I was baptized in 1986.
2 generation changes.
by karter 31 Replies latest jw experiences
I was baptized in 1986.
2 generation changes.
Nothing has changed.
The doctrines still flop around.
The JW's still believe that armageddon is just around the corner.
The Governing Body still wants exclusive devotion to themselves.
The only thing that changed was my perception of what I was being spoonfed so I left.
Nothing has changed.
The doctrines still flop around.
The JW's still believe that armageddon is just around the corner.
The Governing Body still wants exclusive devotion to themselves.
Very true MM!
I was baptised in '98, so we've had:
2nd generation change
Blood fractions allowed
Bookstudy scrapped.
Baptized in 1988...
So I've got two generation changes as well.
Awhile ago, I took a look at the statistics from when I was baptized and found that at least 1.5 million have left/ disappeared from 'the truth' since I was baptized (don't quote me on this, I'd have to double check).
It also seems we believe in 'microevolution'
The generation change was huge for me. I didn't do anything about it right away, but it sat, undigested, in the back of my mind for years. It was the beginning of the end for me as it finally broke through the crust of cult teachings that had built up around my mind, and caused me to take a good look at the organization, the changes they were making and what hypocrites they were.
I also remember the WTS filing a brief in the Jimmy Swaggert case in support of being able to sell product (magazines and books in the case of the WTS) without collecting tax...at least I believe that's what their support of him was about. It wasn't so much a change in doctrine as it was supporting false religion, even though the reason was to support themselves and their magazine sales. There was also the big reveal about the WTS belonging in some fashion to the United Nations...I can't remember as what at the moment. I was already out at that point so I wasn't paying a lot of attention...still, the fact that they had joined the wild beast in any form or for any reason was something of a shock and completely against what they'd always preached. I guess their admonitions to the stupid publishers are only for the publishers and not for the WTS itself.
When I was coming in, I allowed myself to be convinced that the 1975 debacle was mostly the doing of individual JWs. I bought the line about their "running ahead" and coming to erroneous conclusions about the end date, and how stupid they were. I should have researched it all more. Fact is JWs are very changable. They've gotten smarter and smarter at explaining it to the congregations...and training them to expect change and shrug it off as new light...as if a completely different and contradictory explanation was the same as something becoming clearer, but retaining the same basic meaning.
I also remember how important all five meetings were supposed to be and how the bookstudy groups were where dubs were going to congregate when open meetings at the KH could no longer be held. Guess they're going to stay in touch with the congregation via email when the governement closes them down. Again, its not doctrine, but it was sure hammered home heavily all the time I was a dub. Jehooba changed his mind about all of that, I guess.
There was a fiction book by Heinlein that was titled "Job, A Comedy of Justice", in which the author postulated that God, as we know him, is either a child or a maniac based on what religion says he requires, the variety of contradictory religious organizations claiming to represent him, the dual personality he demonstrates in the Bible itself and how He supposedly does stupid stuff like making sure some people find money lying in the street when they need gas so they can tool around the countryside selling magazines or helps other people get stuff they pray for (like Santa Claus), while letting kids be molested and other innocents starve to death. If you were to look at how Jehovah of the Witnesses behaves according to their own doctrines and constant changes and tweeking of supposed prophecy, you'd have to conclude that He is nuts too. None of it makes much sense or is consistant or logical in the long term.
Baptized in 1966.
Gone are:
The Big Tents and Food Service at Assemblies.
Knorr, Schroeder, Jaracz, and Fred Franz the 4 Horsemen
I was baptised in 1972.
Tobacco smoking was not then a disfellowshipping offence, although it was shortly to become one.
Anybody married to a homosexual could not get a "scriptural" divorce.
Regular Pioneers had to report at least 100 hours per month.
"Temporary Pioneers" had just become "Auxiliary Pioneers", and a "Back Call" had just been changed to a "Return Visit."
The WTS-promoted 1975 hype was going strongly, and anyone who queried this was written off as "immature." Then, in 1976, it was all blamed on us as individuals, for "reading more into it than the Society put in writing."
The "Kingdom Ministry" became the "Kingdom Service", at the same time as the Theocratic Ministry School became just the Theocratic School. Then a few years later, it reverted to the "Kingdom Ministry" and "Theocratic Ministry School" once more.
AND ....... there was no witch hunt for those who drove a two-door car while out in the service!
Bill.
THE MUFF-N-EGG is GONE!
THE MUFF-N-EGG is GONE!
Hilarious!!! I remember seeing the signs at the CA's (Remember when we used to buy meal tickets?) and I was about 12 at the time. The MUFF-N-EGG was 7 tickets. I couldn't believe my eyes when it dawned on me how dirty that could be taken.
I was baptized in 1978. Too many changes for me to list...it's a different (worse) religion now.