Posts by Divergent

17

another hello from Cleveland area

by 08out in

jw
friends

lurker since 2008 when i walked out as an elder ,had all the politics i could take ,noticed a few from my area so i finally joined

Divergent

Lurker since 2008

Welcome. Took you long enough!

12

Did you go to your ASSIGNED congregation?

by Zoos in

the rule was (is) that you go to your assigned congregation.. growing up, i think our family was in our assigned congregation only one of three times.

the family made two major moves when i was a kid and each time my folks would visit the various congregations in the area and pick the one with the most kids.

given our association restrictions with the world, they wanted to make sure we had plenty of friends.. i have to give them credit where due.

Divergent

Yes. There wasn't any other choice! (no alternative congs to go to nearby)

37

i have been lurking on the site for a few months and thought it about time i plucked up the courage to step out of the shadows and say hello.. i am in the process of fading after realizing all is not right with the organization i had trusted implicitly for over 40 years.

there have always been 'truths' i have struggled to accept entirely, even as a child, but was confident that trusting in jehovah, building my faith and remaining patient would be enough to settle any nagging doubts that remained, so i pushed any inconsistencies to the back of my mind and concentrated on being the best witness that i could be.. over the last few years, however, i have been preoccupied with a number of crises in my family and stepping back slightly from 'theocratic' activity has allowed me to re evaluate a number of concerns and research sources other than the sanitized wt publications.. my eyes are now wide open - i found things which have appalled me and left me feeling extremely let down and disappointed by people i had really trusted.. i tried gently raising a few subjects with my mum (who was baptized early '70s and still remains a staunch wt supporter) but she will hear no criticism of the organization.

i understand this because the best part of her life has been invested in the religion and to acknowledge it may have got things wrong would be to recognize the last 40 years have been a vain waste.

Divergent

I did a fade without any explanation. Ignored all messages + calls & refused any visits from elders. People automatically assumed that I was busy with my work

27

Kinda Sad Re: Cart "Witnessing"

by Captain Schmideo2 in

jw
friends

slightly redacted for privacy of those involved.. so, this is "park witnessing" in oklahoma.. the parks in this community are basically walking trails and some tatty playground equipment.

most of the time, sparsely used, and today was a very blustery day.. notice the justifying comment- "quite a few" checking out the cart.

i am sure they were..... .

Divergent

"quite a few" checking out the cart

If I am a non-JW out for a run in the park & I see a guy in a suit + wearing a tie standing under the sun next to a cart filled with cult literature, I would stare too! (and probably think to myself that he needs to get his head checked!)

36

Good news to report: Congregations merged because lack of attendance, publishers & field service

by Khaleesi in

so it's official, i am happy to report that we merged with another congregation having the same problem.

why is it good news???

because people are either waking up, fading or just not buying into this organization any longer or walking away.... i think many young ones are just not buying into it as much, i see many in the congregation i go to very depressed and some i know personally going thru major depression especially the young "sisters" in their early 20s.... .

Divergent

alanv:

Certainly good to hear about congs merging in this way, but if we look at the worldwide report congs had a 2.25% increase compared with 1.5% publisher increase. Probably its a matter of the developed world shrinking whereas the developing lands are still expanding.

It's usually artificial growth. A cong with 100 publishers can split into 2 congs of 50 publishers each, but there's no growth in numbers. It's still 100!

13

First Born Syndrom? -

by elderINewton in

jw
friends

is it just me or does it seem like a large portion of first born children leave the "truth" or find ttatt?

its weird for me, but of all the other people out i know (only about 20 ish) they are all first borns, and usually the wife is as well.

just looking at this from a different lens and curious if others see the same.

Divergent

I'm the firstborn & the first to leave (fade) in my family (no one else has left yet). Sad to say, I am a disappointment to my family for my refusal to serve a man-made cult!

18

Has anyone seen "The Prodigal Son Returns" on JW.TV? A Masterpiece of indoctrination

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

i'm watching the jw movie the prodigal son returns.. it is a masterpiece of indoctination and what i would call a "cult" classic.. it's about two brothers who work for their father's construction firm.

the older one is the most spiritual and the younger one isn't.

he befriends al, a weak brother, who persuades him to take a job in the city and move there.. it shows the "world" in the worst possible light.

Divergent

ctrwtf:

Son has a relationship with a girl. Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!

I wouldn't call that a relationship. That was more of a quarter-night-stand!

18

Has anyone seen "The Prodigal Son Returns" on JW.TV? A Masterpiece of indoctrination

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

i'm watching the jw movie the prodigal son returns.. it is a masterpiece of indoctination and what i would call a "cult" classic.. it's about two brothers who work for their father's construction firm.

the older one is the most spiritual and the younger one isn't.

he befriends al, a weak brother, who persuades him to take a job in the city and move there.. it shows the "world" in the worst possible light.

Divergent

truthseeker:

Definitely not the religion I left. What happened?

It's called "rebranding!"

52

$10 per pub. Money begging session last night

by StarTrekAngel in

last night, during our "christian life and ministry" meeting, we had a session on local needs.

elder opened the talk with a disclaimer saying that this was a reminder (cited psalms about how david loved jehovahs reminders).

he reminded us of how bless we are of having our own local assembly hall.

Divergent

He informed us that there has been a reduction on the amount of money received at each assembly.

Great news! More people are waking up!!!

18

Has anyone seen "The Prodigal Son Returns" on JW.TV? A Masterpiece of indoctrination

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

i'm watching the jw movie the prodigal son returns.. it is a masterpiece of indoctination and what i would call a "cult" classic.. it's about two brothers who work for their father's construction firm.

the older one is the most spiritual and the younger one isn't.

he befriends al, a weak brother, who persuades him to take a job in the city and move there.. it shows the "world" in the worst possible light.

Divergent

The movie starts with 2 single brothers in their 20's not having a proper place of their own & staying with their parents, not having a proper job & working for their dad, not having girlfriends or any love interests..... and ends the same way!

Lessons learned from the movie - we should stay with our parents, not be independent & financially secure, stay single, do menial work, and pioneer. Great advice indeed!!! (sarcasm intended)