I also watched the new show "Breaking Amish" last night. They focused on the shunning aspect. In that respect there was NO way that a person could not connect it with Jehovah's Witnesses.
Christ Alone
JoinedPosts by Christ Alone
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Lady Gaga and an Ex JW
by Christ Alone inlast night i watched a show that, i thought, really shows the attitude of jws towards the rest of the world.
it was extremely enlightening and i hope it opened alot of peoples eyes that think jws are just nice christian people, but are not a cult.
it was a show on "e" that is called "opening act".
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Well the Mark Sanderson thing is official...
by Botzwana inhow does one post a pic here?
anyways a sister just forwarded me a picture of current governing body members and this guy was included.
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Christ Alone
Find an image hosting site (like imageshack.us), upload the photo, and the site will provide you with a link. You can then add the image here using the link you got and it will show up. I'd be interested to see what photo they used of him.
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Lady Gaga and an Ex JW
by Christ Alone inlast night i watched a show that, i thought, really shows the attitude of jws towards the rest of the world.
it was extremely enlightening and i hope it opened alot of peoples eyes that think jws are just nice christian people, but are not a cult.
it was a show on "e" that is called "opening act".
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Christ Alone
On the second video, they begin talking about Von's life at about 6:20. They begin speaking about JWs around 8:45.
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Lady Gaga and an Ex JW
by Christ Alone inlast night i watched a show that, i thought, really shows the attitude of jws towards the rest of the world.
it was extremely enlightening and i hope it opened alot of peoples eyes that think jws are just nice christian people, but are not a cult.
it was a show on "e" that is called "opening act".
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Christ Alone
This is what Nigel said about the episode: "I've been asked what's going to be different on every show if you don't have a competition," Lythgoe said. "The people are different. The scenarios are different. Just look at the kid opening for Lady Gaga who is so thrilled but his mom is a Jehovah's Witness who thinks Lady Gaga is the devil's spawn."
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Lady Gaga and an Ex JW
by Christ Alone inlast night i watched a show that, i thought, really shows the attitude of jws towards the rest of the world.
it was extremely enlightening and i hope it opened alot of peoples eyes that think jws are just nice christian people, but are not a cult.
it was a show on "e" that is called "opening act".
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Christ Alone
Last night I watched a show that, I thought, really shows the attitude of JWs towards the rest of the world. It was extremely enlightening and I hope it opened alot of peoples eyes that think JWs are just nice Christian people, but are not a cult. It was a show on "E" that is called "Opening Act".
On this particular episode, the description of which can be found here http://www.eonline.com/news/328353/american-idol-producer-nigel-lythgoe-on-the-hunt-for-new-opening-act, Von Smith is featured who was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. He describes how strict the religion was and how he felt so controlled that by age 15, he decided that he did not want to be a Witness anymore.
The interesting thing is that his mother (a VERY devout JW) allowed herself to be on camera and interviewed. The producers of the show saw a video on youtube by Von Smith and decided to choose him to open for Lady Gaga. They ambush him at the airport where he flew in to visit his JW mother.
During his preperation for the show he describes his childhood and how his mother constantly discouraged him from pursuing his dreams of becoming a singer. She did not want him to become part of the world. He has an extremely difficult time rehearsing because of his issues with his mother. Still, he wants her to be part of the biggest opportunity of his life.
The Lady Gaga show that he is to perform at is in Australia. So Nigel Lythgoe offers him 2 first class plan tickets...one for him...and one for his mother. This sends Von Smith into a bit of a panic. He knows his mothers feelings towards his pursuits, yet he wants her to be a part of his life. He calls his mother and basically begs her to come with him to watch him perform. His mother flatly refuses. She states that she did some research on Lady Gaga and was disgusted by what she saw. She said that she would not be a part of it.
Von tells this to Nigel, and he says that he is very sure that he can convince his mom to go. I thought, "Boy...people really don't understand JWs." Nigel calls his mother and tells her that she doesn't have to meet Gaga, she doesn't even have to be in the environment, but it mean the world to her son if she would just attend and show her support. She tells Nigel that her faith will not allow it and she will not support her son. Nigel is literally disgusted. He says, "When I had these sorts of opportunity, I was blessed to have my mother present and supportive. I cannot understand this, and I am literally disgusted." He actually hangs up on her.
Von Smith gets to Australia, does a killer job in performing and the show ends.
I was so blown away by the episode. I thought that it did a fantastic job in portraying JWs feelings towards the world and how they view it. The overall feel that I got from Von Smiths mother was that she was afraid of what people would think if she went. What would the elders think of her attending a Lady Gaga concert with her ex-JW son? I was shocked that she allowed herself on camera, but I'm so thankful that she did. It went a long way in showing people a tiny glimpse into JW life.
If anyone can find a link to the full episode, that would be fantastic. Here is the commercial for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q7ideSuEtI
Also here is a link where they discuss the show. I haven't watched this one yet, but I'm not sure how deep they get into the JW thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYawDxZFNZI
Has anyone seen this episode?
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Disturbing WT quotes
by Christ Alone ini wanted to start a thread about the most disturbing quotes that you all have found in watchtower publications.
i just came across this one when responding to another thread.
i'm sure there are many more disturbing quotes out there.
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Christ Alone
Here is another good 'un:
Awake! 1984 February 22 pp.24-7 They Resisted Rapists
Treat Him Respectfully
The intended victim should remember that the rapist is a human. No doubt there are circumstances in his life that have precipitated his behavior. So although a woman should not cower in fear and permit a rapist to intimidate her, at the same time she should treat him understandingly, as a fellow human.Later, there was a questions from readers in which the readers were disgusted at the article. They wrote:
Awake! 1984 June 8 p.28 From Our Readers
I was deeply disturbed by the article "They Resisted Rapists." I am very upset that anyone would even consider a victim of rape guilty of fornication. The scripture at Deuteronomy that you quote only requires that the woman scream, not fight to the death! C. W., Indiana
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Your article "They Resisted Rapists" disturbed me very much. I was raped by a man who attacked me with a knife. I could only scream once because of being choked and having a large hand pressed against my mouth. I fought until I was unconscious. Because I survived, it disturbs me that it is fornication on my part. You say to show a rapist respect. These men show no respect for their victim. They don't care that they are shattering a woman, leaving in her memory horror for the rest of her life. Unless you have personally experienced the horror of this crime, you can never truly understand. A. G., MassachusettsResponse from Watchtower:
For the victim to be considered guilty of fornication there would need to be proof of willing consent. Apparently the requirement of Deuteronomy 22:25-27 for the woman to resist by screaming would clear her from any suspicion of such consent on her part.
It is nice to see the warm concern that they have towards these women who were greatly distrubed by the articles declaration that even though a woman was raped, she could be disfellowshiped if the elders viewed her as consenting to the rape. (I don't think you CAN consent to rape...is that just me?) This display of the warm love of Jehovah's loving organization is further proof that it truly is the ONLY TRUE RELIGION!!!
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Disturbing WT quotes
by Christ Alone ini wanted to start a thread about the most disturbing quotes that you all have found in watchtower publications.
i just came across this one when responding to another thread.
i'm sure there are many more disturbing quotes out there.
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Christ Alone
I wanted to start a thread about the most disturbing quotes that you all have found in Watchtower publications. I just came across this one when responding to another thread. I'm sure there are many more disturbing quotes out there. But this one REALLY made my jaw drop:
Watchtower 1973 Sep 15 p.568
"If one understands the cause, it is easier to implement the prevention and cure of a bad habit. Did you know, for example, that mothers and fathers who stroke the genitals of their fretful babies to keep them quiet are unwittingly encouraging them to become masturbators later on?"Instead of commenting about how perverted and horrific it is to stroke the genitals of fretful babies (a practice I've NEVER heard of), they are instead, warning the parents that this could actually cause their children (UNWITTINGLY?!?!?) to become masturbators later on.
Brother Cockburn: So, Brother Johnson, why did you decide to stop stroking the genitals of your young daughter?
Brother Johnson: Well Brother Cockburn, the Faithful Slave graciously warnned us that if we continue to stroke the genitals of our children, although we only have the BEST of intentions...this could lead them to the disgusting and dangerous sin of masturbation
Brother Cockburn: Thank you Brother Johnson. What an encouraging experience of how Jehovah's Faithful Slave is protecting us
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5 Reasons Why the DEAF Masturbation Video is different than anything before...
by BluePill2 inas some of you have noticed the asl video warning against masturbation (another guilt trip) is creating waves.
this is not small fry.
1. it is humorous - most topics (like other policies) are serious/depressing (blood, shunning, pedos).
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Christ Alone
By the way...did anyone else think this comment was EXTREMELY disturbing?!?
Watchtower 1973 Sep 15 p.568
"If one understands the cause, it is easier to implement the prevention and cure of a bad habit. Did you know, for example, that mothers and fathers who stroke the genitals of their fretful babies to keep them quiet are unwittingly encouraging them to become masturbators later on?"Uhhh....how bout mothers and fathers that stroke the genitals of their babies....ARE ABUSING THEM?!?!? Who cares if they masturbate when they are older?!? They were molested by their mom and dad!!!!
I've personally NEVER heard of a mother or father that would stroke their babies genitals to keep them quiet. Who writes this stuff?!?!?
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5 Reasons Why the DEAF Masturbation Video is different than anything before...
by BluePill2 inas some of you have noticed the asl video warning against masturbation (another guilt trip) is creating waves.
this is not small fry.
1. it is humorous - most topics (like other policies) are serious/depressing (blood, shunning, pedos).
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Christ Alone
Fun quotes from JWfacts.com about masturbation:
Watchtower May 15 1970, p. 315 Avoiding the Snare of Homosexuality
Helpful in this regard, then, is appreciating the fact that autoeroticism or masturbation is no mere innocent pastime but rather a practice that can lead to homosexual acts. How so? In that self-induced masturbation may make it easier and more tempting for one to engage in mutual masturbation, which is a form of homosexuality. Sincerely striving against this practice will go far to protect a youth.Watchtower 1976 Feb 15 pp.122-3
Likewise, unclean practices, such as masturbation, which can be a steppingstone to homosexuality , have been dealt with in a serious, yet understanding, way, to help individuals keep clean and pure in Jehovah's eyes.Watchtower 1973 Sep 15 p.568
"If one understands the cause, it is easier to implement the prevention and cure of a bad habit. Did you know, for example, that mothers and fathers who stroke the genitals of their fretful babies to keep them quiet are unwittingly encouraging them to become masturbators later on?"Watchtower 1973 Sep 15 pp.564-5 Breaking Free of Self-Abuse-Why? How?
...masturbation is unnatural. Granted, small children have little concept of the sexual relationship of male and female. But with adolescence comes an inner awareness that tells the male his satisfaction of sexual desire is to be found in the female, and vice versa. Masturbation (like homosexuality) ignores or bypasses that natural arrangement. It is one form of leaving "the natural use of the female" for "one contrary to nature." The vestige of God-given conscience that is inherent in all humans, therefore, makes itself heard in disapproving of such practice, causing an internal sense of guilt.-Compare Romans 1:26, 27; 2:14, 15.
Because the practice is one "contrary to nature," the masturbator pays a mental penalty. The habitual practice cripples his social and emotional development , hinders his attaining a healthful outlook and attitude toward the other sex and toward people in general. It can 'turn the person inward' upon himself, making him introverted . Or it can, and frequently does, lead into homosexuality , in which the person, not satisfied with his lonely sexual activity, seeks a partner for mutual sex play.
But, is not masturbation more effective and satisfying in relieving sexual tension than these nocturnal emissions?
No; for instead of a simple and immediate release of tension, the masturbator finds that his whole nervous system is thrown into a high state of excitement as tension is built up due to the self-stimulation. Afterward this may leave him with a feeling of nervous frustration and dissatisfaction. Yet he soon has a compelling desire to repeat the act. It is a vicious cycle that is hard to break and that gives no genuine satisfaction.
That masturbation is abnormal and unnatural is also indicated by the fact that abnormal, mentally deranged people are notorious masturbators . Somewhat similarly, The Bremerton Sun (Washington) states that many mentally disturbed priests and nuns are chronic masturbators.Your Youth (1976) p.39 Chapter 5 Masturbation and Homosexuality
Weakly giving in to sexual desires by masturbation will certainly not give you strength when faced with a situation tempting you to commit fornication-or even homosexuality. Just the opposite, it cultivates wrong thinking and wrong desire. In fact, masturbation can lead into homosexuality . In such instances the person, not satisfied with his lonely sexual activity, seeks a partner for mutual sex play.
This happens much more frequently than you may realize . Contrary to what many persons think, homosexuals are not born that way, but their homosexual behavior is learned. And often a person gets started when very young by playing with another's sexual parts , and then engaging in homosexual acts.Awake! 1980 Sept 8 p.21 Sex and Your Health
Finally, he comments on the unsatisfactory nature of masturbation: "Psychiatrists say that it is basically an aggressive act toward oneself, usually induced by frustration, as the term 'self-abuse' suggests. The noradrenaline release is therefore likely to be relatively large and little of the consequent rise in blood fats used up in the muscular activity involved." He points out that since such blood fats clog arteries, there might be 'some truth after all' in the old sayings about physical ill-effects of masturbation.
Awake! 1992 Sept 22 p.16 Does God Answer My Prayers?
Sometimes the act of prayer itself is helpful. Young Sandy was struggling with the problem of masturbation. She says: "Praying and calling on Jehovah helps me because I know that after I ask him to help me not to masturbate, I'd better not do it."Young People Ask (1989) p.201 Ch.25 Masturbation-How Serious Is It?
A "Tranquilizer"
This young woman's experience reveals what is undoubtedly the greatest reason why the habit can be so hard to break. She continues: "Usually I masturbated to release pressure, tension, or anxiety. That fleeting pleasure was like the drink the alcoholic takes to calm his nerves."I think all of this stuff is WAYYYYY more messed up than the ASL video...
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HOW TO IDENTIFY THE TRUE RELIGION
by Fifth Column injesus said that the true religion would be evident in the lives of the people who practice it.
by their fruits you will recognize them, he said.
every good tree produces fine fruit.
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Christ Alone
I have been thinking about the fact that JWs very rarely help the poor, needy, and sick.
Name one fund that has been set up to help the poor? Especially poor non-JWs.
Name a hospital that they have built/supported to help the sick in their communtiy?
Name a homeless shelter that they have built/supported in their community?
How do they feed the needy in their community?
Their refusal to do so is in direct contradiction to what the Bible says Christians should do to help.
Proverbs 19:7 - Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord , and he will repay him for his deed.
Matthew 5:32 - Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Luke 12:33 - Sell your possessions, and give to the needy
James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Galatians 2:10 - Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
As a JW I remember hearing at a meeting while I was in Brooklyn that when we get a phone call asking for donations towards some sort of cause that we should tell them that we support people that need help by donating to the worldwide work of Jehovah's Witnesses. When asked who we would vote for we tell people that we cast our vote for Jehovah God as King.
Jehovah's Witnesses will always say that they DO help the needy JWs that need help. They do help with relief work for needy JWs. And sometimes WORLDLY people get caught in the middle during relief work, and they help them.
But this is not the point. The point is to help ALL those that are in need. If a catholic church only helped other catholics, then there would be no public hospitals. If a Lutheran church only helped other Lutherans, there wouldn't be food banks that help feed the hungry in the community.
If you want to claim to be a Christian, do what the apostles asked Paul to do at Galatians 2:10. Help the poor. That was the only instruction that they gave him. If you really care about people, invest in them. Where you spend your money...that tends to be where your heart is. I see the Watchtower mainly invest their money back into themselves. Billions of dollars spent in building ridiculously expensive assembly halls and bethel buildings...and $0 spent in putting it back into the community to help those that are in need.
Identity of a true religion? I think that is a misnomer. Jesus never said there would be a true organized religion. He always talked about individual people that loved Him. So it should be how to identify a follower of Jesus. In my opinion that would be: Helping others that are less fortunate whether they agree with your particular theology or not. Loving God for yourself, but giving of yourself to those that do not yet, or ever will love God. I guess it all comes down to love... Love of people whether they are Christians, Buddhist, Islamic, Wiccan, Atheist/Agnostic, or any other brand of faith/no faith that exists.