The most important feature of such an “alternative” edition of the Watchtower would be some important Web links to sites such as JW Facts, JW Survey, JW Leaks, AJWRB, AAWA, etc. Point people in the right direction so as to be able to make their own decision based on ALL the facts.
Posts by SAHS
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11In a flash of blinding light...
by terraly inone of the traits that is most endearing about a lot of witnesses is that they will not listen to logical arguments raised by family, friends, or *gasp* apostates, but they will listen to the most contrived and specious arguments that the writing dept.
can spew forth.. then in the style of swift, i submit a modest proposal for getting past these defenses:.
distribute an apostate watchtower issue.. we all know exactly how watchtowers look- the size, paper, style of artwork, and phrases used in the writing.
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SAHS
Another point: even the most prominent male Jehovah’s Witnesses wear ties bearing the well-known paisley pattern. . . . . But, did you know that even that has definite “pagan origins”? Well, consider this.
“A design that is many hundreds of years old
The design itself can trace its origins back to Persia and the Sassanid Dynasty, a period of time that stretches back to around 221AD. Its distinctive shape, likened variously to a tear drop, a kidney or even that most exotic of fruit the Mango was originally called “boteh jegheh” and was created as a motif for a religious movement known as Zoroastrianists. The design was supposed to represent the Cypress Tree which was their symbol of everlasting life.
In Tamil culture, another region famed for it’s love of the pattern, the paisley design is known as Mankolam, as it resembles a Mango. Mango fruit is incredibly highly prized amongst the Tamil, it being a symbol of health, peace and prosperity.”
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SAHS
A substitute circuit overseer whom my folks had over for supper around 1990 used that word “lucky” very nonchalantly in his conversation. He didn’t even seem to realize any issue with that word “luck” in the archaic Watch Tower’s viewpoint.
So much for all of “God’s people” unitedly towing their party line.
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SAHS
“KiwiBoy”: “Oh the Pharisees had nothing on JW's....and their heavy load of demands.”
I wish I could keep pressing the “Like” button and it would keep adding up and retaining the total number of likes – because you really hit the nail right on the head! Your post indeed says it all.
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15
I'm Going to Regular Meetups at LDS Church!
by Simon inyeah, i know ... who would want to step foot anywhere near a new-age religious church after being brought up a jw, right?.
i know some will already be judging me, but hold-on - it maybe even worse than you imagine!.
the group i meet-up with ... don't go inside, we never pray, we, erm, we just hang out in the car-park.. you're thinking "wtf?
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SAHS
“Simon”: “I’m Going to Regular Meetups at LDS Church!”
Going from one whacky cult to another? Don’t do it. Please. DON’T DO IT!
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38
I yelled at dubs today ( again )
by kairos inso i roll up to the job site and looky there, two uber pioneer dubs dragging themselves down the sidewalk.
both ladies are in there early 60's and born in.. my heart started pumping, but i had to act.i was directly across the street from them.
i walked right to the sidewalk and said in a very loud, but not mean voice: "you can't teach overlapping generations from the bible!!
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SAHS
Yes, I believe in dropping some poignant “truth bombs” directly at JWs, but in a controlled and at least semi-respectful manner. It’s only fair, as the JWs have been going around pushing “NON-truth-bombs” (lies) at everyone’s doorstep for many decades. They have been spreading extremely insulting rhetoric and vitriol against “false religion” (non-JW religion) without even giving it a thought.
So, if the JWs want to push their lies and ever-changing quirky propaganda, doing so while pounding the pavement for collectively millions of hours annually, then surely we have the right to politely call them on it and make them think. Remember: knowledge is the most powerful ointment for blind eyes.
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68
District Assemblies now being held at Circuit Assembly locations?
by ShirleyW ini haven't been to a kh in decades, so i get the google alerts for jws and i got one featuring a local news channel in brooklyn covering the assembly being held in flatbush, brooklyn.
i'm sure that venue is where the circuit assemblies are usually held, keeping in mind it's summer and that's when the district assemblies are being held.
why are they acting like they're so strapped for cash and now holding district assemblies in circuit assemblies locations ?.
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SAHS
Actually, it would make economic sense for them in that their own assembly halls have already been paid for (many times over!), so holding district – I mean, regional – conventions in them would not include the significant overhead in the rental of large community venues such as sports arenas. And, don’t forget, their own lands have religious tax-exempt status!
So, it seems that money just coming in rather than having to go out would be a great deal, indeed, for them.
Although, there seem to be a lot of international – I mean special – conventions taking place in the very recent years. I guess these “special” occasions are an extra incentive for donations, including foreign as well as domestic.
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17
Facial Hair
by new boy insince i have been out for seventeen years what is the currant society policy concerning beards and mustaches.. in the sixties and seventies facial hair was forbidden at bethel if you white.
if you were black you could have mustache but no beards.
so obviously you could not be elder or pioneer if you had a beard.. any updates?
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SAHS
“stumbledbyothers”: “In some cultures, a neatly trimmed beard may be acceptable and respectable, and it may not detract at all from the Kingdom message. In fact, some appointed brothers have beards.”
What exactly is considered to be “acceptable and respectable,” at least in WT land? Well, “worldly” society is largely considered by the Watch Tower to be non-JW due to beards, tattoos, body piercings, holiday celebrators, etc. But those JW Pharisees are clearly ‘going beyond the things written.’
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16
Has anyone started a support group for people leaving cults?
by Whynot inmy husband and i have talked about starting a support group but we feel we don't have the proper qualifications.
has anyone started a support group for ex-jws?
we even thought of hosting a social gathering or meet and greet.
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SAHS
There is a fairly well-attended group referred to as the “Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses of Toronto” MeetUp group – https://www.meetup.com/oexjws/ – in the area of Toronto, Ontario (Canada). It is a completely relaxed atmosphere with no formal format. Spontaneity is its lifeblood. All are certainly welcome.
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19
On leaving JW's and hating religion...
by Jehalapeno init's been nearly 4 years now since i completely woke up to the watchtower lies.. thinking back on my jw life, during the time i believed, the organization truly did teach us to hate all beliefs that were contrary to the watchtower's.. i hated "false" religion.. so, when i finally woke up and applied critical thinking to my beliefs, i just went on hating religion in general...only this time i added jw's to that list.. a few months of waking up, i decided to base my beliefs on evidence.
i didn't want to have a set of beliefs unless there was some logic or evidence behind it.
so, now i consider myself an atheist.. and i kept on hating religion.. within the last six months or so, something has changed.
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SAHS
The thing which I suspect puts many people off the Watch Tower movement is that they have always promoted themselves as the one-and-only custodian and bastion of “truth,” but, as we all know only too well, their “truth” has always been their own rather unique and dogmatic interpretation of it – and any and everything but actual truth.
Many folks use religious books (“holy writing”), such as the Judao-Christian Bible, in an attempt to validate their own socio-political views, which only too often are simply self-serving tools, or “tricks of the trade,” for their own vain aggrandizement.
The Watch Tower did, however, once early on present a truth which is quite a factually sound and most poignant reality, which is when they had their followers go around in what they called “information marches” bearing signs and placards stating: “RELIGION IS A SNARE AND A RACKET!” Yes indeed, they got that truth bang-on right!
