Religious Freedom

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Wow, how did I miss this? I don't know how I can muster my thoughts on the subject of the JW's because there’s a long history. I was born into that "religion" and was part of it until my mid teens. I don't know the extent of NGU and Traci's experiance as a kid in that atmosphere, but I can tell you I think most of my "issues" stems from the type of person my parents are/were, particularly my dad. My dad is selfish and a total jerk. That said I'm sure the teachings were taken in different context from NGU and others. I thought my family was normal and that the beliefs were normal right up until I was in school and I found out I was very very different. Being taken out of class during "holiday" celebrations (birthdays, Christmas, Halloween) not doing the pledge (I still don't know the whole thing) and not associating with other kids beyond who went to the "Kingdom Hall."

SO as I got older I became the weird guy in school and up until I stopped participating in the religion, I continued to be the weird guy. There were no parties, no real friends, and no social stuff like going to the movies. Dating was out of the question. Collage was out of the question. Etc. etc. I could go on but...

Anyway, I stopped going and soon after my parents divorced. The JW's gave my mom serious problems to the extent she had a restraining order on them. My dad is still very active and can not get thru a conversation with me or my sisters without "preaching" to us.

I don’t' consider the JW's a religion really but more along the lines of a Cult. Its extremely narrow minded, bigoted and very self important IMHO. But, like what was mentioned before, there are some good people I've met and I think try to do "the good thing" I guess. I think any religion where ultimate control is the focus point of its teachings is just wrong. IMHO religion is about one's mind, ideas, beliefs and what they believe to be right, not someone else telling them what to believe or think and that's pretty much the main point of the JWs.

For me, I've been "over" the experience for some time. Like everyone's childhood, those experiences resonate in each of our lives as mine does in my life. I can't change the past and those experiences do show up all the time, but you try to overcome them and to varying degree's that happens. But that's a whole other chapter.

Glad you're working it out T.

NGU you know you can talk to me anytime about it if you want.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

I don't know the extent of NGU and Traci's experiance as a kid in that atmosphere, but I can tell you I think most of my "issues" stems from the type of person my parents are/were, particularly my dad. My dad is selfish and a total jerk. That said I'm sure the teachings were taken in different context from NGU and others. I thought my family was normal and that the beliefs were normal right up until I was in school and I found out I was very very different. Being taken out of class during "holiday" celebrations (birthdays, Christmas, Halloween) not doing the pledge (I still don't know the whole thing) and not associating with other kids beyond who went to the "Kingdom Hall."

We were very hardcore JW's. I started public speaking within the congregation at six and was baptized by eight. I was a pioneer (someone who makes a huge time commitment to the public ministry) at nine. I always knew we were different though. My mom emphasized that as the best part of the religion. She felt that being different from everyone else was desirable (as everyone else sucked in her opinion).

I'm sure my experiences were shaped by my parents as well, but I'm pretty sure that who my parents were was largely shaped by the religion. I'm sure there would have been much less assholery without it.

There were no parties, no real friends, and no social stuff like going to the movies. Dating was out of the question. Collage was out of the question. Etc. etc. I could go on but...

I'm lucky in that by the time I was a teenager my parents were divorced and way less strict. Michel and I dated in secret, but the stance on college was way relaxed by the time I was in high school. Although, from the time I was tiny I was told I would never even go to high school because armageddon would come.

Anyway, I stopped going and soon after my parents divorced. The JW's gave my mom serious problems to the extent she had a restraining order on them. My dad is still very active and can not get thru a conversation with me or my sisters without "preaching" to us.

Lol, I was the only one that went for a while after my parents divorced. Funny how things turn out.

I don’t' consider the JW's a religion really but more along the lines of a Cult. Its extremely narrow minded, bigoted and very self important IMHO. But, like what was mentioned before, there are some good people I've met and I think try to do "the good thing" I guess. I think any religion where ultimate control is the focus point of its teachings is just wrong. IMHO religion is about one's mind, ideas, beliefs and what they believe to be right, not someone else telling them what to believe or think and that's pretty much the main point of the JWs.

I see what you are saying, but I don't consider them a cult. I consider them the same as most fundamental religions. They all think they are right based on different opinions of the same book. My distaste for the JW religion is increasing, though, as I see them relying more on fear and obscure prophecies. They take in members at a high rate, but lose members at just as high a rate. I predict the end of the religion within the next hundred years.

Here is an email my dad's wife sent me. This is a prime example of the fear and obscure prophecies that I was referring to. This is also rare for anyone that isn't a JW to actually see. So, uh, "enjoy" it?

Bro. Gerritt Loesch is a member of the Governing Body. These notes are from one of his talks.

From missionaries in Romania



We just had the privilege of having Brother and Sister Loesch visit last weekend and heard some excellent talks. We wanted to share a few highlights with you.


On Friday afternoon we got to meet with him personally along with one other missionary couple. Brother Loesch said that we've probably noticed that the governing body has been taking some initiatives this summer with special campaigns. He said we can expect to see more in the future.

Regarding the upcoming tract campaign announcing false religion's destruction he said that they expect it to really divide people. For some it will open their eyes and for others they will reject it. Then we will be better able to discern who wants to hear more and who does not. It was interesting to hear a governing body member relate what they are anticipating. He also said that they yet expect MILLIONS to come into the organization before the end!

On Saturday at the Kingdom Hall dedication Brother Loesch was interviewed because he was one who shared in smuggling literature into Romania during Communism. His first time to enter Romania was in 1974 smuggling in microfilm that was produced at the Austria branch where he worked.

He also delivered a talk on Saturday and the theme was how we can glorify Jehovah. He helped all of us to put our whole life into perspective by bringing out that the whole purpose for humans existing is to bring glory to Jehovah. Ephesians 1:12 - this is our purpose!

Sunday we had a national convention where he spoke to over 1300 brothers from all over the country. He spoke excellent Romanian throwing in a Spanish word here and there since they had just been in Mexico the week before! We understood him perfectly! We found it interesting on Sunday he spoke about Jesus coming in seven different senses. We had never heard that before. For example his first coming was in 1914 as King. His second coming was in 1917-1919 to purify the priestly class and his third was in 1918 to resurrect the anointed and so on. He still has to come in three more ways in the future!

He said we need to be prepared because when Babylon the Great is destroyed there will be a lot of blood spilled. After her destruction we can also expect great economic problems. We will need to encourage one another and we will need patience during this time. Governments will take on a dictatorial stance in order to try to control the general world situation.

With regard to what Jesus said about not completing the circuit of the cities in referring to the preaching he mentioned that we currently do not have a single publisher in Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan.

After Armageddon there will be much work to be done. We will need to cultivate food and build houses for the billions who will be resurrected. We don't know how long the resurrection will last but it could possibly last 200 or 300 years!

Those were some of the highlights. It's always exciting to hear these details directly from a member of the governing body. They have such insight and can see things much more clearly than we can.

The dates quoted were dates that JW's originally predicted the end of the world to occur at. They are masters at glossing over, so I'm guessing that's why they've added those to the list of dates that something prophetic happened in. Then they can say they were right about the dates, but wrong about what happened on them. Notice the reliance on their governing body. They see them almost as a prophet. Their word is law.

So happy to be free! Thanks for sharing Borneio!

[JWBear]

I'm a religion??? The church of JW??? Who knew!

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by JWBear

I'm a religion??? The church of JW??? Who knew!

Show us yer canticles.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Yeah, well, spellcheck put a "E" in there and I had to correct it.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Gee, did I kill this thread or what?

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

Gee, did I kill this thread or what?

Thou shalt not kill.

[SacTown Chronic]

Originally Posted by lashbear

Thou shalt not kill.

Where's the religious freedom in that?

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

Gee, did I kill this thread or what?

Lol, you didn't kill it. I just haven't had time to sit down and reply to everything that I want to reply to in this thread. Tomorrow morning, I promise!

[Morrigoon]

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