Posts by playdrums

28

How much of the bible do JW's really use?

by blindfool in

i've noticed over the last several weeks how often the same scriptures are used in meetings at the kingdom hall.. anytime galatians is mentioned you can just about be sure you are going to look up chapter 5 ver.

19.. 2 timothy is going to be 3: 16. i can't remember considering any addional text to get the context of the verse, just reading the same verses over and over.

i'm sure most of you can name lots more scriptures used by jw's.. i think i'm going to start taking notes at meetings and listing which verses are used, then i can look from week to week and see how often the same old verses are considered.

playdrums

It doesn't just "sound" like conspiracy theory. It IS conspiracy theory. The whole structure is completely conspired to attract and retain a certain type of person - a slave - one that can be easily convinced that an internment with "friends" is freedom.

29

Comments You Won't Hear at the 12-7-03 WT Study

by blondie in

wt quotes will be in

it is under the guise of making them feel wanted but it is more likely a passive-aggressive means to show women what their place is and to stay there.. .

fear of god impelled two women to defy a pharaoh.

playdrums

Blondie:

I love you for all your efforts. For those of us that simply have a friend that is "in," you provide an invaluable resource. There are many who _could_ do it, but you DO.

81

JEHOVAH

by minimus in

we all know that we do not know the correct pronunciation of the name of god.

over 6000 times, the tetragrammaton is mentioned in the ot.

yet for some reason, most bibles do not use the name jehovah or yahweh but a few times.

playdrums

One of my favorite things to read on the JW site is the explanation of why Jehovah should be used. First, the reason is because God should be called by his name because, of course, He's a personal God right? Then, it's not really his name - just as close as we can get. Hmmm, but I thought we were supposed to use it because that was the way to correctly address Him. So much circular reasoning it's really incredible to me.

My first post in a while from sunny Southern Cal.

9

Questions for Jehovah's Witnesses about Blood

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

is this true?

90% of red blood cells is hemoglobin.

so why are red blood cells forbidden?.

playdrums

Muchas Gracias. Your efforts are admirable.

Playdrums

15

JW relationship with a Study?

by MoonChikDayi in

i'm currently taking book study and still am not sure about completely pursuing the religion, but am openly analyzing what i am learning.

i am currently dating a jw... my question is how is it looked upon when a jw dates a "study" ?

is it allowed by the elders or will he be shunned?

playdrums

Hi Moon:

So it's a lot to wager.. and I've looked into the religion a lot (hence i found this website) and altho somethings i don't agree with (blood trans. , holidays) i do feel that other things make sense...

Already you are expressing reservations about some aspects of the teaching. Some of it makes sense but other parts do not. Moon, realize that this organization considers itself to be the one and only mouthpiece of God. Apart from any belief system you may come from, remember that their Bible says that nothing false can come from Jehovah God. So, in turn nothing false can come from the Watchtower Society, right? In consideration of that, you need to educate yourself and decide if there is anything false being taught by this organization. Per their own definition of God, it is either all truth or all lies - there can't be any "grey areas."

my only fear of entering this is first off to be shunned by my own family like them thinking of me differently (this isn't exactly my mother's favorite religion) and second if i ever were disfellowshipped i would lose those close to me.. and never speak with them ever again. i dunno it's a lot to wager like i said .. on both sides of the fence.

It frightens me (for you) that you are talking about "wagering" anything at all. Shunning is a real practice in this religion. You have a lifelong connection to your mother who I'm assuming has the most genuine love for you that a person can possibly have for another person. Also, notice that you already feel you are in a position of crucial choice - you've actually called it wagering. Would any emotional, familial, or spiritual love make you feel as though something needed to be "wagered?"

I think the key is really to completely and totally educate yourself about the Watchtower Society. Where do they come from? What did they believe in the beginning? Do they believe the same things now? If not, why did the teaching change? And do their publications tell the truth? Just one of many, many examples is here. Follow every lead.

Was it a cross or stake?

There's so much to read. But please make sure you balance what you get from the Watchtower with other materials. And please look up any references that their publications refer to. I will pray that you are able to resolve the conflict and anxieties you may be feeling.

14

Changing of the Guard

by Thirdson in

my mother attended the funeral of an elderly jw recently.

the person that passed away was in her 90's had been a jw since the 1930's and her late husband was one of the "annointed" although she didn't claim that for herself.

every few months i hear of old jws passing away.

playdrums

This topic is interesting to me as someone who is trying to "liberate" a JW friend. I see my friend and her children as being very lukewarm as far as their faith is concerned. It seems to be a very different faith in that regard compared to the one I read about historically. However, being on the outside I see the new faith as being just as dangerous. They may or may not go to meetings. They may or may not hit the pavement for field service. However, they sure will stand their ground if you contradict the WTS. They'll defend their "tiny jesus" just the same (as opposed to the real Jesus in the Gospels). Same deceipt, same fear - just with an added complacency that in some ways makes them even more difficult to reach.

My position on JW's is that they are, generally speaking, victims of laziness; having a strong preference for things prepackaged and sanitized. Afterall, who can disagree that all the materials are readily available to show that there is outright deception in the very tracts called "truth" by JW's? All one needs to do is investigate. But they don't. They've found a strange comfort where they are - it's deceipt. Add in a new and updgraded level of complacency and you've got yourself one really tasty snare.

So I'm not as optimistic that this machine is dying. I simply see it as adjusting it's methods. For instance, I'm not even really sure my friend is aware of the former status of the U.N. in her religion so discussing the reversal of teaching is just an exercise in frustration. Discussing the reversal of any teaching is an exercise in frustration. She'll simply tell you that they've made mistakes and amditted it - and that's good enough for her.

Ding dong the absolutes are dead - ring in the great zomby complacency.

11

I Want My Dub Friend To See The Truth

by ADubsFriend in

jw
friends

hello all.. i used to post here as imissthedub.

after almost 2 years, the dub and i are now in contact and friends.

this is now a strictly platonic relationship, and always will be.

playdrums

I agree with sf, the internet is going to collapse this thing eventually in my opinion. I've never been a JW but I am dating one. For this reason I brought an older Mac G3 home to setup for my girlfriend. I'm going to get her a modem, etc. And I'm going to teach her how to use google. When we have discussions I'll simply suggest that we both research the topic. I'm not even going to discuss the subject of "apostate" because I'm hoping she "stumbles" upon some damaging information on her own before she can look away. On a practical level I don't see how the lies can stand against the easy access to informations.

On a less practical level, I am one of those who thinks the JW lies have been crafted at the deepest core by a great deceiver. I don't doubt that there will be some methods attempted to counterattack the internet efforts.

We certainly have similar goals though. You should keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.

34

Do You Feel That You Were Brainwashed Into Becoming A JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

many comments are made that jw's are actually brainwashed.

do you think this is true?

playdrums

JamesThomas:

What you noted is exactly what I see as an outsider. It is also obviously what I see when I examine my friend who is a JW. Those special words are also what causes a guard to immediate come up when you examine what they believe. You missed a big "key phrase" though - faithful and discreet slave. The use of language as a control just never ends with them.

Undercover:

I definitely think you're fortunate that you were able to see what was happening. I don't believe most JW's do. Through deceipt they have been trained for self deception to maintain their "system." It's very powerful. Being a Catholic I can tell you I've never faced anything like what JamesThomas describes. I don't think the guilt is the main ingredient as your post suggested. Just my opinion.

pd

86

What is the CD in your collection that you've listened to the most?

by DanTheMan in

.

just asking because i'm wanting to expand my musical horizons, looking for some new artists to get into.. my all time most-listened-to cd (and we're talking hundreds of listenings):.

thanks for sharing!

playdrums

These come to my mind the quickest.

King's X - Dogman
Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Third Matinee - Meanwhile
Stone Temple Pilots - 12 Gracious Melodies

40

I attended my first meeting at a KH!!

by playdrums in

for the memorial service i went with my girlfriend.

she's the jw.

i also brought my best friend.

playdrums

BornFree,

Your experience sounds so very much like mine. The only real difference is that it sounds like the teaching at yours was more forthright. The teaching in ours was subtle. But the message was basically the same. Jesus' sacrifice was not enough for me.

pd