Posts by logansrun

41

Will I die at Armageddon?

by sinamongurl in

jw
friends

the anwser is: know one really knows but jehovah.. i have been df'd for 3 years now.

i still struggle with: "should i go back cuz i dont want to die" .

but then its not really for the "right" reason.

logansrun

All my advice is: Investigate. Read widely.

B.

18

Christian astrology--is there such a thing?

by sinamongurl in

although i consider myself to be christian, i am very much interested in astrology and the study of its affects on us.

i belive it is a science, however according to some of our previous and current beliefs, this is a no-no.

i was wondering if anyone else has an interest in this and how much of a conflict it really is with christianity?.

Governing Body Stories

by GenericMan in

jw
friends

.

i was wondering if anybody here has any stories about members of the governing body?

has anyone here personally met one of them?.

I was always under the impression that Sydlik was (is?) one of the most liked GB members. Has a sense of humor and doesn't play by all the rules. An ex-Bethelite told me that he once said that "we have to change all our doctrines starting with the Garden of Eden."

Lyman Swingle came to Chicago for an assembly part one time. He was very old, probably only a couple years before he died. I remember he warmly greeted people after the assembly. That was nice, unlike....

Ted Jaracz, who was nowhere to be found before, during and after the program on all three occassions that I've heard him speak. He gave his talks and disappeared somewhere. Didn't greet anyone. He seemed like a very confident, polished speaker who was relaxed but very subtle about his dogmatic and condescending message. No sense of humor whatsoever.

I also was at the Bethel breakfast table when I heard one of the new GB members -- Lett? -- counsel Bethelites that they should not speak with their disfellowshipped family members. At the time he said this the WT website said that "disfellowshipping does not break family ties" or something to that effect. They have since changed the wording of that.

That was supposed to be the trip to Bethel which was going to save my faith. Didn't work.

Bradley

44

so how many ladies on here are single and in your 20s

by jaredg in

i need to work on my e-game

logansrun

Silly hornball newbies.

42

What's your basic attitude?

by seattleniceguy in

jw
friends

i think that if i had to describe my basic attitude toward life, the universe, and everything in one sentence, it would be this:.

generally, and on reflection, life is better today than it was yesterday.. very anti-thetical to the wt view of things, i know.

sng

logansrun

Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans.

John Lennon said that.

62

Just As A Matter Of Curiosity..........

by hillary_step in

jw
friends

just as a matter of curiosity i was wondering if any of you know of anybody who has read raymond franz' 'crisis of conscience' and who actually remained a jw?

i have sent and lent this book to a number of people within the wts, even a co, all of whom left eventually.

one person remained due to domestic issues, but resigned from all his duties and remains as such.

logansrun

For a JW to even be open to reading CoC would be indicative of a questioning attitude (at least about some things). I think that CoC is, for many people, not the atom bomb that comes out of nowhere, but the straw that breaks the camel's back.

That being said, my father (who is DFd) read it and, although agrees with it, believes the JWs might still be "the best religion out there." If anything, imho, Ray is too easy on the organization and could have brought out a lot of points that would further highlight the JWs faults.

B.

31

Latest Watchtower study... Still discouraging higher education!!!

by Doubtfully Yours in

one of the paragraphs read that 'if in the area where you live you need higher education after you graduate, then the young person must speak with the parents in order to help them balance the schedule so that he/she doesn't neglect spiritual things'.

alright, i thought, that's a somewhat balanced point of view; i thought, good they're coming along with the times we live in.

yeah, right!!!

logansrun

Just for the record:

I have met some college graduates that are so shallow they're practically on dry land. I've also met people who have never set one foot in a university and are quite educated. Ever hear of the term "self-made-man"? (or woman?)

To say that just because someone has a blue-collar job or has never gone to school past the legal requirement is "uneducated" seems to be a sweeping statement that is just plain wrong.

Bradley

31

Latest Watchtower study... Still discouraging higher education!!!

by Doubtfully Yours in

one of the paragraphs read that 'if in the area where you live you need higher education after you graduate, then the young person must speak with the parents in order to help them balance the schedule so that he/she doesn't neglect spiritual things'.

alright, i thought, that's a somewhat balanced point of view; i thought, good they're coming along with the times we live in.

yeah, right!!!

logansrun

Doubtfully,

A simple HS diploma won't get you a full earning potential. There needs to be some other compliment to that HS diploma. Perhaps not necessarily college, but something else.
Trades schooling (air conditioning, plumbing, electrician, etc.), or EMT/paramedic/Fire school will get you money and a career that you may love and be willing to stick with for life.

The WT has insinuated for years that some type of training (like a trade school) is necessary. Read the Young People Ask book (from 1989) and they talk about this.

Cleaning portable toilets and the like sure gives money, but who the hell would be content with that shitty job???!!!
It's about job satisfaction, my friend. Perhaps the reason why you're using your window cleaning earnings to go to college. All about job satisfaction!!!

You're missing the point. If you truly believed the WORLD IS GOING TO END "job satisfaction" would not be that important. I know the JWs have said this for over 100 years, but many current JWs do hold this apocalyptic furvor. If I held such beliefs I wouldn't care what I did either. Discouraging getting a university education (for self-actualization purposes) is only a corrolary problem to the JWs insane ideas about the end of the world. If the Witnesses did not believe that Armageddon is coming they would probably not hold such views of higher education.

Yes, I'm going to college for career satisfaction. It's not even really about the money.

I've plenty of friends that make way more money than I do, but their jobs are awful! And here I am dealing with real life issues, meaningful stuff, awesome educated people, great environment; I've found a career/job I really love! What got me here?! An education further than just my HS diploma, thank you very much!
Furthering education is necessary, absolutely necessary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sigh* I'm happy for you and hope to do the same. But you're really missing my point.

By the way, there are always exceptions to almost every rule. By and large, college is necessary in today's world. But I wouldn't say "absolutely necessary." But that's just my pedantic nature.

Be well,

Bradley

53

There are two reasons why I'd go back to the JWs...

by logansrun in

jw
friends

i was thinking about this the other day in response to the question, "am i coming back?

" put forward by jw who called me (a former friend).

i said that i would not answer that question since it would put her in an uncomfortable position.

logansrun

ozzie,

Well, I guess you didn't really answer my question, but that's all right. I'm well aware of what the colloquial meanings of "fundamentalism" and "evangelical" are in the United States. I have read widely from many different theological viewpoints, contrary to your subtle accusation that I need to read more theology. Perhaps the terms carry a different meaning in Australia. But, if so, that does not make my posts on the topic invalid one iota.

Perhaps you're more annoyed with my viewpoint of conservative Christianity in general? (No need to answer that question, but it's just a thought).

Bradley

31

Latest Watchtower study... Still discouraging higher education!!!

by Doubtfully Yours in

one of the paragraphs read that 'if in the area where you live you need higher education after you graduate, then the young person must speak with the parents in order to help them balance the schedule so that he/she doesn't neglect spiritual things'.

alright, i thought, that's a somewhat balanced point of view; i thought, good they're coming along with the times we live in.

yeah, right!!!

logansrun

dorothy,

Your post sounded utterly paranoid. I know many JWs who started cleaning, maintenence, decorating or construction businesses and they were not "higher ups." In fact, the JWs I know that own such businesses and employ others pay rather well.

I'm not a JW apologist and I find the WT's view of education very troublesome. But the claims you make are, well, outrageous.

B.