Posts by problemaddict

8

Moses comparrisons....research help

by problemaddict in

cedars posting regarding the article "what kind of spirit do you show?

" got me thinking about something.

the paragraph regarding the rebellion of korah against moses, is of course not a new comparrison.

problemaddict

Thanks Doc.

Bump for the newbie to get some love.

31

Yet another intro letter

by problemaddict in

to the mod, if this is posted in the wrong place please feel free to move it to wherever is appropriate.. so here is another lurker turned community member.

i might write up a life story at some point, but for the sake of time here are the abc's of me.. raised a jw.

friends for the most part are all jw's.

Hey Creative. I agree. I do not think for one minute that JW's have the market cornered on morality. I wouldn't either say that they are immoral. They probably reflect the cuture and percentages of the countries they are in just like the rest of the population.

Just like everyone else.

73

A letter from a College Dropout

by Ethos in

jw
friends

dear harvard university,.

i have decided go leave this institution of education.

let me explain why.

problemaddict

Hey Ethos,

So I understand why you THINK the analogy is appropriate. It simply is not for the very specific reason, that df'ing is not analgous to getting kicked out of a university. Every community has standards and unspoken "rules". Even this little web community. A community is important because it supports you and simultaneously challenges you. We all have severl communites we belong to. Our family, our work, our school, our friends, our religion. Having these various communities, and CONTRIBUTING to them is key in our developement, and then in our journey as human being trying to live in accord with our mind set. With JW's you find their communities ALL INTERSECTING with some minor exceptions.

When you then question something your community teaches, they challenge you on it. It is their right to do so as all communities function this way. However, the community does not have the right to expel you and shut down all intersecting communities, under the name of God, and at the same time remain uninspired.

I said it before and you have yet to respond my friend. It isn't the changing teachings that has everyone up in arms. Its the claim that GOD is somehow behind it all, and even though their teachings are prone to error, that the sword of damaclease (sp) hangs above anyone who question the validy of one of their teachings.

Have you attended university may I ask? That isn't meant to insinuate you have not, I am just curious. If so, which one?

Thank you in advance.

57

Ethos (and all still mentally in): Truth, Tipping Points and Standards

by NeverKnew in

if this is "the truth," why has the information provided over the years contained so many errors?

at what point does "error" become "outright lie" for you?

how high (or low) are your standards for your spiritual leaders?

problemaddict

I barely joined, and I am limited to 100 a day, and 4 threads a day. What gives for Ethos?

8

Moses comparrisons....research help

by problemaddict in

cedars posting regarding the article "what kind of spirit do you show?

" got me thinking about something.

the paragraph regarding the rebellion of korah against moses, is of course not a new comparrison.

problemaddict

Hello all,

Cedars posting regarding the article "What Kind of Spirit do You Show?" got me thinking about something. The paragraph regarding the rebellion of Korah against Moses, is of course not a new comparrison. It always seems the branch is tacitly comparing themselves to Moses, which I believe is a pretty big issue. I seem to remember within the past year or two, there being SEVERAL of the study edition watchtowers making this comparison to one degree or another. I am thinking about 3 in the past year and a half.

Would anyone here have cataloged these particular comparrisons? I don't think JW.org has a search function for the WT's in the last two years.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

16

Apostates and the Holy Spirit

by iamwhoiam in

i've heard elders say more than once that if the congregation isn't productive, there is probably an apostate in the midst; since the holy spirit doesn't seem to be upon the congregation.

anyone ever hear similar claims before?.

problemaddict

Ummm. That wouldn't probably fall under official teaching. Probably just a bad elders excuse.

57

Ethos (and all still mentally in): Truth, Tipping Points and Standards

by NeverKnew in

if this is "the truth," why has the information provided over the years contained so many errors?

at what point does "error" become "outright lie" for you?

how high (or low) are your standards for your spiritual leaders?

problemaddict

@ Ethos,

As a current member in good standing of Jehovah's Witnesses yet someone who feels justified in bending some of the rules as you do, let me say I understand your thought process. It is kind of a backstop to say that some "key" things help onto for 100 years is evidence of anything in particular. The Isrealites for example, had many "key" things they continued to believe, but their actions showed little respect for their God. So here are a few thigns to consider. What and who defines a matter as "key".

For example anyone claiming a division of Christianity, believes in upholding Gods word as infallible, believes that Jesus sacrifice is the only way to have your sins forgiven, and that kindes to your neighboor and telling others about Jesus is key to Christianity. These are key items.

Now you are adding the concept of the Trinity (which I too reject). Yet we used to teach it was proper to worship Jesus in a way different that we interpret proskuneo today. So you could say that has changed. Hellfire, was a carry over from Adventist times, but I also believe it is false according to scripture. This is a teachign many Christian faiths are revisiting or out right rejecting. USe of Gods name is not unique to Jehovah's Witnesses althought we are most "famous" for it. I think there is a good arguement to use Jehovah as the divine name, while acknowledging nobody can be certain.

Now we move on to all of the things we have changed. And you clearly already know the list. This is the key Ethos. I don't think anyone here has a problem with somethign ebing taught, and then revised. I think what people including myself have a problem with, is the uniformity of any belief sent down being attributed to God even when changed over and over, and then the belief in these things enforced through disfellowshipping.

Anyone being honest with themselves has to admit the errors and mistakes. But who made them? God? Of course not. People did. So the branch cannot have it both ways. You can't say we are uninspired, are not prophets, don't have a special relationship witht he holy spirit, do not possess the "gifts" of the spirit (which includes knowledge and understanding)......and still REQUIRE a uniformity of belief in the hands of so few people. It simply isn't biblical. It simply isn't responsible.

Just that concept alone, is what breeds all of these other issues. Honestly, I could care about 1914 and wether its accurate. i think there is a good arguement either way, but most likely the date isn't of merit. That being said, what does it matter? Does it change Jesus sacrifice? Does it change the proper mind state fo the ready Christian? It shouldn't. So why deny someone a Christian babtism simply because they don't see the merit in it.

I just watched a show where one of the main characters said her G-ma used to tell her, "trust those who seek the truth, beware of those who say they have already found it."

17

A JW mother and her children just came to my door......

by haboob48 in

jw
friends

first of all let me say that i choked!

i choked because i told myself if they came back that i would have a field day!

didn't happen.

problemaddict

Just a couple things. Don't feel bad about not knowing what to say. Feel good about respecting the fact she had young children with her and not laying into her. I also doubt very much you think they would bring children purposely to avoid confrontation. :)

People are not noted as disfellowshipped on FS cards. Only do not call requests are written on those reports. If you don't want to be called on, just call up the hall and have them add your name.

Otherwise, think to yourself if you only had 30 seconds with a every day run of the mill JW, what would you want them to know. That should unclog the ole brain.

36

Hello, I Am New Here

by arrakis1 in

jw
friends

was a jw for 40 years.

stopped attending 2010...resigned officially in 2011. still a little shell shocked but beginning to feel much better now.

awesome revelation....people in the world are not all that bad.