Posts by rocketman

28

Does Anybody Here Pray To God Anymore?

by minimus in

jw
friends

ever????

?

rocketman

Even when I was an elder, I didn't pray. I prayed only when called upon, or at family meals (which I eventually stopped doing).

Instead of telling someone "you're in my prayers", I'll say "you're in my thoughts".

I'm not bashing prayer or, in this case, even questioning God's existence. It's just that I am actually uncomfortable with the notion of prayer. On a certain level, it bothers me. I can't even put my finger exactly on it - but it has something to do with "talking" to an invisible person.

11

One possible reason for current changes

by dozy in

jw
friends

i know that the wtbts generally dont give two hoots about the elders (this weeks wt describes the elders as imperfect , make mistakes etc while making no such admission for the fds) but it is interesting that the thrust of much of the recent changes is to reduce the elders workload.

notice three recent changes.

reduction from taking an hours book study every week to an occasional 30 minute study.

rocketman

When I was an elder (during the '90s) I would have loved less of a workload. It was simply unrelenting. This is a good move. It just came far, far too late, and after much, too much damage was done.

17

Not much doctrine these days. Just do what we tell you and you'll be fine.

by easyreader1970 in

since they came out with the study edition of the watchtower magazine in january, i have noticed a trend.

some of you have probably noticed this as well if you have been attending any of the meetings.. with the exception of changing their base doctrine about "this generation" and 1914, the articles don't discuss or reveal or even reiterate doctrine anymore.

marriage mates, parents, children, elderly.

rocketman

I agree that the dumbing down may well be due to the Internet effect, as it were.

In line with that, I think the WTS might be very reluctant to put out doctrinal/interpretation material because of the need for revision later. Stuff about conduct/actions generally doesn't need to be revised.

135

My theory about the behavior and obsession of some ex-JWs

by Simon in

jw
friends

i've had this theory for some time and alluded to it occassionally but have never explored it in detail.. it is of course a huge generalisation so no, not everyone will fit into the boxes and i'd like people's opinion.

i don't know everyone's circumstances so it's based on a small sample of some of those i do know something about.

it could be completely wrong, it's just an idea.. basically, i have seen a difference between some of those ex-jws who walked out vs those who were kicked out.. the most bitter and obsessive seem to be the kicked out and, i must add, those who were legitimately kicked out.

rocketman

I agree with comments made by Cluless and Wednesday. Getting kicked out can leave someone with some serious, unresolved issues that simmer/boil for a long time......... ..........Let's say for instance some kid is raised a jw, gets baptized, then commits some "sin" such as immorality as the hormones kick in and pretty much take over. Said person gets kicked out after being judged "unrepentant" because the simply can't get a good enough (for the WTS) handle on their sexual impulses. ........It's not surprising at all to me that said person would place blame on the Organization. It's frustrating when the group standard is so high, and a person feels like a failure when unable to attain to it. Kicked out, they may very well lash out. Not surprising. >>>>>>>>>I really think that every person who fits such a 'mold' should avail themselves to psychiatric counseling. It could be very helpful in dealing with the crushing feeling of being judged a failure and having to somehow deal with that.

17

What About JWD Has Been Special To You???

by minimus in

jw
friends

when i was exiting, i would read this board and i learned a lot.

there were tons of people that were realizing the truth about the organization.

i had already read critical books about jws but this site was a daily, regular "spiritual feeding".

rocketman

This board was quite instrumental at the time (late 90s, early 00s) when I was really beginning to question things inside the Borg. I was still an elder when I came across this place. Now I'm over 5 years removed from my last meeting at a KH. .............I haven't been hanging here much in recent years (didn't even post last year) but that's because the board had already provided me with what I needed. ..............The highlight was my first (and only to date) Apostofest 3 years ago. Also, coming across some folks who to this day remain good online friends. ..............I do miss those heady early days. The board was more controversial, with big breaking stories like the UN scandal, etc. The chat room was lively, and I was making new friends. The board is still OK, but I miss those earlier days.

31

avatars and member names, who's going to keep the same?

by DaCheech in

jw
friends

if joining other boards, will you stay same?.

how will we know who you are from this universe?.

rocketman

I'm rocketman no matter where I go on the Net - taking off or landing. :)

68

Music Concerts/ Groups / Singers You Have Seen Perform ? Your Take on Them

by flipper in

jw
friends

rocketman

I've seen: Elton John (5) - excellent /////////Bad Company - my eyes burned from all the marijuana smoke ///////////Billy Joel - excellent //////////Heart - quite good /////////Dokken - not my type, went to impress a girl 10 years younger than me ////////Bruce Hornsby - good, but played only one hit song //////////Savage Garden (2) -decent show

11

I don't get it

by noontide in

jw
friends

i dont get it.

i find myself saying this about certain people, items or situations that seem to be popular with most people.

am missing something?

rocketman

I'm on board with 3 of the 4 things that noontide mentioned. I think Spidey is a good comic book hero. But Kidman is totally overrated in terms of looks, I don't get most of the supposedly great works of literature either, and Sushi turns me off. ---------------I'll add the following as my "I don't get it"'s: - Dark Side of The Moon by Pink Floyd - yes, I owned the album and I own the CD. This is widely regarded as a great album. Besides the song Money, I can't see why. ---------------------- Art...whether it's paintings, sculptures or whatever, I don't get why Art is so highly regarded and so expensive --------------- Jesus...he's supposedly carries all the redeeming virtues that the God of the OT seems to lack. But I never really found him any more endearing than Jehovah/Yahweh. I can respect him and admire him perhaps, but I feel no "closer" to him than to Jehovah (sorry, this was probably meant to be a non-religious discussion).

66

Your Favorite 1970's Music Groups/ Singers/ Songs ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

in the 1970's i was a teenager.

i wasn't that big into disco- although i enjoyed kc and the sunshine band as well as earth, wind, and fire.

but my really big love in music was always rock n' roll, blues , stuff like that !

rocketman

The 1970s - I was a teenager, and looking back, the 70s were not as good as the 60s but the music has aged rather well. Even Disco, when looking back, wasn't quite so bad (though at the time, I really started to hate it). My favorites: Elton John (hit it big in the 70s, but he was actually rooted in the 60s, as his first two albums were recorded in that decade). Billy Joel Bruce Springsteen Heart The Eagles Paul Simon Led Zeppelin

23

Your Favorite 1960's Music Groups/ Singers / Songs ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

although i was just a kid pre-teens in the 1960's - still because of having older brothers and sisters i listened to some 60's music as well !

groups : .

1. the beatles.

rocketman

I was also a pre-teen through the 60s, but I think that decade's music was the best ever. So many great songs, and Motown was great too. I wouldn't know where to begin as far as naming my favorites.