i went back to smoking and gambling but the good habits out weigh.
the bad ones, like lying to people.
is't fraud against the law, the practice.
Association with "worldly" people!! Gasp! And I love it! The world is a much nicer, open, beautiful place to explore and partake and participate than we were led to believe. Most people are wonderful, compassionate, friendly, helpful - Just normal people going on with their lives as we all share the same basic struggle and journey together.
NOT being a JW anymore has made me feel more compassionate, humble (realizing that you don't have all the answers anymore!), and connected to people.
technically incorrect, but effectively he does .... if we're to believe the genesis account the serpent deceived eve and made her eat of the tree of knowledge.
it all went pear shaped from there on in, although most people believe it was an apple (boom tish).. but anyway .... either it was a literal serpent that could talk on it's own behalf or, as people typically believe, it was satan who was the puppet master and possessing the creature.. the first raises all sorts of questions that contradict the whole bible narrative (another creature that could reason, talk, debate existence and law etc...) so let's go with "the satan theory".. how does got react to his 'perfect' creation immediately being completely imperfect as soon as he takes it out of the box?
(he's like 0 for 4 ... satan, serpent, woman, man ... all break his rules).
Very interesting!! Yes, what, really, was SATAN'S punishment?? Just a promise to bring him down later, a bruise to the head, at some future, far-off time. Meanwhile, come and go as you please (till getting kicked out of heaven centuries later...)
And then why confine Satan to the EARTH, the home of all Jehovah's wonderful creation and people, to be constantly tormented by this powerful, evil spirit being?? Oh yes, right, because God loves us so much he has to test everybody continually. -- People don't even treat their children this way, unless they're severely messed up.
you have to lead a secret life as a jw.
you're not supposed to over drink, go to night clubs, enjoy worldly concerts, etc.....sex, though is really taboo.
you could never freely talk about your sex life.
Couldn't talk about politics (or have political opinions),
sports,
certain popular books or TV shows,
the pursuit of secular education,
telling off-color jokes,
saying how boring are JW meetings and field service.
Couldn't "elevate" yourself above others by talking about how well you were doing at your job or profession or any skill basically!
Also could certainly never recommend a certain "practice" (which they termed 'self-ABUSE'!!) as a wonderful way to help you sleep or relax...
if you become one of jehovah's witnesses, here are five points which will not be driven home to you until after you have been baptized as "one of jw's":.
1) you will be required to commit as much of your time and financial resources as you are able - to further the aims & acquisitions of the billion dollar corporation known as the wtbts/ccojw - namely, to recruit new members and to increase their worldwide real estate empire.. 2) you will be required to terminate "worldly" association with former friends.. 3) you will be "expected" to attend each and every meeting, assembly, convention, and kh televised broadcasts which are arranged by the self-proclaimed "governing body" (g.b.
) in brooklyn, n.y.. 4) you will be required to blindly accept any decisions/directions issuing forth from the g.b., even if you disagree with it.
That was an awesome post, Searcher, because these are the things which are NOT KNOWN when a person begins "studying" with the Witnesses.
The dubs will tell "the study" that oh my goodness, no, these things are not true at all. Everything you do is voluntary, these things are all personal choices that YOU make. Nobody is ever forced to do anything. We alone make these choices, based on our love for JehovahAndHisOrganization.
Yes, they will tell you that it is your "love for Jehovah" that motivates you to do his will... (Fine Print: "... His will as directed through his earthly channel of seven spiritually appointed men in New York who call themselves the Governing Body, because they alone are the faithful & discreet slave in fulfillment of a parable (in Matt.25) and these seven men are the only ones whom Jehovah is presently using today to dispense spiritual truths, but only when they collect themselves together in a group and never when alone.)
Ah. It already makes me nauseous.
if you become one of jehovah's witnesses, here are five points which will not be driven home to you until after you have been baptized as "one of jw's":.
1) you will be required to commit as much of your time and financial resources as you are able - to further the aims & acquisitions of the billion dollar corporation known as the wtbts/ccojw - namely, to recruit new members and to increase their worldwide real estate empire.. 2) you will be required to terminate "worldly" association with former friends.. 3) you will be "expected" to attend each and every meeting, assembly, convention, and kh televised broadcasts which are arranged by the self-proclaimed "governing body" (g.b.
) in brooklyn, n.y.. 4) you will be required to blindly accept any decisions/directions issuing forth from the g.b., even if you disagree with it.
There are many different ways to serve Jehovah. Practice the ones you enjoy and avoid the rest.
But always remember, the most important thing is YOUR personal relationship with Jehovah and Jesus. Everything else is secondary.
Gah, I can't get out of this quote box !! (on iPad)
Anyway, re: the above quote from AWatcher:My response is, that your above words are not compatible with WT doctrine/dogma.
They want you to put Jehovah AND THE ORGANIZATION first.
Everything else, namely: one's family, the having of children (or not), whom you marry, your choice of work/career, the furthering (preferred not!) of your education (school,college, university), what you do for recreation; are to be secondary. Otherwise you are not putting Kingdom Interests(TM) first.
for only the second time in internet history, a video recording of a secret jehovah's witness apostasy trial has been published online on the jwstruggle youtube channel.
follow isaac's story here:.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se9rh6qux0o&feature=youtu.be.
Wow. Blind, deluded elders contradicting themselves and lying, lying. Yet believing their lies. Like taking to a wall. Full of double speak and they don't even realize it.
i do believe it is written somewhere in jw literature .
just found out (second hand of course) and by someone on here that my faithful jw mum passed away within the last couple of days, dont know the exact day, and what cause, she spent the last few years living with my fanatical sister, she was 65 and survived my father by 10 years, bitter, angry and hateful till the end and never as so much enquired or asked how her 2 grandchildren ever were , they are 5 and 7!
feeling a mixture of emotions right now, they were lousy parents in all honesty, she suffered health wise so maybe its for the best, dont even know when the funeral is!
When someone dies or is very ill, I have been finding that you grieve for what was, or for what never was, or for what things could have been or will never be.... and the JW thing makes it worse because they deny you any form of closure or even honest communication. So those feelings of grief and anger can really bump and stick...
I am very sorry because yes, dammit, this is going to hurt. And the JW things are going to piss you off. And any dealings with those heartless JW robots is going to be... surreal.
I had a counsellor tell me recently that sometimes it helps to just take a moment and breathe. And just really breathe. Take in and out at least three good, long, slow deep breaths .... she says it helps "reset" something in the brain . Simple as it is, I've been finding that it has been one of the most helpful and tangible pieces of advice I have ever been given.
Breathe...
Walk gently. And know that we are here for you.
what is the wackiest...strangest....most unusual jw teaching or practice?
what is the wackiest...strangest....most unusual jw teaching or practice?
Here's another JW wacky belief from not-too-long-ago about the "proper handling of and respect for" blood.
Remember when JWs were counselled about needing to be so careful about blood even in our pet food or fertilizer? Yes, fertilizer. The stuff you put on ... the ground. This even though it was biblically-approved to pour the blood onto the ground.
It was considered disrespectful to use fertilizer which contained blood processed in this way.
But, now, fractions of blood are okay! - but only as long as you don't use any of your own blood or store your own blood. Take other people's blood (excuse me, blood fractions!) but never, never, ever help save anybody else or yourself by donating or storing your own blood.
Makes me wonder if there is any new light now about fertilizer. Fertilizer is probably okay as long as it proceeds from the mouths of the....
