You have slightly twisted the point of the thread here. Although what you say is true in your case with Nina, as I'm sure it can be echoed from many others here on JWD, it isn't the point I was making. And I think you know it.
Well actually no I don't know it. I was responding to something very specific that you said, I even quoted it. How am I 'twisting' the point of this thread? Here is Devon's first post on this thread:
For over 100 years the Watchtower was used to getting their way. They had complete control over their faithful members and those who left had no voice to speak out. The law was on their side protecting their teachings. The Society rarely lost a lawsuit against them.
On the Watchtower Observer web site, Kent Steinhaug reposted the letter from the Watchtower trying to close up his web site, in which they failed to do. Yay!!!
This message board and so many other ex-JW boards have been growing by leaps and bounds.
Silentlambs has made a big splash and encouraged those who were wronged by the Society's child abuse policy to come forward, speak out, and sue them.
The Watchtower is no longer getting their way. Apostates and opposers are seeing to it by keeping these web sites alive and running at full speed. By reading their latest publications, press releases and BOE letters, they are carrying on like a spoiled child not getting his way.
For all of those here hoping to have revenge on the Society: You are taking revenge on them by posting here and other sites. Keep up the good work.
Devon
How is relating an experience I saw up close 'twisting' what Devon had to say? As I read this, Devon is speaking about the power of the Internet, specifically the power of Kent's site, this site and others. Nina was one who was affected.
You did give the little get out clause at the end about "cults" and such like talk. But you skewered the discussion to fit your own agenda. I'll indulge you in that though.
I must be dense because I honestly do not have a clue what you are saying here. "Get out clause"? Please tell me what my agenda is? I was relating an experience as well as offering my own poor opinion. Thank you for indulging me though.
Now indulge me in mine
Okay.
It is only your hypothesis that JWs are "approaching a crossroads" and all that you said in the following paragraph. It could be said that it is just "delusional thinking" on the part of people such as yourself that are so anti-JW. Much the same that my thoughts could be called the same.
Well, of course Scott. It is my opinion. I do not know of anyone who can offer proof what will or will not happen in the future. If you can, please do so.
My point, poorly expressed, was that pending litigation, not the Internet, will be the force that brings change to the Society. But even that will not 'bring it down'. As others have said on this thread, there is a sucker born every minute and so there will always be new fodder for Jehovah's Witnesses to use and take advantage.
However, that is my opinion. 20 years ago, I would have never guessed I would be in the situation I'm in now, nor would I have believed the Society would be teaching such nonsensical and evil doctrines. At that time I was not aware of how cruel they are. 20 years from now? I don't know. I would imagine I'll be surprised at what happens, perhaps you are correct. Perhaps not. The only way to find out is to get there, eh?
I still stand by my point. You and Simon can continue to post how BIG jwd has become, but it does not signal the end of the WT as you might hope, neither does speculating as many do here, and neither does ridicule.
Well you know how much I had to pay Simon to post that thread. All that bullshit is so much nonsense.
I started that thread because I was proud of the job Simon has done, through a helluva lot of adversity. I was also proud of the Little Website That Could, Lambs Roar, being the second most visited site. That site too has had to deal with a lot of unjustified criticism. In both cases, the adversity and criticism are understandable coming from WTS and folks that apologize for them, but it still astounds me at the intense rage some ex-JWs still vent toward this site. But I digress.
Signal the end of the WT? Well of course not. Scott, put down the ouzo for a moment. I said
Will it 'bring down' the WTS? Probably not
I, and others, have said there will probably always be Jehovah's Witnesses. I cannot put it any more clearly than that. Has the Internet, and sites like this one, had an effect? Yes, and I related one to you. I have personal knowledge of two active Witnesses and one inactive who lurk on this site. If that's true, it is reasonable to believe there are others around the U.S., and the world I guess, who also lurk here. And if they lurk here, is it not reasonable to believe they lurk on Kent's board, or Randy's site? I know for a fact that Lambs Roar generates tremendous traffic but very few posts. That means a lot of people come to Lambs Roar just to read.
As for what I hope, candidly I'm reaching a point where I don't give a tinkers dam about WTS and what they do. I never read any doctrinal thread here or elsewhere, I rarely read any thread related to what's going on at conventions or what the latest idiotic statement they've made in the Watchtower. I'm more interested in people, specifically people who have been hurt by this bizarre little sect/cult. Scott if you want to pretend that WTS' policies don't hurt people, fine. Live in your dream world. The reality is thousands of people have been hurt, and still being hurt. Not because of 'imperfect people' but because of evil teachings like the 2 witness rule, or the rape rule, or submissive women can't divorce the man who is beating the shit of them.
Scott you are quite right that speculating, opining and posting on an internet discussion board will not 'signal the end of the WT'. I would have thought that obvious, but thank you for pointing it out.
At the end of the day, there will be "odd little groups" as you say, much like JWD. A forum with some good people in it, just like the JWs with some good people in it too
When I was a Witness, I was considered weird and odd (if I were rich I could have been eccentric), so if I'm still weird and part of an odd little group here on the Internet, so be it. I'm proud to call these people my friends. I'm not ashamed of anything I've said or done (well except for my little meltdown a couple of months ago) here. I don't live a double life, in fact I've got 2 "Apostafest" stickers made by my good friend Eddie and they are displayed on my refrigerator. If the JWs I still know don't like it, they know where the door is.
My point is that this Forum tends to think its much more than it really is sometimes. And I mean no disrespect.
No offense taken here. Although I do think you are reading WAY too much into what is said here. I did not say, nor have I heard anyone else say that JWD, this site will bring down Jehovah's Witnesses. However, this site, and others, have had an impact. If you say otherwise, then we'll have to agree to disagree.
