Posts by Retrovirus

27

has anyone tried to "study" and get baptized again in a far away congregation?

by Sofi in

....so you didn't have to go through the process of being reinstated?

please, share your experiences!

.

Retrovirus

Hi and welcome, Sofi!

Just wanted to welcome you. I cannot answer your question as I'm a never-jw, but with friends and family in. I did "study" with

two very pleasant ladies, but couldn't cope with the bias, rules and being told what questions to ask, what to believe and how to feel about it!

. Honestly don't know how anyone else could either.

From your earlier post about the convention, you didn't seem to be entirely at one with it all either; may I ask why you are interested in reinstatement?

Retro

74

Will Embracing the Internet lead to Increased Growth for the Watchtower?

by jwfacts in

more important than the reduction in the size of the new magazine is that the watchtower will be actively promoting its website and encouraging people use it to download magazines.

my concern is that this has the potential to lead to an increase in growth for the watchtower.. the door-to-door preaching work has been one of the most inefficient means imaginable to gain converts, and done little more than tie up the time of active jws.

now, by directing people to the internet, witnesses can spread their message at an alarming rate for little cost.. do you feel that this has the potential to lead to a surge in growth of jehovah's witnesses?

Retrovirus

Wha Happened: Interesting, I hadn't known they villanized the VCR - before coming out with their own tapes and DVDs.

Based on my experience with the "Bible study" - I think that to indoctrinate someone you need face to face contact. Establish that they are needy, love bomb them, then start with the "rules" they must follow to "belong".

So I'd guess that the internet site would be lite on facts and dogma, much more so than the official site, but push the "looming Armageddon" and the "big happy family safe in Jehovah's care". And you can be part of it - just meet us at your local KH!

How effective will it be? Depends how well they do it. Main thing is, it cannot address the biggest problem - they cannot keep members in, especially not the born-in kids.

Anyway, time will tell.

Retro

24

What Draws People To The Witnesses? What Keeps Some Far Away??

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you weren't raised in the religion, why did you get involved?.

what issue(s) keep some from ever being attracted to the witnesses?.

Retrovirus

My own experience. . .

I was drawn to the Witnesses by my ex-SIL, who was baptised soon after her marriage. I'm a bit of a nerd and need to work on friendships, so tried my utmost to keep in touch with her.

She in turn sicced the local jws onto me and I "studied" with them for several months. They also seemed to be very nice people, just with a bit of a blind spot concerning the wacky doctrines.

What (apart from said doctrines) kept me away? The repeated attempts to control and to find and exploit a weak spot. In the end, what sort of friend makes the relationship dependant on calling God "Jehovah"?

Retro

33

New to the board

by jbeau504 in

jw
friends

i'm new to this board and looking to see what it's all about.

i'm currently an unbaptized publisher and third-generation jw, so for obvious reasons i can't give my real name due to personal concerns.

so from now on people can refer to me as "jimmy".

Retrovirus

Welcome, Jimmy! Look forward to more posts from you

Retro

45

4/15 WT - WTS Pridefully says they can " Guide " JW's past "Armageddon "

by flipper in

jw
friends

this thread is for everybody and everybody is welcome to comment on it .

however i'm going to direct my thoughts and comments in this initial post to lurking jehovah's witnesses who may read on this board and may be sitting on the fence pondering on whether to stay in the jehovah's witnesses organization.

also to newer members who may have joined the board.. in this latest 4/15 wt in the article , " jehovah knows how to deliver his people " it conveys the thought that only the wt society ( through god's help ) will be guiding any jw's through the alleged " armageddon " considered god's war against the wicked.

Retrovirus

From the OP:

" As events unfold during the great tribulation, Christians will need to heed instructions from God's word AND ORGANIZATION. For example, Jesus' command to " begin fleeing to the mountains " has a modern-day application. JUST WHAT FORM OUR FLIGHT WILL TAKE REMAINS TO BE SEEN. However, we can be sure that Jehovah will make clear the meaning of THOSE INSTRUCTIONS when the time comes FOR US TO FOLLOW THEM.

Mr Flipper, you are correct to call them "prideful". How can anyone have the gall to assert that a Biblical passage has a "modern day application" - and then immediately admit that they don't know what it is?

44

Atheists, Agnostics or Theists .... So Who's Happiest?

by 00DAD in

a couple of years ago, a psychologist i know made the off-handed comment that there is conclusive evidence that "atheists are not as happy as the ordinary, average person?

we tossed that subject around for a few minutes and then moved on to something else.

at the time, i didn't think too much about it.

Retrovirus

Zid

Another angle on the topic - being a True Believer always begs the question why everyone else cannot see the Truth too? Only so much you can do with an invisible and not so powerful Satan. So nonbelievers cause a bit (or a lot) of strain to True Believers, whereas someone who doesn't have all the answers is also not threatened because there are different opinions out there.

Maybe less strain leads to more happiness?

Retro

86

More "Elders" Doubt They Are Appointed By The "Holy Spirit"!

by Bubblegum Apotheosis in

the study edition of the watchtower says the elders are appointed by jehovah's holy spirit.

it's confounding the society does not realize that more and more elders, do not accept this claim.

i have racked my brain, wondering how many brothers and sisters actually believe this, fall hook and sinker.

Retrovirus

Now I see why DJ has to ramble on so much in his posts. . .

TS wrote

The Bible is very clear, that Jehovah will save, [anoint] men and women, who are not [affiliated] with the Watchtower.

And a very small part of DJ's reply was:

This is also not true. First of all, Jesus is responsible for mankind's salvation, for just as Jesus stated at John 5:26, God has granted to Jesus "to have life in himself," so Jehovah isn't involved in anyone's salvation at all. Secondly, there is no one that has received an anointing or is yet anointed by holy spirit that would not be affiliated with Jehovah's Witnesses.

See the unsupported assertion? (I bolded it) The rest of the dreary waffle is meant to distract from gems like this.

Retro

44

Atheists, Agnostics or Theists .... So Who's Happiest?

by 00DAD in

a couple of years ago, a psychologist i know made the off-handed comment that there is conclusive evidence that "atheists are not as happy as the ordinary, average person?

we tossed that subject around for a few minutes and then moved on to something else.

at the time, i didn't think too much about it.

Retrovirus

Ziddina,

I really must learn not to post at work!

I've had two rounds of depression in my life and you are correct, it was not the least use for anyone to tell me to decide to be happy. Or to "snap out of it", or all the other versions.

But there is a big difference between deciding to be happy (which I can intermittently do now) and telling someone to do so (which as a work first-aider who often gets the ones with anxiety, depression etc, I would never do).

In most cases, it indicated a very shallow thought process and total lack of empathy for others.. Sorry it sounded like that

Retro

44

Atheists, Agnostics or Theists .... So Who's Happiest?

by 00DAD in

a couple of years ago, a psychologist i know made the off-handed comment that there is conclusive evidence that "atheists are not as happy as the ordinary, average person?

we tossed that subject around for a few minutes and then moved on to something else.

at the time, i didn't think too much about it.

Retrovirus

00Dad,

Don't think I agree with those four Stages of Spiritual Growth, but I like the general idea

Not sure I agree with them either Perhaps I should have just said that some people seem to need the security of a religion that provides rules and promises ultimate safety, and others don't.

And Ziddina, yes, there are many factors that can help to make us happy. But that part isn't so complex - unless, perhaps we are really hungry or in pain, we can just decide to be happy.

Retro

44

Atheists, Agnostics or Theists .... So Who's Happiest?

by 00DAD in

a couple of years ago, a psychologist i know made the off-handed comment that there is conclusive evidence that "atheists are not as happy as the ordinary, average person?

we tossed that subject around for a few minutes and then moved on to something else.

at the time, i didn't think too much about it.

Retrovirus

Interesting question. I'd say it relates to where a person is at in spiritual development, as in these definitions (I know they've been referenced here before).

Basically if you are at Stage II or thereabouts, and lose confidence in a God that provides all the answers, it would be difficult to live happily. But also if you are at III or more, belonging to a religion with a lot of arbitrary rules would be stifling. But then, if all your family and/or neighbourhood believed this way it would be hard also.

Just my take on a complex issue . . .Retro