Great posts, can't believe I missed this thread! Spot on.
Muddy Waters
JoinedPosts by Muddy Waters
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23
12 signs you are a modern day Pharisee
by Zoos ini was reading through this list and was struck by how accurately it describes the watchtower royalty class.
not exactly a professional doing the writing but i think he captures it pretty well.. http://frankpowell.me/12-signs-you-are-modern-day-pharisee.
for those who cannot access the link:.
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They've Exposed Their Hand
by OneFingerSalute inso the wtb&t$ have either intentionally or unwittingly exposed their hand in this mornings wt indoctrination article.. this is a direct quote from par.
"regardless of how long we have been in the truth, we must tell others about jehovah's organization.
" the question is, "what obligation does psalm 48: 12-14 place on us?".
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Muddy Waters
Wow.... Nothing about the Kingdom or Jehovah and his kingdom? As in, "This good news of the kingdom...?"
I wonder if they will also start saying, "... this good news of the website.... (must be preached in all the inhabited earth)..."?
It is all about them -- "Listen, Obey!! (and be blessed)" -- the Organization and the Governing Body ("Governing Body" is best said in David Splane's voice, so tremulous, affected, breathy and self- reverential - most sickening of all! - though once upon a time I believed that he was a most spiritual man!!)
The Organization supersedes Jehovah. The Watchtower magazines, secret elder's books and branch manuals supersede the Bible.
They have become Pharisees & Sadducees, men leading men (to their injury), with treacherous hearts and isolation bringing them to seek their own selfish longing (amazing how many bible verses they use can be turned against them!)
Tell others about the organization?? You bet.
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11
Does this ever happen to you?
by stillin innot very often, something will come up that makes me get a sense of having lost something.
maybe a television interview with a witness who does an exceptional job of explaining the kingdom preaching or something.
maybe accolades from the medical community for their stand on blood, how that has helped some other, supposedly superior alternative to be developed.. or maybe it's just a particularly poignant meeting.
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Muddy Waters
This is so relevant to me right now... just the other, night, for the very first time in a long time and in a very painful way, came the remembrances of my JW life and the "zeal" I had... The feeling that I was really doing something that was worthwhile and important. And the friends and the "worldwide brotherhood"..... That feeling of family and togetherness and unity they always bang on about.
And now... Here I am, getting older.... Realizing my mortality is gonna happen.... Yet I would not want a single active, indoctrinated JW to ever be at my funeral.
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Muddy Waters
They sure get you -- not only being afraid of a present day apocalypse but worrying about an event a 1,000 years away into the future.
And I just realized that the crumpled-up Satan's "tire tracks" are the chains which had bound him in the abyss.
I remember being amazed, shocked, and disappointed at this illustration-- like, why so many?? The people stretch way into the distance, on and on (with their little sticks and headbands) .... So many of our brothers & sisters choosing to follow Satan! Why?? (Well, now I know why! lol)
It must be difficult to make fists in the paradise, they look so flaccid. The woman on the left, with her bun falling out of her hair, has an especially weak fist. Like she's holding a microphone. Perhaps these rebels didn't comment enough at the new-world meetings, and so didn't get in enough "fist-making" (microphone holding) practice.
And 1,000 years into the paradise, witnesses will still be wearing Western dress clothes --shirts with lapels & collars. Such conformity. Yet I bet some of those brothers-turned-evil are even wearing brightly colored socks.
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London Bethelites Are Agitated!
by The Searcher ina source has informed me that a relative who's in london bethel has said that a number of bethelites there are very uncomfortable and embarrassed because the branch has received "quite a few letters" querying why members of the governing body were wearing flashy rings and jewellery on some of the monthly broadcasts, but on the broadcast when the g.b.
asked for more money from the congregations - their gold and jewellery was not on display!.
will probably emerge one day wearing sackcloth, begging for yet more donations..
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Muddy Waters
Yes, tie pins, cuff links, watches, pinky rings.... What else is acceptable for a man to bling himself with? Amazing they don't have nose rings & earrings. I'm sure that if they could, they would. -
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Muddy Waters
Follow Us - the True Guardians Of Doctrine
The Way of Ever-Changing Truth
This Is the Way - Sleep On It
Loyal Love / Blind Obedience
Is there a Hole in Your Sole? Shoe Patching for Pioneers
Here I Am, Hiding So You Don't Send Me, Don't Send Me
We're Jay-Double-U dot Org! 🎶 We Stand Silently By Carts! 🎶
Listen, Obey & Be Stressed
Keep on Seeking First Our Righteousness
Draw Close to the Guardians Of Doctrine
Remain Firm in this Time and Times and Half a Time of the End
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Muddy Waters
omg, hahaha, I love reading these comments!
I remember this illustration from way back when, and analyzed this picture with such a different mindset!! It was so frightening to me then, and so discouraging too, knowing there would be, once again, another battle with Satan and his head-banded hordes.
And doesn't Satan (in drag, I mean, as the dragon) look crumpled in this picture.... It looks like he's just crawled or limped out of the abyss -- you can even see his skid marks, or his "tire-tracks" or tail tracks .... And he sure has a lot of people on his side! How can this be? How could so many of our "perfect" brothers and sisters be so angry with us so as to wish us harm, with those frightening dog-chewie sticks?
(I never even noticed back in the day how lame those sticks were! Just the fact that Satan was in the picture, and angry people -- our own brothers & sisters, maybe even family! -- turning against us, was all it took to provide the terror!!)
That part always amazed me, and is, I realize, a cult technique used to make us fearful of each other and not quite trust each other. Makes it all easier for people to be disposable and cast them off as rubbish and bird food, in any era or time.
The beards, the goatee, the headbands! Just everything. The woman with her hair in a bun beside Ozzy (or Bonaduce, Partridge Family) .... It is so laughable now.
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9
A must read for all JW's and Ex-JW's
by iwasblind inhi guys.
i am about 60% through the book exiting the jw cult: a healing handbook: for current & former jehovah's witnesses .
i bought this book because of a post about it last week so a big thank you for that.. i must say that everyone on this forum should consider giving this book a go.
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Muddy Waters
Iwasright, You are right -- this is an EXCELLENT book!! I also just began reading it, from a recommendation here, and the compassion, insight & understanding into our experience and how to find yourself again, is exactly what my wounded, jaded, cynical heart needs ....
Written by by an ex-JW turned therapist, she knows.... She understands, and offers ways to cope, heal, and move on ... practical advice and so much more, and I'm not even half way through.
This is is a great book and resource. And thank you, Brock Talon, for reminding us about leaving feedback and reviews on Amazon. Most important.
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What does your baptism mean to you now?
by GiftsinMen ini was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
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Muddy Waters
And to answer the OPs question, what does my baptism mean to me now...
when I look back, I remember an idealistic young woman who truly believed she was giving her life to the service of God, to serve him totally and wholeheartedly, to be clean mentally, physically, morally, spiritually... To know and have the love and acceptance of the most Sovereign person of the universe, the great and wonderful loving creator, Jehovah...!!
.... to do his will... to be his instrument, to be meek and humble and obedient and live a godly life of total devotion to him... and to his organization. Can't forget that! - His organization!! The two are always joined: "Jehovah and his visible organization. Jehovah and his earthly organization. Jehovah and his organization. Jehovah and his representatives. Jehovah and his loving arrangements and provisions through his organization on earth today." On and on.
I see a young woman whose life had been in chaos and depression following a series of life tragedies who had been "rescued" and saved and "made holy and clean" by studying these little books from God's own representatives on earth.
(Yes, it's nauseating...)
I see this young woman being totally indoctrinated, and caught so deep it would take 25 years to begin listening to her doubts and start questioning....
I was attracted to the clean, shiny, sparkling life and its purity and the "wholesome" people..... I wanted to be like that.... And indeed I was (in that goddamn smarmy self-righteous yet deprecating way!) for so many long years.
I see a person who doesn't exist anymore.
I see my baptism as a baby stepping toward gaining approval... and living afterward a life of constantly seeking that approval and never being good enough or "living up to my dedication".....
An anxious life, filled with the doom and gloom cloud of utter destruction that could descend any moment, from which I might "probably" be saved if only I kept doing enough and being holy enough.....
I see a person who was led by lies, by clever manipulation of fears and dreams and hopes.... A person who was trusting and open .... and now I question everything!! To call me a cynic now might be accurate.
I still have hopes and dreams and fears, but they are toward my family, toward their betterment and well being. My life is turned toward community and yes, politics, and the inclusion of doing things for society, not standing away from it. To practice and learn what charity really means! I feel more connected to life, to the preciousness and rareness of life and consciousness.... to have the feeling and belief that we are all in this together, we are connected in a larger society and community which is important! and vital! and meaningful! I feel like I have rejoined the human race, but some days like a baby again.... deciding what to do and how and just who I really am.... It is a journey now of constant discovery and open-ness.... and of way less judgment toward others, and more compassion and empathy towards people.
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What does your baptism mean to you now?
by GiftsinMen ini was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
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Muddy Waters
nicolaou - love your reply. It's like once once you begin asking questions and learning critical thinking skills (the terror of the WT! No wonder they fear it, as they use every false logical fallacy possible, and I love it when posters here are able to break it down and show these straw men, red herrings, non sequiturs, etc.) -- the walls within your mind give way & you see clearly how reason makes much more sense....