Posts by SAHS

24

Jehovah's Witnesses Are Believers But Know Not What They Teach

by minimus in

jw
friends

they simply belong to a religion.

they cannot explain why they follow all the dictates of the organization.

they live in blind faith.

SAHS

“smiddy”: “Jehovah Witnesses are not students of the Bible, they are, to term the phrase loosely, students of the Watchtower and its publications. Which is never consistent from one ten year period to the next ten year period.”

Actually, now the teachings of the Watchtower organization are not consistent even within the same year – especially now with their new online televangelist station (“http://tv.jw.org”), where their teachings, and even their kingdom songs (corporate church hymns), can be changed and added to daily! Well, at least the “world” at large is now able to see their dog-and-pony show for what it is (a dog-and-pony show).

35

Before knowing TTATT did you really believe in things as...

by roberto avon in

jw
friends

did you really believe in things as ;- the earth is only 6000 years old- the 144.000- 1914, based upon the destructiono of jerusalem- harmagheddon or the end of the world coming soon???

?i married a jw when i was an interested person and studying with the jw's ( not the way they wanted) but i told my wife before marrying her that " most probably " i would never have been a jw.she accepted me as i was and married me.

after that i had interrupted the study for one year, i started all over again with an elder of my wife's cong.

SAHS

When I was growing up as a born-in (since 1966), I initially believed all those things the WT organization taught and that I was going to be in the “new system.” After all, I was only a little child.

Then, leading up to puberty (around 12 or 13 years old), I still believed all those things the WT organization taught, but I gradually started to doubt that I would survive Armageddon and eventually, especially my my later teen years, I became convinced that I had probably sinned against the holy spirt (thus my user name, “SAHS”).

But then, around the year 2003, I began privately researching TTATT and became a member of this online discussion forum (thank God!). And since then, I no longer believe that the WT organization has any legitimacy or validity whatsoever – and I also lost my fear of having sinning against the holy spirit and being condemned to die at Armageddon, as I am now an agnostic and leaning heavily toward evolutionary processes as the explanation for life.

So, now I have no belief in the WT or the JWs whatsoever – and that is my belief.

14

Opening the Eyes of JWs Wasting Their Lives Away in Prisons Because of...Nothing

by Tempest in a Teacup in

jw
friends

is there any practical way to let these people see the light?

has anything been already done to get the valuable information they need to them?

if yes, what has been the outcome?.

SAHS

“Esse quam videri”: “Why have no members of the Governing Body ever been imprisoned because of their faithful stand for righteousness?”

Well, actually, Franklin (“Judge”) Rutherford, along with seven other Watch Tower executives, were convicted and imprisoned in the summer of 1918 on charges of sedition because of opposing military service in Rutherford’s publications. Unfortunately, however, due to some technicalities, nine months later they were released on bail and the charges ended up being dropped in May of 1920. Too bad the governing body was never charged with crimes against humanity from its blood and shunning policies, which have resulted in many, many needless deaths regarding blood and suicides over shunning!

“Island Man”: “To learn that they’re in prison for a lie could utterly devastate them and lead to a mental breakdown or deep depression resulting in suicide.”

Or, perhaps, hopefully, it could cause the brother or sister to eventually wake up and lead to him or her being motivated enough to seek taking legal action against the Watchtower organization for messing up his or her life by imprisonment and then flip-flopping on their policy regarding alternative military service (such as the case with our own dear Terry Walstrom).

21

Effect of reading here.

by New day in

jw
friends

saomebody mentioned in a recent thread here i think that the more they read here the more they feel angry at the wt.

personally, as an ex-elder (only resigned a few months ago) i feel that it is more like suddenly being on the outside looking in at a whole group of people playing parts.

the zealous pioneers answering all the time.

SAHS

People get lured and indoctrinated into cults such as the WTS, and before long, whether or not they realize it, they are sewed into their little patch of a quilt comprising a web of power and control, being forced to continue serving the egocentric needs of a handful of elite and privileged leaders.

But what we have here at this Web forum is an opportunity to actively participate in our own process of clarity and healing, which is most enlightening, empowering, and therapeutic. And in that respect, I honestly believe that this process of discovery and true self-identity is something most positive and efficacious for us. Granted, our involvement here may resonate our feelings of betrayal and indignant anger, but this too is a healthy and necessary part of our journey in taking back our lives and finding ourselves. The alternative – which is to attempt at putting out of our minds our grief, frustration, and anger – can only result in bottling up our emotions until they suddenly take over any shred of logical reasoning and impede any constructive process of self-actualization and freedom to which we are certainly entitled and which is always within our grasp if only we would dare to exercise the most basic willingness to be true to ourselves.

14

Opening the Eyes of JWs Wasting Their Lives Away in Prisons Because of...Nothing

by Tempest in a Teacup in

jw
friends

is there any practical way to let these people see the light?

has anything been already done to get the valuable information they need to them?

if yes, what has been the outcome?.

SAHS

For everyone who hasn’t been unlucky enough to be put in prison (yet) but are at risk of going there because of their JW “conscientious objector” status, we can upload such valuable information with eye-opening warnings tailored specifically to such ones.

But for those already in prisons, somebody should be finding out which inmates are there as JW “conscientious objectors” and writing letters directly to them. (Perhaps a group such as AAWA.) It would only be fair, because the WTS often encourages people to participate in their own letter-writing campaigns addressed to hard-to-reach not-at-homes and those in the media recently suffering some tragedy – so, therefore, we should be able to do the same; i.e., send letters directly to imprisoned JWs, in the hopes of at least causing them to question why they’re there.

47

I'm Ready... Thank you

by Garrett in

jw
friends

hey guys,.

so, something amazing happened recently.

i recently met with an old and very good friend of mine.

SAHS

“done4good”: “Who do you think appears to be more under WTS control, someone honest enough to state their view publicly, or someone who pretends to still be JW who does not believe any of it?”

Well said!! My thoughts exactly.

24

New Marriage Arrangement Rumor?

by Thoughtless in

jw
friends

so, i haven't lurked here in a long while however, i have been checking up more frequently and i saw that there is a rumor going around about getting barred from marriage if the brother not appointed by the time he is 23. is that true?

if it is, i am so screwed haha.

proud fader present within college.

SAHS

“Hairtrigger”: “Elders all, have a ball! With little children in the hall.”

LOL!

18

in the april 15th watchtowerstudy ed why is the article about how loving dissfellowshipping is curiously missing from simplified addition ?

by poopie in

jw
friends

thoughts

SAHS

Oh, I think I just fixed it. My “Like” cancelled my “Dislike,” and then I gave you another “Like,” so the net result at this point should be a green positive number one. All is well.

18

in the april 15th watchtowerstudy ed why is the article about how loving dissfellowshipping is curiously missing from simplified addition ?

by poopie in

jw
friends

thoughts

SAHS

To “nonjwspouse”: I meant to add a “Like” to your post but hit the “Dislike” thing by mistake. I gave you a “Like” after I realized my mistake. Please disregard the accidental “Dislike” (red number with minus sign). It’s harder to maneuver on a phone screen.

47

I'm Ready... Thank you

by Garrett in

jw
friends

hey guys,.

so, something amazing happened recently.

i recently met with an old and very good friend of mine.

SAHS

“steve2”: “It's worth noting too that the primary utility of a letter of disassociation is, not for the writer, but the local body of elders who will use it as evidence in support of the organization's shunning policies.”

Actually, that would depend on the particular writer, as everyone has their own unique situation – and their life history, personality, emotional dynamics, needs, and what really drives him/her are also unique and deeply personal. As such, therefore, whatever net advantage and emotional efficacy which would, or would not, be gained by submitting a disassociation letter could only be judged on an individual basis.

Surely for many, many folks, especially those having strong personal integrity, conviction, positive self-image, and maybe just a tiny amount of gumption and courage, the “primary utility” of a writing that letter would, indeed, be fulfilling the needs and interests of the writer! After all, it wouldn’t it be a most positive and deliberate step in a person’s recovery process?

If it were me in “Garrett”’s particular situation, I would write that letter in a heartbeat – and I wouldn’t care less if it was published in the Wall Street Journal.