Email from a Witness about the site

by Simon 41 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Amazing

  Thanks Simon: I suspect that the person who emailed you is from the UK, judging from some of his/her expressions. If this is so it might explain some differences. In the USA the JWs are less free and more repressed.

  The poster also said this, which I find suspecious:

  ... my kids are'nt yet witnesses but imgoing to wait until they get old enough to make that desicion for themselfs, after they leave school, we shall teach them christinas principles, but if they then choose to go there own way , so be it, i certainly wont shun my kids ...

  No self-respecting JW would wait until their kids are out of school to teach them "Christian Principles" meaning JW propaganda.

  Finally, the poster admits reading this site for hours, but finds posts to be destructive and sinister. Without specific examples, it is hard to know what he/she means by this. Nevertheless, I find it hard to believe that if one reads this site for hours, that he/she will come away thinking this ... there are too many good and rational arguments made for this to happen.
• 

  patio34

  Thanks for posting that e-mail Simon. You refuted the writer's assertions masterfully, imo. So has everyone else here. As far as I'm concerned, it seems that this person isn't representative of the avg JW nor that "theocratic," according to WTS writings. The position he takes is liable to be frowned on and he could be "marked" as bad association (better safe than sorry!) in the cong if all his hobbies were known--esp. reading on this board for "hours."

  BTW, i'll be making a "donation" today to help defray some of your costs, even though it was unsolicited! I sent a check a while back, but it came back for insufficient postage LOL! I so appreciate this site and it's such a help to all of us. Thanks!

  Pat

  Edited by - Patio34 on 27 July 2002 10:38:43
• 

  SpiderMonkey

  One chap i know who knows me from being a child sais that the one thing he liked about me, is that i dont have a holier that thou attitude, and altough i have a religious belief system, that i have retained my own personality, as before. I have not been transformed into some shady grinning self righteous sneak.

  I myself work with a JW who is a lot like this... He doesn't know I am XJW, and I'm trying to keep it that way (actually, the number of people at work that I tell about my past is very limited, as I've had many very annoying experiences w/ Christian co-workers telling me "you've never been a Christian then! you need to open your heart to Jesus!" ...I just don't see it this way. I don't go out of my way to slam Christianity, even though I have some huge problems with it; I've always just wanted to be shown the same respect)... Anyway, my point is this: This JW at work retains a friendly personality, doesn't (to my knowledge) try to convert anyone in the workplace, and is seen by everyone as a hard worker, a team player, a comrade. I have nothing but respect for him, but I will say this: I have heard him loudly laughing at another Christian (non-JW), saying "I've never read THAT in the Bible!!! HAHAHA!!! Josh, If you can show me that in the Bible, I'll believe it!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!" And this to another VERY hard-working person, a sincere, dedicated Christian, a young man who is very conscientious and loved by all. I later overheard Josh talking to another hardcore Christian about it; it seemed like he was heartbroken. Not exactly "good fruit" in my opinion. Also, I hear this JW bringing up current news events & commenting on how horrible they are, making comments like "Noone seems to value life anymore," seeming to be trying to plant his dirty little "seeds." You can retain your own peronality in the JW belief system, but you're STILL expected to internalize the whole creepy belief system.
• 

  maximumflash

  Then GET OUT !

  Throw in some Led Zep and your path to the Dark Side will be complete (in 'Evil Emperor' voice)

  Me too. It should not be allowed to happen - all those innocent victims.

  Good, the force is strong in you ... join us

  What do I get from running this site? (apart from a hole in my bank account)

  • I get some help and support for the things we have been through from people who understand
  • I feel good because I am doing something positive to try and help olthers instead of just getting angry
  • I make and meet new friends

  Great comments Simon. Thought I would point out a few I especially liked.

  As for this e-mail, I don't know all the rules about the JW's but Cassiline has explained some of them to me (would read the books but I have a few problems: (1) I am illiterate (2) I can not interpret a simple poem let alone religious doctrine (3) There must be 10,000 different pieces of literature to read which would take more time than I have left on earth to read). From what I have been told, this person apparently doesn't hold religion very sacredly as many other in the world do.

  From what I have read on this forum in the past, I don't believe that anyone is trying to speak badly about the JW religion itself, just the doctrine that it supports. Any type of doctrine that supports CRIMINALS needs to be changed!

  I personally can't say that I would blame the elders, they are simply holding their religion sacredly and following the doctrine.

  However, I do blame the higher echelons within the JW religion that can change the doctrine, should have changed the doctrine, but hasn't changed the doctrine. What in the world are you people thinking?

  Cassiline has told me that JW's "founder" (lack of appropriate terminology) is someone named Rutherford, I think, who started the religion in the late 1800s based on what he believed I am assuming (if I am mistaken about this please correct me). Regardless, a lot has changed in the world since then, i.e. laws. It is my belief that along with these changes to laws, there needs to be changes or minor alterations to religious practices to help enforce these laws and report CHILD MOLESTERS, MURDERERS, RAPIST, and other violent criminals to the appropriate authorities rather than harboring them within the religion.
• 

  FlyingHigh

  This guy sounds like I did about a year ago. He is on his way out.
• 

  jwsons

  Thank you Simon. Would you like to read another typical letter from one of them sent to my website
  on June 26, 2002 ? It's from an address at hotmail.com (I removed address)

  Hello,
  Why you have to that? [sic ! ] If you still creating some bad thing like this, you
  know you against JEHOVAH GOD, NOT Jehovah Witnesses.
  If you against JEHOVAH, YOU WILL BE DESTROYED!! [ original emphasised]We hope you delete your Website soon to save your lasting life. [sic ! ] __ [from HB. ,U.S.A.]

  Edited by - jwsons on 27 July 2002 11:54:55
• 

  Hmmm

  Most of us sounded like this guy when we were on our way out. I think it won't be long before he's coordinating a local Apostafest.

  Hmmm
• 

  Simon

  wow, you mean we can get everlasting life just by deleting a website?!!!

  I wonder which browser god uses ... maybe I could stick some HTML in there that will mess up the rendering so he won't notice I am so evil ...
• 

  Incense_and_Peppermints

  oh that's rich... especially that "one has to take responsibilty for ones actions" part.

  the funny thing is, nothing here said about jehovah's witnesses is slander. it's all true... we all lived it. you couldn't make this stuff up even if you tried...
• 

  AGuest

  Greetings to you all... and may you all have peace!

  I have been away for a bit, and am not quite "back" yet, but will be shortly (say, before the weekend is over! LOL!). I have missed you all terribly, but "life" had to happen... for a sec. Anyway, I wish to respond, Simon, if you will permit me. Thank you!

  Your emailer wrote:

  "As brother russel said show us a better way to live and we want to be the first to know about it."

  Unfortunately, neither "brothers" Russell, Rutherford, Knorr, Franz, Henschel... and all of their fellow "scribes and Pharisees", got the POINT, when it was written:

  "THIS is the Way, you people... walk... IN HIM."

  That "Way" always was... has always been... and always will be... the One who said of himself:

  "I AM THE WAY... NO ONE comes to the Father... except through ME."

  We have the "footsteps" of that Way, that Path whose "Light" has always guided and directed the sons of God.

  John 1:9; 8:11

  Unfortnately, "wicked men", "false prophets", and "false CHRISTS" (anointed) have arisen... to mislead... IF POSSIBLE... even the chosen ones.

  I beseach all of you then, with ears to hear, to HEAR what the Spirit... and the Bride... KEEP saying... to those hearing, those thirsting, those wishing:

  "Come! Take 'life's water'... which is the spirit of God, HOLY SPIRIT... the 'living water' that bubbles up in those RECEIVING it to become a "fountain of water of LIFE"... come take such "water"... FREE!"

  And again, I bid you peace!

  A servant to you all, as I am a servant to ALL those of the Household of the God, the Holy One of Israel, whose name is JAH... of Armies..., by means of being a slave of His Son and Christ... and to all those that go with them...

  SJ