Posts by TTATTelder

16

Creationism or evolution, or do I believe in god

by moley in

in the past year or so i've been completely evaluating whether i believe in god.

i studied marine biology at uni for the last 3 years and it completely change my view on evolution.

even when i was in i believed in evolution to a certain extent (ie the flood made no sense, the earth being 60000 odd years old etc etc) and this has made me question the existence of god.

TTATTelder

I agree with Terry.

I too just recently had a similiar epiphany. We were so indocrinated to believe we had all the answers, we think the world must be completely understood.

The JW religion creates an artificial black and white version of an extremely gray world.

When I first started seeing things, I had a lot of stress about not having an explanation now. Then finally it hit me. Neither does anybody else!

The GB doesn't have all the answers and nether do I. The difference is - I don't pretend I do.

13

"We're on different paths now."

by Pyramid God in

it's been a while since i've read or posted on jwn.

i guess i have been trying to put this chapter of my life behind me.. .

as is usually the case, just when i'm having a good week, i get contact from a witness.

TTATTelder

I don't remember that exact line, but I do recall similiar reasoning.

For instance when I was younger, I used to hear things like "does that worldly person care about your relationship with Jehovah?" or "does that associate care about whether you gain everlasting life?"

Actually now that I think about it, I think you hear those "different path/goal" lines a lot in their cousel against marrying "unbelievers".

It's all "us vs. them" stuff and used to convince those that are in to stay away from outside influences.

15

Mormons = Anyone Aware of This?

by Joe Grundy in

anyone aware of this?.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10619538/head-of-mormon-church-thomas-monson-summoned-by-british-magistrates-court-over-adam-and-eve-teaching.html.

TTATTelder

ldrnomo I agree.

While this type of thing will not get anywhere in the courts because of the "can of worms" it would open up, it is great as a publicity stunt.

This kind of story gets traction and brings the right kind of attention to these fraudsters.

30

Pioneer Encouragement - "You can sit in the back room"

by 4thgen in

jw
friends

last night one of the pioneers stopped by on her way home from the pioneer meeting.

she has always been very kind and i believe she is acted out of concern, however her visit was unsettling.

she mentioned that all the pioneers were counseled to invite everyone they know inactive or those who has had life has got them down to come to (a special?

TTATTelder

This is a seriously funny thread.

I look forward to hearing about this stuff at my hall.

They are really laying it on thick with the whole 100 year anniversary thing. They want to "call all the prodigal sons home".

They are in an all out P.R. BLITZ to turn this embarrassment - 100 years of failed predictions - into a huge sales drive.

"More Urgent than Ever!" "Time is Running Out!" "A Year of Special Activity!" "The Last Memorial - Maybe!"

40

Tech49 has the CO over for lunch

by Tech49 in

so awhile back, during our last circuit overseer visit, vic and i decided to bite the bullet.... there seemed to be very little support for the mid-week lunch plans for the co and his wife, so we signed up to host.

we definitely didnt want it to be awkward, so we invited a few others along, as a nice little group affair.

they were excited, and offered to do the cooking, so i said i would play along.. just some background.... this particular co is kind of a tool (big surprise right?

TTATTelder

I feel your pain Tech49.

My wife and I fed a CO and his wife once a few years ago. We fixed the house up nice, had it sparkling inside and out, fixed one of our special dishes, and really rolled out the red carpet. They came, ate one serving, never complimented our home, never complimented the dish, did not thank us for the meal, and then left.

There was a funky energy the whole time they were there. There was a self-rightoeus air about them. He didn't hit us with any counsel, but we felt like they were judging us for having a nice house and probably for both of us working and not pioneering.

Instead of being thankful we could afford to provide them a nice meal in a nice setting, they sat in judgement. They preach "Jehovah provides" and then scoff at the vessel Jehovah used to feed them that day.

It's amazing how some of these guys get so out of touch with reality, presumptuous, and self-righteous.

32

Is it Humanly Possible, that the writers believe this stuff?

by objectivetruth in

as many of you know, whom have been in the org for a while.. the wt is hard coded into your mind.

sometimes, i will read a wt, to make sure that i hadn't imagined all of the ridiculousness... and then i read a wt like this : http://m.wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2004168 (is linking to this legal?).

i especially enjoyed this section : .

TTATTelder

I agree with Phizzy all the way.

You don't just accidentally fall into this manipulative, propagandizing, deceptive, cult-speak.

It is written with an agenda. Often the agenda centers around fear, guilt, and control.

5

My confession: How i feel WT makes me a bigger liar

by Jon Preston in

jw
friends

this is difficult for me to discuss.

i love my wife and i live my family.

but since i became a jw i feel like ive lied more than when i was "worldy"...is it stress and the relentless pressure to do more?

TTATTelder

I do feel that way also. I don't take it quite as hard as you seem to be describing though. I feel like I am forced to take the cautious position I do. It is not because of any dishonesty on my part, but because of the childish, black-and-white world the org has created that my wife is bought into most of the time.

I am happy to know now what I know, but the knowledge comes with a large responsibility. I honestly look at it like not telling a child Santa Claus isnt real. I mean at some point you have to, but it would need to be at a point when the timing is right and they are ready.

That analogy speaks more to the childishness of it all and to the emotional immaturity it promotes. I know it's more serious than that.

I wish you well. I am still very much in the journey myself. I will say though - just when you think you are cracking - the mind has a way of moving to the next level of acceptance.

35

We Pray For The Governing Body...

by jw07 in

at the meetings i've noticed over the past 2 years or so brothers asking for 'special blessings' for the governing body.

it was everyonce in a while at first.

now it is almost at every single meeting!

TTATTelder

Jw07, funny stuff with the teen - text reference. It really is that way for some, and they are completely oblivious to how stupid they look drooling and fawning over these marketers.

48

What is with the WT obsession with King David??

by BU2B in

it seems like at least once a month he is brought up as a good example in the study wt.

it seems like he is given more praise than jesus.

have you noticed this?

TTATTelder

Thanks BU2B ...

11

The day the music died

by Rattigan350 in

jw
friends

i commented about how the 2008 yearbook gives the story of a girl who is on estonia idol and gives up an opportunity to progress to further rounds because she has a talk on the theocratic ministry school.

when jws started to study with her, that is the day the music died.. .

while watching the grammys, though most was trash the music from the 70s was great, i thought, what if paul mccartney's parents studied with jws and paul didn't become a musician.

TTATTelder

Dis,

A world just as you described but completely dedicated to the GB. As disgraceful as that would be - to both society and God - The GB would have it no other way.