Posts by abbasgreta

89

Poll--How Many Believe In God, Do Not Believe or Are Not Sure Of His Existence?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i believe in god but i'm not sure of anything....what about you?.

abbasgreta

Believer. Tendency 'strengthening'.

58

Why Do Witnesses Promote A Unhealthy Lifestyle, My COBE weighs 340lbs (5ft 7in).

by BucketShopBill in

please don't take this the wrong way if your battling weight problems, that's not what this thread is meant to talk about.

i am asking this question because jehovah's witnesses claim they have "the best way of life", "god's blessing", "the truth" and are trying to change the habits of healthy people by turning them in to their own makings.

i watched people who were great athletes turn all their muscle in to fat because we would get a elder or circuit overseer make remarks they were spending too much time "working out" and "bodily training is beneficial for little".

abbasgreta

I remember the result of a survey done in the 90s, which concluded that the highest rate of M.E sufferers (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - can be extremely debilitating) was shared between one other group (forgot who) and female Jehovah's Witnesses aged 18 - 40.

We had 3 female sufferers back then in the cong. (One genuine case, she was bed-ridden - the other two seemed able to turn it off and on at will - one used to lie on a reclining bed-chair at the back of the k hall, then when the meeting ended, folded it up herself and drove herself home. The other also lay flat out for the 2 hours she was occasionally present as well. As she was my sister-in-law, I know she found it quite easy to sit on a hard backless bar stool all evening at the pub getting rather 'plastered').

Alchoholism is a real hidden problem too. My 84 year old mother, a jw for 57 years has been an alcoholic for the last 40 of them (since my Dad died - she was convinced she would 'have him back' within a couple of years. The PO used to visit her around 11am off the ministry and she used to hide her glass of whiskey- one of several a day - between her armchair and the sideboard! This must still happen. I used to 'counsel' her on her drinking - it was so frustrating, she used to slur whilst glaring at me, "I can find my nosshe with my indecks finger, zo I'm not drunk".)

I knew at least three more, one a girl of 19 (she happily recovered very quickly when an MS asked her out (good job that prior he had never 'worked' with her on a Saturday morning as her breath could have ignited a match) - they eventually married). Also two married women in their early 40s. One of these had sadly contacted Hepatitis B via a forced- upon- her BT when she was a child. She married at 19 but due to her medical condition she 'had' to wait until the Noo Sistem to have kids. Hit 40, could have adopted in the meantime but resolutely declined - convinced one day 'soon' she would have her own, then suddenly realised at that age she may possibly never become a mother either way and spiralled into deep depression and alcoholism. The other was a circuit 'Barbie' in the 90s, who one day woke up and it was her 40th birthday. At 18 she thought she would never see 25. Now she herself had an 18 year old daughter and wore tighter dresses and higher heels than her daughter whilst they both 'paraded' at the assemblies, still trying to 'compete'.

56

Demon attacks on JW in past, where'd they go?

by thedepressedsoul in

in the 80's and 90's (maybe even earlier) i remember hearing lots of witnesses talk about "demon attacks".

whether it was someone studying the bible who then started having strange things happen in their house to people bringing stuff home from yard sales and getting personal attacks and horrible dreams resulting in them dystroying stuff they brought home or getting rid of it.. .

i also remember hearing a sister say she had to pray in a home with a study because the study started to get attacked.

abbasgreta

Mikado: We are simply pointing out the impossibility of it being demons.

Yeah, just keep telling yourself that.

52

Colossians 1:15-16 and the word "other"

by yogosans14 in

"he is the image of the invisible god, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities.

all [other] things have been created through him and for him.

" (col. 1:15-17, for context.

abbasgreta

If you are a person who does not believe in the doctrines of Christianity, the bible, God etc that's fine with me - hope you found what you personally were seeking.

However, it makes me smile when I observe some unbelievers who go to great pains (and not a little time and effort) to discredit Jesus, Paul and the bible etc by QUOTING Jesus, Paul and the bible! This should be against the rules of the dissent game. Your arguments must be bible-free to keep it fair. If you believe the bible to be a total crock of manure from Genesis to Revelation, you cannot then also cherry-pick verses to use to add fuel to your anti fire because what you find there seems to underscore your 'argument'.

I believe 'evolution' (perhaps its not called that any more) to be baloney but don't start quoting from various at-odds-with-each-other-theory 'bibles' on the subject to fuel dissenting speech aimed at its adherants. I couldn't care less what's written in them and their authors, because I'm not in the least interested in the subject and therefore don't own or down-load any.

But if this 'belief' system floats someone else's boat then let them sail it. They studied what they studied and became convinced. Christians have done the same (convincing themselves personally) to build their own faith structure. Why should this bother unbelievers so, who themselves have left the 'God business' behind?

35

God is love, but if you dont love him back he will slaughter you!

by BU2B in

this was one of the things that first got me thinking.

i noticed how in books like "draw close to jehovah" they paint god as a loving, warm, just god who does not desire any to die.

i could not love him at all, let alone with my whole heart.

abbasgreta

Cofty: You used the word "nice"! Your 360 degree turnaround regarding Jesus shocks me to the core. But if you're happy.....live and let live.

56

Demon attacks on JW in past, where'd they go?

by thedepressedsoul in

in the 80's and 90's (maybe even earlier) i remember hearing lots of witnesses talk about "demon attacks".

whether it was someone studying the bible who then started having strange things happen in their house to people bringing stuff home from yard sales and getting personal attacks and horrible dreams resulting in them dystroying stuff they brought home or getting rid of it.. .

i also remember hearing a sister say she had to pray in a home with a study because the study started to get attacked.

abbasgreta

Guys, this is no 'story' of mine or a second-hand relating from years ago. I actually witnessed it 12 months ago. The atmosphere was calm and normal - not sensational at all.I spoke to christians who had attended the same seminar for years at this event and who just simply took it in their stride. Others present were also going through the same as those two women who were somehow still connected to Jehovah's Witnesses - those who had/were dabbling in the occult, spiritualists, etc. as the various deliverances were happening.

It was not a scary 'hair-raising' experience, but as I say somehow thrilling to witness the power and authority of Jesus' name to expel evil spirits in that auditorium. I expected the majority of people would negate it and/or feel compelled to play it down, notwithstanding that, I cannot make it that it 'did not happen'. I am sure you will make of it what you will. Upon leaving the jws and doing my own extensive research on every aspect of their 'religion', I quickly became convinced I had been in the watchtower 'synagogue of satan' for the first 55 years of my life. That day just underscored it, but it was still a shock to the system to witness it for real.

56

Demon attacks on JW in past, where'd they go?

by thedepressedsoul in

in the 80's and 90's (maybe even earlier) i remember hearing lots of witnesses talk about "demon attacks".

whether it was someone studying the bible who then started having strange things happen in their house to people bringing stuff home from yard sales and getting personal attacks and horrible dreams resulting in them dystroying stuff they brought home or getting rid of it.. .

i also remember hearing a sister say she had to pray in a home with a study because the study started to get attacked.

abbasgreta

You would not believe how many attempts it took to post the above - sorry its a bit rushed and untidy. It was a 2 hour 'fight' to post it - I kid you not.

56

Demon attacks on JW in past, where'd they go?

by thedepressedsoul in

in the 80's and 90's (maybe even earlier) i remember hearing lots of witnesses talk about "demon attacks".

whether it was someone studying the bible who then started having strange things happen in their house to people bringing stuff home from yard sales and getting personal attacks and horrible dreams resulting in them dystroying stuff they brought home or getting rid of it.. .

i also remember hearing a sister say she had to pray in a home with a study because the study started to get attacked.

abbasgreta

This is not an easy experience to relate and I warn you is shocking. I go public with it for the first time.

I attended a deliverance ministry seminar at a large xian gathering last year. It was given by Graham Dow, a leading and renowned man in this field.

Through the accompanying brochure (my blood ran cold on thumbing through it) and his talk i learned that, next to occultists, the most powerful

evil spirits are those possessed by Jehovahs Witnesses. (Evil spirits of false religion). Manifested in hatred and revulsion of the cross, the Church,

Clergy, and church buildings/architecture. The inability to say that Jesus is LORD. Rejection of holy communion. (!)

It came to the part where Dow asked 'in the name of Jesus and by His authority' to renounce the evil spirits of the Jehovah's Witnesses'.

(I had done this at my xian baptism 8 months previously). Two (?) women behind me let out gutteral, screaming noises and were thrown

to the ground. (No one turned to gawp - hearing it was bad enough) (Helped immediately). Ex-jws? Studies? Like a scene from the gospels. Terrifying and yet thrilling at the same time. Had a word

with Dow (ex anglican bishop) afterwards. Had seen such scenes before. He gave me some advice upon hearing my testimony as the demonic forces

in the wt are somewhat relentless.

I have not over - exeggarated this exerience,

35

God is love, but if you dont love him back he will slaughter you!

by BU2B in

this was one of the things that first got me thinking.

i noticed how in books like "draw close to jehovah" they paint god as a loving, warm, just god who does not desire any to die.

i could not love him at all, let alone with my whole heart.

abbasgreta

This is my personal take on this:

God loves with intensity all those created in His 'image and likeness' and He knows the name and circumstances of each person in each abode all around the world. There is a Day when the 'groaning' and suffering of all creation will cease and all effects thereof will be reversed in full. When the Lord returns to wind up history, as Matt 25 stipulates is His judging criteria, he will bless those who, with OR without realising it, proved this godly heritage by giving willing heart-moved aid to those suffering in various types of distress. I believe 9 out of 10 people are compassionate at heart. All sorts of people everywhere. Those He chooses to separate from Himself forever must then be those completely devoid of any thread of compassion and empathy and therefore rotten to the core, unwilling to respond to His final pleas to repent of their brazen record of cruelty and wilful 'turning a blind eye' to suffering.

Which reminds me: After the 'slave' noo-lite - Do the witnesses hold that 'the least ones' whom we are to feed, clothe and comfort is now the 'slave', ie 7 (!) men in Brooklyn, who live in every comfort? They should seriously take to heart, "Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least (in the estimation of men - Thayer) of these, you failed to do it for Me" Matt 25:45 Amplified Bible.

For, unlike all other religious groups and charitable institutions, they do virtually nothing for the less fortunate even at local community level. No collecting for food banks at the k hall (which btw is open for 10 hours a week at most and offers zilch benefit to local people, unlike churches with their open-door Clubs for newborns to 90 year+ olds), no soup kitchens or offers of shelter for the homeless in winter, and so on and etc. (I dare bet pioneers on benefits GO to foodbanks themselves which would be truly sickening).

94

just what am I supposed to believe now??

by purrpurr in

while i'm glad i found this site, it has also crumbled to bits everything i've believed in my whole life.

i feel like the certainty, magic and wonder has gone out of my life.

this has left a huge hole in my soul.

abbasgreta

FlyingHighNow: Regarding the phrase "If grace is true why God will destroy no-one". During a sermon a couple of weeks ago our vicar said "Jesus came to save the world, so today he would be planning to save around 8 billion people." As a jw I eagerly, almost desperately at times anticipated the demise of those 8 billion people with an awful relish - the love and grace of God expressed through this one sentence shot through me like a lightning bolt. I silently thanked God for forgiving me my jw past - when I even PRAYED DAILY for it to happen for over 50 years! My God, we've come out of a truly evil cult.