I found it difficult too, and for a while pretty much left this board and all related boards. I'm back more often now; many of the topics are very thought-provoking and if I don't want to read jw-related material I simply avoid such threads.
rocketman
JoinedPosts by rocketman
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Does anyone find it too painful to read the WTS publications?
by dissed inbeen out 13 years and even for research purposes, i find it way too painful to read this wt stuff.. and why?.
all the painful memories it brings back.
don't misread me, it has nothing to do with a guilty conscience.. it has to do with the real pain, the anger of being ripped off and lied too by the wts, the anger of seing how they have protected child molesters, sacrificed its followers by refusing blood transfusions, the treacherous way we and others were treated by the 'unloving brothers'.
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"The Bible and Religious Cults", an article from the ESV Study bible including JWs!
by Chalam in4:14; 2 john 7).
6:15 with john 12:41).
john 2:1921).
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rocketman
Mad Sweeney wrote: "In fact, on many of those the WT is just as likely to be correct in its interpretation as mainstream Christendom. "
Good point. While interesting, this is simply a matter of one "Christian" denomination/group contending with the teachings of another by using so-called "proof" texts, most of which can be and are interpreted in different ways.
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Feb 15 2010 WT Questions From Readers
by garlic81 inthe article can be listened to from jw.org.
there is more than one question.
the first is about rebaptism.
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rocketman
It would be nice to see the article - QFR and WTS reply (to these fake "questions").
I'm with zombie dub on this. It seems they think that every time two people of the opposite sex are together alone, sex is suddenly going to happen.
One time I (married) was alone with a sister (also married) in field service because the other car group simply didn't show up in the territory. After some door-to-door, we went for coffee, and other jws were there. Later I received a call from a fellow elder who warned me of the "danger" of being alone with the sister.
Now really, what was going to happen? Were this woman and I going to suddenly go find a hotel room and hop into bed? Was one morning spent in field service going to lead to us forming some inappropriate emotional connection?
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Are There Certain Posters You Trust Here?
by minimus ini've been on this site for a number of years now.
i don't easily trust just anybody.
having said that, there are a few persons here that know my real identity and i'm comfortable with them.. are there certain posters that you trust here?.
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rocketman
I trust some here whom I've known or known of for some time: Blondie, Farkel, Minimus, Elsewhere, Drwstn, etc. I've spoken to some members on the phone, and met with a few members about three years ago during a small Apostofest, during which I noted that all members present were pretty much the same as they presented themselves online.
The ones I trust least are generally the pro-jw posters. This is not due to philosophical disagreement, but mainly because I question why pro-jws would be at this site in the first place.
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Our Kingdom Ministry 2009 tells sick & infirm NOT to view telephone hook-up as convenient alternative to being “personally present” at KH!
by LUKEWARM ini am feeling sick after reading the question box - it's so cold and unfeeling toward those who use the telephone to listen to congregation meetings.. .
the wts desire to control their weakest members - the infirm and chronically ill - by guilting them into "putting forth the effort to be personally present " at the kingdom hall is disgusting.. .
they are heartless bastards.... ________________________________________.
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rocketman
Undercover wrote:
"Another way of looking at it... How many articles that mention the infrim and elderly actually talk about charity and the congregation looking after them and feeding them, and assisiting them? Very few, if any. Christian charity among their own is not important as meeting attendance."
This is where, I think, the religion really fails in this particular matter. And I also agree w Undercover that the KM statements are not the biggest deal, but do show the sly, manipulative techiniques used to guilt people.
But essentially, they don't want people just sitting home and listening in unless there's a good reason. That in itself is not so terrible. I can imagine there are some able-bodied jws who might kind of lazily rely on the phone system.
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New Light on Prayer in NOV 15 WT Study Edition
by lepermessiah ini finally saw that november 15th wt article on prayer that everyone has been talking about - the people in the photos look as stiff as corpses!.
people will be called in the back room for inadvertantly making contact with their spouse during prayer.. i think i will adopt the following stance during prayer now:.
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rocketman
When this matter first came up in a previous thread, I mentioned that I wasn't bothered by it because the hand-holding seemed corny and pretentious to me. But I also mentioned that this can be taken and applied as a rule among the more judgmental jws.
Giving this further thought, it is a very worrisome development, because it does open the door to Pharisaic rule-making. The WTS need not say 'you can't' - other jws will take care of that. Those who 'might be stumbled' will take care of it too.
The same thing happens in many other areas of life that should be personal choice. The Society makes a statement on it (such as playing school sports) and the elders and other jws take it to the next level. And that level is virtually always more strict and pharisaic.
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Did the sun stand still and go backwards up the steps?
by TJ - iAmCleared2Land inbeen a while since i posted here, but driving into work the other day i recalled how "excited" we all were when it was announced that scientists had discovered "proof" that there is a full "day" missing astronomically, for the exact period of time covered by joshua's having the sun stand still, and isaiah having the sun move backwards, sending the shadow back up the steps for hezekiah.. that got me searching jwd for a thread about this topic, and i didn't find one, but i did find this snopes article.. http://www.snopes.com/religion/lostday.asp.
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rocketman
I tend to lean toward the most simple explanation - that Daylight Savings Time was introduced by Joshua, not by Ben Franklin.
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Generation Change
by garlic81 ini know there was an article on john barr's comments at the annual meeting this year.
i've posted the reference below.
i'm wondering if they are thinking of changing the belief back to that some annointed alive in 1914 will be alive when the tribulation starts?
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rocketman
I'll believe that they are making yet another change when I see it in print (well, in print here, since I don't have access to the mags anymore). And just because it was mentioned in comments by John Barr or any other GB member does not, in itself, indicate that there's been a change - he may just be speaking of his own accord.
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Circuit Assembly This Past Weekend "Safeguard Your Spirituality" -Everyone Please Enter-
by tryingtoexit inso we had our circuit assembly this past weekend, and it was the first one in my life that i told my wife i would not be attending.
we had a brief conversation on why, and she said well just go to this last one with me, and then when we can discuss what we learn and compare it to why you've been expressing your "new" feelings towards the wts.. i love my wife, and as much as i thought i was gonna hate it i decided to go.
now that i no longer want to be a jehovah's witness it really didnt bother me that nobody hardly talked to me despite me living in this same area for 4 1/2 years, everybody views me as spiritually weak because i dont go out in service, rarely attend meetings, dont comment, lesson is never underlined, so the "friends" never interact with me anyway and i'm use to it, actually that's the way i prefer it.
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rocketman
Threads like this one make me realize how lucky I was that my wife and I got out at the same time.
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November 15 Watchtower (Study Edition) - discourages showing affection to your spouse
by CrazyBlonde inanother gem from the same edition - article to be studied december 28 - january 3 (which most will miss lol coz of summer vacation) entitled "what do your prayers say about you?
" page 6 para 19 reads:.
19 when we are being represented in public prayer, we need to display reverential "fear of god.
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rocketman
"I am defin[I]tely not a WT apologist, but I think too much is being read into this. I think they are "discouraging" over the top affection during prayers, like say a full frontal hug between husband a wife, or a group of 5 single pioneer sisters linking arms or holding hands (which I used to see ever stinking mtg, didn't offend me, but was very corny)"
I tend to agree with this assessment by Trescedu. I don't see a big problem with this.
I observed some hand-holding by groups, especially at assemblies, and some affection shown by married couples. While I wasn't too bothered by it, I thought it looked kind of strange at times. I can't put my finger exactly on what bugged me about it, it just looked weird. Cameo-d mentioned that it seemed "pretentious", and I think that's what bothered me.
On the other hand, I can see this "counsel" being taken by judgmental types (who abound at every meeting) and run with in the wrong direction. Lots of little Pharisees in those congregations, you know.