OTWO, sorry dude, this won't be a long discussion as far as I am concerned...
Spike, you asked (Post 895):— What proof do you have? I'm interested in boning up on my Scriptural reasoning. How else can I do that, when I am not in association with the congegation (other than by singing with it and listening to its program)?
I posted one of the more referred to articles, you responded, and here is my counter: (Spikes comments in green)
JWN is not this type of site. (that is: a site started by JW's for JW's discussing scriptures, Field Service and meetings) It reminds me of the serious objections one receives in Field Service, which actually require me to look up the scriptures in the Index, and add to it from my Concordance; and to consult various of my other Bible translations, which helps me understand the Scriptures better, what I can defend and what I must wait for assistance regarding
JWN actually started as a neutral site, and has grown. Depending on your perspective, that can be good or bad. Certainly, JWN is not Governing Body friendly or approved. I merely copied pertinent information you requested in post 895. I don't think it pretends to be anything else.
Certainly, those who are now seeing the GB for what it really is will be welcomed, those who insist on defending an organization that continues to hurt people in a variety of ways while lying about their past are probably going to get a tougher time.
Personally, my experience on JWN this last month has helped me look into my actual NWT Reference Bible much more. I feel that I am learning how to "cease becoming unreasonable" and get to"perceiving what the will of Jehovah is." My TV viewing time is way down and my time spent on "family history" is almost nil, due to the full-time energy I expend, here on JWN.
Well, if thats what you want. My NWT reference bible is chock full of notes from Gilead, and I have used it to great effect since I left. To each their own. I don't begrudge your desire to not watch TV or looking into family history, whatever that means.
"no question" is not true from my experience. "We know them" might be true, but that still doesn't guarantee trust. "Brotherly love" and "true interchange of encouragement" are very consistently demonstrated in some individuals, less so with others. "On-line association" is true to some extent, in that I feel we're all outcasts to some extent; in others, it very much depends on how the posters attitude is.
I actually appreciated your honest response here. I wonder though, why stop there. No organization can guarantee or claim what JW's do. All of us here can bear witness to that. "Interchange of encouragment" is a thinly veiled JW term that is used to guilt the members into doing more, coming to meetings, going out in FS, etc.....
Every poster has their own attitude. If I can draw one comparison between this board and JW's, it is that anyone you might consider to be an irritant, jerk, whatever you want to call them, are their own person. Often times, a good person in JW's is not rated by how good, or Christlike they might be, but how much they tow the company line.
Spike, this is what caught my attention, and I have included the quote from the KM and your intriguing response to it.
AllTimeJeff (Post 1948) For Spike post #895
*** km 11/99 Use of the Internet—Be Alert to the Dangers! ***
16 There are no limits or checks on the kind of information that is maintained by and accessible to Internet users. Often, children and teenagers are easy targets of crime and exploitation in this environment. Children are trusting, curious, and anxious to explore the relatively new world of cyberspace. Parents therefore need to supervise their children and give them sound Scriptural guidance about using the Internet, just as they would guide them in their choice of music or movies.—1 Cor. 15:33.
Spike Tassel (Post 907):— I am a discerning adult with no impressionable ones around when I'm on JWN.
I thought it an interesting parsing of words myself when this first was published. Why talk and talk about apostates then target the kids? In addition, do you think this is limited to teens? No, it most certainly isn't. Here is another quote on the internet
*** km 9/02 p. 8 par. 5 Avoid the Pursuit of "Valueless Things" ***
5
God’s Appointed Channel: Bear in mind that our heavenly Father has an appointed channel of communication, "the faithful and discreet slave." That "slave" has the responsibility to determine what information is made available to the household of faith, as well as "the proper time" for it to be dispensed. This spiritual food is available only through the theocratic organization. We should always look to God’s appointed channel for reliable information, not to a network of Internet users.—Matt. 24:45.
I don't know how they could make it any plainer then that. JW's are simply not supposed to be here. But as you said earlier, your conscience allows that.
Why stop there? Why assign value to something that would cage back your free will and conscience? It is purposeful when we call the JW's "the borg".
Btw, I don't attack the JW's so much as the leadership of the Governing Body and Bethel heavies...... They have a clear agenda, and it hasn't changed a lick.
Immorality is something I definitely oppose. And I'm not interested in disowning the truth or believing information provided by apostates. I resist this spirit of treachery and all the moreso as I increase in my practical use of the Bible. In addition to Proverbs 2:10-19, I also like Proverbs 26:4-5, and find this ministry particularly enjoyable as share in it with those such as Reniaa (a regular-pioneer-type here on JWN).
Huh? I am not interesteted in dissuading you from being a JW. When you get reinstated, it seems you will be right at home, and I wish you well. Please be kind to those who have doubts, and don't treat them in the way the GB would like them to be treated. Try your best to be empathetic to families sawn in two because of disfellowshipping and the subsequent shunning that follows. Try to understand why the pedophile issue and the deliberate choice of how the GB has handled that basically proves that they cannot be "the one true religion". When someone asks you if JW's were part of the UN, don't lie, tell them the truth, that they were for over a decade. When you use the bible out in FS, remember that when you preach that 1914 is a real prophetic date that early 20th century JW's used, based on the date of Jerusalems fall being 606/607 BCE, that it is a bald faced lie.
Btw, I learned ALL of this by getting on the internet and meeting former JW's who helped me, and continue to help me out of a cult. I obviously can't support you coming on this forum and, along with Reinaa, lie about those who have left JW's, and lie about what is good about JW's. Because you and Reinaa have another agenda, and it involves lying, turning off your brain, and deceit, whether you want to call it "practical use of the bible" or not. You disrespect tens of thousands who have been irreparably harmed by this cult that you choose to support in small, Spike sized pieces.
It seems that you are determined to follow an unloving organization that lies about itself to its members and the public. I would not think of stopping a fool from doing what he must. Perhaps this is a necesarry leg on your life's journey that you must go through. To that, I wish you safe passage to the end.
PEACE! I have no issue with you. I really do pity you, and that isn't me trying to be condescending. Thats the truth.