so... recently lost my favorite aunt, mother of my favorite cousin- she was a "witness" when she died.
inactive, but still a witness.
who lived with my witness mother and stepdad.
BLW, that's exactly how I feel.
I would be more upset by the realization that I wasn't upset. The death of a family member is supposed to make you cry, mourn. But that won't be the case for me IF someone even bothers to contact me - which I doubt.
Family bonds can be broken beyond repair. Natural affection can can be destroyed. The Watchtower cult has not only perfected the process but they seem to be honing their skills on it every chance they get.
as i grew up in the religion, i was a 10. i wanted to be made a "servant" because that was instilled in me from infancy.
i diligently studied ever piece of watchtower literature and defended my religion intensely.. when i got into my 30's, i started to see little cracks in the watchtower's surface but decided to "wait on jehovah".
then i started to research a little more critically and realized i couldn't defend the prophecies, the treatment of people and the hypocrisy that was becoming more obvious, that especially an elder can see.. it was a gradual thing---from a 10 to a zero!.
Absolute 10.
I never sought a position because I saw through the politics of it. I wanted to focus on the ministry even though I hated knocking on doors. Still, I thought that was where Jehovah wanted me.
It's amazing that you can be so zealous for a belief or cause, then totally turn your back.
That fact still leaves me scratching my head sometimes.
to answer my question, no i do not pray over meals anymore exept for when i am with other jws i do a 15 second head bow for appearances sake.
i just came to the realization god had nothing to do with whether i ate or not.
many believers are starving right now whilst many non-believers are eating like kings.. also why should god give me food while he lets little children in dprk concentration camps starve to death.
I quit praying before meals long before I woke up and left to organization. Every single freaking meal, e v e r y d a y ! ! ! It started sounding like a chant. A pre-recorded message that amounted to noise without meaning. I don't have a problem expressing my gratitude to God but EVERY MEAL?
James 1:7 - Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the [celestial] lights...
Yes, but...
BU2B - I came to the realization that if god gets the thanks for having food, then he also gets the blame for when there isnt any.
I find it difficult to thank God for my full plate of food every day when there is abject poverty just up the street from me.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/12/1277113/-bob-jones-university-helped-cover-up-sexual-abuse-fires-investigative-group.
yup, reporting sexual abuse hurts jesus so shut up and walk it off.. sounds very familiar to me - except that in watchtowerland it would be 'bringing disgrace on jehovah's organization'.. .
metatron.
I live just up the street from BJU and it is well known for its spit-polished public appearance. They are worse than JWs in convention cities.
Yes, worse.
The students and faculty may not own a pair of blue jeans and if they're caught wearing them in public they will be dismissed. Hair must be at regulation length. Shirts ironed. No pants for ladies. Faces shaved no mustaches.
With this kind of fanaticism and control it's hardly a stretch to understand that reporting internal flaws to the police are stepped on even harder.
Oh for the sake of Jesus. The outside of the Bob Jones cup is quite shiny.
10 " any israelite or any alien living among them who eats any bloodi will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people.
12 therefore i say to the israelites, "none of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood.
15 'anyone, whether native-born or alien, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then he will be clean.
Perfect timing!
I was just having a conversation with an awakening JW two weeks ago using this same line of reasoning. I've seen a similar write-up on the subject... somewhere. Anyway. I fumbled my way through it, unsure about the effectiveness of my presentation.
In an effort to clarify, I just emailed her a copy of your post. Thank you! Your timing could not have been better.
And... NICE WORK!
did a simple search in the wt library for words like, "question," "questioning," "doubts/ing,"obey," "understand.".
these are listed in order of occurence oldest to newest (up to 2012 as my library is 2012 version).
"if we have love for jehovah and for the organization of his people we shall not be suspicious, but shall, as the bible says, 'believe all things,' all the things that the watchtower brings out"qualified to be ministers (1955) p.156.
marked
16-20. we shall also have to raise up against him seven shepherds, yes, eight dukes of mankind.mic.
what is the most important thing that you can do now to prepare for any future attack on gods people?.
all of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.. .
marked
you can't make up this kind of religious nut-job fanaticism:.
http://www.4utah.com/story/utah-man-fasting-to-stop-same-sex-marriages/d/story/k9sjvlgmmeuberqg9aeobq.
although in retrospect, it's no more extreme than those jws who die refusing blood.... adam.
Pass that idiot some gay wedding cake.
what, in detail, do you think will happen?
because we all know 2014 is the 100th anniversary of the kingdom rule of christ or at least it was..
Warning! 2014 — Armageddon is right around the corner~!!!
Drop out of school! Shun the critical thinkers! Preach 18 hours a day! Bookmark our site and do not read the others!
Don't masturbate! Weed is the devil! Science is evil! Obey! Obey! Obey! Obey! Obey! Obey!
Hilarious, Braincleaned.
I intend to plagiarise this for an email conversation I'm having with a friend.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/wash-woman-accused-of-forcing-granddaughter-to-hold-bible-over-head-to-expel-demon-111648/.
i'm assuming a jw because of the language in the article..... cynthia miller, the accused who is from olympia, wash., appeared before a judge in thurston county superior court for a probable cause hearing through a video conferencing this week, according to kirotv.com.. miller was ordered held on $40,000 bail after the hearing, during which she appeared confused and at one point denied the allegation.. the probable cause affidavit against miller states she would force her granddaughter to stand in a corner of the family's apartment holding a bible over her head even as other family members would shout "jehovah.
" two other children lived with miller and her husband.. the girl allegedly had bruises and burns on various parts of her body as well as several old fractures to her arms, legs, fingers and toes.. miller and her husband were often angry with the girl and thought she was stealing from others in the family and was evil, according to neighbors..
The girl allegedly had bruises and burns on various parts of her body as well as several old fractures to her arms, legs, fingers and toes.
I could not work in any child protection service. I wouldn't be able to handle it. There would be no professional detatchment for me.
Bless those who can do it.
