Posts by Doubtfully Yours

The hard-core/die-hard JW crowd is literally dying. The new breed of JWs is quite relaxed, pro-gray area, into education and highly connected with the inevitable technologic world.

Having said the above, it's impossible for the WBTS not to change 100%.

DY

56

Will the WTS Org change or Die Out?

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

the wts org has:.

a formidable enemy (ex/former members),.

an enemy with an excellent communication tool unavailable in the past (the internet),.

Doubtfully Yours

They HAVE to change in order to survive.

They have been changing. There are many things that before it was black-and-white stuff, and now it's grayed out (up to the individual's conscience).

Not a whole heck of a long time ago... immunizations, organ transplants, psychological treatment, blood fractions, college education, etc., all this was strongly discouraged. Plus, they used to meddle a whole lot more into a couple's sex/family life.

They've relaxed a whole lot with the harsh way they used to treat the 'spiritually weaklings' such as myself. I mean, before you were either in all the way or out right away. Now, it's quite the nice non-spiritual hang out place for many of us that must stay because of social and family ties.

Whatever the reason, they'll continue to change, otherwise they'd become extinct.

I can see very soon the disfellowshipping practice being reformed a great deal. And the just the way they cut back on the publication of the Awake magazine, I see them doing the same thing for the Watchtower magazine. I see them shortening and combining certain meetings so that the number of meetings per week can be reduced.

I hope I live to see the type of relaxed religion I envision. They've been taking baby steps towards it, in my opinion.

DY

33

Many Stay As JWs Because Of Social & Family Contacts

by minimus in

jw
friends

would you agree that most people stay on as witnesses--not because they are "true believers" but because they have no place else to go or they will risk losing their family and friends?

Doubtfully Yours

I'm definitely one of those that stays because of family and social ties.

I make my load as light as possible by skipping as many meetings as I can and going out preaching only like 1 Saturday each month.

I hang with other 'spiritually weaklings' and try to make the best out of the experience while I have to endure it.

DY

22

HEY EVERYBODY!! :o) :o)

by Diddi Di in

hiya all, i've just recently joined the site and thought i'd introduce myself... i'm diane, 21 from yorkshire, uk.

i stopped going to meetings just after my 18th birthday, i was never baptised but i was brought up as a jehovahs witness from birth.

my mum (tez) and big brother (paulj) are also members, so look out for them too!

Doubtfully Yours

Welcome Diddi Di!

DY

28

My Tale (its about time too!!!)

by PaulJ in

i have vaig memories of a christmas, but other than that, being a jw was all i know.

she begged me to stay but i knew it would be easy just to give in (again).

i have never felt so much hurt in my life.

Doubtfully Yours

Welcome PaulJ!

DY

26

my story

by inday in

hi this is my first post and i would like to tell my story.

i have followed the some of the discussions on this baord for a while.. let me introduce myself.

i am inday, that is just my nick name, the name people call me normally.

Doubtfully Yours

Welcome, Inday!

Wow, you tell quite a story. Hope you're well and taking better care of yourself.

DY

43

I just turned 28, two minutes ago. What advice can you give me?

by el jarocho mayor in

jw
friends

well, what advice can you give me?

Doubtfully Yours

If you haven't finished your education, at the very least an Associate's Degree but preferrably a Bachelor's, finish it. If only one course at a time.

Go against the culture. Don't have a whole bunch of kids just for the hell of it. Have only as many as you can support financially nice enough to provide them with plenty of food, a comfortable home, a nice education all the way through college, and enough attention from you. I know, this part it's tough because it's culturally instilled in us.

You asked for advice, and there is mine.

DY

47

While a JW, Did You Ever Let On That You Were "Going Apostate"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i never did, although i did tell my former bible student/tennis partner that the bible does not condemn celebrating birthdays or recommend celebrating anniverseries.

he told his jw brother who told his elders who told my po.

when the po asked me about the conversation, i told him he asked me some questions and i truthfully answered., i said, "nothing i said was wrong or incorrect".

Doubtfully Yours

There's no doubt in my mind that many JWs view me as borderline 'apostate'. I'm very voiceful about my opinions when things don't make sense.

I'm responsible for the rebelion/uprising of a couple of wives in some congregations I've attended.

Just the other day I was counseling (YEAP, COUNSELING!) a very young elder (in his early 20s, for crying out loud!!!) about pursuing his freshly awakened interest in a better education before starting a family.

I vividly told him about my experience of giving up scholarships in the early 80s because the 'end' was so near that a higher education wasn't needed. Good thing I did get my college education, but it was done later and at a slower pace than I should've!

I told him, even with literature showing the same apocalyptic phrases the Society used way back then. I told him how I kick myself figuratively when I realize how much farther I could've gotten! When I was younger I had aspirations of being a doctor, and I sure had the grades and disposition just to get that far if I and my parents didn't back then bought 'line, hook, and sinker' the WBTS crap!

I told him to pour himself into his studies and he'll thank himself later. Not to let me put my arm around his shoulder 5 or 10 years from now and tell him "You see! You should gone for your schooling back then when you were younger and had the time! Life would've been so much better for you now!"

I'm sure that young elder and his wife see me in a different light now and are even more convinced that I'm an 'apostate' because of the way I expressed myself that evening, and that was right after a bookstudy meeting to boot.

I sure hope they really listened to me and choose to educate themselves now that they're plenty young and haven't started a family.

Oh, what the heck, I must say the truth about my experience in the WBTS.

That's one of the ways I justified mine being still in there. I'm a protection to many against the deceiving practices of the WBTS.

DY