Posts by Muddy Waters

52

My families shunning has gone to a whole new level

by pale.emperor in

8 months df'd.

loving a life of freedom.

however, my family are all shunning me.

Muddy Waters

I am so sorry to hear of this extreme behaviour.

"By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." Well the JWs certainly take that scripture literally, they love only those among themselves.

It it is way extreme to destroy your baby pictures... I mean what if you came back? (Not that you would, but still -- What if??? How could she do such a thing?) That's just total dispensation of existence, another earmark of a cult. So very sorry.

I have many many sorrows and regrets in my life, and with JW issues, but for my mental health, I've learned I must protect myself and my health including my emotional state. It hurts us to suffer emotionally, but sometimes there's no avoiding it. It sounds like you have your own lovely family who truly loves you and who truly appreciate you. Let them be your focus and joy. Peace.

62

What have been some of the funniest local needs talks that you have heard?

by DaPriest in

i remember once in berlin south germany there was a local needs part for the men only, and how they should use the toilet.

in all seriousness for ten minutes a retarded nigerian was going on about how men need to sit down when using the toilet.

no mention of anything else.. it transpired that some little kraut boy from an "interested" family would aim for the side of the toilet and leave a great big puddle for others to clean up.

Muddy Waters

Geez. Yes, we had some ridiculous local needs talks where the ruling Pharisee's, excuse me I mean the glorious ones, the stars in Jesus' right hand, spoke to the congregation of their latest pronouncements ... colored shirts that some of the brothers were wearing! Some were wearing BLUE instead of white, it caused a big commotion for awhile, then it went away and tons of brothers were wearing blue shirts, green shirts, even the odd pink shirt!! the occasional black shirt!! oh my god!/Bhudda/Great Spirit, etc.!! And then suddenly, poof, it wasn't a big deal any more.

Then we had other talks, I mean we had Great Spiritually Upbuilding Encouragement from our Brothers: we had a talk on proper dress and grooming and respect for Jehovah's household following a sister who wore a slipper to the meeting when she had a foot injury....

23

No Longer a JW Expert But Starting to Figure Out Life

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

consider this an update for those that remember me here.... when i left in 2006, it started a 10 year journey into a new phase.

no more "safety".

some people want to be their own person.

Muddy Waters

Hello, nice to hear your insights and update!! Thank you. May life go well for you

26

Feb. 2017 "Who is Leading God's People Today?"

by Saethydd in

i know that i am not by any means the first person to take note of this article, but today i finally got around to reading it.

i quickly found the now infamous line "the governing body is neither inspired nor infallible.

" in the interest of fairness, however, i decided to finish the paragraph, which led me to finish the lesson.

Muddy Waters

Saethyyd, I liked your analysis and intelligent breakdown of their "evidence".... Thank you for. We all know that WE no longer believe it, but is good to break it down the way you did for the very reasons you say, and because THEY believe it. (And the WT reasonings has as many holes in it as Swiss cheese!!)

33

Which bible translation do you think is best and most acurate?

by NikL in

jw
friends

for those that still care to read the bible of course.

those that don't, please keep the snarky comments to yourselves :-).

i am assuming nwt is not very popular?.

Muddy Waters

Am finding myself more and more agnostic/atheist these days, and am finding that reading a bible these days is very tiresome and depressing. That said, however, I do like the style(s) of the New Revised Standard Version (as do you) and the New Jerusalem Bible - I love their use of"Yahwey" instead of the now-loathsome "Jehovah"... I also really enjoy The Message, almost a paraphrase but very scholarly and well researched.

14

Overcoming the influence of Jehovah's Witnesses

by Christophoros in

some things that have helped me in my journey... .

since a major part of what the watchtower society does, involves the twisting of the real meaning of the bible and specific verses... it makes sense to me, whether a person has some kind of belief in the bible or not, to go to the source of the twisting, get it's real meaning, unravel the the knots and chains, and walk free.. for me, a huge part of the unravelling process has been spending time in the gospels.. the pharisees.... i used to read the gospels, and listen to audio bibles, and every time the pharisees showed up, i would sign/groan/mockingly laugh:.

matthew 9. matthew 23 .

Muddy Waters

Christophoros, thank you for your post. Much resonance for me.

42

Elders getting burnt up.

by biblexaminer in

the elders in this area are getting burned out.

i have overheard comments that demonstrate this, but in my dealings with them, i clearly see it.

they can't keep it straight.

Muddy Waters

Wow, this is amazing reading all the comments. You really feel the load those elders carry. Poor bastards.

It reminds me more and more of Orwell's book, "Animal Farm"... Where the pigs became more and more powerful & created more and more rules, while exempting themselves from the many tasks and then continually increased the workload, especially on their most faithful workers; and even more so upon their best, most devoted & loyal workhorse, driven to its ultimate.... end.

38

What Was Your Favorite Kingdom Song?

by minimus in

jw
friends

funny but for whatever reason, i can't stop singing walking in integrity from the old songbook!

it's in my head and in my opinion it was one of the few songs i really liked..

Muddy Waters

I used to like: "Laud our God! Laud Jehovah God! Make his kingdom known, make it known!" I loved trying to belt that one out, lol.

Also liked the contrasting dark/light theme of "Dark days are here! Man lives in fear! In dire expectation ...." (sung very slowly, plodding, heavily)... To be followed by brightness and lightness: "But the Bible says soon there will be..." blah blah blah...

And the rousing, stirring: "We're Jehovah's Witnesses! We speak out in fearlessness! Ours is the god of true prophecy, what he foretells comes to be!"

Oh yes, and who can forget the cool rhythm and weird words: "Kiss the son, lest God be angry and you perish in the way! Happy are all they that put their trust in him today!"

And the soft, gentle "What love Jehovah showed... What goodness from him flowed... When to this earth he sent his son.... He died upon a tree, to set all mankind free...."

Yes, I was one of those self-righteous dorks who loved those stupid songs ....

"... When eyes of blind ones see again" indeed!! (from 'Keep your eyes on the prize').

24

The Bible or God? - A Message to Formerbrother

by David_Jay in

“i still can not find any other option that comes as close to all the bible as jws do.”-- from the profile of formerbrother.. this is lengthy, but it should help you, formerbrother.

the problem is not in your search for this "option" but that you are searching according the criteria set out by the jehovah’s witnesses (and likely following the reasoning set out by their claims).. before proceeding, understand clearly (as there will always be someone reading this that will skip this point that i make) that i am not writing to advance any particular religious view.

though raised and baptized as a jehovah’s witness in my late teen years, i am jewish.

Muddy Waters

Fascinating post, David Jay! It was worth reading through it, very interesting and full of new thoughts for me!

3

"50 Years a Watchtower Slave" Chapter 7 part A

by new boy in

chapter 7. easy to join tough to leave .

so even though jehovah’s witnesses are pacifist there are some people the witnesses actually do hate.

the people they hate the most, are former jehovah’s witnesses.

Muddy Waters

I really enjoy your writing and reading your experiences.

However, I take exception to your phrase, "a bunch of Germans" (from Pennysylvania). I hale from a large, loving and wonderful heritage of Germans/Austrians (except for some obvious extremists, eg WW2)

Let us not put everybody into a limiting, discriminatory bad box!