SG098

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Posts by SG098

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  39

  CO visit; going to meeting.

  by SG098 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello everyone!just a little background info, i haven't been to a meeting in over a year.

  my wife has asked me to go with her tonight to help watch our son since it's the circuit overseers visit...my wife wants to be able to pay attention and get something out of the meeting since our son is 1yr old he can be a handful some times.. a few things of note about the situation:.

  - i'm going to the meeting no matter what.

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  SG098

  Sorry folks, the audio is just to bad. I was in the back lobby when I recorded the talk and there's just to much kids crying and other noise. I apologize, but I'm not going to upload it. Maybe next time (hopefully there isn't a next time).
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  39

  CO visit; going to meeting.

  by SG098 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello everyone!just a little background info, i haven't been to a meeting in over a year.

  my wife has asked me to go with her tonight to help watch our son since it's the circuit overseers visit...my wife wants to be able to pay attention and get something out of the meeting since our son is 1yr old he can be a handful some times.. a few things of note about the situation:.

  - i'm going to the meeting no matter what.

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  SG098

  Thanks for all you feedback everyone! So nobody said anything like I expected. It was all very cordial and surface talk. Longest conversation I had with anyone was about 30seconds.

  
  

  What was interesting was some of the elders were doing preemptive shunning. The elders know I'm an atheist since I told them a few months ago, but they have taken no action against me...I'm fortunate in that regard and yes I'm baptized. On the "information board" in the back of the hall, all the service groups are listed and who belongs in what group; I'm not even on the list next to my wife; which is fine by me since I don't call myself a JW. The nice elders in the hall came up to me and said hello, but the hardline elders including the COBE ignored me (which is also fine by me).

  
  

  I was able to record most of the C.Os talk; my son got a little rowdy so I had to take him outside and let him cry it out so the talk was cut short by about 10mins. The C.Os talk was jaw-dropping hypocritical!

  The title of the talk was "Guard yourself against Inspired Error."

  Some highlights from the talk:

  - ALL inspired error is from Satan.

  - The organization is the only source for "inspired truth."

  - The media which is part of Satan's inspired error, lies and twists the truth about JWs. (This to me is damage control since the ARC).

  - "Some in the organization had expectations of the end coming at a certain time, but these expectations were exactly what they needed to get them through and stay focused on the kingdom." (WTF??? I've never heard such bogus logic. At the beginning of his talk, the CO said that all inspired error comes from satan, BUT the "wrong expectations" of others in the troof were virtually a blessing to keep them focused...WTF!)

  
  

  I'll try to make a video of the talk and upload it. I'll have it up by Monday morning if not earlier so just keep an eye on this thread.

  
  

  Thanks again.
• 
  39

  CO visit; going to meeting.

  by SG098 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello everyone!just a little background info, i haven't been to a meeting in over a year.

  my wife has asked me to go with her tonight to help watch our son since it's the circuit overseers visit...my wife wants to be able to pay attention and get something out of the meeting since our son is 1yr old he can be a handful some times.. a few things of note about the situation:.

  - i'm going to the meeting no matter what.

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  SG098

  Hello everyone!Just a little background info, I haven't been to a meeting in over a year. My wife has asked me to go with her tonight to help watch our son since it's the Circuit Overseers visit...my wife wants to be able to pay attention and get something out of the meeting since our son is 1yr old he can be a handful some times.

  A few things of note about the situation:

  - I'm going to the meeting no matter what. (Not trying to back out)

  - My wife knows I'm an atheist and we have a mutual respect for each others beliefs. (sorta)
  

  What I need from you all is some ideas of what should I say if people in the hall say the following:

  - "We've missed you."

  - "Are you going to start coming back?"

  - "Wasn't that a wonderful meeting!"

  Or any other saying I should be prepared for. If the elders or even the CO try to get me into the back room for whatever reason, I'm going to say "no"...after all, they have NO authority.

  I want to respond to people in a respectful yet affirmative tone to their inquiries or sayings. Since it's the CO visit, I may record some of the talks to see if he'll say anything cultish. Recording would be nothing new since I've done it before:

  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy3ZlxLEy6U
  

  Thanks for your advice!
  
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  90

  The Org is terrified of apostates

  by SecretSlaveClass in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i knew apostasy was a serious concern for the org, but until i watched this video, i had no idea how afraid they actually were.

  all this guy wants is to do is not turn in his fs hours and immediately they (elders) set about drilling him about who are what influenced his decision, as if he was incapable of making his own (which as the elders confirm, in the org is highly discouraged).

  they are convinced he has been communicating with apostates or visiting apostate web sites.

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  SG098

  Too cool! One question: did they call you in for not turning in your hours or did you call a meeting with them to let them know?Nice to know you're pursuing a real education and having a great time doing it! Any reason you bothered attending the memorial?
  

  So, the elders pulled me into the back room on a Tuesday night after the meeting. When the one elder said that, "he will be calling me to record my time." He texted me 2 days later (on Thursday) and asked if I'm ready to turn my time in. I texted back that after much thought, I'm sticking by my original concerns and therefore I will not be turning in my time. He replied back with something but I can't remember what he said.

  As far as why I went to the memorial is because my wife is still a JW. I went to the memorial to make her happy. I'm now an atheist. She knows of my lack of belief and surprisingly our marriage is still good; we just don't talk about religion.
  

  The elders have met with me at my house a couple months ago trying to get me to comeback to the meetings and they tried to "persuade" me that Jehovah is real (they also know I'm an atheist). God may be real, but as Matt Dillahunty says, God is playing the longest game of hide-and-go seek.

  I did a write up about when the elders met with me a few months ago. You can find it at JW Recovery which is here:

  https://www.jehovahswitnessrecovery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23303

  
  
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  90

  The Org is terrified of apostates

  by SecretSlaveClass in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i knew apostasy was a serious concern for the org, but until i watched this video, i had no idea how afraid they actually were.

  all this guy wants is to do is not turn in his fs hours and immediately they (elders) set about drilling him about who are what influenced his decision, as if he was incapable of making his own (which as the elders confirm, in the org is highly discouraged).

  they are convinced he has been communicating with apostates or visiting apostate web sites.

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  SG098

  Thanks for watching my video folks. Yes, I'm the guy in the recording who refused to turn in my field service time. I can't believe that was over a year ago I posted that video.

  If you're curious of how I'm doing, I haven't been to a meeting since December of 2014 (I went to the memorial). I'm enrolled in a local community college pursuing an A.A.S. degree and have never been happier!

  Thanks again!

  SG (oldgreg)
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  12

  2007 Awake mentions Child Abuse in Australia!

  by SG098 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  in the october 2007 awake!

  page 11, the b0rg had the audacity to say this concerning child sexual abuse: "sadly, though, most of such [child abuse] crimes go unpunished by authorities today.

  in australia, for example, it has been estimated that only 10 percent of offenders are prosecuted, and few are convicted.

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  SG098

  Wow-O-WOW!!!
  In the October 2007 Awake! Page 11, the b0rg had the audacity to say this concerning child sexual abuse:
  
  "Sadly, though, most of such [child abuse] crimes go unpunished by authorities today. In Australia, for example, it has been estimated that only 10 percent of offenders are prosecuted, and few are convicted. Other lands have had a similar record. While governments may be able to do little to protect the Christian family, the application of Bible principles can do far more." (October 2007 Awake! Page 11)
  
  Here's the link to this publication:
  http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102007363
  
  Isn't GB member Geoffrey Jackson head of the writing committee??? He must of knew that when this article was published in 2007, hundreds of JW offenders were not being reported and prosecuted!!!
  
  I sent this info to the Royal Commission.
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  42

  Gross hypocrisy in September 15, 2015 Watchtower

  by Island Man in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ask any jw the question "why do jehovah's witnesses impose their views on others?

  we do not impose our views on anyone!".

  do you impose your views on others?

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  SG098

  What's also interesting in the same paragraph; paragraph 9 of that article, this is what the b0rg says:

  [Concerning selling health products to other JW members]: "....The couple had a right to choose for themselves whether they would follow a certain diet and take the supplements, but was it reasonable to put the unity of the congregation at risk over health care? For a time, Christians in ancient Rome had differing opinions with regard to eating certain foods and observing certain days. What advice did Paul give them? Regarding the latter, he said: “One man judges one day as above another; another judges one day the same as all others; let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.” It was important not to put a stumbling block before others.—

  I find it interesting that the b0rg in a round about way is saying observing holidays or "certain days" is up to the individual. The above quote is reminiscent of the famous 2003 Awake article about piñatas in my opinion.
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  9

  An excellent, very civil debate between an atheist and a JW.

  by Island Man in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i stumbled upon this video while doing my periodic youtube search of the keyword "jehovah".

  in the video a jw (actually two jws, but only one does most of the speaking) debate an atheist.

  the atheist is a mild-mannered iranian who at first seems deceptively easy and clueless (i think it has to do with the fact that english is not his first language), but soon proves he's no walkover - calmly, mildly and civilly.

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  SG098

  Just after the 25min mark of the video they are talking about hell fire and the JW guy says concerning hell being a place of eternal torment,

  "...other parts of the bible talk about god being a god of justice's. So WE don't think [eternal torment] is just, so how much more so would our creator think that too."

  This is a classic case of, "God thinks like me."

  This is why agnostics and atheists say man created god; not god created man.
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  56

  JW's came to my door 6 weeks ago. I told them I was inactive.......

  by Alchemist in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  6 weeks ago some jws came to my door.

  i've been inactive for 8 years.

  after they gave their presentation i told them i was inactive.

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  SG098

  Hello Alchemist,

  You mentioned that you, "...don't like the direction the world is going."
  Did you know that we're living in the best times ever in human history? Being that you were once involved with the JWs means our world view was skewed. My world view was definitely skewed when I was a JW. The JWs teach that the world is getting worse and frankly that's not true.

  Have you ever heard of the phrase, "If bleeds, it leads." This is a common saying in the news industry. Shocking news gets views. Here's an article about how the world is getting better:
  http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-02-16/why-today-best-time-live-human-history

  Also, you mentioned people in the world are "immoral and hateful."
  - First, people can be considered immoral in all aspects of society. Knowing that the governing body has taken means to cover over child molesters in the organization, would make anyone with a sensible moral compass know that this is morally wrong.
  - Second, I recommend you look at types of morility and what morality truly means. Checkout this good video on morality:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAQFYgyEACI

  - Finally, René Descartes a 1600's French philosipher once said,
  "If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things."

  I employer you to do research into what the JWs really say and think about people who are not JWs, and whether having the idea that people deserve to be destroyed at armeggedon is a correct moral view point.
  www.jwfacts.com
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  30

  The Verdict: God is Not Good.

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  not sure if this video has been posted before here or not, but it is a powerful scene.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx7irfn2gdi.

  i haven't watched the entire movie yet, but from this scene alone, i will be..

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  SG098

  To Hold me-Thrill me,

  You're right, God did not kill the Jews, the nazis did. The question was, "where was god when these atrocities happened?"

  What about natural disasters? Certainly fellow humans couldn't kill others with natural disasters. - (Natural meaning these were created by God)

  Hold me-Thrill me, please answer the below meme: