Posts by panhandlegirl

5

8/15/12 WT--Materialism is YOUR problem

by sd-7 in

one thing i noticed in the august 15, 2012 watchtower, page 26, is how the writer has clearly left the usual form of narration.

typically it goes like "we must avoid satan's snares!

" but when it gets to the subject of materialism, notice the change in paragraph 4, page 26:.

panhandlegirl

Or, the pacts and classes--if you are not a Jew, that is a complete waste of your time to try and figure out. In the meantime, you are not empowering your own soul. How many witlesses, born in and dying faithful, even know what a chakra is? Do any of them know even the tiniest way to control the outside world? Some hear of the "power(??)" of positive thinking, but are not told that, unless their souls are fully empowered, positive thinking is about as powerful as blowing up your car engine with the transmission in neutral or totally busted. Ditto the Law of Attraction--witlesses are supposed to use the power of positive thinking to get people into the same cancer, but without this empowerment (which pious-sneering itself prevents), it does nothing.

I don't really think I am dumb or poweless, but I don't quite understand everything you are talking about. What "pacts and classes are you speaking of?" I had never heard the word "chakra." I have never

practiced yoga so I never encountered the word; I looked it up. I am planning on learning more about yoga as I need it to loosen my bones and I hear it helps.I really want to know more about your philosophy.

Unfortunately, I am materlistic because as you stated, humans need material things to live and I prefer to live as well as I can afford. All the JWs, both family and members of the congregation,I associated with were materalistic

Apparently they don't practice what the GB teaches. Like the writer of the above article, they apply it to others not themselves.

44

Latest WT: "Facebook = a powerful medicine"??

by cedars in

ok, i think the writing department has well and truly lost the plot now!.

on page 14 of the august 15th watchtower, there is an extensive section on the perils of the internet, with the caption "do you heed bible-based warnings about the internet?

" in large intimidating letters.

panhandlegirl

This reminds me of the old song "How you gonna keep down on the farm" The WTS is trying to keep CONTROL but I feel they are going to lose the battle. Most of the people I work with have a laptop with them. The young people

have a smart phone with them like it is part of their anatomy. Facebook dangerous! NO, it's all about trying to control and it's not going to happen. It's out of their hands now no matter how many articles they print.

30

7777 posts and I have decided to --

by moshe in

jw
friends

i was thinking (before i go buy my lottery ticket) , i have probably spent at least an hour of my time on this forum for each of those posts and not your typical kiss-me posts that some people love to fill up the forum with, either.-- 7777 hours is a lot of time and i have been reflecting on this almost eight year voyage- has it been worth it?

for me personally, yes it has.

i learned quite a bit about myself and how other people's thinking process works- if i knew what meds some were on, i wouldn't have wasted my time trying to convince them they aren't the messiah-.

panhandlegirl

Moshe, I always liked your avatar. I need to post one if I can ever figure out how to do it

30

7777 posts and I have decided to --

by moshe in

jw
friends

i was thinking (before i go buy my lottery ticket) , i have probably spent at least an hour of my time on this forum for each of those posts and not your typical kiss-me posts that some people love to fill up the forum with, either.-- 7777 hours is a lot of time and i have been reflecting on this almost eight year voyage- has it been worth it?

for me personally, yes it has.

i learned quite a bit about myself and how other people's thinking process works- if i knew what meds some were on, i wouldn't have wasted my time trying to convince them they aren't the messiah-.

panhandlegirl

Moshe, I haven't been on this forum long, but I have also found your posts interesting and insightful. I did not fade, per se, I just stopped attending meeting or going in fs. Then, from what I learned on this forum, I got

caught up in the 80' purg. The Elders called out of the blue and asked me to come to the KH to meet with them, I refused. I told them if they wanted to speak to me, they could come to my house, which they did. I must say, I

knew more about what the WT said than they did. Anyway, I never backed off from tellling them where they were going wrong as far as the Mediator and other teaching were concerned. They, of couse, df'd me for apostacy. They

did tell me I could appeal but I refused. When I left, I never looked back. I was in the organization from the age of 4 until sometime in the early 80's. I don't even remember in what year I got df/d. As you stated a "one evening of

internet research can tell a JW all he needs to know" about the lies the organization has told. I hope to see your posts again, 7777/posts/hours is a lot of time!

PG.

18

Which type of "Apostate" is worse? An Atheist/Agnostic or one who joins a New Organized Religion?

by QuestioningEverything in

jw
friends

sorry, i posted this in another section.

meant to put it here.. just wondering which kind is worse to active jw's?

my aunt used to be a jw but now she is a mormon.

panhandlegirl

I think joining another Church/Religion is considered worse. I became a Catholic. When my jw mother asked me why I told her she was the one who had baptized me into the Catholic Church as a baby. All I did was return to

my roots. That did not go over well. My jw cousins say I am like a dog that has returned to it's vomit. Oh well. Whatever. Two of my df'd brothers don't believe in God or the Bible, I don't know what they belive.

'

98

I think many of you will return to the religion one day

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i don't mean this as an insult, more of a life experience thing.

i saw a lot of people leave in my years there and a lot were angry with the religion and the people, and some even protested the kingdom halls and wrote things in the newspapers.

a lot though, came back in time, as it was just the comfort zone they felt at ease in.

panhandlegirl

My 80 year old father was reinstated when he discovered he had lung cancer. My oldest brother went back because he does not like being shunned, he does not follow any of their rules, does what he wants. When I discovered I

had a brain aneurysm, it never entered my mind to return to the organizaion or even to contact them. I recieved the last rites by a Catholic priest and put my life in the hands of the doctors. If that did not cause me to return to

the organization, nothing will. I even told my df'd brother that if our jw sisters wanted to have a relationship with me, I am not sure I would want one; after thirty years, I don't even know them anymore. I made a life for

myself and could never go back. I don't believe anything they teach or say.

21

It just keeps getting better and better.

by Sour Grapes in

two comments at last weeks meeting:.

1. the education that we receive at the kingdom.

hall is the best in the universe.. 2. the movie "the advengers" should not be seen because.

panhandlegirl

1. The education that we receive at the Kingdom

Hall is the best in the universe.

WOW! Better than Oxford, Yale, Harvard? So I could be an expert window washer or janitor as opposed to a scientist, English professor or

whatever else those other Universities could help/educate me to practice?

16

The ECHO of broadcast emotions..........the empty chair where "god" sits

by Terry in

jw
friends

i spent sunday with a number of ex-jw's in a very pleasant get-together.

we all discussed the usual things, of course.. one thing i always notice.

how much of the "flavor" of god remains in one form or another.. with ex-jw's the distaste for religion is the strongest without necessarily including distaste for "belief".. religion is the package and god is the contents, you might say.. but-wait, there's more!.

panhandlegirl

So do you think there is an innate sense that draws humans to a belief in God or is it an idea that is taught/inculcated and becomes difficult for some to discard. By your post, I would say you think the later but just want

to ask.

16

The ECHO of broadcast emotions..........the empty chair where "god" sits

by Terry in

jw
friends

i spent sunday with a number of ex-jw's in a very pleasant get-together.

we all discussed the usual things, of course.. one thing i always notice.

how much of the "flavor" of god remains in one form or another.. with ex-jw's the distaste for religion is the strongest without necessarily including distaste for "belief".. religion is the package and god is the contents, you might say.. but-wait, there's more!.

panhandlegirl

Thanks for your explanation. I understand what you are saying.

16

What You May Have Missed While You Were Away

by OldGenerationDude in

after conversing with a few folks on this board, it came to my attention that a lot of what i've been writing sounds very foreign to a lot of people.

the reason is simple, really.. after talking with some of you here, i have come to realize that i am really from a very different era of the watchtower than a lot of you are.

i have much to learn from you guys (like i still can't figure out how anyone got that overlapping-generation fluff to pass-in my day we probably would have burned as a witch anyone who even dared suggest such a thing as "true doctrine" among the witnesses).. some have mentioned to me how what i've written about sounds "foreign" or even fabricated...that is until they look it up for themselves.

panhandlegirl

Pistoff, Thanks for the list of books. I will be sure and order and read these books.