I believe consideration should be applied on both sides. The one who does not understand should be polite enough to listen and possibly learn something even a new word the other should be intelligent enough to acknowledge that not all have the same education and refrain from poking fun at those who reveal a lack thereof.
believingxjw
JoinedPosts by believingxjw
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44
A Sincere Question...
by AGuest into the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you have peace!.
i have a very sincere question to ask because of some recent comments i've received regarding postings on the board.
the subject is on my mind... and heart... because of two similar incidents that occurred in my life since my journey began, which i would like to relate to you.
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189
Does The Name Really Matter?
by AGuest into the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you have peace!.
as you know i have, for many years now, related to you that i hear the voice of the fine shepherd, the holy one of israel and holy spirit, jaheshua mischajah.
over such years i have received many questions and comments, and engaged in various debates regarding the validity of that name.
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believingxjw
SA,
What does the name Joshua mean?
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39
Growing-up Witness was Wonderful ...Until My Bubble Broke
by Green Jade ini was raised by a wonderful and close family.
i loved my congregation growing up.
when i would go to the meetings, i felt i could go to school the next day and deal with the pressures of that day.
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believingxjw
Green Jade,
The Society disfellowships tens of thousands every year, most for immorality. In the articles where the discussion is on how brothers and sisters should treat one another or the responsibility of elders to be loving shepherds it is obvious that all is not always well in many congregations otherwise there would be no need for such articles. They also go out of their way to try and paint a picture of a pre-paradise spiritual paradise where in the Organization mature elders lovingly care for the publishers and where publishers do the same for one another. Both exist.
Like you, I too have been to some congregations where the elder leadership was cruel, hypocritical and controlling and many publishers followed their lead. And I've also been to congregations where the atmosphere was the exact opposite. Elders who were loving shepherds and many publishers who were fine and loving Christians. My only explanation for it is that the leadership sets the tone of the congregation. Just like the religious leaders of Jesus' day set the tone in their day. And Jesus set the opposite. When I was in the harsh congregations the spiritual paradise articles were depressing because that was not what I was seeing but when in the more loving congregations those same types of articles confirmed the very good things that went on in the more loving congregation. Neither type of congregation was homogeneous of course there were loving and unloving people in both but I believe what happens is that the more loving elders encourage the more loving publishers in the congregation, they get a boost, but the unloving elders in another congregation encourage the more unloving publishers and they get a boost to do what they like to do; judge and condemn others merely to lift themselves up.
I sympathize with your situation. First, let me say that while you will get good advice here not everyone here has kept their belief in God and/or the Bible, as with every forum on the internet, what you read will be colored by the experiences and beliefs or non-beliefs of the posters, myself included. I'm sure you're well aware of that already. I believe one of the hardest things to accomplish after leaving the Witnesses is to make up our own minds and hearts free from the influence of others. What do I believe, what do I want, what do I feel is important for me and my family. Witnesses will tell you to come back to them because they have the truth, some ex-Witnesses may believe the best thing you can do is stay away from the Witnesses and attend another church or home church other ex-Witnesses may feel it best for you to get as far away from religion as you can. All of these are well meaning but in the end it is you who must decide what is best for you and your family. A hard thing to do but the rewards are well worth the effort.
Take your time. Let time do what it does best; start to clear the awful mist that burdens our hearts and minds after leaving the Witnesses and allow healing to begin. Eventually you will know what is the best path for you and those you love.
You are blessed to have such a loving family.
Peace and Christian love to you,
Believing
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15
Are you recovering the knowledge that you lost?
by cyberjesus inwhen i was in school as young jw i would disregard any kind of knowledge that was against what i was taught by the wt.
things evolution, the space, the age periods of the earth, the immnesity of the space, etc etc.
anything that would bring more questions was also disregarded as not important enough to dedicate our valuable time.
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believingxjw
Yes, I'm enjoying learning more now than I did as a young Witness. Sadly, though, there are also many people who were never Witnesses but who are also very ignorant of U.S. history today, it's surprising. Not to mention science and the arts.
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23
No Spiritual Heritage
by serenitynow! infor the born/raised ins, do you feel that you no longer have a spiritual heritage/background/traditions?
i was sitting at my desk absentmindedly humming a "kingdom melody" from the brown songbook, when i realized what i was doing and made myself stop.
there were songs that i really enjoyed.
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believingxjw
I sometimes play the Kingdom Melodies in my home. They bring back fond memories of my children playing at the KH, volunteering with friends in my youth and my husband and I in our youth. I'm not a Witness but I still hold to the basic beliefs of the Bible and that Jesus did not teach a Trinity. Maybe that's why the songs do not bring as many negative feelings for me as they do for others.
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38
The Evolution of the Eye.
by whereami infascinating stuff.. .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb9_x1wgm7e.
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believingxjw
Thanks for the insight on that Cofty.
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16
"God made the wild animals according to their kinds" . . . this is a lie
by cyberjesus inwhat darwin never knew.
part 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpjuhugdk2y&feature=related.
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believingxjw
I did not get to view all the links but the switch idea is an interesting one. So, then, some variations are due to inherited mutated alleles and others to switches turning genes on and off? Sounds interesting and possible but in both instances the original gene is already in place. The mutated allele is a gene variant, if I am understanding correctly, and the switches are turning on and off already existing genes.
I know there have been many threads that discuss evolution here but they are usually reduced to two sides arguing rather than a clear presentation of evolution with all who believe in evolution presenting their opinions on the mechanics of the whole thing. Is it possible to have a thread that is solely a presentation of evolution, with clear and concise facts and summaries, without the inevitable questions or objections, that someone like myself might have, being inserted in the mix? I'm all for discussion but for now it would be great to have a thread presentation, let us say. One in which those here with knowledge of evolution can present their views and even difference of opinions etc. In that way those of us who may have questions or who may be interested in learning a little more can later interact in an intelligent manner with those here who are knowledgeable and of course hopefully get a few more of our questions answered.
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189
Does The Name Really Matter?
by AGuest into the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you have peace!.
as you know i have, for many years now, related to you that i hear the voice of the fine shepherd, the holy one of israel and holy spirit, jaheshua mischajah.
over such years i have received many questions and comments, and engaged in various debates regarding the validity of that name.
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believingxjw
SA,
You are playing a foolish game here. Think about what you are doing and accomplishing. Is the Christ truly being honored by this thread or is your claim to exclusivity actually getting the most attention.
Not too good, SA.
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38
The Evolution of the Eye.
by whereami infascinating stuff.. .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb9_x1wgm7e.
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believingxjw
LWT,
"It is not necessary for both partners to share the same mutation for it to get passed on. The advantageous allele only needs to be dominant."
That would mean then that animal A who had the mutation of, let us say, the light-sensitive cell with the added concave feature (some believe may have occurred) would have mated with animal B who had inherited the light-sensitive cell (without the new concave feature) and thus each shared a corresponding gene in the DNA but the allele variant of the new gene possibly being dominant would pass itself down to the offspring. Okay that for now, and for me, makes sense if I'm understanding it correctly.
The question that could be asked of course is: are most mutations dominant? And also, with the complexities of survival in the natural world being what they are it would seem that hundreds of animals with the new variant would have to survive in order to ensure the survival of the concave feature, let us say, which in itself may not have been necessary for survival at that early stage.
I'm not a creationist who believes the Bible's creation story should be understood literally. It was written at a time when discussions such as this one could not be had and so the simplicity. Much like the simple terms a young father and mother may use to answer their small child's questions on how they came to be. Most parents don't get out the biology books and discuss reproduction and genetics, no, simple terms, truthful, but simple terms, suffice until the child is a little older to understand better. I believe the creation story is just that.
I truly appreciate your responses and through them I hope to learn more and move forward toward understanding. You have opened a door and I will walk through it knowing that truth as Jesus taught makes us free. Thank you.
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208
...Weird Ass Lights in the Sky...
by OUTLAW ingood evening jwn!!...
as most of you know i live in a forest,in the mountains..at night there is very little light pollution... so the sky is one big theatre screen... i see shooting stars,northern lights,satellites,planes on a destination..it`s all very beautiful... tonight was different... .
tonight there was something in the sky that defied anything i`ve ever seen... it had multiple aircraft lights but not like regular airplane lights..it wasn`t a helicopter... it could go straight up or down... move in one direction then head in another..it could do all kinds of weird stuff... sometimes it just hovered..then start doing all these weird maneuvers... regular aircraft is going somewhere,it`s headed in a direction..not this thing... i watched a regular airplane pass it... .
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believingxjw
Outlaw,
You claim to see something you cannot prove to us that you do actually see. No pics, no sound, no other witnesses coming here to confirm that what you saw is in truth a real experience. I would hope that when others say they have had an unusual experience, something they cannot explain or provide proof of, that they too will at least be given the benefit of the doubt just as many here have given you.
Enjoy the experience!