why did jesus supposedly cast the demons into a herd of pigs?.
(matt 8 / luke 8).
and, how were there so many demons inside one man, that when "released" by jesus, it took a whole pack of pigs to contain them??.
I find your comments well researched and informative, David Jay, and I appreciate hearing things expressed from another perspective.
Some people take offence at all religion now, especially after being so hurt or damaged from being in a cult (JWs) but many people also appreciate hearing these other viewpoints, such as myself.
Stay, post as you do, and ignore the chiders or any unkind remarks. There are many here who appreciate your posts and explanations.
just wondering how many others (when you were still in the org) would try and listen to the meeting programmes from the perspective of a newly interested person visiting for the first time?.
i know that i did this, and most times i did, i found it disturbing!
it was not just the "in-house" language and terminology that was odd, but also the actual doctrines, and method of 'teaching' that was odd!.
I remember a pioneer sister who was very excited that one of her "studies" was going with her to a circuit assembly! It was a really big deal of course. When I later asked her what her "study" thought of the assembly, she looked so sad and confused as she said, "well, she STOPPED her study. She said the assembly was ALL NEGATIVE and full of don't do this and don't do that!!"
And I, a totally indoctrinated dubbie at the time, ALSO felt confused. I mean, after all, weren't our assemblies for our benefit and ENCOURAGEMENT, and the very best places to be to receive spiritual banquets from Jehovah of life-giving instruction & refreshment?? It was very confusing at the time how her study could view our assembly in such a negative light.
Of course, it is clear as day to me now!! Her study was very lucky to have gotten out before she even got in!
the songs in the old brown song book were way better than these new ones.
had they not changed the songs, i may never have left (halfway joking).
they gave no feeling, no soul (but of course there's no such thing as soul or whatever)!
OMG, the new songbook, dreadful!! Absolutely dreadful, the worst!!!
I think the old songbook was called, "Sing Praises to Jehovah", the new songbook should be called, "Sing Praises to the Governing Body"!!!
And don't even get me started about the music, they all sound like funeral dirges, only not even that elegant or pretty. The music sounds all wrong, the words are forced to fit the music, no logical or beautiful rhythm to it, just terrible and awkward.
And the melody, if you want to call it that, doesn't fit expectations of how you would sing a song. Where you would expect the music to lift and sound elevated, it dips low, it's like the music is constantly sinking.... and the songs are filled with weird chord progressions (though they always have been, even in the old brown songbook) whch makes them difficult to play and sing along with.
The songs sound sad, depressing, and all the same. And the congregation sings them that way, too. One of my last acts of defiance before I stopped going to meetings was to belt those crappy songs out as loud as I could, haha. It was cool to sing "angry" but I didn't care in the least. I caught a few looks of surprise, but nobody said anything to me. They probably didn't know what to make of somebody practically screaming their stupid songs at them. Ha!
please proof read the draft and comment any edits, corrects or changes of any kind needed.
also i need help with the cover page, what the title should be and plain text or whatnot, whatever would be more appealing to a jw to get them to open and read.. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0b2s6sigyikwhmglhqk5fcmxwzwc/view?usp=sharing.
There are still many errors that I could help you fix, but I won't be able to get to this till later today or tomorrow. It is a very good compilation of information, though! :D
this just in from the 2017 annual meeting:.
1. watchtowers and awakes won't be released regularly, at least three watchtower and awakes per year.
6 magazines a year.. 2. a new book is being released: remain in god's love, more of an update like how they did for the what does the bible really teach book.
Wow, I am just gobsmacked at this.
I mean, "The Watchtower - Heralding Christ's Presence!" - will barely be published anymore??
Whatever will the JWs *do* without a monthly WT magazine?? Whatever will they study on Sunday? What will they underline? What will they do with all their rulers and pens and high-lighters and markers, etc.??? What will they fill all their bookshelves and bookbags with??
Is everybody to buy an iPad?? Has WT invested heavily in Apple stock?? What does this all mean in the practical daily/weekly/monthly lives of the faithful flock??
Will everybody sit around a computer screen to see the latest from Jehovah's mighty and glorious website?
Yes, that must be it, seeing as how their latest JW broadcast said they were building a fine "Digital Foundation"!!! Well, thank goodness they will have a rock solid, stable *digital foundation*.... (as long as the internet connections hold and the wireless networks and clouds keep doing their things...)
Imagine when all the resurrected ones will be given new tablets, never mind those old stone things. They will all have *iPads* and the new system will be filled with cell towers or such to stream in the new light from Jehovah.
some men would despair to be in my place.. i am immobile; this would seem an irreparable blow to what i have always perceived as the defining characteristics of manhood: taking risks, conquering new territory, marching forward with confidence toward a future of assured promise and prosperity.
however, this injury to my legs has become the final blow.
over the years, my once sturdy frame has been weakened by chronic illness.
How are you doing, Compound Complex??
have been thinking of you
heavy, heavy upon my failing heart weighs .
your aching need for my full and loving devotion.. i spend myself willingly on your behalf because,.
truly, your needs and wishes outstrip my own.. if i were young and wiry man, for you .
Compound Complex, thank you for your lovely poems.
I have appreciated reading them very much.
(sent you a pm in reply)
When one is really ill, as I have recently learned, I have become so incredibly grateful for the people and gifts and blessings in my life -- the littlest thing becomes a refreshing wonder or miracle (though I am not religious at all anymore). I find myself becoming more and more appreciative of the littlest, simplest things... there is a purity in moments, a clarity which I had not perceived before.
I am glad you can release your soul and spirit in the form of poetry. May you find peace and contentment in your present state, and thoughts of healing and positiveness are in my heart toward you.
- Muddy
tutorial for making donations electronically video will be considered the week of october 16, 2017.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_z32hlqw-0.
Wow.... just.... unbelievable...
a place that will bring you praise.
https://tv.jw.org/#en/mediaitems/latestvideos/pub-jwb_201801_8_video.
LOL, Sparrowdown! Those Lizards in Warwick can take a flying leap!!
if you take the red pill, you'll have knowledge, you'll be awakened, aware of reality, you'll have freedom.. if you take the blue pill, you stay in your bubble, wearing rose colored glasses, and feel security in an illusion.. taking the red pill isn't something that's easy to do.
to accept that everything around you is an illusion built up on lies or half truths.
but hey, it might feel good to be aware and break free from this illusion.
It is both a blessing and a curse.
I mourn the loss of my past, over 25 of my healthiest, productive years spent in useless cultish busywork. (Was a stupid, bloody CONVERT at the age of 20, woke up, or started the slow process of wakening up, when I was nearly 50!)
I think about the show The Matrix a lot sometimes, and I understand why the guy wanted to be plugged back in....!
...
And I have also bawled my head off at their stupid emotional videos... It feels like being a little kid who just lost Santa Clause all over again.
We are innocent, trusting Drones no longer.
...
(("... and this is what it sounds like, when doves cry..."))
...
It's been over 5 years since I woke up, and I had been in it TOTALLY - "whole-heartedly" - and I hate their words now. They sicken me, literally.
...
You are going through a loss, and a growth.
It is a process.... Yes, a journey. Look how many people post here, some even after being out for decades. Nobody else (unless having been through a similar experience) "gets" or understands what being a JW is really like. We may make new non-JW friends, yes, but they will never understand quite how .... surreal/ controlled/ fear-inspired (Armageddon, doing something wrong, being disfellowshipped, losing family thru shunning, facing persecution, on and on it goes) was our existence.
Becoming free is a process... A discovery... There will be some bumps and hurts, but there will also be magic and wonderful things too.....
...
EDITED TO ADD:
DesirousOfChange: THANK YOU! Your words are SPOT ON!! I was almost getting morose there, your words shook me out of it!! Red pill (unless too old or fragile for such a rude awakening) all the way!!!
