Posts by berrygerry

10

Feel like I've failed

by Mr Negative in

i need to get this off my chest, as i don't have many people to talk to about it who would understand.. i feel like i've failed my family, as not only have i been unable to get my parents and brother to see sense regarding the cult, but now my sister, who never got baptised but managed to escape twenty years ago, is now seriously considering going back for various "emotional" reasons, and i know that she won't listen to me.. i know they have all made their own decisions (at least, to the extent that brainwashed people can make their own decisions), and i can't really blame myself (even though i was the one who, when only ten years old, convinced my mum to listen to the poor lady on the doorstep out of politeness rather than just shut the door on her - so it is all indirectly my fault), but it still feels like i've failed them..

berrygerry

We are trying to rescue people from A CULT. The problem does not lie with WT being A CULT. The problem lies with the number of people needing or wanting to be inside a high-control group.

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/fear-cult-mind-control.php

In The True Believer, a book on mass movements, Eric Hoffer suggests at least a third of the population are "true believers." They are joiners and followers, people who want to give away their power, looking for answers, meaning, and enlightenment outside themselves. This type of person is "not intent on bolstering and advancing a cherished self, but are those craving to be rid of unwanted self." This type of person is "eternally incomplete and eternally insecure!" and can easily be transformed into fanatics who will gladly work and die for their holy cause whether politics, churches, businesses or social cause groups. Mass movements generally have a charismatic ruler, and a devil. This type of person is unlikely to be reading this site, they don't want to know. Neither am I convinced that this type of person should stop being a Jehovah's Witness. If they do they most likely will become involved in a similar organization that also uses manipulation to force its members into a prescribed way of life.

103

New Research at AJWRB

by Lee Elder in

the latest research article published at ajwrb estimates the number of jehovah's witnesses who have died from following or being coerced to follow watchtower's blood policy.

the numbers are staggering.

http://ajwrb.org/jehovahs-witnesses-and-blood-tens-of-thousands-dead-in-hidden-tragedy.

berrygerry

What do you want people to sue Watchtower over? Ultimately it is the person's choice if they want to obey that policy or not.

Extremely untrue.

HLC elders have rightly been termed "death squads."

There is no way that they should be allowed to be anywhere near a patient.

There was a post last week of a man whose JW father was going to accept blood treatment if deemed necessary. Elder shows up, father changes mind, and dies.

Do you call that free choice?

103

New Research at AJWRB

by Lee Elder in

the latest research article published at ajwrb estimates the number of jehovah's witnesses who have died from following or being coerced to follow watchtower's blood policy.

the numbers are staggering.

http://ajwrb.org/jehovahs-witnesses-and-blood-tens-of-thousands-dead-in-hidden-tragedy.

berrygerry

Little has been said about the sure-death scenario of a JW severely hemorrhaging during labour.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3496240/

A core belief among members of the Jehovah’s Witness (JW) faith is that they will not accept blood transfusion or its primary components, including red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma, even when such transfusion could be life-saving1. This poses potential problems for obstetric services worldwide because obstetric haemorrhage remains a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity2,3. Indeed, there is a general consensus that morbidity and mortality rates in association with childbirth are higher in these women than in the general population4–7. In the largest observational study in the USA, Singla et al. reported that JW women were at increased risk of maternal death and that blood loss was the major factor4. In the UK, the largest descriptive obstetric study of JW reported a 65-fold increased risk of maternal death compared to the national rate. In addition, there was significant haemorrhage (>1,000 mL) in 6% of all of Caesarean sections5.

More recently, a study from the Netherlands reported that compared to the non-JW Dutch population, JW women had a 6-fold higher risk of all causes of maternal death, a 130-fold increased risk of maternal death because of major obstetric haemorrhage and a 3-fold higher risk of maternal morbidity because of obstetric haemorrhage6. Other earlier studies support these views, both for obstetric and gynaecological operations7.

2

Jehovah as a Brand

by berrygerry in

imo, one of the most brilliant things that rutherford did was to capitalize on the somewhat obscure, but in many ways legitimate, word jehovah as being the personal name of god.. as jehovah's witnesses (small w) morphed into jehovah's witnesses (capital w), other religions that had previously used jehovah in church names and church worship began to diminish its use.. this in turn only continued to distinguish rutherford's religion.. in addition, the watch tower corp's continued and relentless intertwining of "jehovah" and "jehovah's organization" is nothing short of sheer brilliancy.. search wt library or wol.jw.org for "jehovah" and "organization" together with words such as "please" "obey" "serve.

" the interplay is endless.. in the recent post from a former missionary / co, he states: .

"as far as the organization and jehovah, i was like everyone else.

berrygerry

IMO, one of the most brilliant things that Rutherford did was to capitalize on the somewhat obscure, but in many ways legitimate, word Jehovah as being the personal name of God.

As Jehovah's witnesses (small w) morphed into Jehovah's Witnesses (capital W), other religions that had previously used Jehovah in church names and church worship began to diminish its use.

This in turn only continued to distinguish Rutherford's religion.

In addition, the Watch Tower Corp's continued and relentless intertwining of "Jehovah" and "Jehovah's organization" is nothing short of sheer brilliancy.

Search WT Library or wol.jw.org for "Jehovah" and "organization" together with words such as "please" "obey" "serve." The interplay is endless.

In the recent post from a former missionary / CO, he states:

"As far as the organization and Jehovah, I was like everyone else. I saw no difference between the organization and Jehovah and I used the terms interchangeably for years in my talks and in conversation. I really honestly could not see the difference and until it was pointed out to me I never even noticed it I did it."

The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 144 - 8:3. And another angel. -- Not the "voice of the Lord," mentioned in the preceding chapter, but the corporate body -- the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, which Pastor Russell formed to finish his work. This verse shows that, though Pastor Russell has passed beyond the veil, he is still managing every feature of the Harvest work. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as His channel through which to make known the Glad Tidings."

Rutherford was freaking brilliant.

68

Over 300 DFed apparently went to a northern U.K R.C!

by Isambard Crater in

that's what i've been told by a family member (elder) who went to one of the regional conventions in the north of the u.k lately, who told me the 300 or more disfellowshipped who returned to jehovah by attending show that the end is so close, just like the final talk says..

berrygerry

at Brighton last year there was a big whoohar made in the final talk about ONE person who turned up with an invite.

Ditto here. I calculated that our district distributed about 1,000,000 invites. Once every 3-4 years they would relate that so-and-so received an invite and is here with us today.ClapClapClap.

Seriously?

13

Thoughts from the International Summer Convention in Romania

by cookiemaster in

we just had a huge international convention here in romania.

at least huge by local standards.

22,000 in attendance in one location and around 44,000 throughout the country.

berrygerry

About 22,000 people attended the convention I was at and around 280 got baptized.
Exceptionally high.

68

Over 300 DFed apparently went to a northern U.K R.C!

by Isambard Crater in

that's what i've been told by a family member (elder) who went to one of the regional conventions in the north of the u.k lately, who told me the 300 or more disfellowshipped who returned to jehovah by attending show that the end is so close, just like the final talk says..

berrygerry

This backed up by research that indicates that over half of those who leave do return.

Call bullshit.

As alanv said, officially less than 40% return, and that was decades ago.

My observation is less than 20% return.

If it were half or more, WT would be crowing about it every six months, AND their numbers would not be stagnating / declining in the western world.

61

Set the record straight!

by Colinconfused in

i would like to state publicly, on this forum, i no longer hold the views i had a year ago.. with much thought, research, study and logical examination i have come to a better understanding of my beliefs and where i stand on all these issues.. i'm very happy to announce i have returned to healthful teaching of the holy scriptures and i firmly believe that the governing body of jehovah's witnesses is the faithful slave.. sorry if i have contibuted to any kind of stumbling and know that if i can turn things around then there's hope for all who come to there sence.. phill4:6,7.

berrygerry

You have to post this statement in order not to get disfellowshipped?

MJ's 35 th anniversary of Thriller reminded me of Br. Jackson's apology in Awake magazine.

34

Just Offended A JW Cart Witness Without Even Trying

by pale.emperor in

on my way into town from my office.

two carts set up a few feet from each other.

one manned by a man and woman (i assume they're a couple) in their late 30s.. the guys walks off to the other cart as im walking by, i wasn't going to approach but the woman holding the awake!

berrygerry

Then followed a monologue of how "the truth™" has changed his life and he could be earning money but instead he's living "the best life ever™".

Somebody will be out soon enough.

28

Concept faithful discreet slave

by inbetween09 in

according to the "new light" the faithful slave class appeared after jesus came 1914 (rather 1918 he inspected the temple) and was bestowed with assigement to provide spiritual food.. there are a number of problems with this new concept:.

how did russel and co found out about certain unique teachings diffferent from mainstream christendom?.

option 1) apparently by himself, as there was no fds at his time.

berrygerry

Patience.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now. "