usually our beliefs and convictions are not a choice of life and death but that can sometimes arise as it has done for many who have refused blood transfusions.
are there any beliefs that you would die for if you had to make a choice ?
earnest
That's a tough question. As a JW I would probably have sacrificed my life to stay loyal to the Watchtower... er, God.
But as it stands now I do not believe in any sort of afterlife. I think this life is all we have, so we better not waste it. I cannot think of a specific belief that I would be willing to die for. I'll get back to you if I'm ever faced with this decision for real...
i have a friend, xjw, who is having medical problems and no matter what i seem to say to her, i can tell she has not gotten over the issue of <gasp> no blood.
since the no blood stand was so ingrained in us as jws (almost like the unforgivable sin) my friend just cant seem to let go of that thinking.
i know i get too clinical at times, so i need some help with reasons why taking blood is or is not an issue for you anymore.
BTW, welcome to the board, Drwtsn32.Nice to be free to think for yourself, huh!
Thanks... glad to be here. And yes, it is nice to think for myself. It's quite odd, actually... not having all the answers to every possible question... not being 100% arrogant about all of those answers... not trying to shove those answers down other people's throats.
It's great actually being able to think about things logically and actually consider all possibilities. As a JW I would pretend to consider all the possibilities, but I would dismiss any answer that did not fit with the Society's teaching of the week.
if there are any christians here,i have a question.
why didn't jesus write anything down?
was he illiterate?did he write it down and the papers get lost?
I don't think I'm 100% right about anything
I completely agree with you here, StinkyPantz. As a JW I was so 100% sure of everything. I was so damn arrogant! Now that I have left the org I am actually free to think for myself and consider all possibilities. As a result, I find that I am not sure of so many things.
I do consider myself more of an atheist than an agnostic. God has never once shown that he affected my life in any way. I simply do not see any evidence to support his existence.
so here's my spin.
obviously, as apostates we're like the people of zion in the matrix... all of us have been extracted from the "matrix" of the watchtower cult.
neo is like jesus, obviously, as he's "the one" people put hope in and the people in zion who don't believe in jesus are like apostates who left the religion but don't believe anymore.
Damn, I just started another thread on this topic. I guess I should have done a quick check before posting. Oh well!
i watched the first matrix tonight to get myself prepared to watch the sequel this weekend.
anyone else notice a lot of parallels between the matrix and the watchtower organization?.
the matrix is a false reality; the people within it are duped into believing it to be the "truth.
I watched the first Matrix tonight to get myself prepared to watch the sequel this weekend. Anyone else notice a lot of parallels between the Matrix and the Watchtower organization?
The Matrix is a false reality; the people within it are duped into believing it to be the "truth." If you leave the Matrix, it is then impossible to go back. But as Morpheus says, "Even if it were possible, would you really want to?"
That's the way it was with me. When I started realizing that the organization was full of crap, I almost wished I had never started down the road of discovery. But deep down I was glad that I was more aware of things and would not really go back to the way things were before.
Another good quote from the Matrix... "Ignorance is bliss." Also, they talked about how most people involved in the Matrix were not ready to be unplugged. They were too dependent on the system.
It goes on and on like this.
The truth about the "truth" is that it is not the truth.
anyone else remember those talks about being materialistic?
i can remember when the brother would go on about owning the latest gadgets, new cars, boats and bigger houses.
it seems they always precluded their remarks with, "these things aren't wrong in themselves...." and then would go on to make a big deal about how unspiritual it would be to own these things.
You know what's REALLY stupid? As good witnesses you're not supposed to go after material posessions, spend too much time recreating, etc. Basically you're supposed to devote the time it takes to do those frivolous things to serving god (eg, the society).
But the tables turn when talking about the new system. That's when you'll have ALL of your desires completely filled! So you guys, it'll be a-ok to be materialistic and pursue your fleshly desires in the new system. But right now it's bad and wrong and the elder police will come after you.
i have a friend, xjw, who is having medical problems and no matter what i seem to say to her, i can tell she has not gotten over the issue of <gasp> no blood.
since the no blood stand was so ingrained in us as jws (almost like the unforgivable sin) my friend just cant seem to let go of that thinking.
i know i get too clinical at times, so i need some help with reasons why taking blood is or is not an issue for you anymore.
Definitely would accept a blood transfusion. One of the first things my wife and I did when we left was throw those NO BLOOD cards away!
The Society has really screwed themselves by making up all of these do's and dont's with blood. It was almost "better" when they simply had a flat out "no blood" rule. Now you can have any fraction as long as it's a fraction. Where the hell does the bible talk about fractions of blood?
.
http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/features/default.asp?subsectionid=204&articleid=65270&pagetype=2
example pic.
It looks like a pic of armageddon from one of the Society's old pubs.... you know, when they enjoyed drawing pictures of people suffering.
I'm looking forward to this game, Doom III, and Duke Nukem Forever. Can't wait!
well, now that my wife michalina is 20 weeks pregnant with our first girl (or child i should say), isabelle rose, people who have treated us like we are dead for the last 15 months are coming out, pretending to be our friends all of sudden.
even people we considered friends when we were in pa who have basically shunned us want in our lives now - of course - we are having a baby!
this religion and people within it never cease to amaze me.
This is quite pathetic. When I was still in the org, one of my JW sisters mentioned how she was spending extra time with my inactive sister (previously DF'd/reinstated) because she was pregnant, hoping the child would bring someone to the realization that they need God hence the organization. As all Witnesses know, there is no difference between God and the organization. Pathetic.
i was just reading something on a thread that tiggered this question.
have you even been involved in a converstation with a christian fanatic?
i have a few times and have been told a few times that i am going to go to hell because i don't believe in the bible and don't except god/jesus (at least their version) into my heart.. i know that having that fear as a basis for beliefs is a sign of cultish behavior.
Have you even been involved in a converstation with a christian fanatic?
Yep. I agree with your post... in fact I think all religions are cult-like to some degree or another. Some religions are much, much worse and some or only mildly cultish.
I'm going to go burn in hell now.
