I believe in rehabilitation and believe persons should have the opportunity to do so. Re-victimizing a person who has been raped by forcing them to be around their attacker doesn't help anyone.
truth_b_known
JoinedPosts by truth_b_known
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Liberal idiots now want victims to help those who attacked them.
by mickbobcat inso this liberal asshat actually wants rape victims to work with the rapists.
lmao.
you really have to be brain dead to be a liberal.
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The Truth about the Truth
by Iamallcool inif jw wants to know the truth about the truth, what will you talk about first?
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truth_b_known
Would you play a life changing game with someone who gets to move the goal posts whenever they like and doesn't even acknowledge they moved the goal posts? In fact, to even have thoughts that they moved the goal posts is looked down on and to say it is brings punishment. Is that a game you would willingly play?
This is what is known as a double bind. Double bind - a psychological predicament in which a person receives from a single source conflicting messages that allow no appropriate response to be made. "I love you and I am doing this for your own good," says the father to his child as he beats the child with his belt.
- Watchtower rule #1 - We have the truth so we are always right.
- Watchtower rule #2 - You cannot doubt us or vocalize any doubts.
First Watchtower, in print - Organ transplants are a conscious matter. Get one or don't. It's up to you.
Second Watchtower, in print - Organ transplants are cannibalism making them wrong. Don't do it.
Third Watchtower, in print - Organ transplants are a conscious matter. Get one or don't. It's up to you.
If you disagreed with Watchtower #1 when it was published you would be shunned as an apostate. Even if you were saying organ transplants are cannibalism. The claim would be "You are going ahead of the organization."
If you disagreed with the later Watchtower #2 when it was published the same as above would apply.
Repeat when later Watchtower #3 was published.
Here we have a verified "flip-flip" from the Watchtower. Which is truth? Careful! It's a trick question. Because in the eyes of the Watchtower it is all truth and you better publicly agree with them or else!
So, what would I talk about first? That it is not religion about "truth" or even has "the truth," but rather it is all about unquestioning loyal obedience to a man-made organization. It doesn't matter what they teach that is important to them. All that matters is you do what the organization says without doubt or question.
Stephen Lett recent said in a talk that Jehovah gives us the gift of faith and Satan gives us doubt. The ability to doubt is ingrained in us as humans. It is how we are made (if you believe in creation). Lett said when the snake posed the question to Eve she doubted Jehovah. If Eve had not eaten the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge would she have not doubted the snake and thereby proving that doubt is a gift from Jehovah?
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Is most of the promotion of creationism, not just that by the WT, charlatanism?
by Disillusioned JW inis most of the promotion of creationism, not just that by the wt, charlatanism?.
https://www.fullmoon.nu/sources.bak/chapter%2010/part%202/gish%20exposed.html [which has an article called "creationism: bad science or immoral pseudoscience?
- (an expose of creationist dr. duane gish)"] says the following.. 'a look at the "scientific" creationist movement and a close examination of the tactics of a well-known and influential creationist will reveal that the creation "science" movement gains much of its strength through the use of distortion and scientifically unethical tactics.. .... with the facts explained and the lawsuits won, scientists declared victory and returned to their labs and offices.
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truth_b_known
Has anyone else ever noticed that it seems only Abrahamic religions, especially Christianity, tend to be the only ones who create such disharmony over this debate. I find the debate itself very specific, though most do not spell things out.
The debate is presented in this way -
Life - How did it get here? By Evolution or Creation?
First, the question is inappropriate. No life comes from evolution. The correct question is - By abiogenesis or creation?
Second, it is misleading in that the question is often posed in a very specific context - Life? How did it get here? By abiogenesis or the God of the Bible?
Why is this? Because Christianity has the Biblical creations account as a foundation, a core principle teaching. To disprove it would be looked on as catastrophic by many Christians. Therefor, the very life of their faith is caught up in a life and death battle.
As someone once told me "If you find yourself in a fair fight your tactics suck." So, I don't think the Watchtower has a monopoly on the charlatanism used in attempt to prove the Biblical creation theory. I believe there is sufficient evidence of that.
What is sad is that by accepting the impending reality that the Bible's creation account and the Garden of Eden story are only allegorical would be a huge step in doing what is necessary to keep the faith, any faith for that matter, alive. That is to say, the faith needs to evolve or it will go extinct.
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Parents of Different Spiritual Persuasions
by Thehermit05 ini escaped the cult many years ago.
as a result, i have an eye for cultlike thinking, whether in terms of religion, politics, centrist thinking, etc.. last december my fiance and i had a baby.
she is black and i'm white.
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truth_b_known
make sure that their kids get exposure to more than just one form of "spiritual food," while keeping things peaceful.
I think you have answered your own question.
First, expose your child to other spiritual practices. Don't force it on them.
Second, let your child know he/she should use their rational thinking. Do not believe something simply because someone told them or a book says so. Always examine and investigate.
Third, teach by example. Be peaceable. Be understanding. Be mindful. Do not argue with your wife. When your wife says something truly listen with 100% of your attention with the goal of understanding her. Do not listen with the goal to either agree or to think up a retort to counter her point.
I have been studying Buddhism for 2 years and have taken up the practice of Soto Zen Buddhism. My youngest soon asked for a copy of the Tao Teh Ching. I was excited as Taoism influenced Mahayana Buddhism and gave us Zen Buddhism. I would simply asked him about what he read and would listen. About a year later he ask me to buy him a book on Zen Buddhism.
So, great question. I guess one great question for any person to ask themselves is "What is the purpose of spiritual practice?" Is it not to experience life to the fullest? Why are we here? Is it not to learn that we are not separate from one another? Religions that divide will become self evident.
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Is the door to door preaching work not the primary focus anymore?
by pistolpete ina few months back, one of my uncles who was an elder, asked the co, why jehovah would allow the door to door preaching work, to come to an abrupt end.
this was when my uncle was starting to have serious doubts about the organization.. the co told him to be patient, and hang in there, because the governing body was on top of things and in time would explain what is happening regarding the preaching work.. my uncle asked; “what do you mean?”.
co said; “focus on the wt study articles in the coming months” .
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truth_b_known
The door to door ministry presents a huge problem for the Watchtower. It means Witnesses will be exposed to scandals the Watchtower wants to hide from Witnesses. Every door taken by a Witness presents an opportunity for an informed householder to bring up a scandal or ask a Witness a question about something the Watchtower wishes to remain hidden.
I think the best question to ask a Witness is "Can you prove your belief?" The answer given these days would be "Go to JW.org for the answer." To which I would reply, "So you cannot prove your own belief. You simply believe whatever the Watchtower tells you. That doesn't make the belief true. It just means you accept without question."
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Theocratic Warfare
by Iamallcool inmost of us know what theocratic warfare means but maybe very few people reading this forum might never heard of theocratic warfare.
can you give them some examples of theocratic warfare?
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truth_b_known
...if you have to cheat to defend your beliefs, your beliefs don't deserve to be defended.
That is a profound and enlightened statement. Add to that lying or being deceitful. Bible - God is truth and Satan is the father of the lie. Why would the God of truth encourage his people to be deceitful? That sounds like a lack of faith.
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Is the door to door preaching work not the primary focus anymore?
by pistolpete ina few months back, one of my uncles who was an elder, asked the co, why jehovah would allow the door to door preaching work, to come to an abrupt end.
this was when my uncle was starting to have serious doubts about the organization.. the co told him to be patient, and hang in there, because the governing body was on top of things and in time would explain what is happening regarding the preaching work.. my uncle asked; “what do you mean?”.
co said; “focus on the wt study articles in the coming months” .
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truth_b_known
Growing up and even as an adult my father always told me that during the Great Tribulation the message would change from a "life saving work" to a "judgment message." There is a problem with what the CO told this elder - the Great Tribulation has not started according to the Watchtower's teachings.
The Great Tribulation was to start after the fall of false religion. The world governments were to shut down all religion. This would be the beginning of the real "last days". I just got a flyer in the mail inviting me to a local church. I guess that hasn't happened yet.
Wait! I can see it now - Babylon the Great has fallen...invisibly!
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What JWs don't know they believe
by StephaneLaliberte inin a post this morning, i suggested that a way to wake up fellow congregants is to plainly comment or make talks on teachings and rules the jws don't really know too well.
the idea is that you can say these things, other jws will be bothered by the comments, but will not be able to do anything about it as this is the official teaching or stand on this or that.
the key here is that when troubling rules and teachings are thought in the watchtower, they generally use wording that makes them go down easy.
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truth_b_known
I was in for nearly 4 decades. I had no idea that the Watchtower teaches that Jesus is the mediator for only the annointed. I could only imagine being with a group of Witnesses and blurting out, "I am so happy not to be part of Christendom. Could you imagine actually believing Jesus died for my sins so I could make it into the New World? It is so freeing to know that Jesus is only the mediator between Jehovah and the annointed. I know if I am loyal and obedient to the Governing Body I might have a chance of making it through Armageddon."
I am sure I would be met with odd stairs and uncomfortable silence! However, is this not what the Watchtower has been teaching for decades? Every point I made could be support with a direct quote from the Watchtower.
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9 Year Old Used Basic Logic And Came To An "Apostate" Conclusion
by pistolpete inrelated experience;.
basically what happened is my mom was studying with my 9 year old sibling and they were talking about the paradise.
my sibling then proceeded to ask, in a clearly joking way, "what if jehovah was tricking us and we don't go to paradise?
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truth_b_known
The Bible is true - Because it is God's word - God cannot lie - Because the Bible tells us so - So, the Bible is true.
Imaging that as a neon sign spinning around your head.
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PIMO elder
by Reservations ini’m reservations, pimo elder.
i’m in no position to leave the organisation, maybe some people will see that as weak or whatever, but we have to all go down our own path in life.. i would like to be able to wake people up in my congregation, how do you think best to do this?
any ideas?.
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truth_b_known
I had to think about this before answering. I have to agree the previous commenters - the only way to pull this off is to do so by being and example. You cannot do this as an elder.
If you are not in a position to leave the organization at this time it is understandable. However, for your own well being I would recommend pulling back as far as you can. For example:
- Step down as an elder.
- Stop giving any talks.
- Stop commenting at the meetings.
- Report the minimum amount of time possible.
- Live your life as you want without getting disfellowshipped or reproved.
- Be happy.
- Be happy.
- Be happy.
When you are doing only the absolute bare minimum the organization requires while simultaneously demonstrating your happiness those in the congregation will begin to question what is going on. People will notice your happiness and they too will want to experience what you have.
This is where it will get tricky. People will approach you and ask you why you are happy. You cannot bring up anything in regards to what you have stopped doing for the organization. You cannot bring up any thoughts or beliefs on the religion or the organization. Say nothing that can be used against you.
I would consider saying something like - "I am happy because I am content with serving Jehovah and being part of his organization. I really cannot put into words why I am so happy. I guess it can only be experienced and not explained." Then give a big, genuine smile. People will not be listening to what you say at this point. They will only be seeing how happy you are.
This is where those in your congregation will fall into one of two categories - There will be those who judge you as spiritually weak and break ties with you. There will be those who see your happiness, connect the dots, and become PIMO like you or may even go full POMO.
There is a brother I know growing up. He was an elder. I was friends with his sons, all of whom became Ministerial Servants. One day this elder had enough of being "used". Because he was friendly and kind he was constantly being called up all hours of the day and night by members of the congregation who felt the need to confess or ask for help.
This elder stepped down and was pretty much done. His sons did the same. These days they will attend most meetings, assemblies, and conventions, but that is it. They all spend their time being involved in what they want to do. They aren't doing anything that would be grounds for disfellowshipping. If you asked them "Is this the Truth?" they would all look you in the eye and answer "yes," but they sure don't live like Armageddon could be tomorrow.