Are we hyper-sensitised to JW changes? Do we exaggerate their importance?

by yadda yadda 2 31 Replies latest jw friends

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  undercover

  I agree...we do exaggerate the importance of some of the changes. The book study change isn't all that big a deal, though to those critical of the Society it means more, because we want to find fault with everything they do. That's why we've pick it apart to death. We have enough to find fault with when it comes to doctrine, the blood policy, the abuse scandals; the meeting schedule shouldn't be all that important.

  But I don't know if we're hyper-sensitive to the changes. Maybe some people are. Some though like to stay on top of changes so that they can keep tabs on the inconsistencies, the deceit, the out-right lies, the flip-flops, so that maybe they can help JW family/friends see the futility of remaining loyal to the bOrg.

  If I know the changes before the rank and file do and I have time to formulate an opinion on why it may have happened and can compare it to past statements/doctrines/traditions it helps to see more of the hypocrisy show through. And I can hopefully use that to drop more hints with family that can hopefully jog them into questioning things themselves.

  I knew about the change to the "closing of the heavenly calling in 1935" doctrine before my family. When they read it, they tried to share the "change" with me. Before they got too far, I said, "What...did they drop another date?" They were a bit stunned but quickly retreated into a defensive stance. But the seed was planted. It's there...one day it will grow.
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  reniaa

  Yes

  sometimes this site comes across like a love/hate thing, People no longer can be witnesses but you still are because you become some sort of anti-witness enjoying all the annoucements etc as much as the JW's lol how many threads have there been trying to break down the hidden meaning behind the announcement?
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  Awakened07

  I think there sometimes is a tendency here to hype certain things up and make a big evil conspiracy out of anything, but, as they say "It's not paranoia if there's really someone following you."

  Lately it seems to me that we 'apostates' dig deeper and understand the literature better than the witnesses themselves. It wouldn't surprise me for instance that if I were to ask my parents what the significance of 1914 is and the Generation, they would tell me some version of the previous teachings, perhaps a mish-mash of them. I somehow doubt they've even noticed that there's new light. It should be important to them, but it seems to be more important to us. We of course look for these things for signs of weakness and contradiction etc.; proof they're not in any way 'God's channel'. We already know, but a little more doesn't hurt.

  The bookstudy change did perhaps get way out of hand here when it came to the amount of threads (of which I read virtually none), but even so - it IS a big change. I mean - how many times were Hebr. 10:25 drilled into our brains? In every meeting? "not neglecting to meet together [...] and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (ESV)

  It is also important because, as has been said ad nauseum; the book study was probably the last venue where people felt they could ask questions that were a little to the side, perhaps air some doubts even, or share something found in own research. In the venue of the large Kingdom halls, it will be reduced to the same droning on as the Watchtower study is, where you pretty much either answer the question by a direct reading of a portion of the paragraph, or just rearrange the words and put in a few of your own as to not make it seem like you're just reading the paragraph out loud. In addition to - which has also been mentioned a lot by now - it was the tight little group we were supposed to go to when the sh*t hit the fan.

  So, I believe these changes are really important. But I can agree that sometimes there's a tendency here to perhaps blow things out of proportions, or speculate on things we can't know. But - on the other hand, we should be free to air our 'hypothesis' in a place like this. If not here, where else?
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  Gayle

  I compare to the USSR. They were boastful, arrogant against the world. The USSR at one time was extremely self-important, totalitarian, no free expression, sending any of their people to Siberia if criticized the USSR government. The people had to sacrifice 'all' to build and support that government. When we heard they really didn't have much food in comparison, low-grade homes, etc. we shook our heads at the cost of their people. We gasped how some were running for their lives, leaving their families behind, their names being defamed for their flight for freedom. When word was coming out that their government was crumbling from within and that more and more their people were getting disgruntled, didn't our expectations grow that the USSR was reaping finally what it had been sowing. I never expected I would see the 'wall' in Berlin go down! I was thrilled for their people. My heart danced with them at the torndown 'wall.' Many things parallel the WTS. The crumbling from within is happening there, more of their people are disgruntled. Former members are fleeing for their freedom, often their names are being defamed. The WTS' little changes increase our hope, perhaps not for total disintegration, but that their leaders (GB) are having to answer to their people, and growing numbers are not satisfied, they (their elders, etc.) are growing tired. Their youth are leaving (running) more and more as they see no hope there anymore. I've learned in my life, good things happen in little bits and I embrace them.
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  easyreader1970

  For believers still inside the organization: The book study change is a big deal. It has been part of worship for as long as anyone has been alive. The Society has stressed repeatedly how important it is to attend the book study and how members have not been taking it seriously. The Society has stated that the book study is important for many reasons, not the least of which quite possibly being your main lifeline in an emergency or even Armageddon. They have encouraged members to socialize and get to know intimately the people in the book study for decades. Then they come out of the blue and say that it is no longer necessary. An active, believing JW can only see this as some earth-shattering event.

  For non-believers still inside the organization for various reasons: I am one of these people. I am hoping this is the beginning of the end (of the WBTS). It would be far easier for me if the WBTS self-destructed than it would be for outsiders to take it down. I think it is a monster that has enslaved the minds of millions of innocent people.

  For non-believers outside of the organization: Once again, I think there is a desire to see this organization go down in flames. It has not been determined whether this most recent but important decision is to control minds and stop independents, to prevent lawsuits, to save gas for publishers, or any number of possible theories. Some want it to be an indication that something is wrong, that there is some massive failure somewhere, but that has yet to be seen.

  So there is some legitimacy in the excitement that people here feel when changes like these are made. Unfortunately, none of us have any insiders on the Governing Body and their closed meetings so we are ultimately in the dark until we see the fallout.

  er
• 

  CandleLight

  Honestly?

  I have been reading this site for the news update! If you want to know what the Witnesses are up too these days, and what changes are made, come here and read, cause someone will have posted it.

  There is good and bad about being senstive to every change they make.

  Good.~We know don't we! We see the hyprocrasy just overflowing from their mouths and we sit back and wonder how others just can't see it. Makes us sad for the rest of those who are still trapped but happy in our hearts that we got free. It is nice to recognise the truth.

  Bad~ in the sense of moving on. Are we obsessed with a religion we have rejected? Where is our life now? Time is so very wasted looking backwards when the path ahead is where God is leading us. Lingering and examining every single change wastes our precious engery that could be spent going forward. If our lives are still centered around what was, and what we went through (speaking from experience here.. my story is wild) they still have our hearts captive.

  His peace to all

  CL
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  Peppermint

  "JW's are prone to over exaggerate every bit of bad news in the world to mean Armageddon is near."
  
  Well this is our history, we have been taught well in the art of making something out of nothing.
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  reniaa

  easyreader you made me beg the question...if the WTs imploded would this forum go down too without the witnesses to unite you all?
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  BreakingAway

  I think there's one MAJOR factor that some who "just don't get" what all the fuss is about are overlooking when it comes to anouncements like this... and that is: Many ARE still dealing with the traumatic experience of being a Witness and all that they went, and are still, going through.It's called group therapy.It's called looking for answers, of ways to cope, of how to get others out.Everyone handles things differently.Telling someone to "just move on" may sound like: "Who cares ? " It can also sound like: "Hmmmm, guess you're not strong enough, well, that's your problem, I'm moving on ! ." People need to talk, to reflect, to deal with their emotions and to hear that others feel the same.

  Even though we are no longer Witnesses, we still care about those on the inside.And so changes like this mean that some WILL leave and that is a big deal.For such ones the slavery will be over.Innocent kids previously forced to adopt a lifestyle in which they have no say will no longer have to go through that.Is that not reason to be happy ? Is that not reason to speculate ? To look to the time when this cult will fall and not only free those within its walls but to not trap other trusting and unsuspecting people into this religion ? We were once "united" in belief, is that not still the case ? A different belief yes, but our experiences have brought us together.Are we any less "brothers and sisters" than we used to be ? Could we be even more so now ? IS there not a bond held in common ?

  At one time we knocked on doors with the excitement that their life would change for the better and the prospects presented to them would be fantastic.It turns out we were wrong.We unknowingly sought to bring others under a yoke of slavery.Should we not also show at least equal enthusiasm when contemplating the freedom such ones will experience when no longer being a part of this cult ? It's a messed up situtation.It's a confusing situation.And it's understandable why some would choose to walk away and never look back.But for many, including myself, I look forward to the time when this organization will be no more.And that maybe others, like myself, who finally wake up will come to be friends again and to accept that there really is life outside the org.By watching, perhaps we can help, when the time is right.If that means I have to keep an eye on the WT to see this happen, so be it...
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  journey-on

  I think we do this because everybody likes a good mystery.

  The Borg does nothing without a reason. And we all know from experience

  that the reason they announce is never the REAL reason. So, the REASON is

  the big mystery to solve, and we just like to indulge in the speculation.