Posts by ExpandedMind

106

How do I know the Bible is True?

by SwedishChef in

how do i know the bible is true?

by thomas schaff.

external evidence.

ExpandedMind

I sincerely believed the Bible was the Word of God. Believe it or not that was one resource I had that gave me the strength to leave the Watchtower Organization. When the Bible said that we should "make sure of all things and hold fast to what is fine" I trusted that that was God's OK to question the Watchtower's teachings on various subjects without fear of His displeasure.

But I went a step further. I started questioning the Bible. I figured if it was OK to question the Watchtower then it must be OK to question the Bible. How did I really know it was inerrant or inspired, except that I was told that it was? Sure, I read books from Evangelical Christians (or even the Watchtower when I was a JW) that made me feel my "faith" was based on something solid, but that wasn't unlike reading a Watchtower about something troubling me about the organization and feeling pumped up to keep on going, but without solid reasons for doing so... just "faith".

I decided to find out what "ex-Christians" were saying about this issue, similar to finding out what ex-JWs said about the organization. Not that I took everything these ex-Christians stated as "truth" (there are ex-JWs that I think twist the truth about the Watchtower... why I don't know!), but there were enough issues raised that I was able to continue my research and reading and come to (what I feel are) some fairly solid conclusions. But I am always open to discussing these things.

Just remember that there are always (at least) two sides to an issue and if you want the most balanced views, you need to read up what both sides are saying and then come to your conclusions.

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

13

Greg Stafford

by ExpandedMind in

jw
friends

does anyone who posts here have contact with greg stafford?

is it possible that this is just a "pen" name so that he remains anonymous?

his recent book "dissertation" was excellent.

ExpandedMind

Thanks for the interesting posts!

Ideally, a scholar should be unbiased, but this is impossible... everyone's view is influenced by other forces, whether religion, politics, etc. But hopefully a "scholar" (or anyone else with an opinion or position for that matter) will acknowledge her or his bias and attempt to present information in as impartial a way as possible. And thankfully there is the forum of debate that allows others to question the validity of positions offered and if there is something amiss, hopefully the debate will help those involved to refine their positions.

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

13

Greg Stafford

by ExpandedMind in

jw
friends

does anyone who posts here have contact with greg stafford?

is it possible that this is just a "pen" name so that he remains anonymous?

his recent book "dissertation" was excellent.

ExpandedMind

Hi! Does anyone who posts here have contact with Greg Stafford? Is it possible that this is just a "pen" name so that he remains anonymous?

His recent book "Dissertation" was excellent. When I tried to read through his "Defense" book, it was a little deep (when discussing the deity of Christ and specific Bible texts), but after reviewing it, I wondered how someone with his reasoning ability would be able to deal with other issues that have been raised.

Obviously he has been thinking of those things and showed how his thoughts had advanced by what he wrote in "Dissertations".

Is it possible (I may have read this on this or another website) that he has a connection with the Governing Body (or individual members) who may have given him the authorization to write these books (like it appears they did for AH MacMillan who wrote Faith on the March)?

I, of course, wish for him to have privacy and hope that he is not being hounded by elders trying to disfellowship him (although I believe I read a post that supposedly came from him, that indicated that all was well at that time).

I just can't believe it is possible for anyone to write what he wrote and not be disfellowshipped. Or if not disfellowshipped, he would be put on some type of reproof and expected NOT to talk about these things any further. Of course it is my REAL hope that this indicates a possible change in the Watchtower organization... perhaps allowing more individual thought, maybe evening a change in their shunning policies. I still have family in the organization and would love for them to have the freedom to think for themselves and to talk to those who have left the organization.

Anyone have additional information that can be shared, without causing difficulties for Greg Stafford? Since he has made his views public, I am just curious.

If Greg Stafford reading these posts, can you give us an update?

Anyone wish to discuss this further?

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

28

E-watchman site opinions.

by Monster in

jw
friends

good morning everyone, (it's 4am here) .

i see the e-watchman site is advertised here, so have any of you read from it?

if so what's your opinions of it?.

ExpandedMind

I have visited this site and have read through a bit of it. It is interesting to me since this person does appear to believe that the organization is Jehovah's, but that like ancient Israel they are in a period of apostasy, which Jehovah will discipline them for. I can understand why it might be easy to believe this, since it would explain the corrupt things many people see going on in the organization, yet not disprove that it is still Jah's organization. The application of the various scriptures that the Watchtower applied to apostate Christendom, are very interesting when you apply them to the Watchtower.

This person appears to indicate that if you are still in the organization you should not verbalize your concerns about things that are wrong as this would cause divisions in the organization (and this person quotes the Scriptures that appear to "prove" that perspective). It appears that this person teaches that JWs should be patient and wait on Jah to correct the problems.

My question is this: what gives this person the authority to question things about the Watchtower and even post these concerns in this website? They argue that most JWs that have been on the internet are aware of the concerns they pose, so their discussing these things is not really anything "new". And yet the essays contain "new" information and interpretations. And this is bound to cause some people to question the Watchtower and leave the organization. If this person actually set up an "organization" that claimed to be faithful to Jah, I would imagine that there would be some JWs that would become part of it.

From some of the answers to questions asked by visitor's to the website this person claims to be of the anointed and that we shouldn't be surprised if Jah raises up a watchman. Why then, isn't it possible that all the individuals who have left the organization are "watchmen", by pointing out the errors of the Watchtower and calling it to account?

I have also wondered why there is "advertising" on this site by E-Watchman, but perhaps they pay for it and it helps keep this forum running. Also, there are many questioning JWs who are probably lurking that read stuff on this website and it appears to make sense.

Anyone want to discuss this further?

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

13

Blessings for Loyalty

by JH in

jw
friends

did you believe that you would be blessed by god by doing more in the organization?

did you see a relationship between being blessed by god and being active in the organization?

ExpandedMind

Once I was feeling rather low spiritually and felt that Jehovah was "distant" from me. Something happened that snapped me out of it and I began praying fervently for Jah to forgive me (although I really hadn't done anything... just didn't feel that enthusiastic about the meetings, door to door ect.).

One day an elder (who I had confided in) and I were going door to door and I met a couple who were interested in studying. I was elated. I asked the elder if this was evidence of His favor and he affirmed that it appeared to be so. I took it that way also.

My guess is that if you go out door to door enough (and I did) that the odds were for your coming across someone to study with... eventually! BTW, this couple did end up coming to the meetings (for a while), but when I left the organization I visited them and told them what had happened and why I left.

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

5

Nexus Magazine Article on Darwinism

by Robdar in

jw
friends

i was surfing and came across this article on the nexus home page.

i would be interested in reading your opinion.

http://www.nexusmagazine.com/darwinism.1.html.

ExpandedMind

Hi!

I have read a little about this theory and it is kind of interesting. Actually I think this theory was played out in a recent movie called Mission to Mars.

Lately I have been curious if there is any other scientific theory on the origin of life that is different from either evolution or creation. The teaching of evolution permeates everything... if a new theory was advanced (not meaning creationism) that shed some doubt on evolution, you wonder if it would or could be accepted.

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

24

Been lurking and now I've found me voice!

by AnotherEscapee in

jw
friends

been looking around for a while and have posted a few times but said nothing real significant.

well, anyway, i thought it was about time i said "hi and it's good to meet you all".

like many of you, i too have a story but not ready to share it yet, as i have two beautiful daughters trapped in the borg and i'd hate to do anything to jeopardize my relationship with them, you never know who lurks around or am i being paranoid!

ExpandedMind

Just wanted to say "welcome"... I am also a new to posting on this site. I understand what you are going through... I also have family that are in the organization and had to be very careful about what I said and did.

Take heart that if you choose to stay with the organization because of your family that there are probably many who can support you in this. Even though I left (which caused some problems), if I had had the resources that are available today, I may not have left so abruptly, maybe I would have faded (if this is possible), so that I could still have contact with this part of my family. I just want you to know that there are many that will help you to talk you through any decisions you need to make. I'd love for this to be a "win-win" situation for you... I am the eternal optimist!

Take care...

2

THANKS!!!!!!

by ExpandedMind in

jw
friends

(i posted this as a "reply" to my original post --- which was probably the wrong thing to do!

--- but thought that if no one went back to read that post again, it would get buried, so i've copied it into this new post) .

i logged off shortly after making my post and when i returned i was so blown away by your welcome!

ExpandedMind

(I posted this as a "reply" to my original post --- which was probably the wrong thing to do! --- but thought that if no one went back to read that post again, it would get buried, so I've copied it into this new post)

Hello!

I logged off shortly after making my post and when I returned I was so blown away by your welcome! Thanks, to each of you... I really appreciate it (and to be honest, "needed" that! )

I would love to be able to reply to each of you individually, but I guess that might be near impossible, so I will do my best to answer a couple of questions... I've been out of the organization since the 1980's. I am so grateful for some the things that have happened in my life since I left, like re-connecting with my non-JW family, but there were sad things that happened also (as happened to most of us in one way or another), which I hope to share soon.

I have enjoyed the different "discussions" going on here and have learned a lot from them already. I have often wished that there would be a group of former JWs in my area that would be willing to talk about things that have happened in our lives since leaving the organization. There is a group in my area, but they are coming from an Evangelical Christian perspective and I've gone that "route" and found it lacking. It's a long story (one I would love to discuss with others sometime), but after leaving the JWs, I associated with various Evangelical churches in my area, getting almost as involved in them as I was in the Watchtower organization. My inquiring mind keep proding me to examine the origins of the Bible and Christianity. When I did this with some of the same questions (and a million more) I asked myself when I was leaving the JWs I was blown away by the "answers" I found. Many of these things have been discussed on this site, but until now, I haven't had anyone to discuss these with "face to face". I do have some friends who "understand", but I can't really banter back and forth to dig into these issues. I consider myself open to and a seeker of "truth", but the evidence just doesn't seem to be there that there is anyone with a direct connection to "God". Sure would be nice though!

Well, that's enough for now... thanks again for the warm welcome!

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

16

Hello to all of you...

by ExpandedMind in

jw
friends

i've been visiting this website for months and decided it's time for me to say hello to all of you... so "hi!

i have been away from the wts for a while, but lately have felt a need to get in touch with others who have travelled the same path.

until relatively recently, i thought that all was "well" (relatively speaking) in the organization, but have found it facinating to read the comments of those who are still associated with the wts and how they are dealing with it.

ExpandedMind

Hello!

I logged off shortly after making my post and when I returned I was so blown away by your welcome! Thanks, to each of you... I really appreciate it (and to be honest, "needed" that! )

I would love to be able to reply to each of you individually, but I guess that might be near impossible, so I will do my best to answer a couple of questions... I've been out of the organization since the 1980's. I am so grateful for some the things that have happened in my life since I left, like re-connecting with my non-JW family, but there were sad things that happened also (as happened to most of us in one way or another), which I hope to share soon.

I have enjoyed the different "discussions" going on here and have learned a lot from them already. I have often wished that there would be a group of former JWs in my area that would be willing to talk about things that have happened in our lives since leaving the organization. There is a group in my area, but they are coming from an Evangelical Christian perspective and I've gone that "route" and found it lacking. It's a long story (one I would love to discuss with others sometime), but after leaving the JWs, I associated with various Evangelical churches in my area, getting almost as involved in them as I was in the Watchtower organization. My inquiring mind keep proding me to examine the origins of the Bible and Christianity. When I did this with some of the same questions (and a million more) I asked myself when I was leaving the JWs I was blown away by the "answers" I found. Many of these things have been discussed on this site, but until now, I haven't had anyone to discuss these with "face to face". I do have some friends who "understand", but I can't really banter back and forth to dig into these issues. I consider myself open to and a seeker of "truth", but the evidence just doesn't seem to be there that there is anyone with a direct connection to "God". Sure would be nice though!

Well, that's enough for now... thanks again for the warm welcome!

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes

16

Hello to all of you...

by ExpandedMind in

jw
friends

i've been visiting this website for months and decided it's time for me to say hello to all of you... so "hi!

i have been away from the wts for a while, but lately have felt a need to get in touch with others who have travelled the same path.

until relatively recently, i thought that all was "well" (relatively speaking) in the organization, but have found it facinating to read the comments of those who are still associated with the wts and how they are dealing with it.

ExpandedMind

Hi!

I've been visiting this website for months and decided it's time for me to say hello to all of you... so "Hi!"

I have been away from the WTS for a while, but lately have felt a need to get in touch with others who have travelled the same path. Until relatively recently, I thought that all was "well" (relatively speaking) in the organization, but have found it facinating to read the comments of those who are still associated with the WTS and how they are dealing with it. With sites like this they can work through what they are dealing with and make more educated decisions. If only I had had this resource when I left! This site, as well as others (Freeminds, Mind Shadows, E-Watchman and others) gave me a glimmer of hope that just maybe there will be changes to certain doctrines of the Watchtower, especially to the WTS's shunning practices.

And because I have family and friends still associated, it has given be a little more hope that, if these changes happen, I just possibly might again have a relationship with them.

Thanks for the interesting information and the laughs. Some of you are hysterical!

Looking forward to getting to know you!

ExpandedMind

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes