Posts by Bonsai

31

They're Making it Impossible to Fade

by DarioKehl in

for those of you who have already faded due to family still being in, have you noticed how the noose is tightening?.

if it's not memorial, it's special day assembly.

if it's not that, it's convention or the special talk.

Bonsai

A conversation with elders or cong members never has to advance beyond initial greetings. If they try to get into something I just jump in and say, " Sorry but any conversation revolving around god or religion just sets me off into a deep depression that threatens my mental and physical health. If I want to talk about some thing I'll call you. Have a nice day and goodbye."

If they come around asking to sign a new copy of the blood card, I will tell them the old one( which actually is in a garbage dump somewhere) works just fine. Bye.

72

Specific Comments By R&F About May Broadcast

by freemindfade in

i know there are many posts discussing the may money requesting televangalism...er... broadcast i mean!

but i wanted to start one where anyone can put what they have heard any non-exjw, non-apostate witnesses say good or bad about the broadcast.

i don't see how it can't rattle followers... but then again i might be surprised how they can twist things (2+2=5).

Bonsai

My mother-in-law said she had no interested in watching the broadcast even though it would be broadcasted for the first time in her language. When I explained the contents she seemed disinterested in how the arrangements or mistakes of the GB affect her relationship with Jehovah.

My very much still in friend said it's "cause for concern, but not cause for alarm.", He says he generally has no interest in donating to begin with, so any new donation arrangement would have no effect on him. He said he is however very disturbed that the org. is heading toward televangelism and becoming a mainstream fast food Christian corporation.

A relative who is an elder expressed the opinion that a lot of these problems are likely due to the fact that the society did not plan or expect this system to continue on as long as it has. Now they are trying to compensate through slapstick measures.

23

Another reason god is a terrible "father"

by _Morpheus in

its easy to look around and say if a singular all powerful were real he would stop the suffering of man and animal, a position i support.

however there is another even more basic premise i have pondered at times as well (im sure im not the first of course) : would any loving parent ever hide from their children?

consider it... our all knowing all loving father hides from us even though we cry out to know him.

Bonsai

Wow. great topic. I've never understood how an invisible, uncommunicative being could somehow deserve the intimate title of "father". Harkening back to my childhood when we studied the Revelation Climax book, I always thought of God as more like the grim reaper. He stands ever ready to allow his angels to release the four bowls of his wrath upon his own children whom he has left to their own devices for thousands of years. That book gave me shudders both then and now.

78

Am I the only "witness here besides the admins?

by TheOnlyRealWittnessHere in

jw
friends

with all the negativity here i was wondering if i am the only one here that's a witness.

.

the topic pretty much says everything..

Bonsai

I've been inactive for months and probably will be inactive for the rest of my life. This new brand of JW just sickens me. That being said, I still feel like I'm a witness. My friends, my family are all witnesses and being a witness is all I have ever known up until now. I'm waiting and watching world events while sitting on the fence I guess.

22

"Jehovah clearly answered my prayer!"

by stuckinarut2 in

so the fade is progressing well.... however, it has been noticed by the 'hounders', who i know will be "following up" with us soon i'm sure.. so i have thought of a way of shutting down the questions etc.... if they ask about things like meeting attendance and field activity, i am going to say something like:.

"oh, thanks for your interest and concern brothers.

this means a lot.

Bonsai

I just tell them now that the earthquake in Nepal is just one more reason on top of a stack of reasons why I no longer believe God is loving or even exists. Everyday I creep closer and closer to becoming an atheist...

22

"Jehovah clearly answered my prayer!"

by stuckinarut2 in

so the fade is progressing well.... however, it has been noticed by the 'hounders', who i know will be "following up" with us soon i'm sure.. so i have thought of a way of shutting down the questions etc.... if they ask about things like meeting attendance and field activity, i am going to say something like:.

"oh, thanks for your interest and concern brothers.

this means a lot.

Bonsai

I know the feeling Stuckinarut2. I went ballistic on the last elder who called me. I wish I hadn't, but what is done is done. It's only a matter of time before they get their isht together and come after me. If it weren't for my mother still being in I'd cut ties with everything. As of now, all I can do is avoid them like the plague and plaster a fake smile on my face when someone comes for a visit while out in service.

114

Why do religious people make claims and then refuse to back them up?

by Viviane in

several times over the past few months i have had conversations, both here and in real life, with religious people making all sorts of interesting and conflicting claims.

i like to know how things work, so generally i will ask questions to net out what i am being told and see if it can be explained and make sense.. for instance, if someone said 2+2=4 and i asked how, there are a variety of ways that could be shown to me, a number line, physical objects being put together, counting on fingers and toes, etc.

indeed, in my personal life, i often have to explain how certain technologies work, sometimes planned, sometimes off the cuff, from a variety of group sizes to a varying degree of technical expertise.

Bonsai

There will always be a place for religion as long as evil continues. Religion is for those who hate the idea of a finite life span. Religion is for those who need an answer (regardless of it being provable or not) as to why evil and suffering exists. Religion provides hope just as a good movie or book can provide hope and inspiration. Yet, more than a book or movie, religion provides that hope for as long as the person embracing it lives. Religion is a friend for many from the cradle to the grave.

Knowing that many people need the "mental drug" we call "faith", religious leaders know they don't have to provide proof behind their claims. The claim is the drug that is sufficient for the average theist.

The Buddhists claim that "shiranu ga hotoke" God (or Buddha) is the unknown around us. This phrase "shiranu ga hotoke" is also used to express that "ignorance is bliss". I feel that that sums religion up perfectly. Yuck.

27

"Your good example is much needed for the young ones the congregation."

by Yondaime in

hey guys n gals, sorry its been such a long time since i've posted.

lately i've been very busy balancing between my school work and cult activities.

since i've been doing pretty well "spiritually"(enough field-circus hours, attending meetings, underlining my literatrash, reading, praying and serving as the mic-master) my coordinator grabbed me to the side after a meeting and talked to me for twenty minutes straight congratulating me about how good i am doing.. then he paused for a good five seconds and got all serious.. then he proceeded to tell me that the young ones in the hall aren't doing too well.

Bonsai

I remember when my parents threatened to kick me out when I turned 18 because i had become inactive( and I was partying too much). The thought of being alone in the world with no skills to pay the bills scared me so much that, not only did I return to meetings, I became a pioneer and then a servant a little over a year later. It's really sad when parents exert that kind of influence on us at such a young age. They use napalm instead of love to light a fire under our ass.

Ganbatte yondaime! Milk your parents for all they are worth until you can live comfortably independent from them.

62

For God/Truth Seekers Only!

by Nicola.threeangelsmessage in

jw
friends

for the past three years, my husband and i have been watching these sermons by remarkable worldwide speakers.

the biblical truths we have learnt from their presentations, in such a short period of time most definitely tip the scales compared to the truth the jw.org led me to believe i had for over 20 plus years of my life.

thanks to these videos, we have now found the truth and the truth is jesus christ (john 14:6).

Bonsai

Clambake,

It's funny, your post reeks of the same prickish moral superiority that you are criticizing. I do this. I do that. I special!

Let's lower the antagonism please.

18

GB Bodyguards

by Socrateswannabe in

i have heard that at the international conventions and even at us headquarters, the governing body travel with entourages or bodyguards.

does anyone know this to be a fact?

if so, why?

Bonsai

My wife told me the highlight of the International convention that she went to in Hawaii was seeing Stephen Lett walking around during intermission. He was escorted by 4 big, burly bodyguards wherever he went. She remembered the excitement as the Samoan room suddenly went hush at lunchtime as Lett walked in (with his four musclemen) went to the platform and announced the silver sword release in Samoan.