Posts by rebel

10

Bad things in JWs eyes

by rebel in

joy2bfree's post on cults got me thinking.. was anyone else told that certain harmless things (harmless in my eyes) were satanic.. i know you have all mentioned smurfs, but i was also told that the 'my little pony' toys were demonic because they were designed by a wizard?????

did i really believe this rubbish - my daughter always wanted one but i wouldn't buy one for her cos i thought i would be inviting demons into my house - i feel really rotten now!.

also wind chimes (which i always wanted cos i love the sound), anything written by sir arthur conan doyle (and i love sherlock holmes and felt so deprived), the beatles, john denver - can't think of any more at the moment but there were quite a few.

rebel

Joy2bfree's post on cults got me thinking.

Was anyone else told that certain harmless things (harmless in my eyes) were satanic.

I know you have all mentioned smurfs, but I was also told that the 'My Little Pony' toys were demonic because they were designed by a wizard????? Did I really believe this rubbish - my daughter always wanted one but I wouldn't buy one for her cos I thought I would be inviting demons into my house - I feel really rotten now!

Also wind chimes (which I always wanted cos I love the sound), anything written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (and I love Sherlock Holmes and felt so deprived), The Beatles, John Denver - can't think of any more at the moment but there were quite a few. It may not have been a society thing - it was just that I was warned about these things by individuals who were more 'experienced' and more 'spiritual' than I was.

40

What is a Cult? (all 4 parts)

by Joyzabel in

what is a cult?

(part 1)

i was never in a cult.

rebel

Joy,

I thought your post was brill. I hadn't realised how much of a culty thing the WTBTS really is - especially those buzz-words such as governing body, anointed, disfellowship, disassociate, pioneer, PO, CO, DO, BO (ok - I made up BO), other sheep, field service, field ministry, hours, reports, theocratic, scriptural, etc etc. If I had heard a lot of these words before I became a JW, I wouldn't have known what they were talking about.

I also liked the point about explaining to a Bible study about disfellowshipping and all it entails - that would be such a good idea - at least they'd know a little more about what they were letting themselves in for.

13

God is nature

by joelbear in

i believe god is nature, which includes all of us and that god uses our sensory mechanisms to experience everything.

at some moments god can actually experience everything as one time.

rebel

I think if we were meant to know what God is, he would have let us know. As I have ranted and raved in a few other threads, we can't say that he has given us his word because he wants us to know him, because his word is IMPOSSIBLE to understand. Everyone has their own opinion, nobody agrees, everyone has a theory for the end of the world, Jesus' presence etc etc. If God wanted us to know him and love him he wouldn't have written it in such a weird way - that's my thoughts anyway. I am not really sure what the point of the Bible is anymore - I like the sentiments in the 2% of it I actually understand, I just wish I could get a grip on the other 98%. I'd love to believe this life isn't all there is - I really need to believe that. But I am not too sure any more.

46

Understanding Matthew 24. What does it mean?

by apocalypse in

about matthew 24

have you read this chapter?

all those who have called themselves "christian" have at one time or another read it, and wondered.

rebel

bjc2read,

Sorry, but none of that makes any sense. How on earth can God expect us to do his will if he makes his word impossible to understand? How can you be a good Christian if, first, you have to solve these cryptic riddles? I am not saying I don't believe the Bible, I do. I just don't now why God would make the whole thing one big huge mystery.

xxR

10

Condemned By Your 'Lack' Of Words!

by Outaservice in

jw
friends

jesus once mentioned that some people would be condemned by their own words.

i think you can also be condemned by your 'lack' of words.. the watchtower in times past would not miss a beat to condemn the catholic church for any unchristian infraction and highlight that in watchtower publications!

to my knowledge nothing at all has been said or printed what-so-ever about the catholic church's priest/pedophile problem to date!

rebel

"...the EPA fines they've had to pay for "ruining the earth"

Scully - I have never heard this. But then, I only found out about the UN scandal 3 weeks ago, so I'm obviously not the brightest person in the world. Can't imagine how I missed it - I do read the papers but somehow I missed those stories.

31

Ex Elders Aren't The Only Jerks With Attitudes

by minimus in

jw
friends

a lot of people that weren't elders show why they became witnesses in the first place.

they complain about the attitude of former elders but they never look at their own crappy attitudes.

maybe, it's because being a jerk has nothing necessarily to do with being a former elder.

rebel

Minimus,

You were a very unusual elder - I have never met one that admitted he didn't know any more than I did - I wish we had one that was like you in our congregation.

31

Ex Elders Aren't The Only Jerks With Attitudes

by minimus in

jw
friends

a lot of people that weren't elders show why they became witnesses in the first place.

they complain about the attitude of former elders but they never look at their own crappy attitudes.

maybe, it's because being a jerk has nothing necessarily to do with being a former elder.

rebel

Of course there are good and bad in all ranks. But elders are supposed to be our servants - there to help and support us spiritually - not kick us when we're down. The best elder is an ex-elder!

xxR

10

Condemned By Your 'Lack' Of Words!

by Outaservice in

jw
friends

jesus once mentioned that some people would be condemned by their own words.

i think you can also be condemned by your 'lack' of words.. the watchtower in times past would not miss a beat to condemn the catholic church for any unchristian infraction and highlight that in watchtower publications!

to my knowledge nothing at all has been said or printed what-so-ever about the catholic church's priest/pedophile problem to date!

rebel

That is brilliant!

Why have I never noticed that before? JWs are always running down the Catholic Church, but I don't remember them doing it for those reasons. I'd also be interested to know if there were any articles condemning them for child abuse.

19

Can You Really Have The "Christmas Spirit&...

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you've ever been a witness, is it possible to experience the true "christmas spirit"?edited by - minimus on 15 december 2002 8:29:2.

rebel

Mine was vodka and tonic

xxR

3

DO JEHOVAHS WITNESSES CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS AND CHRI

by nightwarrior in

i just want it confirmed do jehovahs witnesses celebrate birthdays & christmas.

or do worldly people not celebrate them ime confused.

i have seen a presiding overssers whole extended family celebrating birthdays,& receiving birthday presents from each other/holding partys over the christmas period/mind you they were allso married in december ) so that they wouldnot miss out on the christmas spirit all legal and above board ,.still serving in ( avery hill congregation london se9.

rebel

Nelly,

We seem to have had the same experiences - nasty gossips spreading rubbish. And it is true, if you don't have a dad, grandad and great grandad who are elders, POs etc, they don't really want to know you - unless of course you come from a family of pioneers - but then, in that case, you would all be elders after a short while (unless you are a sis, in which case - no hope of promotion I'm afraid - you just get labelled as mouthy)

And if you are wronged by an elder's wife or kid, you haven't a hope in hell's chance of anyone listening to you - they looked at me as if I was something that crawled out from under a stone!

xxR