Twitch, your story absolutely resonated with me. I think part of the reason I "woke up" is because I started living, associating, and loving some wonderful people the JWs would have categorized as "bird food". I would rather throw in my lot with many of the people I have had the privilege to know and love in the "world".
StrongHaiku
JoinedPosts by StrongHaiku
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What was your eye opening moment?
by WasOnceBlind inif you had to pinpoint the time or experience that finally made you open your eyes, what would it be?.
i think for me it was the time i saw my dad shun his brother who he had not seen in decades just because he was a da'ed jw.
i thought to my self "no way jesus would do that.
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Preach, preach, preach....feel guilty...preach some more
by Tornintwo insince starting to wake up, i can't help notice how so many talks emphasise preaching, increasing your hours, pioneering etc...with a hefty load of guilt on the side.. i always noticed the guilt, but now i'm noticing how talks that seem to start out on another issue always seem to come back to hours!
visit talk seemed to start out about persecution, trusting in jehovah etc...but the main thrust in the end was, 'do more hours, pioneer, don't get an education or pursue a career, don't get distracted, hooray for the pioneers!
if you dont do more hours you will be 'the sort that shrink back to destruction'.
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StrongHaiku
millie210 - Field service also makes you feel euphoric when you are done.
Yep. Totally agree.
I would add one thing:
I am very much an introvert. And, I remember when I was doing FS that my anxiety level was so high from the minute I went to the first door that by the time the day was over I felt "good". I misinterpreted my ebbing feelings of anxiety at the end of the day as "happiness". It was actually, "relief". Kinda like holding on to a rubber ball tightly all day and you are finally able to let it go. It feels wonderful but only because you had held tension for hours.
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Richard Dawkins talking about a Creator
by FusionTheism inrichard dawkins admitted that information inside of dna, and the origin of life on earth, might point to intelligent designers, perhaps extraterrestrials.
(see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boncjbrrdq8 )richard dawkins further admitted, in a debate with francis collins for time magazine, that science might point to a creator existing, but that this creator might not be anything like yahweh:.
time: "could the answer be god?
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StrongHaiku
_Morpheus - Which is why people debating athiestisum as a religion sets up foolish questions. Its not a rleigion anymore than not stamp collecting is a hobby. (Credit nonstampcollector)
LOL! Yes. "Atheism is a religion" is like saying that abstinence is a sexual position...
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Do or did the JW's believe dinosaurs were vegetarians?
by Crazyguy ini thought at one time or maybe they still do believe that the dinosaurs were vegetarians?
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StrongHaiku
"When the dinosaurs had fulfilled their purpose, God ended their life."
I remember being taught along these lines that the Dinosaurs were basically giant biological lawn mowers and their purpose was probably to keep the earth from being overrun by vegetation.
On a side note, I am puzzled by the idea that the JWs (and other religions) try to use bits of science to prove their faith/beliefs and then in turn use their faith/beliefs to try to discredit science. Seems like they saw off the tree limb they are sitting on...
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How did you feel after..
by zeb in..you had been away from the wt for a time.
i saw a quote tonight and it leapt off the page for me.. "now i know what it feels like to be part of a circle of friends, part of a group.
its a very different feeling than i have had before and it feels wonderful and right'.. spoken by a lady after being released of her heart "wall" that she had established for protection.. + comments please if you like.
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StrongHaiku
The following helped me a lot when I left (still struggling with it but I keep trying):
"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.
Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof. " Richard Bach - Illusions -
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Unconvincing Evidence in September Watchtower
by bemused ini was looking at the september 2015 issue of the watchtower, which, unlike the simplified and study editions, appears to be aimed at non-jws.
a couple of articles caught my eye that quote biblical sources which are somewhat less than convincing to a non-believer.. firstly 'what do jehovah's witnesses believe?
' says that the core belief is that 'all scripture is inspired of god and beneficial'.
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StrongHaiku
bemused- Firstly 'What do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?' says that the core belief is that 'all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial'.
Great topic. You and others pointed out the problem with circular logic. But wait, hang on... There seems to be another problem which didn't dawn on me until years after I had left. The verse precedes the creation of the "Bible". So, which scriptures was it talking about? Isn't that a problem as well?
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Has Gerrit Loesch of the Governing Body been in any more monthly broadcast since he refused to honor a court subpoena?
by Brokeback Watchtower injust wondering?
he denied being in subjection to the the watchtower corporation so are they still using him in their regular monthly broadcast.
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StrongHaiku
To all you JWs still in, please go to your elders and say the following:
*"I do not answer to Watchtower. . . . Watchtower does not have, and never has had, any authority over me." -
...then enjoy the warmth and hospitality of a JC meeting in the backroom...
*(Gerrit Lösch, Declaration signed and executed on February 4th, 2014)
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this weeks bible highlights: Jehovah slaughters his own people to teach David a lesson
by nowwhat? infrom 2 samuel 24. i am so mad at myself for not making a comment how could anyone explain this away?
then after he slaughters 70,000 he then feels regret?
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Jehovah, God of Collateral Damage... -
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StrongHaiku
"Cause I want to spend more time having fun with you..." Kids that age will get that one immediately... -
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Richard Dawkins talking about a Creator
by FusionTheism inrichard dawkins admitted that information inside of dna, and the origin of life on earth, might point to intelligent designers, perhaps extraterrestrials.
(see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boncjbrrdq8 )richard dawkins further admitted, in a debate with francis collins for time magazine, that science might point to a creator existing, but that this creator might not be anything like yahweh:.
time: "could the answer be god?
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StrongHaiku
FusionTheism -
Freemindfade,
So you're saying that ANYONE who thinks there is a God has "an agenda" which is NOT the truth?
I can't speak for Freemindfade, but it seems to me that a number of people who believe in God do have an agenda - i.e. to get other people to believe the same thing. And, since they cannot provide good evidence, then by definition, what they are proposing may not be true.
FusionTheism, please hear me out... I do have an agenda. I want to live in a peaceful, just, and habitable planet. Right now, we have a world full of people with access to some really horrible things who all think that they are right because faith in <insert preferred deity> says in the <insert preferred holy book> that they need to shape the world to their beliefs. Everyone seems to understand the dangers of this except when it comes to their pet beliefs and religion. The idea that people are making life-and-death decisions for themselves and others based on faith or a feeling or wishful thinking scares the Hell out of me. If that does not scare you then I don't know what to tell you.