Posts by Fatfreek

19

Honest fading a myth?

by Fatfreek in

is honest fading possible?.

i've thought several times that if i had it to do over again, living in this age of jwd with all its online support and encouragement -- along with the huge resource of the internet -- that i'd have faded slowly instead of allowed the disfellowshipping because of apostasy.. on the other hand i wonder if that's all stupid speculation, wishfully thinking it would have prevented the cutting off and the shunning of the remaining family members, especially the children.. i know you'll correct me if i'm wrong on the following premise but i suspect if a person is honest, he cannot prevent the disfellowshipping -- in a great many cases.

i believe that it all depends on the vigilance of the local elders and how penetrating they are in their questions, and how perceptive they are with your answers during sheparding calls.. "um ... brother, we've missed your presence at the meetings and in the field ministry and we're certainly here to help you, but wonder if you've actually lost your faith that jehovah's earthly organization is the correct one.

Fatfreek

First, my apology. I haven't been able to get on internet until a moment ago. Then I read your wonderful posts, some of which I want to respond to. And I will but have to go out of town till this evening. Later.

Fats

19

Honest fading a myth?

by Fatfreek in

is honest fading possible?.

i've thought several times that if i had it to do over again, living in this age of jwd with all its online support and encouragement -- along with the huge resource of the internet -- that i'd have faded slowly instead of allowed the disfellowshipping because of apostasy.. on the other hand i wonder if that's all stupid speculation, wishfully thinking it would have prevented the cutting off and the shunning of the remaining family members, especially the children.. i know you'll correct me if i'm wrong on the following premise but i suspect if a person is honest, he cannot prevent the disfellowshipping -- in a great many cases.

i believe that it all depends on the vigilance of the local elders and how penetrating they are in their questions, and how perceptive they are with your answers during sheparding calls.. "um ... brother, we've missed your presence at the meetings and in the field ministry and we're certainly here to help you, but wonder if you've actually lost your faith that jehovah's earthly organization is the correct one.

Fatfreek

Is honest fading possible?

I've thought several times that if I had it to do over again, living in this age of JWD with all its online support and encouragement -- along with the huge resource of the internet -- that I'd have faded slowly instead of allowed the disfellowshipping because of apostasy.

On the other hand I wonder if that's all stupid speculation, wishfully thinking it would have prevented the cutting off and the shunning of the remaining family members, especially the children.

I know you'll correct me if I'm wrong on the following premise but I suspect if a person is honest, he cannot prevent the disfellowshipping -- in a great many cases. I believe that it all depends on the vigilance of the local elders and how penetrating they are in their questions, and how perceptive they are with your answers during sheparding calls.

"Um ... brother, we've missed your presence at the meetings and in the field ministry and we're certainly here to help you, but wonder if you've actually lost your faith that Jehovah's earthly organization is the correct one. You do believe that don't you?"

Here's where honesty comes in. If your answer is "No, I no longer believe that it is", then does that not in itself present grounds for disfellowshipping?

Here's one more scenario. Your 14-year-old child comes to you with a question. "Dad, I see that you've quit coming to meetings and taking us out in field service. Mom says you're no longer a believer. Is that true?" You have another choice -- put your tail between your legs and squelch the anger because of the mother's misleading statement and dishonestly tell him, "Yeah, son, she's right. I'm truly a scumbag and you needn't look to me any longer for guidance during the remainder of your growing years."

Or, you can tell him, "That's a good question, son. Sit down right here and let's talk about it." You know that when you do this (remain honest), you become vulnerable for apostasy charges if the child in some way leaks this meeting back to his mother or some other member of the congregation.

What do you think?
Fats

26

There must be an "organization"

by sinis in

i have not, nor will go back to "meetings" after finding out how i was spiritually mislead through the years.i have actually found more comfort in doing my own studying.

my wife still goes occassionaly and her sister and brother-in-law just started going back.

so we went over there house the other night and we got into a conversation in which he said they went to the meeting today (sunday).

Fatfreek

The important thing is, "Does the WTS measure up to what is expected of the true christian religion?" Now we have some talking points!

Excellent, BluesBro.

For myself, I attack on their issues of dishonesty which humankind universally views as intentional (there are honest mistakes but never honest lies).

Fats

23

What will sharks eat in the New System?

by PopeOfEruke in

ok so we all know the lion will lie down with the lamb in the new system.

somehow the lions's 6 inch canines will become redundant and he will suddenly get the urge to eat grass.

acutally the lion's will choose to eat mint and they will jsut remember the missing lamb flavor.

Fatfreek

I saw a recent documentary that revealed (I think for the first time) where scientists gutted a pregnant shark, then gutted the lone baby. That baby's tummy had the remains of either one or two of its siblings.

So the short, simple answer is they'll eat each other till they're all gone, all but one. The remaining one will eat nothing but peanut butter and jelly~~fish~~ sandwiches.

Fats

14

Serena speaking for the Red Cross?

by Fatfreek in

i'm watching the u.s. open tennis and the williams sisters are about to play each other.

then comes the commercial.

serena, in a simple plea, asking the viewers to make their contribution to the american red cross toward the katrina tragedy.. good for you, serena.

Fatfreek

Serena and Venus at the most are unbaptized publishers

Hmmm ... I suspect you are right, Blondie*. I thought I'd remembered some interview where one or the other acknowledged she was one of Jehovah's Witnesses. And to me, that implies baptism. Then, again, some newbies use that expression loosely -- claiming they are but not actually having taken that fateful step.

Shows you what I know -- and that ain't much.

Fats

*Today is Blondie's (wife of Dagwood) 75th anniversary if you haven't caught the comics for the past three months. One online source, "First published on Sept. 8, 1930, Blondie was created by cartoonist Murat "Chic" Young. He passed the torch to his son Dean about a decade before his death. The images are created by artist Denis Lebrun."

14

Serena speaking for the Red Cross?

by Fatfreek in

i'm watching the u.s. open tennis and the williams sisters are about to play each other.

then comes the commercial.

serena, in a simple plea, asking the viewers to make their contribution to the american red cross toward the katrina tragedy.. good for you, serena.

Fatfreek

I'm watching the U.S. Open tennis and the Williams sisters are about to play each other. Then comes the commercial. Serena, in a simple plea, asking the viewers to make their contribution to the American Red Cross toward the Katrina tragedy.

Good for you, Serena. No mention of the "World Wide Work". I'll bet the bros. at headquarters are stewing in their angry juices.

Fats

15

Simpsons, "Thank God It's Doomsday"

by Fatfreek in

check out my favorite family, the simpsons, and its recent episode, "thank god it's doomsday".

i couldnt help but think that one scene illustrates how the gb arrives at their many date predictions over the years.. homer, at the kitchen table reading studiously: "hmmm.

marge: "homey, you havent touched your second dinner tonight -- and [noting the kitchen table covered with thick reference books] youre reading books.

Fatfreek

just gotta think that Matt Groenig has studied with the Witnesses. No JWism doesn't call it the Rapture, but the heart of it is there. -- Brenda

Right on, Brenda. The pseudo-calculations, the numeric BS, the dogmatism (after Archie Bunker, Homer is the perfect vehicle for that).

Now that they've cooled down on the date stuff, not to worry since we now have Jcanon (Jesus Christ Anonymous) on our board filling the gaps.

Fats

15

Simpsons, "Thank God It's Doomsday"

by Fatfreek in

check out my favorite family, the simpsons, and its recent episode, "thank god it's doomsday".

i couldnt help but think that one scene illustrates how the gb arrives at their many date predictions over the years.. homer, at the kitchen table reading studiously: "hmmm.

marge: "homey, you havent touched your second dinner tonight -- and [noting the kitchen table covered with thick reference books] youre reading books.

Fatfreek

Check out my favorite family, The Simpsons, and its recent episode, "Thank God It's Doomsday". I couldn’t help but think that one scene illustrates how the GB arrives at their many date predictions over the years.

Homer, at the kitchen table reading studiously: "Hmmm. Hmmm."

Marge: "Homey, you haven’t touched your second dinner tonight -- and [noting the kitchen table covered with thick reference books] you’re reading books. What’s going on?

Homer: Marge, the Rapture is nigh. Each book will help me figure out how nigh. This whole deal is scientifically proven.
[Homer begins to illustrate his ciphering on chalkboard]

"The book of Revelation[s] has 404 verses. Add the number of people at the Last Supper, 12, minus the number of Filipinos in the Bible, 0, and you get ..."
[chalkboard displays several math like expressions:
12 - 333 x 666 =
(a x b2) > 2 = 7
(2 + 2b2) - 144,000]

Marge jumps ahead: "Three million one hundred ..."

Homer, rudely interrupts his novice wife: "whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop! Three-fifteen pm, May 18th. That’s when the Rapture will begin."

Marge: "May 18th? That’s one week from today."

Homer: "A week?" [appears puzzled and jealous at Marge’s quick deduction. To prove her wrong, more rapid chalkboard calculations. Then, as if he’s inspired with his own profound conclusion] "That’s (pause) seven days from now!"

Most of the town of Springfield follows him to the Springfield Mesa, west of town but the rapture never comes. Undaunted, Homer discovers an error in his calculations and returns to the Springfield Mesa alone, where he experiences a satiric conversation with God.

Fats

1