Posts by rebel

14

The Prodigal Son and JW Justice

by eyeslice in

it was towards the end of 1998 that i believe there was a watchtower article on the prodigal son.. about that time, i handled a number of problematic judicial cases and got to wondering about the rightness of elders judging others.

before each case, elders are instructed to read certain chapters of the shepherding book, but my opinion was, they would be better re-reading the parable of the prodigal son.. lets look at some of the points from the parable and compare it with jw justice.. 1. the prodigal was never judged and condemned by his father immediately after leaving home.

there is no indication that he would have at anytime been shunned by his father and family.

rebel

"....I recall being a young,idealistic elder who was scared stiff about sitting the first Judicial Committee and feeling inadaquate to judge his brother. What did one do? You follow what the others do and let the experienced ones guide you. As time goes by your thinking becomes molded in the way of the Borg , and you really believe that what you are doing is right."

I may sound mean, but I could NEVER go along with something that I felt was wrong. Elders are playing about with people's lives. On a mere whim, you can destroy a person's name and character. You cannot simply hide behind an organisation and say that you 'had to do it'. I would rather stand out as different and step down - not that I ever got the chance - just a sister with no real mind of her own, you see. It's a cop out to say that you had to follow others.

Just my thoughts.

xxR

19

Public Talk Déjà vu

by NewYork44M in

several weeks ago i sat through the public talk and could not believe the lack of substance of the talk.

it was filled with worn out bromides and illustrations that we have all heard hundreds of times.

i was embarrassed for the speaker and flabbergasted that the audience could actual sit through such nonsense.. thenabout half way through the talk, i realized that i recognized the talk.

rebel

This has been such an eye-opener for me. I would never have dreamed of questioning the speaker before, but the last time I went to a meeting, I found myself scrutinising everything he said. Then we have the Watchtower Study which, thanks to Blondie, are bearable every time I attend. I can't believe I used to swallow all this stuff - was I brain-dead? I check EVERYTHING now in every publication. Even the programmes for assemblies come under my beady eye.

xxR

14

The Prodigal Son and JW Justice

by eyeslice in

it was towards the end of 1998 that i believe there was a watchtower article on the prodigal son.. about that time, i handled a number of problematic judicial cases and got to wondering about the rightness of elders judging others.

before each case, elders are instructed to read certain chapters of the shepherding book, but my opinion was, they would be better re-reading the parable of the prodigal son.. lets look at some of the points from the parable and compare it with jw justice.. 1. the prodigal was never judged and condemned by his father immediately after leaving home.

there is no indication that he would have at anytime been shunned by his father and family.

rebel

He went red in the face and asked me what right I had to question a disfellowshipped person? Apparently, these people love being ignored at the back of the hall. They love being shunned and treated like second class citizens. I was making things difficult for them by going up to them in the hall and saying hello etc. I was making them feel bad. I was making them feel guilty - it wasn't their warped policies at all! I was outspoken and presumptuous and was jeopardising my husband's prospects in the congregation!

That's just half of it

xxR

14

The Prodigal Son and JW Justice

by eyeslice in

it was towards the end of 1998 that i believe there was a watchtower article on the prodigal son.. about that time, i handled a number of problematic judicial cases and got to wondering about the rightness of elders judging others.

before each case, elders are instructed to read certain chapters of the shepherding book, but my opinion was, they would be better re-reading the parable of the prodigal son.. lets look at some of the points from the parable and compare it with jw justice.. 1. the prodigal was never judged and condemned by his father immediately after leaving home.

there is no indication that he would have at anytime been shunned by his father and family.

rebel

eyeslice,

I have always loved this parable. I asked an elder recently about this. I asked why, when the son returned home, didn't his father make him sit in a corner of the house for a year or so until he spoke to him? Also, if someone sins and is repentant the following day, what right do elders have to treat that person as an unrepentant sinner, especially if God has forgiven them already? I won't tell you what this elder said to me!

xxR

24

I'm new....

by layla in

jw
friends

hi, i'm a little bit nervous posting something in here.....this is the firts time.....i was just wondering what "good" or "bad" things you have to say about jw.

i have been a jw all my life and my husband too.

right now i'm in the process of getting out... or fading away....i'm not attending the meetings anymore.

rebel

Layla,

I am fairly new too. It is so good that both you and hubby are escaping their clutches. I wish my hubby would leave. I love him loads but he thinks I am a fruit-loop.

Keep going.

xxR

26

Want to make$$$ I need Investors!

by OUTLAW in

jw
friends

the one thing that will make money,is a great idea at the right time..up here in the great white north drinking beer outside is difficult,as every thing freezes rather quickly..i have found if you drive a stake into the ground and tie a penguins head to it real low to the ground,his little ass sticks straight in the air and you can shove a beer down his butt.your beer still stays cold but it won`t freeze..i`m giving each and every one of you the chance to start your own penguin ranch for 3 easy payments of $29.95..i`ll send you a male and a female peguin,you breed them,and i`ll buy the babies back from you for $25.00 each..act now and i will throw in a vegetable steamer...outlaw

rebel

Ken,

I heard not long ago that a woman set up a web site and asked for money because her husband had left her (I think??) Anyway, after a year, she had received 7000 in donation - not sure if this is US dollars or UK pounds - I can't remember if this was a UK or US site. But, apparently, there are an awful lot of nice (gullible) people out there!! This story was on a news report so I am sure it was genuine - I just can't remember all the details, apart from the 7000 which stuck in my mind.

xxR

28

Lost My Job Part 3

by Yizuman in

jw
friends

well, there's another update... .

if you missed my previous 2 posts, here's some to catch up...part one and part two.

i emailed the township trustee and i told her of my situation and that he found out from my dad that i lost my job at wal-mart and i have been trying to buy time to find another job with no avail.

rebel

Yizuman,

If I was better off financially, I would help you out big time.

I am so sorry you are having so many problems. My email is available - if I can help you, I will. I probably can't help much, but every little helps. Just stay strong and don't give up.

xxR

20

New KM Tries To Make Old & Young Feel Guilt...

by minimus in

jw
friends

what is your priority?

that is the article that's on page 8 of the feb. km.

notice some quotes.

rebel

I seem to have been consumed by guilt for most of my life. As a RC, I was guilty. As a JW, I was guilty. I never felt good enough. I am so sick of feeling guilty just for being alive!

This KM stinks to high heaven!

xxR

13

Is the Bible Really the inspired word of God?

by Shirlgirl in

i ask this question simply to see what others think....... when my daugther was 16, she came to me late one night after we had come from a meeting and asked me...."mom, what if the witnesses have it all wrong?

there are only 66 books that we use, what if we are worshipping the wrong idea?

" she then walked out of the room and went to bed...... god, did that open a can of worms.....because i actually started thinking on that.. however, i took it a step further....what if religion on whole had it all wrong....so i began to do research, and what i found was amazing to me..... 2timothy 3:16 began to 'ring' in my mind....."all scripture is inspired of god...." funny, didn't say just 66 books were inspired, but all scripture....then i began to break it down....what was scripture?

rebel

Hi Shirlgirl,

This is a subject I am really interested in. I have always taken it for granted that the Bible is the word of our Creator. I was brought up as a Catholic and never questioned the Bible. As a JW, I was even more certain that this was God's Word. However, I have read so much on this board concerning the Bible that I am starting to really think about it. Some people on this board are very knowledgeable about such things and can help you more that I can. All I can say is, keep an open mind at all times. When we shut our minds off, and refuse to listen to those that disagree with us, we start to become tunnel-visioned, just like I was when I was a JW. Just look at all the options and make up your own mind.

I am looking forward to reading more responses to this.

xxR

34

Did they lie about you when you left?

by Brummie in

jw
friends

i was reading something bout bashing the org unfairly...i disagree with doing it to a degree but did you get an unfair bashing by jws after you left?

i was accused of marrying a sister (who i helped to leave at the same time as me), she was twice my senoir and had sons the same age as me...pure lies and gossip.

and i was accused of smoking some drug, and thats why i disassed.

rebel

The whole thing is hilarious.

Someone 'thinks' they know why you stopped coming. They mention it to someone else. Before you know it, there is a whole web of stories and anecdotes - mainly lies.

They'll be saying I eat babies for breakfast next.

xxR