goldensky

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Posts by goldensky

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  6

  Illustrations--recyclable!

  by sd-7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ever hear the one about counterfeit money?

  [heads nodding] remember, 'you don't study counterfeit money to figure out what it looks like; you study real money.

  ' this illustration is typical of the thought-stopping mechanisms in place for the society's usage.

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  goldensky

  Ha, ha! Very good illustration, Sd-7! You are definitely a bright guy.
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  13

  Help me get my mom out!!!!

  by Aeiouy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you didn't make yourself that way and you weren't "just born" that way.

  your personality will be changed by the world, there is no getting around it.

  i have loved you since before you were born.

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  goldensky

  Dear Aeiouy,

  The email your Mum sent you must have broken your heart. But do you know what? I can see myself writing exactly the same to my son in a few years' time (he's still only 10) if I hadn't had my awakening only a few months ago. I understand her perfectly. How much she loves both Jehovah and you! She must have been a wonderful mother, and she still is. There's no doubt she loves you to bits. She can't help feeling that way. Most of us would have done something very similar before we discovered reality. And honestly, I don't think anything you say right now will awaken her. She's just not ready yet, if she ever is.

  That's why if I were you I wouldn't even try to explain your reasons. I would just, as other posters have pointed out, reassure her of your love for her, no matter her reaction. Tell her you understand she may have to shun you in the near future, but you will still love her all the same. AKJeff said something beautiful that reached my heart a few days ago and it applies here: "Jehovah's witnesses have no antidote against love". Sticking to Watchtower policies about shunning will be extremely hard for her, and she should be admired for obeying the dictates of her conscience, even if we, from the outside, are horrified by that treatment.

  That's all I can think of telling you at the moment, except wishing you lots of happiness with your Sarah.

  By the way, I'm Spanish, from Madrid, where I've lived all my life. Feel free to PM me in that language if you feel comfortable (I've just read the topics you have started). I definitely express myself far better in my own language.

  I wish you all the best.
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  19

  Anyone Interested in a Bible Study - ex JW

  by [email protected] in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was a jehovah's witness for 24 years and left in 1979. you can read about my life in free minds ex jw web site.

  i have been a member of an orthodox presbyterian church since 2001.

  (reformed) .

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  goldensky

  Thanks for offering, E. Zenone. I'm sure the invitation comes from a sincere heart.
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  9

  Time To Vent Part 2: So I've Been Studying With My Wife...

  by tryingtoexit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...for the past month or so, and i've been showing my wife little by little why i am no longer "living" as a witness.

  so far...she has been very receptive, understanding my points, and hasnt been giving me any trouble.

  i think she's really getting it, but then today comes.... she says "i see all the flaws of this religion and i respect your feelings, but this is the best way that i want to worship".

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  goldensky

  Tryingtoexit, I'm truly sorry you have to go through this... I hope things will improve.
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  11

  Drawing away disciples after myself? Or Jesus?

  by sd-7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  indeed, this is the riddle.

  but since i've nothing to offer anyone, i'd prefer to draw people towards jesus and away from blindly trusting men.

  i think most anyone who has been one of jehovah's witnesses and challenged their beliefs (subsequently watching them fall like a house of cards) would probably feel the same, assuming they didn't just give up on religion altogether.. i find myself in a rather unexpected position.

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  goldensky

  Wow, sd-7! I've more or less followed your updates since you started posting about 5 months ago and I so much wanted things to work out for you! I can't believe your wife listened to you instead of turning a deaf ear! That's simply marvellous! Please keep us posted as to how things turn out in the next few months!
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  31

  Since You're In The "World" Now What Types Of Friends Do You Have?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's witnesses are supposed to be the best friends you could ever have.

  they're supposed to be genuine and loving.. not that you're out of jw friends, what's it like?.

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  goldensky

  Chickpea:
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  19

  Disfellowshipping, what else can they do in a case like this one? .....

  by HappyGuy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  okay, the disfellowshipping doctrine is inhumane, usually.

  but, i remember a "brother" in jacksonville, florida, can't remember his name, i was 17 at the time, i think he was 18. this scumbag claimed to be a jehovah's witness.

  we went to the same school.

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  goldensky

  Pretty much what Teel and Creativhoney pointed out: to me the fairest thing to do in a TOTALLY PROVEN case of such evil behaviour would be to inform the congregation by means of a detailed public announcement (preferably more than once to make sure as many as possible would know about it) and then let each one decide how to treat that person at their own risk.
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  60

  The Rise of the Conscious Class

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "i believe in one god, and no more; and i hope for happiness beyond this life.

  i believe the equality of man, and i believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.

  but, lest it should be supposed that i believe many other things in addition to these, i shall, in the progress of this work, declare the things i do not believe, and my reasons for not believing them.

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  goldensky

  I've loved it, Truthseeker! Thank you very much!
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  310

  Mill Hill Disfellowshippings

  by BorgHater in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a few months ago there was a thread about a couple of elders at the mill hill bethel being disfellowshipped because they disagreed with some wt doctrine (i can't recall exactly what it was) and that several other betheliteswere under 'investigation'.

  i haven't heard anything since, does anyone know anything more about this?.

  borghater xx.

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  goldensky

  Paulapollos, you are marvellously humble, honest and objective. Thank you very much.
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  6

  anybody ever read "crisis of conscience" and then confessed to elder ?

  by inbetween in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if so, what happened ?.

  does it constitue a reason for a jc ?.

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  goldensky

  Believe it or not, around four weeks ago I passed my copy to the presiding overseer (they are now called "coordinator something", right?) in my congregation. I told you in my first post he is worthy of all my admiration. We've known one another since we were teenagers and I trust him. He told me a couple of days later he didn't know whether his conscience would allow him to read it, for how could he go on the stage and give a talk on avoiding apostasy after breaking the rules on that himself? I told him I respected his point of view, but I haven't heard from him since then. He hasn't given it back to me yet.