thanks! -
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Jah?
by Naeblis inhave you noticed that god's name seems to be getting shorter and shorter in magazines and in witness talk??
it went from grand titles like "the heavenly merciful sassified one" to "jehovah god" and now "jah" it's jah this and jah that.
it's like the witnesses have been taken over by rastafarians.
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Vitameatavegamin
Hi!
I have always thought that it was disrespectful to call older people by their first names......maybe we should not call God by hisfirst name, after all, he is our father!
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Holidays: Do you celebrate?
by Vitameatavegamin ini smell something burning; oh, just me thinking again!!.
anyway, one thing i always missed were the holidays-christmas especially.
i know that this is an unproven celebration to say the least, but i have always loved the warmth and beauty of this holiday, although very commercialized in this day and age.
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Vitameatavegamin
Hello, me again!
I smell something burning; Oh, just me thinking again!!
anyway, one thing I always missed were the holidays-Christmas especially. I know that this is an unproven celebration to say the least, but I have always loved the warmth and beauty of this holiday, although very commercialized in this day and age. Do you feel it sacreliogious to celebrate such a holiday given what we know of it's origin? would God really disaprove? You're thoughts please. Thank-You. -
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god answers prayers
by teejay ina man decided it was time to shed some excess pounds.
he took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery.
one morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffeecake.
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Vitameatavegamin
Hello happy,peppy people;
As JWs, we are taught that basically Jehovah does not hear the prayers of non JWs. That thought has always troubled me. What about all the sincere people that really feel that are faithful and try to abide by God's laws and principals? Are they not heard because they don't belong to the right organized religion? Would our God be that picky? The bible itself says that the sun shines and the rain falls on good and evil alike-He loves mankind that much......Just a thought.
Thanks again!
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Organized religion- Good or bad?
by Vitameatavegamin inhello again friends,.
i have recently been pondering some over some thoughts on organized religion.
the jws always refer to other religions as part of babylon the great, in which we should flee from.
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Vitameatavegamin
Hello again friends,
I have recently been pondering some over some thoughts on organized religion. The JWs always refer to other religions as part of Babylon the Great, in which we should flee from. Well, as time goes on, I observe things seeming to crumble in all org. religion,including JWs. How do we know that the scripture refering to babylon the great may not also include JWs, maybe God has no use for ANY organized religion. Maybe he just expects us to follow a few simple commandments from the bible, be a good christian and " do unto others", as it is put.
My observation is that people in Org. religion tend to be judgemental and are sure that they are saved. And I think with JWs, if they spent more time concentrating on how to be a good Christian and not spending so much time on how many meetings attended, hours of field service put in, whether or not you should have a vasectomy, etc., maybe people in the JWs would not be so prone to all this judging and deciding who is and who is'nt. I think JWs are really stressed out in alot of ways. Yes, we should honor God the best way we can. But I don't believe that our creator is anywhere near as judgemental as we humans can be, as we think about the scripture that talks about "straining the gnat". Just something to think about. Would like to hear your comments on the matter. Thanks!
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What was your biggest pet peeve ?
by jurs inmy biggest pet peeve was the " instant friends " theory.
i went to 3 different halls.
we moved around colorado.
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Vitameatavegamin
Hi all,
One of my many pet peeves has been the "you are good association if you go to all the meetings" bull. I know people right now in my cong. that rarely ever miss a meeting but are completely ignorant. One sister was having an affair, some of the teens are drinking, dating "worldly" people, cheating on business deals, etc. The list goes on . I would say that the congs. are having many difficulties. I think it is a sign of the times. And my comment above in no way makes non witnesses bad association, just observing again that at times they don't even follow their own rules. Thanks!!