http://www.rrstar.com/localnews/your_community/rockford/20030525-5467.shtml
baptism questions.
6/1/85 wt page 30 on the basis of the sacrifice of jesus christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to jehovah to do his will?do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of jehovahs witnesses in association with gods spirit-directed organization?.
Reborn,
I live in Chicago and the last DC I attended was two years ago in Comisky Park (now US Cellular Field...damn the corporatizing of stadiums). It was the worst convention I was ever at. Here we were in May and I was wearing my long johns listening to some $hit by a monotone wanna-be speaker. Last year they switched back to Hawthorne Race Course, but I didn't go. And yes, I remember the Gold Cup room. Third floor where all the hot, loose and weak sisters hung out in the afternoon.
Bradley
okay, i always look with suspicion on topics that talk about how evil certain jws are, but i am a little curious about this -- who are the "bad guys" on the gb and who are the "good guys" (if any)?
my experience: ted jaracz -- the bad guy.
i've discussed a little of my contact with him in the past.
Dubbed No More,
Interesting story. It's amazing the negative memories this guy leaves in his wake. Maybe we should send him a "Worst Man on the GB" certificate in a nice frame for his office!
Bradley
even though i'm not going to meetings, i still have a tremendous need to draw closer to god.
since leaving, i do feel closer.
three things i've been doing...
Francois,
I admire your faith, I really do. I've tackled with the "God" question quite a bit lately. You see, I'm an unusual breed -- die-hard skeptic, but with an appreciation for the mystical and a desire for God. All this talk of just sitting there in prayerful meditation sound great. The thought of a loving Father with matchless qualities who will grant us immortal life is the zenith of what anyone could possibly ask for. I want that.
But -- but -- how can you be so sure? I know you seem to rely on mystical experience of God. Fine. But, there are a lot of people who claim to have intense mystical experiences, many of whom hold opinions of God quite out of line with you. For a "born-again" Christian, their mystical experience with God entailed excusing the deplorable Yahweh's actions in the OT and all the blood and balderdash in the Bible. But, their faith based on experience is as strong as yours. At least one of you has to be wrong, no?
So, the point I'm asking is, "how do you know?" I dread you will answer with a "you just know" response. Unless I have some amazing experience, I need more than that. Certainly, there has to be some logical coherence to your faith for it to be worthy of...of...faith!
In my estimation (which is not just due to my personal reflection) any possible Deity that exists has not given proof of His/Her existence. None. Any "evidence" that a believer uses to "prove" God can also be explained without God (ie, the Anthropic principle). Sure, there is, I believe, possible circumstantial evidence for a creator, but that is just that -- circumstantial, not definitive. And, to make matters worse, even if you were to "prove" the existence of a Deity who created the universe, that says nothing of the attributes of the Deity. Just look at the universe and for every beutiful and pleasant thing I can cite two or three unpleasant aspects of existence. For ever flower there is a virus. For every sunset there is an earthquake. Why? If the God you talk about is so loving why does He allow these things (I will make the assumption He does not cause them)?
So, I guess I'm asking for your opinion on logical proofs for God and theodicy. Perhaps there is no answer. Perhaps one must undergo a mystical experience such as yours to be comfortable with faith. But, then I would question if my own mind did not create such a cushion. Bah! What a conumdrum!
Bradley
back in 1991, a young brother maybe 18 years old living next to my place committed suicide.
his father expected him to be very zealous just like he was, but the son never wanted to be like that.
he was always controlled by his father.
This is a very sad, but necessary thread. My heart goes to those who lost loved ones, in part due to their religious indoctrination and warped opinions and "help" from the elders.
I heard of one young sister in a suburb of Chicago who was a pioneer and had just married an MS. She killed herself shortly after the wedding. Very sad.
Bradley
okay, i always look with suspicion on topics that talk about how evil certain jws are, but i am a little curious about this -- who are the "bad guys" on the gb and who are the "good guys" (if any)?
my experience: ted jaracz -- the bad guy.
i've discussed a little of my contact with him in the past.
Reborn,
I didn't see the Panorama special. I'm surprised a GB member was on tape, actually. Usually, it seems that the resident WT spin-doctor (JR Brown) is the only man who coos the public.
I agree, I got the distinct impression that TJ was very, very arrogant from viewing him in public.
B
so, i'm thinking about becoming a high school teacher.
i'm finishing up a summer course at my community college and will be going to northeaster illinois university in the fall.
i've been thinking about majoring in biology and secondary education (instead of history and secondary ed.).
So, I'm thinking about becoming a high school teacher. I'm finishing up a summer course at my community college and will be going to Northeaster Illinois University in the fall. I've been thinking about majoring in biology and secondary education (instead of history and secondary ed.). So, anyone out there have any advice? Any first-hand experiences in teaching? I'm concerned about the politics of the job and, of course, the money. I can always shoot for the moon and do pre-med .
Just curious,
Bradley
okay, i always look with suspicion on topics that talk about how evil certain jws are, but i am a little curious about this -- who are the "bad guys" on the gb and who are the "good guys" (if any)?
my experience: ted jaracz -- the bad guy.
i've discussed a little of my contact with him in the past.
Okay, I always look with suspicion on topics that talk about how evil certain JWs are, but I am a little curious about this -- who are the "bad guys" on the GB and who are the "good guys" (if any)?
My experience: Ted Jaracz -- THE Bad guy. I've discussed a little of my contact with him in the past. (mainly the condescending and ultra-conservative teaching at SADs)
I was also visiting Patterson when I heard a "morning worshp" by Brother Lett. He came down pretty hard on Bethelites who still talked to DFd family members, calling it disloyalty. (At the time the WT website said that JWs do not shun DFd family members. I was going through some serious doubts at the time of my visit, which was a last ditch effort to save my faith. It didn't)
Samuel Herd -- I heard him speak once. Seemed pretty down to earth. I liked him.
Albert Schroeder -- I have a couple talks on tape that he gave about twenty odd years ago (he called the Kingdom Ministry "Our Kingdom Service" indicative of the time period). He actually was rather funny to listen to and seemd very friendly. I was impressed.
Dan Sydlic -- Everybody's favorite.
That's my take.
Bradley
then he said, "if you were in africa and had people chasing you with a machete, then you'd be stressed.
otherwise, you're really not stressed.
"
A few years we had Gunther Starr as our CO. He was famous for saying, "Even if you have just ONE suit and you have to wash and iron it before every meeting, Jehovah has provided what you need."
Please. Let's see you get by on ONE freakin suit.
Bradley
my mom in yet another attempt to strengthen me, has decided to send me the daily text.
today's was especially repulsive.
just thought i would share.
The JWs would state that the "teachers" and "evangelizers" mentioned in this verse (as well as the verse in James where it states, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers...") refer to special teachers and evangelizers, ie COs, DOs, missionaries, Bethelites. If you think that sounds like adding a layer of meaning to the scripture that is not really there, well, yeah -- that's exactly what they have done!
Bradley
mb: .
for the past week or so my mind has been going a mile a minute.
ill be at work, in bed, wherever, things come into my head, and i have to write it down that very moment.
Gordy,
You said regarding evolution: "Is it something changing from one creature to another as in one cell to many cells to fish, to land animal to ape to man.
Or is it a creature adapting to its suroundings, environment, food supply etc. that is, the old "survival of the fittest" idea. "
Where is there a conflict between these ideas? The modern synthesis of evolutionary theory with Mendelian genetics leads to the conclusion that creatures (whatever they are) adapt to their surroundings etc, which leads, over millions of years, to new species and entirely new forms of life. The two go hand in hand and you seem to be stating that you must believe in one or the other. What gives?
As for your conclusions regarding DNA : DNA is only part of the architecture that leads to a living thing. The DNA must code for proteins which varies widely between different forms of life. A banana may share 50% of their DNA with a human, but the two sets of DNA encode a far, far different set of proteins which accounts for the obvious gulf between the two species.
Bradley
