ezekiel3

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Posts by ezekiel3

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  35

  Jehovah's Witnesses: How Their Subculture is Fading Away.

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am old enough to remember the days when conventions lasted many long days and large.

  numbers of brothers were employed in preparing hot meals served on trays, army-style.

  also recall how good these steam cooked meals tasted - and how policemen, assigned to.

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  ezekiel3

  Great statement.

  JWs live in a cultural vacuum. Even their language is bent on production: labeling the rare recruit as a "Bible Study" or "Return Visit".

  No one is a noun -- only verbs -- marching on like empty husks.
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  20

  Where did the insects go?

  by Ring Wielder in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  .

  i might be a bit green on this one....but no one has ever given me a satisfactory explanation of how all the millions of kinds of insects survived the flood....any thoughts?

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  ezekiel3

  but no one has ever given me a satisfactory explanation

  Same here. Remember only two of each kind!

  That would have made quite a lonely ant hill.
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  36

  eating disorders in JWs

  by girl_interrupted in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  what would the jehovah's witnesses have to say about eating disorders?

  presumably any kind of mental illness is frowned upon and put down to weakness of the spirit.....i know when i was in it, one sister was severely chastised for having depression....she was told to have more faith in jehovah and presumably when she did, her husband would stop beating her and sexually abusing their kids which was understandably the source of her depression!

  !

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  ezekiel3

  It's very difficult to reconcile any "disorder" (mental, diet, compusive etc) with a "spiritual paradise".

  By the way, I would love to see the references that advocate therapy and counseling by the WTS. Even our thread-hijackers here phrase it 'condoning'. What does that tell you?

  defd: Some of the LATESTWatchtowers an Awakes condone seeking medical help if needed.

  In fact WTS casts a shadow over therapy and counseling:

  *** w00 9/15 p. 5 Soon—A World Without Despair ***

  Adversities and suffering can cause an individual to lose his mental balance. The wise man said: "Mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy." (Ecclesiastes 7:7) So a person who talks about suicide should be taken seriously. The problems he is having, whether emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual, may require prompt attention. Of course, professional treatments and therapies vary, and a personal decision must be made regarding forms of therapy.—Galatians 6:5.

  Fairly latent? Check out the cited scripture there in Galatians and tell me what you interpret:

  (Galatians 6:5) . . .For each one will carry his own load.

  Notice this article opens with the same principle. Read it and judge for yourself. My comments in red.

  ---

  *** w96 9/1 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers ***

  Questions

  From Readers

  Would

  it be wise for a Christian to consult a mental-health practitioner?

  Reports from some lands indicate that there has been an increase in emotional and mental illnesses in these "last days." (2 Timothy 3:1) Christians feel deep compassion when fellow believers are affected, but they recognize that each one must decide for himself whether to seek treatment for his illness and, if so, what kind of treatment. "Each one will carry his own load." (Can you imagine this being said about physical health disorders?) (Galatians 6:5) Some, suffering severely from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, deep clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, self-mutilation, and other distressing disorders, have been able to live fairly normal lives after obtaining the right professional help.

  In some places it has become quite fashionable to seek therapy. In many cases the patient does not have a severe mental disorder but has difficulty coping with some situation in life. However, it is the Bible that gives the most effective help in handling the difficult problems of life. (Psalm 119:28, 143) Through the Bible, Jehovah supplies wisdom, thinking ability, and true knowledge—things that fortify us mentally and emotionally. (Proverbs 2:1-11; Hebrews 13:6) Faithful servants of God may express themselves irrationally at times because of severe inner turmoil. (Job 6:2, 3) James 5:13-16 encourages such ones to call on the elders for help and counsel. A Christian may be spiritually sick, or he may be distressed by an unchangeable circumstance or by oppressive stresses, or he may feel that he is the victim of injustice. (Ecclesiastes 7:7; Isaiah 32:2; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Such a person can find help with the elders, who will ‘grease him with oil’—that is, skillfully impart comforting Bible counsel—and also "pray over him." The result? "The prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up [out of his despondency or his feeling of being abandoned by God]."

  What, though, if a person’s mental distress and confusion persist despite the skillful help of spiritual shepherds? Some in this situation have chosen to undergo a thorough physical examination. (Why not just to the source of the matter with counseling?) (Compare Proverbs 14:30; 16:24; 1 Corinthians 12:26.) A physical problem may lie behind emotional or mental distress. Treating such a problem has in some cases given relief to the emotionally ill person. If no physical problem is found, the physician, upon request, may recommend a mental-health professional. What then? As stated, this is a decision each individual must weigh for himself. Others should not criticize or judge.(And why would they??) —Romans 14:4.

  Nevertheless, practical wisdom must be exercised and care taken not to forget Bible principles. (Proverbs 3:21; Ecclesiastes 12:13) In the case of physical sickness, patients are faced with a variety of treatment choices, from orthodox medicine to therapies such as naturopathy, acupuncture, and homeopathy. There are also different kinds of mental-health practitioners. Among them are analytic psychotherapists and others, who may delve into the patient’s personal history to try to find reasons for irregular behavior or painful emotions. Behavioral psychotherapists may try to help the patient learn new behavior patterns. Some mental-health practitioners believe that most mental illnesses should be treated with drugs. Reportedly, others recommend diet and vitamins.

  Patients and their families should use caution when considering these choices. (Proverbs 14:15) Significantly, Professor Paul McHugh, director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that the mental-health profession "is a rudimentary medical art. It lacks easy access to proof of its proposals even as it deals with disorders of the most complex features of human life—mind and behavior." This situation leaves the door open to eccentricity and fraud, as well as well-intentioned treatments that may do more harm than good.

  It should be mentioned, too, that while psychiatrists and psychologists have professional, postgraduate degrees, many others with no professional qualifications practice without supervision as counselors or therapists. (Duh, check credentials! Why demonize the profession?) Some individuals have spent a lot of money consulting such unqualified people.

  Even with a trained, qualified mental-health professional, there are things to consider. When choosing a medical doctor or surgeon, we have to be sure that he will respect our Bible-based views. Similarly, it would be dangerous to consult a mental-health professional who does not respect our religious and moral views. (Like cult tactics and high control environments with no room for critical thinking?) Many Christians are striving hard, despite mental and emotional confusion, to have "the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had." (Romans 15:5) Such are rightly concerned about the attitudes of anyone who might affect their thinking or behavior. Some practitioners view any restrictions imposed by Scriptural beliefs as unnecessary and potentially harmful to mental health. (Like disfellowshipping perhaps?) They may approve, even recommend, practices condemned in the Bible, such as homosexuality or marital infidelity.

  These ideas are included in what the apostle Paul called "the contradictions of the falsely called ‘knowledge.’" (1 Timothy 6:20) They contradict the truth about the Christ and are part of "the philosophy and empty deception" of this world. (Colossians 2:8) The Bible’s touchstone is clear: "There is no wisdom, nor any discernment, nor any counsel in opposition to Jehovah." (Proverbs 21:30) Mental-health practitioners who say "good is bad and bad is good" are "bad associations." Far from helping to heal unstable minds, they will "spoil useful habits."—Isaiah 5:20; 1 Corinthians 15:33.

  So a Christian who feels that it is necessary to consult a mental-health professional should scrutinize the qualifications, attitude, and reputation of the practitioner and the possible effect of any treatment recommended. (NOTE: if the mental-health professional is a JW, or a JW works in that office, that person is OBLIGATED to report "un-Christian conduct" even if that action violates privacy laws.) If a distressed Christian cannot do this himself, perhaps a mature, close friend or relative may be able to help. A Christian who is uncertain as to the wisdom of a particular treatment may find that talking with the elders in the congregation is helpful—although the final decision is his own (or his parents’, or the joint decision of husband and wife).

  Science can do much more today than in times past to alleviate suffering. Still, there are many diseases—both physical and mental—that at present are incurable and have to be endured through this system of things. (James 5:11) In the meantime "the faithful and discreet slave," the elders, and all others in the congregation reach out a hand of compassion and support to sick ones. And Jehovah himself strengthens them to endure until that glorious time when sickness will be no more.—Matthew 24:45; Psalm 41:1-3; Isaiah 33:24.

  [Footnotes]

  Sometimes an individual may be asked to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, perhaps when being considered for high-level employment. Whether one submits to such an evaluation or not is a personal decision, but it should be noted that a psychiatric evaluation is not psychiatric treatment. (WTF?)

  See "Winning the Battle Against Depression," in the March 1, 1990, issue of The Watchtower.

  Some mental illnesses seem to respond well to the correct medications. But these medications must be used with caution under the guidance of skilled and experienced medical physicians or psychiatrists, since there can be severe side effects if dosages are not correctly adjusted.

  See the article "Mental Distress—When It Afflicts a Christian" in the October 15, 1988, issue of The Watchtower.
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  8

  Do they really know what they claim to know?

  by Blueblades in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  everyone in the religious field, it turns out, has relevant expertise.

  yet there is prodigious diversity and complexity of religious thought and practice.

  do they really know what they claim to know?

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  ezekiel3

  I know that I don't know

  Your path to wisdom begins with that phrase. Bon Voyage!
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  21

  Estimated 2004/5 Annual Service Report

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  2004-2005 service year baptisms

  (as reported in the u.s. km)

  sept 04 1,791

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  ezekiel3

  
  Considering that there were 40,000 a year leaving per year about 20 years ago, what does that say?

  Negative net gain.
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  2

  WTS Troubles: Cheap computer + increased 'net

  by doinmypart in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  india rolled out a cheap, $225, computer and wants to increase access to the internet.

  as technology rolls along and more people become accustomed to it, the wts leaders ring their hands and lose a little more control.. oh how i hope this trend continues, having an increasingly greater impact on the wts.. india's first low-cost personal computer has been launched in the tamil nadu state capital, madras.

  designed by it firm hcl infosystems, it is priced at 9,990 rupees ($225) and includes all the basic features required for a first-time user.

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  ezekiel3

  India 2004 peak publishers: 25,353

  Source: http://www.watchtower.org/statistics/worldwide_report.htm

  Start tracking the decline.
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  46

  long years of brainwashing finally come to an end.....

  by girl_interrupted in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hi everyone, i'm new here......basically, i found this website a couple of weeks ago when i was in dire need of some like-minded souls who had felt screwed up about the jw's.

  from about the age of four/five, my parents and i were involved in the organisation, and all three of us are stil messed up because of it.....we are no longer involved in it, but it took quite a few years before my parents found the strength to leave.

  to begin with, i was quite a zealous jw, was baptised at twelve and disfellowshipped at fourteen, because as i got older i began to grow ''weak in the truth'' as people so kindly described me!

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  ezekiel3

  Isn't this an interesting thread. Somehow this cry for help has all the pro-JWs crawling from the woodwork.

  I encourage all readers to carefully analyze jmusic's statement above. All the classic rational is there including the real reason JWs won't come to terms with their fantasy world:

  I can't live my life without purpose.

  Also the double standard for JWs and other religions:

  For the WTS one standard...

  If the society is teaching anything wrong now, it will be corrected in the near future.

  For other beliefs another standard...

  I can't accept any other religion as the truth because I've seen the scriptual evidence showing false teachings in other religions.

  Bald-faced self-deception:

  I made a choice to be a witness and follow the teachings, and I choose not to associate with disfellowshipped ones, even my best friends.

  (What do you call participating on an apostate site if not "association"?)

  Indeed, "no spirtually strong witness would be posting on this site" including jmusic.

  jmusic, I'm counting on the fact that you are reading this. Thank you for confirming that the mind of a JW is desperate for anything but the truth.
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  17

  The time periods of Daniel

  by Leolaia in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  one of the most perplexing puzzles of daniel is the differing way the author referred to the length of time the rebuilt temple would be defiled during the persecution of antiochus epiphanes iv (175-163 bc).

  historically, the period is known with some precision; the heathen altar (the "abomination of desolation" of daniel and 1 maccabees) was installed on 15 chislev 167 bc and the temple was rededicated on 25 chislev 164 bc -- a period of almost exactly 3 years (1 maccabees 1:57, 4:52).

  the desolation of jerusalem however began some several months prior to this (cf.

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  ezekiel3

  But when 160 BC passed without the realization of the promised kingdom, the readers of Daniel would have likely sought new ways to reinterpret the heretofore unfulfilled prophecies.

  So this "1914" thing isn't that new, eh?

  This is a great viewpoint on Daniel.
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  18

  Miss Peaches - The Story (warning its long)

  by misspeaches in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was born into a family that didn't attend church.

  my mother had been raised a catholic and was quite fanatical about it until puberty hit and she discovered boys.

  dad's family were christian but non-practicing.

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  ezekiel3

  After a two years of not going to meetings I worked up the courage to google Jehovah's Witnesses and see what was being said about them. I was shocked.

  Ahh, that magic moment.

  The impenitrable wall suddenly reveals a door, that the door is not locked, that it is open.

  Only then do you realize the wall was never there.
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  8

  They came back to my door after almost 3 years!!!

  by Lapuce in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well a month ago i had a real surprise at my door and elder and his wife showed up at my door, i did not know this elder yet he knew a bit about me that i left my ex jw wife and that i was out since nov. 2002 , and they asked me if i wanted to come back to the truth and be re-intergrated into the dubs..... .

  strange no????

  i dont get them....... .

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  ezekiel3

  So, what did you tell them?