truth_b_known

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Posts by truth_b_known

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  20

  As An ExJW or Fader What Do You Believe In?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  god?

  jehovah?

  science?

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  truth_b_known

  I choose to approach life with what the Japanese call "shoshin" - beginner's mind. That is to approach all things with the attitude "I know nothing".

  I believe in theoretical physicist Robert Penrose's theory of a cyclic universe. The universe has no beginning and has no end. It is on an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth over an extremely long period of time. I believe everything is interconnected.

  I believe that something does not come from nothing nor does something turn into nothing. Everything that exists has always existed and will always exist. As conditions change things manifest in different ways. Matter and energy are one and the same. You cannot destroy energy, but you can transform it. As ice melts into water, water evaporates into vapor, and vapor condenses into rain, all things are constantly changing as conditions change.

  I believe the past and the future are illusions created by the human brain. There is only the eternal now.

  I believe the narrative story created by the human brain as a safety mechanism known as the ego is not our true Self. The true Self is consciousness. Consciousness is much like a radio signal being transmitted by the universe. Our bodies are like a radio that picks up that signal and manifests it into a song. If you turn the radio off, if you unplug the radio, if you disassemble the radio, the signal is still there and ever present.

  I believe the human brain is wired for religion. Anything that requires faith is a religion. To say, "I do not believe in gods or the supernatural because I believe one day science will provide a perfectly rational reason for everything" is to have faith in science. Science is just another spiritual practice. It is a great spiritual practice. The mark of a truly great spiritual practice is one that first requires faith and second requires doubts, rationality, and proof through personal experience.
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  12

  Birthdays

  by Mufasa in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have an honest question, so i hope someone will explain this to me to the best of their ability.

  i'm fascinated with learning about religion!

  and i've been looking for a place to ask this, believe me it wasn't an easy find.

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  truth_b_known

  You ask a rational question that is answered by the Watchtower in nonsensical feats of mental gymnastics.
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  99

  If not the WT/JW relgion where else are 'we' to go? Why not atheistic/scientific philosophical naturalism?

  by Disillusioned JW in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  sometimes jws wonder if the wt/jw is not the truth, 'then where else are we to go?

  ' i say 'why not atheistic/scientific philosophical naturalism and why not a secular philosophy which teaches a way of life?

  ' what do you folks say?.

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  truth_b_known

  The Watchtower twists the Apostles response to Jesus from "Whom else would we go" to "Where else." This changes the meaning from being a follower of Jesus to changing religions.

  Getting to the question "Why not atheistic/philosophical scientific naturalism" I have found some things in my studies.

  As a born in Jehovah's Witness I remember studying the Live Forever book with my dad prior to baptism. One of the things the Watchtower was still doing at this time was attacking other religions and beliefs. That is to say, the Watchtower publications didn't just show their reasons for why they think they are correct, but also deconstructed other faiths in regards to reasons they are "false". A problem I would find out later in life is that the Watchtower notoriously misquotes, takes quotes out of context, and generally provides misinformation/inaccurate information about other belief systems.

  Another thing I found is that, because of the above, I found that ex-Witness tend to become atheistic as a result of this. Since the Watchtower seemed to do such a good job disproving all other religions and now that a Witness comes to find out the Watchtower is also false, the next natural step is become an atheist. I know I did, but I changed as I grew in knowledge.

  I have studied human brain function and psychology. One noticeable thing is that the human brain is geared for religion. Even atheism tends to be religious. Consider the idea that "there is no supernatural". Really? How do we know. Rather, the claim is made by persons who believe that there is a scientific and perfectly rational answer for everything. That is to say, "I have faith that one day there will be a perfectly ration and scientific answer for the unexplained." Faith is the cornerstone of religion.

  I am not saying there is a god nor do I believe the Bible is the answer. I have found that there are religions that seemed to line up with what science is now just discovering about the human mind and the universe. I recommend having a beginners mind set - I know nothing. True faith is letting go of belief and accepting truth as it manifests.
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  16

  JW.org move to media

  by Gorb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with the built of new jw.org media studio's we can predict the future of the jw religion.. because we are living in an age of digital media, what will be the effect of this all?.

  will the religion generate a new population?

  we know video media is a strong marketing tool.. like to hear your thoughts.. gorby .

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  truth_b_known

  Even JW's are talking about no need for a kingdom hall using 4 hours in a week.

  Wow! Excellent point! Think of the money member shell out on a monthly basis just to be used 2 days a week for 2 hours a day. Even with 2 congregations meeting in the same Kingdom Hall it doesn't make fiscal sense.

  The American evangelical "Disney for Jesus" churches have activities going on inside their jumbo churches 7 days a week and all hours. Whether it is services, Bible classes, social activities, etc. The Watchtower would never allow that!
  
  
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  27

  Will Jehovah’s Witnesses Go Back To Normal Activities?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  most every state has a plan to get back to normalcy.

  many countries also are ready to get their citizens on the road to recovery.. where does this leave the witnesses?

  will they ever go back to house to house ministry?

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  truth_b_known

  Right now the governing body is waiting on their accountants if they can make more money reopening kh's or keeping them closed!

  NowWhat? for the win!

  The Watchtower is, has, and will always be a business. Jehovah's Witnesses are just the volunteer workers who turn the crank of the money machine.

  Operational costs for Bethel facilities, Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls, and Regional Conventions for the past year have to be near $0.00. For the past 2 Memorials no additional facilities had to be rented.

  Meanwhile donations and Kingdom Hall sales still go on. Even better now that people can donate directly to the Watchtower through their website. I am sure at some point they will go back to meeting at the Kingdom Hall, but I am sure the Watchtower is in no hurry.
  
  
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  22

  Degree of Effectiveness of JW Letter Writing Form of Witnessing

  by Disillusioned JW in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a newspaper article quotes a jw as saying "every (letter) i put in the mailbox, i feel, 'ah, this could reach somebody.

  '" the article also quotes her as saying "we are accomplishing even more now than we were door-to-door because this way everybody in the house gets a chance to pick up that letter and respond to it.

  it just feels good.

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  truth_b_known

  JW.s--the fastest shrinking religion in the world.

  Nice!
  
  
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  6

  Phone-witnessing conversation

  by Anony Mous in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just got called by a lovely elder(ly) woman trying to get a conversation started about the state of affairs in the world and if it is ever going to get better (this introduction is so old, this came straight from the old 1980's brown book of conversation starters).

  at first i asked whether she was a telemarketer, no, she is a "bible student".

  i hadn't heard that in a while, so i asked her what denomination, she kind of struggled and quietly said i'm one of jehovah's witnesses - the embarrassment was palpable.. so i said, oh, i'm one of jehovah's witnesses too!

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  truth_b_known

  Q: Would be believe the Bible over the Watchtower?

  A: I would have to research that.

  Yikes!

  That is like asking -

  Q: Would you listen to God over the Governing Body?

  A: I would have to think on that.

  I guess Jehovah's Witnesses are actually a polytheistic religion. They worship many gods. At least 8 of them.

  
  
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  22

  Degree of Effectiveness of JW Letter Writing Form of Witnessing

  by Disillusioned JW in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a newspaper article quotes a jw as saying "every (letter) i put in the mailbox, i feel, 'ah, this could reach somebody.

  '" the article also quotes her as saying "we are accomplishing even more now than we were door-to-door because this way everybody in the house gets a chance to pick up that letter and respond to it.

  it just feels good.

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  truth_b_known

  We got the letter about 6 months ago. It is just members paying via postage to advertise JW.org. The Watchtower would be better off upgrading their business model by actually paying for advertising online to get people to go to their website. I won't say that will never happen as I never thought the religion would turn out the way it looks now either.
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  14

  Do you still debate with JWs?

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was talking to an ex-jw.

  not been out as long as i have.. cut a long story short, i came to realise that i can no longer be bothered to debate jws if (on the rare occasion), i have encountered them.. i think that because i am somewhere circling a nihilistic atheist it seems pointless.

  i just don't have the energy because i rarely even think about jw related garbage.

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  truth_b_known

  I would welcome a conversation with an active JW about their doctrine. There was a time when JWs were supposed to be able to defend their faith. The Watchtower wanted JWs to study their publications and the Bible to make a competent defense of their faith. Not any longer.

  Now JWs are NOT to study. The Watchtower only wants members to listen and obey. When JWs are challenged about their beliefs the are a one-trick pony - "Go to JW.org for the answers to all your questions."
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  27

  With a whimper, not a bang

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the thread about old timers got me thinking about trends i see with the watchtower.

  i've changed my opinion about where the organization stands.

  when i joined the religion in 1973 it was dynamic, even the small congregation i attended sent out three or four pioneers.

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  truth_b_known

  We as a human species are evolving in our way of thinking. Rationality has replaced the past. The only religions that will survive are ones that encourage doubt and truth seeking. That is certainly not evangelical Christianity and especially not Jehovah's Witnesses.