Sorry to hear that Data-Dog. Do you feel more lonely at the meetings?
Does posting here ease the feeling at all?
...
Everyone else, good points. The Governing Body clearly want people to feel lonely, isolated from family and friends when they are disfellowshipped, so that they will return..
Further, they insist that even the persons close family must leave them alone in that dangerous state of mind, as shown in the quote from the OP.
defender of truth
JoinedPosts by defender of truth
-
11
Loneliness can have crippling effects , and the Watchtower knows how to use it..
by defender of truth in"we are, as a rule, considerably diminished when disengaged from others.
isolation may very often be the sum total of wretchedness, as the writer thomas carlyle put it.".
"though note what he had to say about the two years he spent in isolation: its an awful thing, solitary.
-
-
defender of truth
-
11
Loneliness can have crippling effects , and the Watchtower knows how to use it..
by defender of truth in"we are, as a rule, considerably diminished when disengaged from others.
isolation may very often be the sum total of wretchedness, as the writer thomas carlyle put it.".
"though note what he had to say about the two years he spent in isolation: its an awful thing, solitary.
-
-
defender of truth
Some reasons you might feel lonely or isolated
"*Losing a loved one or friend
*Lack of close family ties
*Fear of rejection from others or feelings of being “different” or stigmatised by society
*..reduced connection with your culture of origin"
...
How does loneliness and isolation affect your mental health?
"Everyone feels lonely from time to time, but long periods of loneliness or social isolation can have a negative impact on your physical, mental and social health. Some signs include:
*Physical symptoms– aches and pains, headaches, illness or worsening of medical conditions
*Mental health conditions– increased risk of depression, anxiety, paranoia or panic attacks
*Low energy– tiredness or lack of motivation
*Sleep problems– difficulty getting to sleep, waking frequently or sleeping too much
*Diet problems– loss of appetite, sudden weight gain or loss
*Substance use– Increased consumption of alcohol, smoking, medications, drugs
*Negative feelings– feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or thoughts about suicide"
https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/Facts---Information/Loneliness/Loneliness-and-Isolation -
130
Atheists and JWs are on the same footing!
by exWTslave inatheists believe that god should stop the large-scale injustice on earth; if he does'nt, then he does not exist.
jws believe that god will intervene sometime in the last days!.
interestingly, both throw themselves on their own expectation of soemthing god should or will do, yet in fact something god does not have to do.
-
-
defender of truth
ExWTslave said: "Same principle applies toTHE NATURAL CALAMITIES too. If people are loving, nature too will be loving."
So if we act lovingly toward each other, natural disasters won't happen? -
130
Atheists and JWs are on the same footing!
by exWTslave inatheists believe that god should stop the large-scale injustice on earth; if he does'nt, then he does not exist.
jws believe that god will intervene sometime in the last days!.
interestingly, both throw themselves on their own expectation of soemthing god should or will do, yet in fact something god does not have to do.
-
-
defender of truth
exWTslave said: "Virtually every culture in the world has epics or stories that keep the memory of a Golden Age that once existed on earth where humans and animals lived like one-family, and all were vegetarians. At that time man was not hunting animals, nor animals were preying on man or animals."
Why, then, did God allow this Age you speak of to come to an end?
How many millions of years ago was this so-called Golden Age? Here is just one example of an ancient predator, others may know of other examples..
"Entelodonts lived in the forests and plains where they were the apex predators of North America's early Miocene and Oligocene, consuming carrion and live animals and rounding off their diets with plants and tubers. They would have hunted large animals, like the cow-sized artiodactyl Eporeodon major and the sheep-sized cameloid Poebrotherium wilsoni, dispatching them with a bite from their jaws. Some fossil remains of these other animals have been found with the bite marks of entelodonts on them."...."Entelodonts, sometimes nicknamed hell pigs or terminator pigs, are an extinct family of pig-like omnivores...from the late Eoceneto early Miocene epochs (37.2—16.3 million years ago)"
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entelodont -
11
Loneliness can have crippling effects , and the Watchtower knows how to use it..
by defender of truth in"we are, as a rule, considerably diminished when disengaged from others.
isolation may very often be the sum total of wretchedness, as the writer thomas carlyle put it.".
"though note what he had to say about the two years he spent in isolation: its an awful thing, solitary.
-
-
defender of truth
All the quotes in the above post are meant as irony, by the way.
-
11
Loneliness can have crippling effects , and the Watchtower knows how to use it..
by defender of truth in"we are, as a rule, considerably diminished when disengaged from others.
isolation may very often be the sum total of wretchedness, as the writer thomas carlyle put it.".
"though note what he had to say about the two years he spent in isolation: its an awful thing, solitary.
-
-
defender of truth
"My children stay in touch with me. I know they are very busy, but wherever they serve, they make time to keep me posted, sharing the experiences they have had in the field ministry. I read their letters over and over. It is as if they have talked with me every week, and I am so thankful for that. Also the Christian elders in my congregation give appropriate attention to us elderly and infirm ones, following up to make sure we have transportation to the congregation meetings and providing other needs. I consider my spiritual brothers and sisters a blessing from Jehovah.”
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102004402
......
"Actually, all of us at one time or another have felt the need for companionship— for someone to lend us an ear, to offer us reassurance or possibly to echo our deep feelings or inner thoughts, and to understand us as a person. We have a need for someone who is sensitive to our emotions."
"Loneliness is a powerful feeling, and it can be very painful. It is a feeling of emptiness.
There is a sensation of isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other humans.
We can become vulnerable and frightened.
Have you ever felt this way?"
"Perhaps you feel rejected by your peers because of your physical appearance , race, or religion."
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102004401 -
11
Loneliness can have crippling effects , and the Watchtower knows how to use it..
by defender of truth in"we are, as a rule, considerably diminished when disengaged from others.
isolation may very often be the sum total of wretchedness, as the writer thomas carlyle put it.".
"though note what he had to say about the two years he spent in isolation: its an awful thing, solitary.
-
-
defender of truth
"we are, as a rule, considerably diminished when disengaged from others. Isolation may very often be the “sum total of wretchedness”, as the writer Thomas Carlyle put it."
"Though note what he had to say about the two years he spent in isolation: “It’s an awful thing, solitary. It crushes your spirit and weakens your resistance more effectively than any other form of mistreatment… The onset of despair is immediate, and it is a formidable foe.”
"..we derive meaning from our emotional states largely through contact with others. Biologists believe that human emotions evolved because they aided co-operation among our early ancestors who benefited from living in groups. Their primary function is social. With no one to mediate our feelings of fear, anger, anxiety and sadness and help us determine their appropriateness, before long they deliver us a distorted sense of self, a perceptual fracturing or a profound irrationality. It seems that left too much to ourselves, the very system that regulates our social living can overwhelm us."
"We’ve known for a while that isolation is physically bad for us. Chronically lonely people have higher blood pressure, are more vulnerable to infection, and are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Loneliness also interferes with a whole range of everyday functioning, such as sleep patterns, attention and logical and verbal reasoning."
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140514-how-extreme-isolation-warps-minds
........
"A young man had been disfellowshipped for over ten years, during which time his father, mother, and four brothers “quit mixing in company” with him. At times, he tried to involve himself in their activities, but to their credit, each member of the family was steadfast in not having any contact with him.
After he was reinstated, he said that he always missed the association with his family, especially at night when he was alone.
But, he admitted, had the family associated with him even a little, that small dose would have satisfied him. However, because he did not receive even the slightest communication from any of his family, the burning desire to be with them became one motivating factor in his restoring his relationship with Jehovah.
Think of that if you are ever tempted to violate God’s command not to associate with your disfellowshipped relatives."
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2012282 -
130
Atheists and JWs are on the same footing!
by exWTslave inatheists believe that god should stop the large-scale injustice on earth; if he does'nt, then he does not exist.
jws believe that god will intervene sometime in the last days!.
interestingly, both throw themselves on their own expectation of soemthing god should or will do, yet in fact something god does not have to do.
-
-
defender of truth
(exWTslave, any reply would be appreciated)
"If evil and suffering exist, it proves man has chosen evil and its resultant suffering!"
ExWTSlave... Animals did not choose to suffer.
Why did God design animals to suffer and kill each other in painful ways, long before 'mankinds fall' ??
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/222352/1/Theists-why-does-God-allow-suffering#.U-jYul2t-o8 -
11
Douglas Walsh Trial Testimony - Take II
by waiting ini posted this yesterday, but friend's discussion is going on - and i really think this is a fascinating display on what obedience to the wtbts means to the gb or parts thereof.. obedience for the sake of unity to the organization is valued over anything else - including truth.
the douglas walsh triah took place in 1954. the vice president of the wtbts, fred franz, and the wtbts legal counsel, haydon covington, each gave testimony before the british court.. fred franz and haydon covington were testifying that some of its members were ordained ministers.. the man asking the questions is attorney for the ministry of labour and national service, part of which follows:.
q. is it not vital to speak the truth on religious matters?
-
-
defender of truth
Best..quote..ever.
"Q. Back to the point now. A false prophesy was promulgated?
A. I agree that.
Q. It had to be accepted by Jehovah’s Witnesses?
A. That is correct.
Q. If a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses took the view himself that that prophesy was wrong and said so he would be disfellowshipped?
A. Yes, if he said so and kept persisting in creating trouble, because if the whole organisation believes one thing, even though it be erronious and somebody else starts on his own trying to put his ideas across then there is disunity and trouble, there cannot be harmony, there cannot be marching. When a change comes it should come from the proper source, the head of the organisation, the governing body, not from the bottom upwards, because everybody would have ideas, and the organisation would disintegrate and go in a thousand different directions. Our purpose is to have unity.
Q. Unity at all costs?
A. Unity at all costs, because we believe and are sure that Jehovah God is using our organisation, the governing body of our organisation to direct it, even though mistakes are made from time to time.
Q. And unity based upon an enforced acceptance of false prophecy?
A. That is conceded to be true.
Q. And the person who expressed his view, as you say, that it was wrong, and was disfellowshipped, would be in breach of the Covenant, if he was baptized?
A. That is correct.
Q. And as you said yesterday expressly, would be worthy of death?
A. I think – – –
Q. Would you say yes or no?
A. I will answer yes, unhesitatingly.
Q. Do you call that religion?
A. It certainly is.
Q. Do you call it Christianity?
A. I certainly do." -
130
Atheists and JWs are on the same footing!
by exWTslave inatheists believe that god should stop the large-scale injustice on earth; if he does'nt, then he does not exist.
jws believe that god will intervene sometime in the last days!.
interestingly, both throw themselves on their own expectation of soemthing god should or will do, yet in fact something god does not have to do.
-
-
defender of truth
"If evil and suffering exist, it proves man has chosen evil and its resultant suffering!"
ExWTSlave... Animals did not choose to suffer.
Why did God design animals to suffer and kill each other in painful ways, long before 'mankinds fall' ??
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/222352/1/Theists-why-does-God-allow-suffering#.U-jYul2t-o8