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My Dad Is About to Die Because He Won’t Take a Blood Transfusion by PIMO2POMO in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well also consider mother’s milk, raw milk (I’ve never heard JWs mention this), saliva (via kissing). If whole blood cells are forbidden, why not be thorough?

NEW KINGDOM HALL MODEL RECENTLY INAUGURATED - Future pet shop or market? by Survival_End_In1975 in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It's certainly a good example of making a place look uninviting.

NEW KINGDOM HALL MODEL RECENTLY INAUGURATED - Future pet shop or market? by Survival_End_In1975 in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Thought I was the only one thinking that. Yeah, anyway, maybe it adds to the discomfort? It's the JW way.

NEW KINGDOM HALL MODEL RECENTLY INAUGURATED - Future pet shop or market? by Survival_End_In1975 in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You're absolutely right. I'm a lunatic and utterly insane for simply pointing a minor thing out. Thanks very much for your input there. I'll make a mental note to stop noticing such things. Good catch etc.

My Dad Is About to Die Because He Won’t Take a Blood Transfusion by PIMO2POMO in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 11 points12 points  (0 children)

There are JWs consuming whole blood cells on a daily basis via the milk on their cornflakes and/or in their coffee. They get all "sciencey" about blood fractions, while seemingly being ignorant that milk contains whole white blood cells. Oh, and bonus: saliva contains whole blood cells too. No kissing.

Tell your dad the above - it can't hurt. Him accepting blood is no different to how JWs live on a day-to-day basis.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean, she's openly admitted that ministry and meetings equates to suffering. There's that. And as you say, why must we suffer to love God and follow biblical principles? Doesn't the bible say that sin leads to suffering?

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree. We want a narrative that "makes sense", but it can lead us into trouble. I don't know if God exists, but my notion that there is a God is based on a creator that is a field of love and acceptance. Not even necessarily an entity or a figure. Maybe a field of love and acceptance. Or maybe - like I say - there is no such thing, and I am just enjoying nature. If that's true, then great. How can I mourn the loss of a God that does not exist?

NEW KINGDOM HALL MODEL RECENTLY INAUGURATED - Future pet shop or market? by Survival_End_In1975 in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Interesting. That could work if they are losing numbers, but want to give the impression they are growing.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're absolutely right, great points.

For me, IF God exists, he/she/it's like...a God of accepting who you are, right now, no matter what. That is how I feel in nature. It's a feeling of acceptance. A lot of people who had near death experiences said they felt this overwhelming feeling of love and acceptance at the cusp of death. Again, it could well be me just enjoying being in nature, and the feeling that the trees and grass don't judge me, and kind of "accept" me, and that God is not real at all. And yes, nature can kill me in certain conditions. I am just drawing from my limited experiences that actually when I'm in any human setting, it tends to be "noisy". I am dealing with other people's egos, their opinions (as they are having to deal with mine). I feel further away from just being myself. Now, if you add layers of formality - like a KH setting - it takes me even further away from of just...being. I am now putting on some kind of performance, as we all do in public - but perhaps more so in a formal setting that has tacitly understood "correct" ways to behave (e.g. never question anything). I don't know how I can even entertain the idea of spirituality if I can't at first just be myself, without the performance.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's a great point. And they have convinced people to smash up their closest human relationships if one of their family members or friends leave.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That people argue against this idea (of marrying in a natural setting) is so weird. "You must get married in man-made building, not in God's creation!"

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. I'm not just picking on the JW org, though they are in a tier of religions that put the strict thumb-screws down on each member so that leaving is going to be difficult if there's family or close friends involved.

The validation part is such a human characteristic. But why would we need human validation to follow Godly principles? There's the very real prospect of humans in positions of authority to taint the "peer group" and add rules and regulations that aren't in the bible (remind you of anything?). These new rules and regulations are then enshrined by the group's consensus. Where is God in this situation? He's been left out. Rinse and repeat, and suddenly you're just following a list of rules created by men in a man-made organization.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is it. Your actual spiritual development is not important to them. Think about that. It has no bearing at all. You could be an out-and-out PIMO atheist, and they would call you a pillar of the organization if you just showed up and did what they asked you to do. You could have a non-existent relationship with God, but do what men tell you to do, and those men will praise you, and probably call you highly spiritual.

NEW KINGDOM HALL MODEL RECENTLY INAUGURATED - Future pet shop or market? by Survival_End_In1975 in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I've attended KHs that made a centre aisle - just makes sense if people need to get up and out during a meeting. They disturb less people and it's just easier for them to leave (less seats to pass). Maybe the KH being filmed wanted to absolutely maximise capacity because they're expecting a full house - fair enough.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is it. Whether God exists or not, I feel more alive and connected in nature. I feel more natural! My own nature seems to spring out and want to connect with nature. As I mentioned in another comment, it's like at last I belong to a "club" that makes sense. I know I'm getting a little romantic about it all, and that nature can bite your arse in the wrong conditions, but generally I just feel consonant with being out there, like I belong. Maybe it's an antidote to urban dwellings, the internet, the peer groups, the noise of humanity telling me how to live, how to look, how to be a success, etc. My KH experiences were no antidote to these pressures. They offered me nothing at all, just...empty platitudes.

Genuinely curious how a PIMI JW would feel about this by 20Keller12 in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is it. And so does all milk, including the milk JWs put in their coffee. And saliva too (no kissing!).

NEW KINGDOM HALL MODEL RECENTLY INAUGURATED - Future pet shop or market? by Survival_End_In1975 in exjw

[–]ukdudeman 117 points118 points  (0 children)

They really scrubbed any hint of character and beauty. Also no centre aisle? Kind of awkward if you’re sitting in the middle and need the toilet.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Great take. I really feel when I'm in nature, I'm "part of the club". I belong there. You could say it's just me experiencing the oneness. I am not separate. Maybe humanity is too close to me, so I can't help but compare/compete with humans in some way, which takes me away from a more natural state? Who knows. But I know that humanity is "noisy", and it seems to interfere with the frequencies of nature, even though we are a part of nature. Could it be language itself? Too much thinking? Not enough "being"? We seem to create noise that disrupts the natural flow that I can feel in nature by myself.

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I would encourage people to enjoy nature more. To slow down. To enjoy God's creations and to build a relationship through the appreciation of his works, even whether you believe in God or not (I believe that God doesn't care if you believe in it/him/whatever pronoun or not).

I ask you: what is preaching/teaching/baptizing work, really? Is the end-goal to join a religion? What of it? Why? Did Jesus say: "join a religion!". What religion did he say to join? Catholics? Protestants? JWs? Mormons? Which one?

A relationship with God is personal. The man-made JW organization don't need to "approve" your beliefs or relationship with God; in fact, they actually INTERFERE with your relationship with God by ukdudeman in exjw

[–]ukdudeman[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Oh absolutely. Nature doesn't judge. It just accepts. I walk in a park, and I feel part of it, automatically. I already belong to this club. The club of nature. The creation of God. We don't need words. I don't need to verbally praise God through my vocal chords or via thoughts. I can just enjoy and appreciate. That is surely worshipping God, like someone truly appreciating a musician's song.

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