I have to agree with the findings of the author of this book. I hate to admit to falling into the category of the average traumatized person finding solace in the controlled group. I suppose having lived through and survived true chaos the human brain enjoys some peace and security in the JWs. Do this and you'll get that. Go to the meetings and in service and you will see the paradise.
But there are lots of control groups or gangs to join. JW are not the worst. The JW base their group on the Bibles teachings and on Jesus'healthy words. They shun only holidays not supported in the Bible. Muslims and Jews, which represent millions of persons, do not celebrate Christmas either.
Sociologists come to the conclusion then that "Religion is the opiate of the people."
So is food and a dry bed comfort for the people.
Human beings want comfort, peace and security and safety and a hope for the future.
What is so wrong with that?
I fail to see what is so funny about people wanting mental and spiritual comfort too.
Since I have been dfd I have had so many conversations with those outside of the JWs
Many people are whacked!! Their beliefs or no beliefs are outrageous to me, no different than believing that only 144,000 are going to heaven to be a government over the rest of us.
A woman I met recently, a teacher in the unified school district in the town I presently live in. This woman believes in EVERYTHING!!! She believes in Christ, Buddha, the Catholic church, but she is Bahai, she believes Jesus was/is God but that he married and fathered a child with Magdalene. She channels the Spirits and can predict the future 50/50 she says, but dont tell anyone or she may lose her job.
This womans daughter is a PHD sociologist cold snob who I also met.
My point is this. Whether the entire group of sociologists and psychiatrists and the Mensa society feels religion and the belief in God is silly and in vain and only for the emotionally challenged I cannot care. There is more to it than that and they cannot see it. There is more to accepting the existance of God and desiring a relationship than merely to say it is assuaging fear. There is a longing for meaning and purpose and peace and beauty and grace and happiness. Embracing chaos is very difficult for humans. Why? Because we were not created to accept it. Our minds reject it.
Just my thoughts.
Anewme
Posts by anewme
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10A New Book
by scholar inroutledge books have released a new sociological study of the movement, namely 'jehovah's witnesses portrait of a contemporary religious movement' by andrew holden ph.d. publication date 10 jan 2002 and its isbn: 0415266106. .
scholar ba ma (studies in religion)
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anewme
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Comments You Will Not Hear at the 9-18-05 WT Study (Glory)
by blondie in"we ... reflect like mirrors the glory of jehovah.
like mirrors the glory of jehovah, are transformed into the same image .
from glory to glory, exactly as done by jehovah [the] spirit..
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anewme
Thankyou Blondie for the Watchtower review and comments. One thing I have learned from this forum is how to think more critically regarding the WBTS.
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Well, I Guess That's It!
by luna2 inan old jw friend of mine stopped by this morning to "encourage" me.
actually, she had to call me on her cell, because i don't have a doorbell and i didn't hear her knock.
she asked me to come down so she could talk to me....and i told her that i didn't think it would be a good idea as i'm planning to turn my da letter in soon....so, no, i wouldn't come down.
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anewme
Luna2, I guess that was the right call on your part to refuse the visit. Our relationships in the borg are understood to be conditional, that is, we are friends only if we serve Jehovah. She will understand. You are going about things the right way to get out of the org with the least drama.
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Ireland anyone?
by AuntieJane ini am so excited.
my husband said we could plan our first trip to ireland in the spring.
we'd like to rent a house (not luxurious) so that our kids can join us.
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anewme
AuntieJane, I would be so interested to hear EVERY DETAIL of this planned trip!!!!
I got to go to Ireland for 5 days when I was 14. My aunt treated my brother and I to this wonderful European holiday. My memories of standing on the southern Irish Coast finding huge shells in the sand, and of visiting really old churches and being invited into a real Irish home with 8 people living there and they served us tea (we were strangers mind you), and being kissed on the cheek by the most handsome Irish lad I've ever seen.....well Ireland rates number 1 with me!!!!!!
Please keep us all informed of the arrangements as many of us would love to visit as you are doing!
Congratulations!
Anewme -
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Only spirit anointed can commit the unforgiveable sin
by anewme indid i just stumble onto something here?
wasnt jesus and the bible speaking to the anointed when it warned against sinning against the holy spirit?
how can those of us who have never received the h.s.
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anewme
Did I just stumble onto something here?
Wasnt Jesus and the Bible speaking to the anointed when it warned against sinning against the Holy Spirit?
How can those of us who have never received the H.S. sin "against" it????
Doesnt it mean denying the "little voice" that tells one you are a son of God, a chosen one?
How could we be ever charged with something like that?
The Great Crowd of Other Sheep never get any H.S. -
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Book Study Wk 12- 9/12: pg 82-89 Unraveling the Mystery of the Great Tree
by ithinkisee inchapter
six: unraveling the mystery of the great tree.
jehovah allowed king nebuchadnezzar to become a world ruler.
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anewme
Thankyou IthinkIsee, I appreciate the inclusion of this study article. I remember studying Daniel years ago. I rather liked it. Today I got out of it that Daniel knew the mind and heart of Jehovah well enough to counsel the king to turn back from bad ways and do good things and be generous etc. and so Jehovah may show him mercy.
I love stories of mercy. I really do. -
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JW funerals getting more personable??
by Alana ini went to a jw funeral wednesday.
it was for the dad of two good jw friends (at least back in the days) of mine.
he was one of the nicest men ive ever known.
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anewme
I was pretty involved in the writing process for the funeral talks my husband gave. He was/is a quadriplegic elder so he needed help in typing. Anyway, if we knew the deceased we usually tried very hard to make it personal. One very well known sister died. She was known for her love of life, her joie d'vive or something as the French say. I practiced with my husband on the pronunciation of the french term for hours, days. He had so much trouble saying the phrase. Finally he got it right by the time of the funeral.
But when he got up there (the place was packed!) and came to the part about how full of life Betty was he came to the words Joie d'vive he could not spit it out!!! He tried 3 times, no 4 times, then said something like "oh fooey, you know what I mean, you all remember how Betty was!!!!"
The audience roared with laughter! We all remembered how Betty was! At 75 she was still flirting with the single brothers and talked of finding another marriage mate! The talk continued in a light hearted fashion and ended with the hope of resurrection. It was a memorable memorial! -
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unforgivable sin--sin against the holy spirit
by rebel8 in.
is there such a thing in jw mythology?
i thought apostacy was considered unforgivable but i can't find any quotes on the topic.
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anewme
Do you think this scripture might apply only to those of the annointed? Only to those who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit?
It would seem to me to be very cruel to deny those of us who have never benefitted from the added assurance of our heavenly father's love to be cast out as unworthy of forgiveness because we are struggling to live in this world of sin surrounding us and fail to act as worthy sons of God? After all, right before he commenced his work Jesus received the H.S. at his baptism.
How can you sin against the Holy Spirit if you have never received it???????
Maybe only the annointed who deny the little voice can fall this way.
That means that all the rest of us schmucks are by ommission immune to this fate!!!!!
No Holy Spirit-------No sin!!!
We as the great crowd cannot commit the unforgiveable sin. -
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Would God permit nuclear war?
by JH in.
by nuclear war, i don't mean 2 bombs like in japan back in 1945, but something much worse, like half of the population of the us being destroyed in a nuclear conflict.. probably jw's would say, no to the question because they think that their work of salvation is soooo important that god wouldn't permit their destruction..
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anewme
Yeah, I believe he would allow it. He has the power to undo any damage caused by man. He may let the record show how bad it has to get before he steps in and takes over.
"Jehovah Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth."
Ex.34:6
Slow to anger.
To us who suffer as we watch this human/angelic drama unfold we must try hard to get the big picture.
There is no need to fear.
Ultimately this beautiful earth will be saved.
We must have keen spiritual vision and try to appreciate Jehovah's patience and mercy.
Since I've been dfd I've had more time to reflect how I feel about everthing.
About the beauty on the earth.
About human struggle.
About God. -
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For those who Believe the bible to be true............
by defd inwho is your favorite bible character and, or, account and why?
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anewme
I also like Nehemiah. I remember when we studied his book and I was so impressed with what a good writer he was! From start to finish he is so understandable and interesting. The Bible writers really do differ in their talents! He writes so you feel you are right there.
You know a guy I've always liked? Shechem, Dinah's boyfriend. In Genesis 34 is the account of Dinah visiting the people of Hamor the Hivite, chieftain of the land in the Canannite region. She visits enough that poor Shechem falls badly in love with her. In his country it is not a huge sin to try out a maiden before marriage. But when he does he goes mad in love with her and must have her as his wife.
(I think she likes him too for she doesnt protest or claim she was raped. She continues to visit over there)
But the story goes, word gets out Shechem wants to marry Dinah and arrangements are discussed.
But her naughty over zealous brothers plot to murder Shechem and his entire family.
I have always wished things could have been different. I would like to know how Jacob would have handled this matter differently if his boys hadnt acted so rashly.
I bet Dinah hated her brothers for their actions and they probably treated her badly after that as well.
What a sad sad story.