Posts by Magnum

6

The problem of questioning or the lack of politeness

by joao in

jw
friends

a forum is a place where people should be able to talk to each other, to question, to have meaningful interactions with others in a polite and educated way, to contribute for the growth of one another.

it seems that, here, there are some people who think that the others know nothing.

they have all the facts, all the truth and have the disrespectful attitude of ignoring concrete and respectful questions.

Magnum

Don't leave. I've enjoyed your posts. Because of my circumstances, I haven't been able to be as active on this forum as I once was, but, I hope to change that in the future. This forum has been greatly informative to me and has benefitted me greatly.

There are a lot of things I'd like to discuss here and get different perspectives on. I'm in a position now where I don't know what to believe. Is there some kind of higher being? If so, does he even care about us here on earth? Unlike many on this forum, I have not even ruled out the Bible*, yet (though I see a lot of issues/problems with it). I have a background in science and am even looking to science for answers (quantum field theory is really interesting).

I eagerly watch JWdom, and I think that in the near future we're going to see it begin to decline a lot more than it already is declining.

Again, please hang around. I've enjoyed your presence here. I think maybe things are a little stagnant now (as DOC mentioned recently), but I think the winds could whip up again soon. I'd love to have you around for your perspective on that potential situation and for other topics I'd like to start in the future.

*There are some here who refer to the Bible as being, for example, a primitive document written by a bunch of old goat-herders, and there are some who believe it is inspired by a higher being. I am open to both positions and wish I had more time to do study/analysis and come to a firm conclusion, myself.

38

Brother Ted, Theocratic Economics and Card Run-outs

by Duncan in

jw
friends

dear all,.

i nearly met up with brother ted f. the other day.

i say nearly, because i arrived round my mothers house just a few minutes after he left.

Magnum

Wow, enjoyed that 20yr old post. I wondered about animal predation from before I was baptized as a JW. I so agree about, for example, lions. Their whole bodies and even metabolisms are geared for catching and eating other animals. Even though I. like The Old Hippie, wanted the JW paradise so much, I always had nagging doubts. There were so many things that just didn't fit - like, for example, even if we were perfect, our teeth would still wear out. You mentioned Jehovah's "special magic." I guess he would have had to use it on our teeth in the new world.

27

New and improved?

by tenyearsafter in

i have a family member who had been df'ed for 15 years or so...recently they reinstated as a jw.

when i asked what motivated them to make that decision, the response was to be able to see family and old friends.

they insisted that things were different now.

Magnum

The organization has changed drastically in the last few years... but NOT because of love. It seems to actually be more conniving, evil, and deceptive now than it was before. It changed because it had to. It is a dying cult, and it changed to try to prolong its life - to try to attract new members and retain current members.

It had to become far less analytical and doctrinal and to dumb down its literature because the internet exposed flaws in its doctrine. It can no longer be analytical and doctrinal because if it tries to, it will get shredded to pieces on the internet and exposed. It has to play it safe now. A few years ago, there was suspicion on this site that the organization had hired a PR firm to help it change its image. It produced a website, videos, & music (pop-like music). It began to have broadcast programs like those of televangelist religions it used to ridicule.

When I was a JW, I worked my ass off and slaved in misery for the organization. I don't think JWs do that anymore. The whole realm of JWdom is softer now. For example, back in my days as a JW, the organization and individual JWs were bold. Now, JWs run from questions and challenges and are cowardly.

So, the religion is still a harmful, deceptive cult. What some perceive to be its becoming more loving is actually a weakening.

P.S. They started to do Zoom meetings due to the virus, but, the organization is trying to get JWs to meet back in person now. And, concerning getting time in the ministry, it does seem that it's easier for JWs now. The pandemic changed that. I don't think JWs can or will ever go back to being the way they were in the ministry in the old days. The ministry was weakening even before the pandemic. That's because JWs face more obstacles in the ministry as time progresses. The internet has exposed the failed predictions, crazy past, looney teachings, corruption, etc. People are less tolerant of them, they have cameras everywhere, etc.

3

Meet Olivia Newton-John's Grandfather, Max Born

by DNCall in

olivia's maternal grandfather fled htiler's germany in 1933. he was one of the founders of quantum mechanics and a close friend of albert einstein.

it was max born who famously wrote: "the belief that there is only one truth and that oneself is in possession of it, seems to me the deepest root of all that is evil in the world.

".

Magnum

That reminds me of an incident that occurred about 40 years ago. I was taking a university course in materials science as part of an engineering curriculum. The beginning of the course included some quantum mechanics. The professor was talking about Max Born and he asked "do you know who his granddaughter is?" In a big auditorium, I shouted "Olivia Newton-John." I'll never forget the look on his face; he looked at me in shock that I knew that.

I was a collector of math and science books and had read that in several books (no internet back then).

7

Woke Up Feeling Poetic, so an ExJW Poem

by Simon in

jw
friends

come here you heavy hearted who departed from the truth your youth and family trapped you in.. no need to fear that armageddons near and you will be forgotten as a rotten failure to your kin.. the freedom that you took is nothing that a crusty book can ever realistically replace.. so stand up tall, tell all who need to hear that it is them who fear to look you in the face..

Magnum

it is them who fear to look you in the face

That is SO true in my case. A few years ago, a prominent elder with whom I used to be really good friends came over and asked me to come back to meetings. He also told me that he was scared of me. He knew I could rip his beliefs to shreds. I know that other JWs in my area feel that way, too. Haven't heard a peep from them in years. If I see one in a store, he/she looks down and avoids me.

3

Magnum Actor died.

by Lost in the fog in

jw
friends

https://news.sky.com/story/magnum-pi-actor-roger-e-mosley-dies-after-sustaining-injuries-in-car-crash-12668467.

Magnum

That show brings back good memories. I have really nostalgic feelings about it. Loved that time period and that point in my life (had not yet taken the plunge and officially joined the cult). Sad about Mosley and Olivia Newton-John.

9

Online Lesson: Why does suffering and evil exist?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

bible teachings.

online lessons.

basic bible teachings.

Magnum

The issuing of suffering among humans and animals has always been the #1 issue to me. Some years ago, I was working in the door-to-door work alone and a nice, seemingly educated middle-aged man asked me about the suffering issue - how a loving god could allow suffering. I explained to him the textbook JW answer concerning the issue of universal sovereignty and how God has allowed suffering and is allowing it to prove a point. He completely understood the point I was making, but, he looked me in the eye and said "but, that is a hard perspective to keep."

His point was that what I said made sense, but when you see horrific suffering, it's hard to accept an answer like that. The suffering is not just, for example, a few headaches and some mild itching. It is often sheer unimaginable horror. There have been millions of years* of gruesome, horrible suffering. A few days ago, I downloaded as evidence of suffering a YouTube video of animals eating each other alive. I couldn't stand to watch it, but I did get a glimpse as I was downloading it. It showed a big herbivore lying on its side screaming in horror and terror as it was being eaten alive by predators. As one who is extremely concerned about animal welfare and who rescues animals, I have seen with my own eyes much horror. I have downloaded many videos and books and articles about it. Watch the YouTube video titled "Dominion"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRAfJyEsko)

Read about some of the tortures humans have used on each other throughout history.

*Yeah, there is massive evidence that animals ate each other and suffered miserably for millions of years before any supposed rebellion in the supposed Garden of Eden. Completely blows a hole in the JW doctrine that suffering started after the rebellion.

29

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?

by Fisherman in

“who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?” — math 24:45. according to jw, the faithful and discreet slave are the “anointed” men of the “governing body” of the jehovah’s witnesses religion..

Magnum

I just read Mt 24:36-51 to get the context. It seems to me that the faithful slave is one who carries out his duties and is responsible and industrious. Verses 45-47 seem to be simply a lesson or parable about being diligent in the last days. What would make anybody think the passage is prophetic - that it indicates that there would be some specific entity that it's referring to?

13

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game.....And, An Assembly

by titch in

folks: well, here in the united states, tonight, july 19th, is when the mlb all-star game will be played.

and, it will be played at dodger stadium, in los angeles, california.

for those of you who don't know, the all-star game is a game in which members of the american league teams compete with members of the national league teams.

Magnum

Very sad to me. I believed it all back then, and it was so different then. I was nine that summer. I think I went to that convention in Atlanta, but not sure. Even though I hate JWdom now, I miss what I thought it was back then. I thought I was part of a special group that was going to live forever in paradise and that the end was imminent back then. No JW at that time could have even remotely contemplated the year 2022 with no "new world".

25

Did they read this today at the meeting?

by Jerryh in

.

Magnum

joao: "I'm not sure that when they say that "what is said in those messages applies to all of God’s people today" means that they are admitting that the NT was written to all, including the non-anointed JWs. Their use of language is very tricky."

I feel the same way.