by Beans 18 Replies latest jw friends
Violet,
I can not think of any example where the WT admitted they were wrong. Perhaps you can find one.
Before, during, and after 1975 and 1925, they did the same thing. In both cases, they made very strong statements about those dates. When prophecy failed they did not apologize. In both cases, they blamed the rank and file, saying they had over reacted and misunderstood what the WT had written.
Never EVER an admission of a mistake........just explained away as "new light".
Almost as if there setting themselves up as being equal to God.
Violetanai
Don't fall for that two card trick the Jw's always use on bible studies. You know, the one where they say you'll get a lot of opposition from non-believers or worldly people for studying with the JW's and they constantly shower you with kindness and intimate attention to win you over even if you're butt ugly and look like Marilyn Manson. If you believe them this far, you're basically sucked in, like i was until i came to my senses and then they started to give me the cold shoulder.
I studied with some of their faithful and discreet slaves[slaves is what they really are] and I've just got to say[I am not trying to be impolite or rude--'to each his own'] everything I was being taught, everything they tried to ram in my skull about their so called truth brought me one important conclusion--"only prisons have watchtowers, and I will not commit myself".
I think my main problem with not being able to accept the crap that they were dishing out, was that I was brought up catholic and as a teenager lived up to the normal 'rebellious catholic' stereotype.
The cross or stake thing really overwhelmed me, confused the hell out of me. And I couldn't understand why we could never study anything with my bible, which is King James, not NWT. And I couldn't comprehend why we jumped verses in the bible like playing leap frog. Most of the pople in the hall were nice[most of the time], but I now believe they were only nice because they wanted something from me, cuz when I started to revolt[go crazy, per se], they were no longer my 'friends', I was seen as an enemy, and a bad association.
And as far as I can tell, the only time when they make a move to [try] to convert me again, is if they see me in a weakened state, if I'm sad or depressed, they are not far behind preaching the truth and bible study, go to a meeting, read the Knowledge book.
Truthfully, I am more happy outside of the truth, at least I don't feel guilt as much anymore, and I am not constantly depressed about the end of the world scenario,[I mean the end of the world is a coming, so why even bother to live today type fear]. I feel no inclination to tread in those waters again.
Anyone who still has a chance of getting out, please open your eyes, research what you are wanting to do with the rest of your life. Look deep inside yourself and ask yourself--is this really my lot in life, and don't listen to anyone but yourself...
Hey, I'm proud to be an apostate.
Actually, I try to ignore topics related to pro-JW--it just gives me a headache.
Beans--I love your site--it's awesome--a real eye opener at the lying, conniving, decieving WT..
Hi Violetanai,
You said:
I admire someone who is willing to admit they were wrong. Takes great courage, especially if the whole world is watching every move they make and just waiting for them to screw up. Shows humility.I was told that story my whole life, that the world was watching everything that we, JWs, did. I have found since I left the WT and have visited many churches and lived in the "world" that overall people just ignore JWs. Many think they are just a strange bunch and don't take them very seriously.
Borgfree
"True patriotism doesn't exclude an understanding of the patriotism of others" Queen Elizabeth II
Violet: The most frustrating thing in my life was trying to tell my Dad certain things about the Bible because he was always right or should I say that the JW`s are always right.There is no telling any JW that they have faultered because they have every answer to every question as taught to them in there publications!How would JW`s feel if all other religions banned reading of JW material,you`d be outa luck eh!
The one way thinking is what keeps you all going,is it the lack of education you are not to endure because your time should be spent serving Jehovah that does not allow one to think about other possibilities.
So a failed profhecy is now called a mistake,and the elder who sexually abused my sister is OK because he repented,and JW`s can accept Blood in Bulgaria,and being affiliated with the UN is OK because you need to use the Library but there is no record of you using it,and the white man is a superior race and when the Magic Kingdom comes you will all turn to mans original colour,and all QUOTES from previous publications that may harm the BORG are not included on the CD-ROM of the Watchtower!
I could go on,but don`t want to bore you with FALSE PROPHECIES!!!
I respect your views but cannot accept them,I know you are what you are and if your happy then so be it that is your choice!
I wish you the best of luck in your religious pursuit!
Beans
Beans! My Northern Neighbor .. how ya doin? I havent talked to ya in awhile! As usual, you bring up good points. I think I sounded like Violet a few years ago, but fortunately my conscience wouldnt allow me to make excuses for an organization that has thrown me away like garbage. When I think about how I wasn't even baptized and became pregnant with my son. I was going to meetings regularly and the Witnesses I knew for years shunned me. They wouldnt even look at my beautiful son, like he was something bad. I can remember being told how horrible 'worldly' kids acted.. when I think about that now I laugh, my sisters kids (active jw's) are spoiled brats and my son who doesnt go to meetings is so respectful and kind. I think when you tell your kids that they are better than everyone else because God approves of you more, it is dangerous. I can see how haughty and egotistical some jw kids act. That is something I didnt want to instill in my son.
Back to the point, yes, every imperfect man makes mistakes, but none claim to be the only 'God-inspired' source of Truth. There is alot of power in those words, and there is no room (or excuse) for error. When you have millions of people looking to you for guidance, a little mistake can be disastrous. Like Ray Franz says in CoC, the brothers should be there to help you become a more mature and spiritual person, not reliant on some organization for answers. The Society invites jw's to lean on them for understanding, not on your own conscience, which is not what the Bible tells us. We are supposed to answer to our own consciences.. but if you did that you would be disfellowshipped.
I have never had a problem with observing my birthday. Could I be a baptized Witness and observe them? What if I told the elders that it didnt go against my conscience? It wouldnt matter, because the importance with them is not what is morally right, but what is Organizationally right. And that is a jagged little pill to swallow.... so I decided to try life out of the Org and have met more 'kind' and sincere people than I ever have in any Hall. There is good and bad everywhere... to think that the world is scary and evil and the Kingdom Hall is filled with love, rainbows and smiley faces is just plain...... naive.
After posting this thread I thought I would get a good response from active members answering my questions.It seems to me that the Jehovahs Witnesses on this board are only here to observe or perhaps thought that it would be full of fellow members of the sekt.
Beans
I admire someone who is willing to admit they were wrong.
Violet, as others have mentioned, I don't recall the Society EVER admitting it was wrong about anything.
When a prediction didn't pan out, the WTBTS didn't apologize, they simply stated that the rank and file had "misunderstood", or "taken things out of context".
When caught in a compromising situation, the Society never admitted it had done wrong, but rather that they were "deceived" and were totally innocent (i.e. the UN affair).
One needs to remove ones head from the sack in order to see the light of day.
