FYI Joseph Malik's book is on line at http://home.earthlink.net/~jmalik/btwbook.html
It was a huge help to me as I sorted thru the mire of what do I believe now.
Loris
hello, just introducing myself.
i'm an inactive witness, been so for a few months now.
got put off mostly by 1914 being hammered more and more lately, the child molestation issue, the un-ngo thing and just feeling like i don't want to shoot my mouth off and get labelled apostate so best to fade out.
FYI Joseph Malik's book is on line at http://home.earthlink.net/~jmalik/btwbook.html
It was a huge help to me as I sorted thru the mire of what do I believe now.
Loris
how many here are planning to see this movie.
also, can any of you direct me here to any topics about jesus himself.
i want to read up on the history of jesus.
Just a side note for those who may be struggling with the cross vs stake issue.
Matthew 27:37 reads that the charges of Jesus being King of the Jews was posted "above his head" If it was above his hands on a stake it would not read "above his head"
John 20:25 has Thomas saying, " Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails (plural) and stick my finger into the print of the nails (plural) and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe."
Simplistic true. But valid nonetheless.
Loris
who remembers it or worse, suffered from it?.
does anyone remember the wt issue the gb reversed themselves in?
the cd rom doesn't show it.
What I remember is the first light was discussed at the service meeting. My best friend was very ignorant of sexual things even tho she was married. After the meeting she asked an elders wife, with me standing with her, what oral sex was. She was aghast. I will never forget her words. " I can't believe that sombody would put in their mouth what I won't even touch with my hand." There was no way that I would ever admit that I had experience in such goings on. I knew what would happen to me if I fessed up.
When the retraction came down the pike it was not mentioned at a meeting. Many dubs still feel that it is a forbidden no-no. The wording in the new light is so wishy-washy and it still leans toward the it's a bad thing. The only thing that they did was make it a conscience thing which in double-speak means that you are spiritually weak if you exersize your conscience and do it.
I have heard of couples being counseled against it even now.
Loris
for many years i have wondered about the nephalim, sorry if this is a previously asked question.. i don't undertsand how the angels could have got women pregnant.
surely they did not have any inherent capabilities of producing life.. it seems to me that only a creator would have that ability.
so how did the angels get the women pregnant?.
I appreciate that point too. I know that many times I have drawn on fairy tales etc to make a point. I and my listeners do not for a minute believe that Cinderella existed but since we both know the story the parallel is understood. The stories of Danel, Noah and Job may have been the stories told to children on long winter evenings before the invention of tv.
Loris
what controlling statements or questions do you remember hearing or using most?
my all time favorite is, "isn't this god's organization?
and shouldn't we obey god's organization??
"Living up to your dedication" If Jesus died to repurchase all of mankind then our lives belong to him. How can I then dedicate my life to Jehovah? It's not mine to give. Isn't "living up to your dedication" a way to judge others in the congregation? O Look at Jane, she hardly ever goes in service, when is the last time she gave a talk in the ministry school? She is definitly not living up to her dedication.
We tell people that the Trinity is wrong because you can't find the word in the Bible. Try looking up the word dedication in connection with baptism. Or the word organization. Both concepts are a no show.
Loris
previous: my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 1. .
how many times have people said ?if i knew then what i know now??
what a difference that would have made to my life.
Thanks for the peek into what made you who you are.
You are a sweet in spite of it all.
Wow!
Loris
the kingdom of god was born
time of the gentiles ended
the wild beast begins reign of 42 months
0+0+0 = 0
I see it all so clearly now. Thank you for sharing that.
Loris
... but i think it would help me to relate it now.. a day before a big convention in montreal [i must've been 8 years old] my mother, who was running late as usual, was trying to get ready for an appointment.
she was frantic and needed the bathroom mirror.
i'm sitting on the commode and i remember finding a thrown out metal flimsy paper towel rack in the garbage so, i pick it up and i'm trying to bend it around, my mother storms into the bathroom, grabs the towel rack and screams, 'you know i'm in a hurry' and bashes my head in on top!
Thus the dynamics of the True Believer.
The idea, belief, doctrine, concept is of such great value in the mind of the True Believer that they put themselves and their children in a position to protect, defend and honor that Belief no matter what the cost. They are a true martyr of "The Cause"
The children of a True Believer are victims of collateral damage. Nothing can get in the way of fulfilling the committment to the Belief.
The value of the self and by extension the children is tied with the Belief in some emotional way. To give value to the self separate from the Belief is unthinkable.
Going to the convention is of far greater importance than the safety and comfort of a small child. Obsession to the max.
One more reason to hate the WT. They take away the natural affection of a parent for a child and suck it up for themselves.
(((((Gespro))))) Forgive your mother, she was duped just like millions of others.
Loris
which one teaching really hurt you when you found out that it was not true?
my number one thing is finding out that the name "jehovah" was not in the bible like it was in the new world translation (tm).
christians did not call god "jehover" "jehovah" or by his first name, no more than you would call your father by his first name when you were a child.
I mourn the loss of Paradise. Now I have to really grow old (older in my case). Now I really have to scramble to provide for myself as I age.
particlesnwaves5 said
losing all concept of the present....
It struck me that I mourn that too. I did not get to revel in the every day joy of my children. I had to push them to conform to the impossible standards of the WT. How many walks on the beach were missed? How many lazy Saturdays doing nothing but watching butterflies. No we had to save the world from impending disaster.
Now I am sad. I think I need to hug a grand baby.
Loris
i'm twenty-one and left "the truth" five years ago, amidst questions going even beyond the society's credibility, and even beyond my own credulity.
my quest of sorts began with inquiry, and has at this point developed into activism.
i love my fellow man and woman.
If everyone on the planet agreed to live in peace and harmony. The WT would be the last hold-outs.
My opinion
Loris