Posts by SM62

33

HOW "TRUE" ARE JW HOURS ?

by josephus in

jw
friends

as a jw i admit to "massaging" my hours nearly every month to keep up with the expected amount.. my brother never put in hir report for nearly 2 years.

i was amazed when i asked the secretary he told me "i allways put a few hours in if people forget" !!!

so my brother was a regular publisher despite not going out on service.. he was one man.

SM62

I've never lied about my hours. If I did 20 hours, I'd say so. If one month I did one hour, I'd put that down too.

I know some people that do sort of round them up. I know my husband NEVER lies about his hours. If anything, he will round down rather than round up.

I suppose all JWs are individuals. Just because some congregations fiddle their hours, it doesn't mean they all do.

Having said that, the hours spent door to door are pretty worthless. All my husband does is record not-homes for about 3 hours every Saturday and Sunday. In your average 3-hour stretch, he may get to speak to 2 or 3 people. He would be better off staying at home and talking to me

Terri

7

Elders = Business?

by Dimples in

jw
friends

is it just me or does it seem as soon as a brother becomes an elder, soon after, he starts his own business?

when i was a jw i remember how brothers were struggling to make ends meet and as soon as they became and elder or ms.....all of a sudden they have money to start their own businesses.

along wth it comes.... new cars, home improvements etc.

SM62

All the elders in my congregation are rolling in dosh - not sure what that means though!

Terri

14

Is there ANYTHING at all you think the borg was right about?

by BLISSISIGNORANCE in

i'm not suggesting that the borg is right in itself.

but can you think of anything the borg taught that was actually beneficial and good?

just as an example: i use to be a smoker but when i started to study i gave up my 30 a day habit because i was told it was wrong.

SM62

I definitely think there are some things they teach that do us good. You mentioned giving up smoking - that's got to be a good thing. Also, they do encourage people to be moral, not to over-indulge in alcohol, don't do drugs etc - it's just a shame that a lot of JWs ignore the advice. Bad language is another thing - I hate bad language and JWs do teach that you should not swear etc. I know a lot of people don't follow this though.

The trouble is, what the WTS teaches and what it does are often two different things. They say that we should follow Christ and develop a Christ-like personality which is excellent advice. But Christ was kind and loving and forgiving and went out of his way to help people. He didn't burden people with petty laws or make them feel worthless. I don't see anything loving about the WTS and their shunning policy. Also, they are pretty cowardly when it comes to exposing child abuse in their ranks. It's no good preaching that these things are wrong if you condone it by your actions - or rather inactions.

It all sounded so lovely in the beginning when I first became a JW. One day we would see a peaceful world without war, full of loving people who respect each other and want to do what's right. The chance to see your dead loved ones again. A spiritual paradise now where brothers and sisters will always be there for you. The reality was pain and rejection. The JW love is conditional love and I can do without it.

Terri

47

Are you with a JW or a non-JW?

by Out At 22 in

.

my boyfriend (feels more like fiance though i guess as we've talked about but just need the ring) and i have been together over two yrs and living together for over a yr. he never was a jw, and professes to be no religon and isn't even sure god exsists.

is your signifigant other a jw or non-witness?

SM62

"My first wife was a JW who would drink poison Kool-Aid if the organization told her to."

Classic, NeonMadman! She sounds just like my husband.

He is well and truly, completely and utterly obsessed with his JW religion. I am slowly fading away because I have had a enough of their poison to last me a lifetime. He thinks it is only a matter of time before I am regular at meetings again. I feel guilty because he is such a nice guy - the congregation elders really take advantage of him because he is so willing to be 'used'

I wish he would look at this board or read some of the other writings I have come across on the net lately, but I know he won't. He will never, ever consider that the WTS could be wrong on certain matters. I don't think that everything I was taught by JWs is wrong, but certain practices like shunning and DFing, DAing etc make me feel so depressed and I feel hurt when people sit at the back of the KH being ignored. It makes me want to burst into tears and I can't face going to meetings at the moment because of this. There are many other issues like the UN scandal, paedophile issue, abuse of power, hypocisy etc that also makes me not want to be a JW any more - but hubby won't even listen when I try to explain.

Terri

8

tell me why

by leslane in

jw
friends

okay, as most of you have been associated with the so-called "truth" at some point in your life, tell me if you have ever heard the phrase where "jehovah only draws people to him"(or something to that effect ).

i have an issue with this statement, among many other things, but i would just like to know other people's opinion on it.. okay, so we are suppose to dedicate our lives to him, yet we can only do that whole-heartedly if we are 'drawn' .

so what, if we aren't drawn we are just left for dead?

SM62

I used to think of that expression - 'Jehovah draws people to him'

My study conductor told me I was special because Jehovah chose me out of all the other people in my street to have a study. Now I realise that I was the most gullible person in the street, that's why they got me!

I am getting more and more disillusioned with everything, including the impossible-to-understand Bible.

Terri

16

Trying not to 'contaminate' others

by SM62 in

does anyone else feel the same that they feel afraid when approached by a particular bro or sis, particularly one you like and who is really nice.

i feel that i may get them into trouble just for talking to me.

i don't want to drop them in it so i always keep the conversation short.

SM62

Thank you to all who replied - I would name you invividually but my husband is on the other side of the room so heh?????

Love you all

Terri

16

Trying not to 'contaminate' others

by SM62 in

does anyone else feel the same that they feel afraid when approached by a particular bro or sis, particularly one you like and who is really nice.

i feel that i may get them into trouble just for talking to me.

i don't want to drop them in it so i always keep the conversation short.

SM62

Thanks FBF,

But it still makes me feel bad. I find myself ducking and diving in shops in case poele see me. I know I have been labelled a bad associate, and friends that know me well still want to meet etc, But I am jeopardising their future by talking to them, aren't I?

Terri

16

Trying not to 'contaminate' others

by SM62 in

does anyone else feel the same that they feel afraid when approached by a particular bro or sis, particularly one you like and who is really nice.

i feel that i may get them into trouble just for talking to me.

i don't want to drop them in it so i always keep the conversation short.

SM62

Does anyone else feel the same that they feel afraid when approached by a particular bro or sis, particularly one you like and who is really nice. I feel that I may get them into trouble just for talking to me. I don't want to drop them in it so I always keep the conversation short.

I know that one elder has warned a few people away from me. I was in the supermarket the other day and somebody I have known for years just sheepishly nodded and bolted for the cash till.

I am still in good standing (more or less), not DA or DFd, hubby is MS, one son doing really, go to odd meeting etc etc.

What I am trying to say is, I feel like I am getting my friends into trouble by stopping to talk to them. If they were seen conversing with me they would probably get a talking to by an elder. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY!!!

Not sure I made myself clear.

Apologies for rambling.

Terri

8

Where can I find a true christian congregation who is loyal to Jehovah?

by Benny Sikter in

jw
friends

why are jehovah's witnesses affected with so many false teachings that doesn't exist in gods' word?

why do they not show christian love to all people, including those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated from the congregation?

why do they favorite the members but not the exmembers?.

SM62

Benny,

I have just come to the conclusion that these people are not necessarily Christians.

They do not own God. He is not their possession. You can find God yourself, if that's what you want.

I am still looking and searching, and I learn a lot from this board. I don't know if you have been DAd or DFd, but if you have, it doesn't matter one little bit. To DA or DF a person is so hateful. Jesus said we should never judge our fellow man, but that is exactly what the WTS asks us to do. Nobody knows our circumstances and nobody should judge us for being human.

Lots of love

Terri

33

Bad News In CRR Land

by ColdRedRain in

jw
friends

my dad just got a serious stroke and he may pass on.

my dubbie relatives heard about it and all they could say is "you need jehovah right now.

" typical.

SM62

CRR,

Please don't give up. My mum has had 3 stokes and she is still going strong!

I will be thinking of you and your family.

Terri