Posts by Bonsai

8

In a really good place right now.....

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

i'm in a great place mentally and spiritually in my life right now.

i just wanted to share.

because i know many of you are new and have just left the borg and well there are some tough times ahead but i want to assure you you can get through this and come out the other side much happier and more at peace.. i'm 44. got baptized at 18. was a convert not a born in.

Bonsai

Glad you are in a good place. I like the idea of this life being just a first step, a trial run so to speak of the things to come for humans. I like the idea that a non biblical higher being got things started at a molecular level and had a plan for humans to achieve incredible things.

I also read fiction and love it even though I know it's fiction.

It's just my opinion, but I'd say that like every other organism that has a shelf life (all of them) when we die, that's all she wrote. The thought gives me heart palpitations (because i want to live), but I think I'm slowly coming around to the reality of my mortality. All we can do is live a meaningful, productive life, trying to make this planet a little better than it was before we came into it. We control what we can and find peace in doing that.

240

Introduction - Any Believers?

by Believer in

i’ve been reading it for a few of years off and on, but have been a little too ... maybe ... timid to join.

i left the watchtower organization almost 20 years ago but never abandoned my faith and belief in god.

i knew the gb/organization didn’t represent god, so when i lost my faith in them, i managed to keep my faith in an all wise benevolent creator.

Bonsai

The Catholic Church is one of the oldest, bloodiest, morally bankrupt cults this planet has ever seen. They literally built their foundation on the ashes and blood of the innocent. John Mann, I'd like to throw you in a warp drive and send you back to the dark ages. I'd let you come back after a few weeks to tell us how your loving Catholic church dealt with the poor common folk. I'm sure you'd come back an atheist.

37

Nobody at work knows what JWs believe

by Athanasius in

recently susie, one of my co-workers mentioned that her husband's family were all jws.

the family converted after susie's husband left home, so he never joined the jws, nor does he intend to.

anyway another co-worker asked her: "what do the jws believe?".

Bonsai

In Japan they are well known for no blood, no antibiotics and no medicine. They get them mixed up with another cult that only allows for faith healing. Unfortunately for Watchtower, I'm too lazy to correct them on the medicine thing. They always talk about JWs with a look of disgust on there face - which works for me.

240

Introduction - Any Believers?

by Believer in

i’ve been reading it for a few of years off and on, but have been a little too ... maybe ... timid to join.

i left the watchtower organization almost 20 years ago but never abandoned my faith and belief in god.

i knew the gb/organization didn’t represent god, so when i lost my faith in them, i managed to keep my faith in an all wise benevolent creator.

Bonsai

And what caused those conditions to occur? Don't be so quick to jump to conclusion. Why is that stagnant water sitting there?

It took 5 years after I was diagnosed with cancer before they discovered that the water I was drinking was filled with lead luckily I started having bottled spring water delivered to my home. We had totally discontinued using the water in my home.

Rebel, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with lead poisoning and cancer. Some things result because people can be real mean, selfish and short-sited to others like you.

I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone. Cancer is a horrible mutation of cells that go crazy and self destruct. If I were a god filled with love, mercy and compassion, I wouldn't allow cancer to exist in the first place. Unfortunately cancer, harmful bacteria and killer viruses do exist. They exist because the universe knows no mercy. They exist because they have self assembled and evolved over time.They play an integral role in starting and ending life forms like us.

I wish you the best of luck in your recovery from cancer and hope you never get cancer again.

Why does water stagnate? There are many reasons, but mostly because of the topography of the land. Why do hideous viruses and amoebas and bacterias exist? I think I know the answer you want to hear: Satan did it!

240

Introduction - Any Believers?

by Believer in

i’ve been reading it for a few of years off and on, but have been a little too ... maybe ... timid to join.

i left the watchtower organization almost 20 years ago but never abandoned my faith and belief in god.

i knew the gb/organization didn’t represent god, so when i lost my faith in them, i managed to keep my faith in an all wise benevolent creator.

Bonsai

You're right Rebel, JW's and some ex JW's don't make much sense. I don't make sense to even myself half the time. My anger rises up when I think about this conditional god. If it exists and I ponder the possibility (as theists would have me do), I get extremely pissed off considering the horrible suffering, pain and death NOT CAUSED BY HUMANS around me. I guess I'm morally superior to "believers" which is why I can't believe such nonsense without going into righteous indignation mode.

I find in interacting with many theists they blame the horrific things of this world on anything but god. I bring up flesh eating amoebas - you blame it on the state officials for not testing the water. Well, did they allow the amoeba to exist in the first place?! Did they design this ugly killer?! No, that would be the work of your designer my dear. He gets all the credit whether you accept it or not. Bodies of water, more often than not, flow into other bodies of water. A heavy rainfall might push stagnant water (by way of run off) into another bigger pond. Previously tested water might suddenly have amoebas crop up. Don't cop out and blame men here.

240

Introduction - Any Believers?

by Believer in

i’ve been reading it for a few of years off and on, but have been a little too ... maybe ... timid to join.

i left the watchtower organization almost 20 years ago but never abandoned my faith and belief in god.

i knew the gb/organization didn’t represent god, so when i lost my faith in them, i managed to keep my faith in an all wise benevolent creator.

Bonsai

I just read an article on CNN of a poor kid who got killed by a brain eating amoeba just because he decided to go swimming. They say lakes and rivers/ponds are teaming with these Amoebas in the southern states. What kind of sick ass god would create such horrible microbes? People who defend god make me sick. There is no word to describe how dumb you people are for defending the idea that god is love and just. I'd love to give you a glass of that amoeba filled water and then you can go meet your loving god and give him a one-fingered salute for me!

6

How will BREXIT affect Watchtower's interpretation of Daniel's prophecies?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

now that the uk has voted to leave the eu i wonder how this will impact watchtower's thinking about the end times prophecies in daniel and revelation?.

will trump win the presidency, and if so, will he and whoever is in charge of the uk form a new anglo-american power?

what about the ten kings ruling in the time of the end?.

Bonsai

It weakens Europe which strengthens Russia and China. Nato is in decline while Russia and China flex there muscles more and more everyday

35

Born Twice - Die Once .... Born Once - Die Twice

by Perry in

jesus taught that we must die unto ourselves, and allow the holy spirit to take up residence within us.

some people get saved by simply inviting jesus into their hearts, to be the lord of their life.

this serves as a countering force within the born-again christian to counterbalance the will of the flesh, which is still unsaved in this life and destined for destruction in imitation of our lord himself.. attempting to live the christian life without having this spirit within you is a waste of time at the minimum, and dangerous on the downside.

Bonsai

It is amazes me how popular Jesus is considering all the blood that has been spilled in his name. And consider this: not one word he has spoken, not one word he has promised has ever come true. In fact, never has there been so much hype over a man who has been dead for thousands of years and has posthumously done nothing! No kingdom on earth, no healing, no controlling the weather and natural disasters, no bringing back the dead, no cups of water turned to wine. Just a whole lot of.....................nothing.

I think Elmo is ready to overtake Jesus in relevance.

20

UPDATE: My existential crisis comes to a close

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

in case you read my other thread regarding my existential crisis and how it was making my life miserable and left me feeling hopeless, purposeless and joyless i though i'd share what's recently happened to me and my way of thinking and have i've for the time being resolved my existential crisis.

i write every day in a journal.

i've been doing this for years.

Bonsai

Sounds like your in a hurry to deaden your existential crisis by forcing yourself to believe in this god of yours. I kind of embrace my existential crisis. I'm in no hurry to force any resolution in my beliefs, but am quite eager to slowly digest the evidence around me. After I left WatchtowerLand I went through a period where I hated god for awhile. Then I started to read the NT and developed a yearning for Jesus in my life. That lasted only for about a month. To make a long story short, a bunch of terrible stuff happened and I realized there is no higher being that gives a diarrhea squirt about us. Realizing that was quite a relief actually. When you figure out how to justify disease,cancer, brain eating amoebas, horrific natural disasters etc, etc, with a caring god, please let me know.

35

Born Twice - Die Once .... Born Once - Die Twice

by Perry in

jesus taught that we must die unto ourselves, and allow the holy spirit to take up residence within us.

some people get saved by simply inviting jesus into their hearts, to be the lord of their life.

this serves as a countering force within the born-again christian to counterbalance the will of the flesh, which is still unsaved in this life and destined for destruction in imitation of our lord himself.. attempting to live the christian life without having this spirit within you is a waste of time at the minimum, and dangerous on the downside.

Bonsai

What Simon says!