Fernando

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Posts by Fernando

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  71

  What is the main "idea" of the bible?

  by KateWild in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as jws we were often told what the theme of the bible is, we were taught that it was the promised seed.. i was recently asked the question.... what is the main "idea" of the bible?.

  for me the whole purpose of the bible is about control.

  it features a god that punishes and rewards.

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  Fernando

  I have come to conclude that the Bible can be interpreted within 4 very different frameworks, with very different outcomes.

  Spiritual versus religious versus atheist versus agnostic.

  When using a spiritual approach or framework this is what has emerged for me:

  There is a protracted legal custody battle underway between our heavenly father (the God of Abraham) and our evil stepfather (the god of religion).

  Our heavenly father has paid a ransom to get us back from our evil stepfather.

  The details are hidden in plain sight throughout scripture in the form of a message "known" as the gospel, the Good News, the evangel, the good message, glad tidings, and the sacred secret.

  A key aspect of this message is about setting us free from (religious and other forms of) control.

  The Watchtower's message in contrast is about establishing the very control the gospel was designed to eradicate.

  In particular that of a (spiritually blind, bureaucratic and authoritarian) ruling religious clergy class over a laity class.
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  15

  Anyone know where to get support?

  by Nosferatu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i blew up and dumped my girlfriend on monday over a silly little thing.

  it's been happening in pretty much every relationship i get involved in.

  it never happened before my marriage.. during my marriage, i was alone almost all the time.

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  Fernando

  Personally I would recommend seeing a good Psychologist well versed in CBT and psychotherapy (talking medicine).

  Psychiatrists, I believe, are best avoided, unless you can find a progressive one who is well aligned to the work of the likes of George Engel, Peter Breggin, Thomas Szasz, Al Siebert, and Courtenay Harding.

  The most meaningful and sustainable healing and transformation it seems comes from taking ownership and control as you are doing.

  Best wishes.

  Fernando
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  4

  CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION: on women and spirituality

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  early christianity largely spread because of the viral nature of political expediency among pagan leaders, rulers and kings whose mothers, daughters and wives had accepted the christian faith.

  the wife has the ear.

  the wife has the influence.

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  Fernando

  Maybe not exactly what you're after Terry, but I'll give it a crack, until the other half of the world wakes, at which time you may see scores of brilliant posts pouring in.

  Women, I believe are generally more disposed to (promoting) natural spirituality.

  Maybe this is because they are more community, compassion, people and collaboration oriented.

  Men, I believe are generally more disposed to (promoting) religion, war, politics, exploitative commercialism, competition, supremacy and division.

  Men, it seems to me, more easily fail to discern the spiritual dimension - the "hidden" realities behind the physical shadows.

  Men, being low on sixth-sense or intuition (a key component of the human spirit) aggressively demand evidence that will satisfy the lower or base five senses.
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  4

  CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION: on women and spirituality

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  early christianity largely spread because of the viral nature of political expediency among pagan leaders, rulers and kings whose mothers, daughters and wives had accepted the christian faith.

  the wife has the ear.

  the wife has the influence.

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  Fernando

  In my personal experience, faith and spirituality are opposite and antithetical to religion.
• 
  54

  Hello, I am new

  by LillyC in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am not a jehovah's witness but i am very interested, i have many questions and hope they can be answered here.. i do believe in god, privately.

  i do say my prayers daily and do believe god helps me in countless ways.

  but i don't go to any church.. i have always been impressed at how smart, polite and nice jehovah's witnesses are and i always make time to speak to them when they call at my door.

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  Fernando

  Welcome LillyC!

  If it is faith and spirituality you are interested in, these are not found in any religion, but via the liberating and healing "unabridged gospel" message, or full Good News, hidden in plain sight throughout scripture.

  Doing plenty of your own reading, writing, thinking, reasoning and questioning is the way to grow and develop fully.

  Various religions obstruct this natural process in varying degrees.

  The Watchtower is one of the worst.

  I'd be happy to recommend a number of empowering books, authors and approaches.

  Greetings and blessings

  Fernando

  South East Queensland, Australia
• 
  16

  Question

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm writing a science-fiction novel which takes place on--where else?

  it will contain allegorical allusions to the watch tower.. .

  do you think you'd be interested in it if i publish it?.

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  Fernando

  Certainly Terry.
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  16

  “Didn’t I tell you that there is something wrong with this organization?”

  by exWTslave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  thats how my grand mother responded when all of our family members came out of jw organization, either by disassociation or by disfellowshipping.. when we all started studying with jws, my grandmother too was there, but she stopped the study when the discussion over the dead happened.

  she told the study conductor: i am convinced that there is only life, but no death.

  because when my husband died of heart attack, i was not shaken by the incident.

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  Fernando

  exWTslave, please give your grandmother a great big hug from me.

  Fernando

  South East Queensland, Australia.
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  26

  The Watchtower is under siege from inside and outside

  by suavojr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  that is the reason the watchtower leaders are desperately trying to protect their indoctrinated supporters from being influenced by the critics.. it will get harder and harder to recruit in countries where the internet is easily accessible...the watchtower has no control over the public like it does the indoctrinated jws.

  ..any interested person can very easily google and learn the truth about the watchtower cult before a 'return visit' can be made.

  although most jws would be afraid to go into 'apostate ' sites, more and more are waking up to the truth about the watchtower , their interest triggered by different reasons such as the child abuse cover up, the constantly changing doctrines,the downsizing etc.

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  Fernando

  The facts and figures don't lie.

  Up to 140 years of door knocking for one baptism...

  And that largely from picking off Christendom's vulnerable, ignorant, foolish, wounded, disaffected...

  From the frying pan into the fire...
• 
  53

  Describe What a Jehovah's Witness Elder Is Like

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know what they are supposed to be like.

  but at this point in time, do you think the elders look joyful?

  are they serious bible students?

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  Fernando

  Pharisee.

  Matthew 23 especially v15.

  Falsely claims to teach the "Good News" or gospel (evangelize).

  Teaches religion instead (proselytize).

  Promotes apostate legalism.

  Promotes apostate moralism.

  Promotes apostate ethnocentrism (doctrinal dissection and supremacy)

  Promotes apostate Gnosticism (salvation by supremacist knowledge/intelligence/affiliation)

  Denies imputed righteousness.

  Denies imputed holiness.

  Denies the 5 solas (of the reformation).

  Denies that Jesus is the mediator of ordinary R&F (laity class).

  https://www.barna.org/barna-update/faith-spirituality/611-christians-more-like-jesus-or-pharisees
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  67

  I have an honest question!

  by FL_Panthers in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's with regards to disfellowshipping.. is disfellowshipping a legal procedure?

  like is there something i can use to prevent this from happening to me if it does happen.. no jokes about me being a bad little boy.

  i need honest answers to this.

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  Fernando

  Some have found moving to another continent a great personal development opportunity that allows one to preserve relationships (email, facebook, skype, phone, viber...)

  Although far from experiencing the real thing, these great books can at least prepare one to expect that everything you know, think, believe, expect, trust and normally do, will be challenged:

  Culture Shock series

  http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/search?searchTerm=%22culture+shock%22+etiquette&search=Find+book

  As before, a great personal development opportunity...