bemused

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Posts by bemused

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  56

  JWs: not creationists but believe in creation...

  by TheStumbler in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been having a bit of an email exchange with elder dad and i need some advice.

  i thought i was getting through to him but i think my criticism and tone became a bit too strident in my last email and now he thinks that i am attacking him personally.

  i think he has dismissed everything i said because he perceived me as 'overally critical, and rude.. .

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  bemused

  As far as I can make out, JWs are creationists in any normal sense of the word. However for your Dad, the word creationist means a 6-day creationist, which JWs are not, therefore, in his eyes, JWs are not creationists. I'd give up on this one if I were you.
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  63

  why did they have to butcher the kingdom melodies?

  by purrpurr in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  its not like there was anything wrong with them was there?

  i used to love the old ones.

  these new ones feel like the equivalent of a deflated balloon.. does anyone have the answer?.

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  bemused

  As a never-in I can only comment on the songs at a couple of weddings I've been to. All I can say is that if those dirges are the choices for a joyous occasion, I'd hate to hear the sombre ones. They were truly awful (though admittedly not helped by a tinny sound system and a poor singing effort from the mainly JW congregation).
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  53

  GOVERNING BODY PATTERNS OF DECEPTION

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  pattern of excuses.

  " zion's watch tower 1894 jul 15 p.226.

  (compare isaiah 8:11-13.

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  bemused

  Thanks Terry, this is really helpful. Unfortunately many Witnesses will play the 'new light' card (although how that can explain the UN thing I don't know). Mind you, if new light is ongoing, all current teachings might be wrong. I used that one once on a new lighter and got the old rabbit in the headlights look.
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  20

  how is it that some fade out of the org and others seem to be pushed?

  by sowhatnow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i cant figure out how some persons like my husband and son, simply got too 'busy' and gradually stopped going to meetings, and were totally left alone, and yet some persons.

  seem to indicate that people were constantly in persuit of them, for a way to disfellowship them.. the ones who fade never get 'disfellowshiped' unless they write a letter formally requesting thier name be of the membership.. just like the jw org tells people who get baptised to do to thier former church,.

  i havent been to a meeting in a few months however it is also under a 'remodel' im sure im not missed.

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  bemused

  Why on earth would you write a letter? Catholics don't drop a line to the Pope when they decide they don't believe any more. It sounds like you're almost out and your family already are so just forget about the KH and enjoy your life.
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  10

  If there were no shunning ...

  by bemused in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a lot of members of this forum are still notionally active jws, in many cases because of worries about the loss of contact with family and friends if they were to leave.

  i was never in so it's hard for me to judge, but it seems to me that if the watchtower org were to announce tomorrow that shunning is wrong and jws should keep contact with family and friends who leave then the effect would be devasting for congregation numbers.

  if so then obviously such an announcement is highly unlikely, but is my view correct?

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  bemused

  A lot of members of this forum are still notionally active JWs, in many cases because of worries about the loss of contact with family and friends if they were to leave. I was never in so it's hard for me to judge, but it seems to me that if the Watchtower org were to announce tomorrow that shunning is wrong and JWs should keep contact with family and friends who leave then the effect would be devasting for congregation numbers. If so then obviously such an announcement is highly unlikely, but is my view correct? What would the effect be if there were no shunning?
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  50

  Hello

  by lurkernomore in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i thought it was high time to introduce myself (without my name of course).

  as my name would suggest i have been reading your intriguing post, thoughts and discussions for some time now.

  around 3/4 months to be exact.. i guess to start with it would seem fitting to give a little background on my current situation.. i'm a born-in, but have over the last few years found that through a number of varying occurences, (some of which i may discuss in future posts) that my 'zeal' has gone from regular field service and meetings to no service in over a year and very sporadic meeting attendance.

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  bemused

  Welcome! As others have said, it's great that your wife is on your side. I appreciate it's very early days but maybe start thinking now about how you might build a life outside the 'Truth'.
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  46

  hello everyone

  by purrpurr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been browsing the site for some time as things that the society teach just are not adding up much these days.

  by exploring some of the threads on here i'm starting to see why.

  a brief bio.

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  bemused

  Hello purrpurr and welcome to the site.

  I'm sure you'll find lots of support here. Do bear in mind though that there's a whole mix of people on the site from all round the world and with a range of views so debates can get quite robust. There are even some members like me who have never been a Witness but are concerned about in relatives or friends.

  If I can recommend one piece of reading for you, do try to get hold of 'The Magic of Reality' by Richard Dawkins - it's quite short and written very clearly and will give you a a non-religious perspective on the world (whether you agree with that perspective or not).
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  2

  untitled

  by bemused in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  apologies if this has been raised already (i don't check in to the board all that often) but can anyone make head or tail of this from the latest watchtower (study edition):.

  a former atheist confessed: the creation convinces me that god wants mankind to enjoy life and therefore he will not allow suffering to go on forever.

  also, as the world descends further into ungodliness, jehovahs people are progressing in faith, zeal, and love.

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  bemused

  Apologies if this has been raised already (I don't check in to the board all that often) but can anyone make head or tail of this from the latest Watchtower (Study Edition):

  A former atheist confessed: “The creation convinces me that God wants mankind to enjoy life and therefore he will not allow suffering to go on forever. Also, as the world descends further into ungodliness, Jehovah’s people are progressing in faith, zeal, and love. Only Jehovah’s spirit could produce this modern-day miracle.”

  It's from the article 'Are you convinced you have the truth? Why?' (para. 17). The answers to these two questions for this 'former atheist' appear to be 'yes, definitely' and 'no idea, so I'll make something up'.

  The first bit is standard stuff I guess, as usual avoiding the question as to why a loving all-powerful god has allowed suffering since humans first appeared. But what's the second bit about - what miracle is being referred to? Is it the amazing fact that as more and more people wake up to the nonsense of organised religion there are still people willing to subscribe to the WT's bizarre doctrines?

  What do you think?
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  33

  Am I part of the Cure or am I part of the disease

  by Jon Preston in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so this is the ultimate dilemma.

  my wife and i are on the same page.

  do we fade, in which all our friends, and i stress friends call us and feel sick and hurt and hurt and we feel guilty; or do we da so we tell the wt what we see as wrong as what we see that lead us to believe its a false religion; or do we df and let me or my wife let them catch us at some wrong doing and stop going to meetigs..... .

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  bemused

  Jon. Although I've never been a JW, I have to agree with Searcher. When I decided I no longer believed in the Catholic faith I didn't write a letter to my bishop or try to provoke the local priest to ban me, I just stopped going to church. You want to leave, you don't need anybody's permission to leave so just leave.
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  20

  First trip to Europe this summer...only 20 years later than I planned :)

  by Gypsy Sam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so, i'm quite excited but also slightly freaked out as i'm able to go this summer instead of next like i had counted on (my daughter graduates next year and i was planning to go then).

  this means i'm doing this last minute and i wanted to see if any of you have used https://www.go-today.com or gateone travel or go ahead travel?.

  i'm planning on london, paris and rome for two weeks, likely july at this point.

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  bemused

  As others have said, you'll get by with english, but knowing a few words of french and italian may make your trip more interesting. Tour companies and organised trips are good if you want to cram a lot in, but it can be tiring getting dragged around. The London/Paris/Rome No.1 must-sees for me would be Westminster Abbey/Eiffel Tower/St Peter's. The best show in London IMO is Billy Elliot (but I'd recommend you have a quick look at Margaret Thatcher/miner's strike on Wikepedia beforehand to understand the context). If you've got time to travel out of the cities then Oxford is lovely and an easy trip from London while Versailles is spectacular and only just on the edge of Paris.

  Enjoy your trip!