Posts by conflicted89

4

Spiritual Paradise?

by conflicted89 in

i have searched the j-worg website for this term but couldn't find anything about it.

am i wrong in thinking they used to say witnesses had spiritual paradise now?

can anyone point me to articles about it?.

conflicted89

Found it on JWFacts

Watchtower 1986 March 15 pp.10-15 'Do Not Be Quickly Shaken From Your Reason'

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/apostates.php

4

Spiritual Paradise?

by conflicted89 in

i have searched the j-worg website for this term but couldn't find anything about it.

am i wrong in thinking they used to say witnesses had spiritual paradise now?

can anyone point me to articles about it?.

I have searched the j-worg website for this term but couldn't find anything about it. Am I wrong in thinking they used to say witnesses had spiritual paradise now? Can anyone point me to articles about it?

20

Coming out to the closet to your family as an "apostate". Any experiences? Your input would be greatly appreciated.

by im_free in

so it's been about 10 years since i have faded out and have stopped believing in the jw teachings.

since then, i have accepted jesus and have experienced an amazing tranformation in my life and have been freed from the jw prison mentally and spiritually.

a more detailed thread about my journey is here if you are interested.. anyways, my jw family lives in another state so they are unaware that i am no longer "in the truth" since i have not told them.

conflicted89

It varies from family to family. I understand your position and know you must be suffering thinking about the situation. In two weeks I will be seeing my family for the last time before I tell them about my relationship which will lead to my being DF'ed.

You said you have faded out but you haven't told family. Do you mean they don't know you aren't going to meetings?

Do you have to tell them you are apostate? Telling them you aren't interested in being a witness is very different from saying you are apostate. At the moment my family know I don't go to meetings and my relationship with them hasn't been affected beyond the "encouraging chats" they feel obliged to have.

Personally, I would try to avoid mentioning its been so long since you left... They might feel deceived and that could cause more problems than if you just say you have decided it's not for you.

Take your time and think about it, you will know in your heart what feels right to you, just take your time to find out what that is.

Wish you all the best, Conflicted

6

help me understand: if jesus started ruling in 1914 does that mean we are in the 1000 year reign

by goingthruthemotions in

conflicted89

Wasn't there something about Jesus' rule meaning the JWs are now in spiritual paradise? After the whole purple triangle thing I think they said it started. I might be wrong thinking those two things were linked, it's a while ago and I didn't really understand it even at the time.

If it is linked and your wife comes back with that though, Stuck, you could ask if the JWs being locked up or "persecuted" are in spiritual paradise too. If not, this paradise is not for everyone.

42

Looking back to what happened since sept 2012... i must say its brilliant !

by insidetheKH in

jw
friends

who thought in the early months of 2012 that such a rebranding would take place in only a matter of 24 months?.

they managed to go from an antique looking and boring website (watchtower.org) with hardly any attractive content to go to a fresh looking new website with stuff for everyone, families, children, teenagers.. movies, and short videos about almost everything and new ones added every month.

cartoons, animation video's , interviews, picture activities all kind of projects, many audio files like dramatic bible readings, dramas and music, online research tools, new brochures for kids (off and online) etc.

conflicted89

Yes, they are really bringing out the shinies for young people lately.

I have two issues with your post.

First, "JW.ORG signs on every Kingdom Hall... on buses... on EVERY Facebook profile"

Really since when have the Witnesses openly flaunted accounts with Facebook? It's not so long ago that Facebook was banned. In no uncertain terms it was banned by name (along with bebo) from the platform. By all means, look past this and just see that such a magnificent witness is now being given with the brand name being used everywhere. After all, non-witnesses won't know that Facebook was one of Satan's traps.

Second, are the witnesses really taken care of that well? I am sure that everyone who is now having to go out and buy the new tablets, computers, phones just to be able to keep up with the organisation are really appreciating the extra burden of the cost (what happened to simplifying our lives?). Are the older ones (technophobes like my grandparents) being given free tablets if they can't afford them. What about lessons in how to use them? Or is the new website content and phone apps only for a select few?

As a final point, if the brothers and sisters at Bethel are so pro, as you put it, and ten steps ahead, why are they only just now doing what other faiths have been doing for years upon years?

23

Coping whilst stuck in the org.

by crazyhorse in

i recently learned ttatt and it really sickens me when i sit through the meetings.

i am so tired of faking things.

i feel like vomiting when annoying things are said from the platform.

conflicted89

One small and petty thing that helped me reaffirm my non-belief without drawing any attention to it... If at a family meal for example and they ask a prayer on the food sometimes its obvious that if you dont say amen you will be noticed. But no one will know if you use the prayer time to reflect that all this bull**** comes from men alone, then shorten your amen to "men". Just try not to spit the word too fiercely ;)

41

New Awake! Dealing With Mental Illness

by runForever in

contains a list of 9 practical steps except they forgot one: 10. do not become a jehovah's witness.. .

1. follow the treatment prescribed.

by qualified mental-health.

conflicted89

#1 bothers me most.

Having had both counselling and medication for mental illness for the last 10yrs, I well remember being warned against the counselling.. That it was spiritually dangerous and the counsellor may try to turn me against the witnesses or even try to sleep with me. Of course this wasn't in the publications as far as I recall, but so many of my "friends" gave similar warnings that I can't help thinking it was unofficial-official thinking.

So when did they change their opinions on this? Have they REALLY changed their mind or is this point just for the public who read the magazines while the congregations hold to the original position that counselling from professionals is dangerous... it wouldn't surprise me- it would be in keeping with all the other hypocrisies.

The congregation did such a good job on me that as soon as I went into the counselling office I trusted no-one and needless to say it was useless until I managed to start to trust them. Just another case of them being seen to be caring and concerned while really undermining the help being offered and damaging the people unfortunate enough to follow the GB.

8

What has happened to the District Overseers in the UK

by usualusername in

jw
friends

is dave algar in bethel?.

has michael purbrick become a pioneer again?.

just what are these guys doing now?.

conflicted89

I don't know if I ever met Dave Algar but I remember parents/grandparents revered him and spoke about him like he was a superstar.

But, by asking what has happened to them, do you mean there are no more DO visits? I feel a bit behind and I've only been out for about 3 or 4 years

13

Elders pretty much do whatever they want!

by toto555 in

i've seen elders over the years openly flaunt "the rules", butt-kiss (the co especially), show favoritism and appoint brothers they like and not appoint brothers that should of been appointed for some trivial reason.

many lord their "power" over the friends in blatant violation of scriptures and watchowers that specifically say that they shouldn't lord themselves over the flock.

they pretty much do what they want!

conflicted89

I always believed that the elders were good and responsible, and followed the "truth". Now I realise that I was blind.

How do you explain away the elder family celebrating the kids birthdays (they sent cards to eachother on the day but apparently held the presents til the following day so as to not break any rules.)

What about the MS in my old hall who celebrated Christmas but didn't hang any festive lights so he could keep it secret. Everyone knew what he was doing but he got away with it.

But if one of the "normal" people so much as sneeze...!

6

giving honor to an individual question (wt style)

by carla in

obliette posted a thread about gb worship in the july 15 issue which got me thinking-.

in other smaller books which i have only seen skimmed quickly (i think the yearbooks (?

)) they often have articles about various jw's and their struggles and now the articles about the gb members and so on, my question is; why don't they see these articles as giving too much honor to one individual as they do with birthdays?.

conflicted89

I agree with the OP, undue attention is given to some within the JWs.

I was only little when I met him.. but was Daniel Sidlick a GB member or just one of the anointed? Twice in my life I saw him and both times he was treated with awe and as a celebrity. All the parents wanted their children to meet him, as if by some miracle his holiness would pass through a handshake or pat on the head. Don't get me wrong, I liked Dan Sidlick as did my older brother who punched him in the stomach - playfully.. But the celebrity and reverence around him seems even worse than the many GB life story articles.

PS. I knew two sisters who were anointed who were also given special treatment because of their status. You know the deal, kiss their feet and maybe they will put in a good word for you up there.