Read their old literature and you will notice that they already are a total new organisation as they used to be and they continue to reinvent themselves.
Will JWs leave the org because of accelerated doctrine change?
by cultswatter 27 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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moshe
But where will they go? -back to Babylon the Great? Will they humble themselves and tell their neighbors they were wrong about God destroying their religion? JW's have worn the coat of arrogance for so long that they don't know how to be normal as a group. Even that true JW group that was mentioned in Eastern Europe is avoiding the truth about themselves, so it is easier to just say we are right and the mother org is now apostate, but Babylon the Great is still Babylon and will be destroyed at Armageddon. For JW's it's all about saving face, ignoring the past and and lying about the present.
I had a lady out in service ask me after I had finished my 5 minute speech at her doorstep over 20 years ago, "but are you happy?" "yes", I lied- and she saw it, too, because she said "I know better". I was whipped for the rest of the morning.
I have tried that on other JW's in service and you know what? I can see the lie on their face, too- face tenses up and frown lines on the forehead appear ( how do I answer this?) mouth scews up( think of a good answer) and then they avert their eyes( now tell the lie , but don't look at them) Yeah, I have seen it before.
There are some JW's reading this right now who are lying to themselves about being happy and it's time to face the music and introduce yourself to the group. Let the healing begin tonight.
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zack
The religion today bears no semblance to the one CT Russell started.
And as was said earlier, JW's are not happy. They once had hope, and hope can bring joy in the face of even the worst circumstances. The Jw's I know do not
have any joy. They thought they'd never grow old and die. Guess what? They're old and dieing--- same as everyone else, except they have to carry the load
the GB have placed on them.
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Arthur
If there was such a thing as a "profile" of those most likely to leave, I believe it is those who were not raised in the organization - those who came in as adults, and who have been associated for less than 20 years. When I read and listen to testimonies of former Witnesses, this seems to be the most common demographic of people who leave over doctrinal issues. Sure, there are plenty of born-in JWs who leave, but it seems to me that most of these cases involve being DFd for immorality.
I think that those who were born and raised on the organization have much deeper and powerful indoctrination to break away from. And, those who have been in the organization longer than 20 years are so set in their ways, that they don't know anything else.
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moshe
"profile" of those most likely to leave, I believe it is those who were not raised in the organization - those who came in as adults, and who have been associated for less than 20 years.
Well, that fits me to a Tee, Arthur. Another 5 years in the Borg and I might have been stuck there!
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yaddayadda
Contrary to what some listees imagine, doctrinally the organisaton today still bears a remarkable resemblance to the one that Russell started. It still holds to all of Russell's core doctrines that depart noticeably from broader Christendom.
The only changes to doctrine that would cause JW's to leave in mass numbers would be a change to any of the following. A change to any of these would signal to many JW's that the Watchtower Society has become 'apostate':
1 God is not a trinity
2 The soul is not immortal (the dead are not presently alive somewhere else)
3 There are two hopes for saved mankind - a heavenly hope and an earthly hope.
The Watchtower Society could change pretty much any other doctrine besides these 3 and only a small minority would leave.
This is the real concept that keeps JW's enslaved to the Watchtower Society: the enigma of how the organisation teaches these three core doctrines that are scripturally correct and yet are not found in broader Christendom, yet these scriptural truths are surrounded by a whole steaming pile of organisational crap, dubious creeds and harmful policies. In other words, the baby is beautiful but she sits in filthy bathwater. -
uninformed
I was in 45 years (from 15) to almost 60. My wife all here life, 60 years.
We left because of the NGO hypocrisy. 11 months AFTER we quit going, although we left THEM alone, they came after us and disfellowshipped us.
Never been any happier!
Doctrinally, I had a lot of trouble with their insertion of the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" in every paragraph since 1980. Also had trouble with the lack of a real 1975 apology. Had real trouble with the neutrality change in the 90's as I went to prison for neutrality during the Viet Nam war.
When they disconnected 1914 from the "generation" in 1995 I almost got the courage to quit. In 1997 they made a statement to the effect that even though there was corruption in the organization, Jehovah was not about to reject them. When I read that, I turned to my wife and said. "They are not God's People anymore."
Although I now believe that they never were, the process of leaving the organization took me 25 years. Enough is enough.
Brant
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Arthur
We left because of the NGO hypocrisy. 11 months AFTER we quit going, although we left THEM alone, they came after us and disfellowshipped us.
Brant, this is one of the things that I find most disingenuous about the organization. I cannot count the number of times that I have heard talks at meetings and assemblies where the speaker asks why those who oppose the organization do not simply leave quietly and leave everyone else alone. Every time people do try to walk away quietly, they wind up getting disfellowhipped for apostasy anyway. My question is: what was the sense in walking away quietly when the organization is going to brand them an apostate anyway? It's a case of damned if you do; damned if you don't.
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compound complex
I don't have specific facts and figures at the ready, but in the not-too-distant past, a thread or two on the Worldwide Church of God [hope I have the name correct] commented on the church's official apology regarding doctrinal error. That admission wrought a massive walkout - was it some 50 to 60 percent? Since most true-believers stick with it despite underlying doubts and fears, they seem to feel, at least outwardly, that "Mother" could not possibly do them wrong. An admission of guilt and/or error would be an entirely different proposition.
So, would an acknowledgement of error effect an exodus? Don Imus said he was sorry, was forgiven in the official statement by Vivian Stringer on behalf of her girls' team, yet Mr. Imus, nevertheless, has had to suffer the irreversible consequences of his thoughtless words.
He has killed no one. But the Watch Tower has.Compound-Complex
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FlyingHighNow
What organized religion is this NOT true of? Have you tried getting MONEY actual CASH from your current denomination when you are financially strapped? Your denomination is NOT going to give you even one thin dime! WAKE UP!
I'm happy to say that you are wrong. My church has given a great deal to us this year. I have taken in my two grandsons. St. Mark's has given me money from the priest's discresionary fund for utility bills and later to stock my pantry. Then they sent my oldest grandson to camp. They bought both of the boys school clothes, not crappy clothing, but levis, etc. Mother Val came and took Julian shopping for those clothes and spent over $400. She also bought his camp clothing, etc. The church bought the boy's snowboots, coats, mittens and hats. They just paid to have my car looked at and repaired and they paid my gas bill of $211.
I found myself with no baby sitter for the next two weeks (long story) and they have pitched in and are taking care of the boys so I don't get fired from my job. How much do we put in the plate in our offering envelope each week? A very small amount. We have done volunteer work for the church and they have paid us to do work as well.
The Episcopal Church is the one I was raised in, though in another state. I started going back in February of 2006. I got laid off that same month and in April things began for my grandsons, a long painful ordeal. If we had not had the help and love of this church, we would not have made it this far. I have learned from this experience that most Christians are very sincere. What a wonderful discovery.