Posts by problemaddict 2

18

2 John 10

by What Now? in

just looking for some rebuttals to 2 john 10, specifically when it comes to shunning family.

we essentially admitted to our families that we do not want to raise our kids as witnesses and do not believe what jehovah's witnesses teach.

predictably, they use 2 john 10 to justify shunning us, specifically the portion of the verse where it says "if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him".. since we are apostates (according to the jw definition), and no longer "bring this teaching", would our family be correct in interpreting this verse to mean that they should shun us?.

problemaddict 2

All human communities practice shunning in some form. Society imprisons criminals for example. If a group is very specific, such as an "Iphone rules" meetup group, and one guy starts showing up talking about how great Samsung is and how everyone should switch.....he may not be welcome in the group.

But a structured communal shunning program based on private meetings and proceedures hidden from view, presided over by three or more men, and meant to extend to everyone that associates with that group worldwide......is not even close to the type of "shunning" done by early Christians even as a best guess.

the idea that someone thinking and feeling different than you, is not add odds whith normal Christianity. The individual groups make a decision on who to not support based on the persons behavior. It is not a decision handed down to them, that they must then in turn obey under threat of being ostracized themselves. there is no support for such a thing, even in vague principle.

42

Firpo Carr's Homepage

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

anyone notice this before?.

http://www.stirinc.org/.

for those who don't know - who is firpo carr?.

problemaddict 2

Carr was interesting at one point, but I think he hit his expiration date. He wrote a book called the Divine name controversy if I'm not mistaken. Some of which has since been debunked.

He also attempted a stab at defense of the blood doctrine. It wasn't very convincing.

58

I gave the elders some ammo to use

by atacrossroads in

jw
friends

i was having dinner at olive garden with my cousin who was disfellowshipped for apostacy.

a holier than thou pioneer couple saw us.

if that was not enough i saw her take a picture of me with my cousin.

problemaddict 2

I think you have been given good advise. Brothers want to talk to you? Well don't they have your number? Why are they calling you?

Don't run from it. Just play dumb.

We want to meet with you. Why? No thank you. If they insist, ask if this is a committee issue and what the charge is. If it then comes out that you were having dinner with a disfellowshipped relative, you should ask directly who reported it. Once again, this takes place before you say it did or did not happen. this is important, because it gets them to admit and name a person spying on you during lunch, and reveals the fact that they did not follow Matthew 18.

Ask them directly, if they told this person to come to you directly in the spirit of Matthew 18.

At that point you can say, well guys, it was a business lunch and nothing spiritual was discussed, so you can lower the flag and relax. I won't be discussing it, but rest assured I was not in deriliction of the direction. You brothers however could have avoided this by having this person reach out to me directly like the scriptures clearly lay out. Why would you not do that?

then thats it.

15

Missing Friends.

by Resi in

it's been a long time since i posted.

for a brief recap, i have an aunt who is one of jehovah's witnesses.

when i was really sick, i sought out their group because i remembered the support my aunt had and how they were like a second family to her.

problemaddict 2

I feel your pain. It can be difficult to lose friends. But then again, was this person really your friend? Does a real friend have these sort of tight restrictions and conditions on their love.

I recently got "broken up with" via e mail by a friend I have had for 18 years. This guy was like family. It hurt. It was painful. But in the end, this person is not a good friend. Friendly? Fun to be around? Sure. But that is empty when people are only there for you based on a very slim criteria, and your association with a particular group.

Move on. It will hurt for a bit, but look for real friendships.

21

Is Prince still a Jehovah Witness?

by Greybeard in

jw
friends

is prince still a jehovah witness?

from the look of his new album, i think he has different ideas.

it will be interesting to see how they deal with this.

problemaddict 2

WC, can you point me to where he publicly stated he was no longer a JW? That conflict with what I thought I knew. Not saying you aren't being genuine, just looking for the smoking gun.

If so, good for him.

21

Is Prince still a Jehovah Witness?

by Greybeard in

jw
friends

is prince still a jehovah witness?

from the look of his new album, i think he has different ideas.

it will be interesting to see how they deal with this.

problemaddict 2

Nah he is still around. Pops up in LA. More importantly.......his album is really really good. :)

6

What happened to shunning ?

by cookiemaster in

okay, so...i haven't been to the kingdumb hall since last spring but i like to believe i'm up to date with the jw ways.

as most of you have heard many times already, my mother was disfellowshipped (actually they said he disassociated), for accepting blood transfusions in a life or death situation.

right after coming from the hospital the elder said she da'd.

problemaddict 2

There is a push to reach out to inactive people. people justify not shunning naymore if a bunch of time has passed.

Nothing but a marketing push to love bomb former members and pull at their heart strings.

9

Pause for a minute!

by username in

for all those who are still on the fence regarding this evil cult i present one image that tells a thousand stories.

i just took a screenshot of this months cult indoctrination broadcast.

although i have watched the "faith in action" video before and it still has the same effect on me as it always does, this image is the most evocative of them all.

problemaddict 2

What is this? I don't think I can be bothered to watch. Is this the november JW broadcast?

104

Farewell

by EdenOne in

"don't be dismayed by good-byes.

a farewell is necessary before you can meet again.

and meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.

problemaddict 2

Good luck bud. My personal thought, leaving over an online tiff with another person is a bit meaningless when you and your experience could affect others for good. But in the end.....its your life.

Take care.

32

What more do they need to see?

by stuckinarut2 in

so bethelites are being decreased...bethel homes even sold off.... special pioneers no longer being funded.. magazines getting smaller and published less frequently.. building work stopping or being reduced.. no large conventions and renting of venues.. etc.... so, money is not coming in anymore to cover the "expenses"??.

didnt the first ever watchtower said that when this occurs, it would be evidence of god no longer blessing the activity....

oh, and throughout the years, we have constantly been told that the "growth of the org and the projects such as buildings and contributions" etc were evidence of gods blessing.... .

problemaddict 2

The comments by Heard are the spin. Most JW's won't even blink. Most of us wouldn't have at one time.

Its that they are being practical, and because the growth is so outstanding and huge (MASSIVE!), the funds donated just can't keep pace with the growth! But you guys have been doing great with the money! Keep it up!

So thats it. Nothing interesting to most JW's. Until people get their particular button pushed and allow themselves to look closer, they will remain controlled.

For me it was blood. For my wife, disfellowshipping. For a buddy of mine it was 1914. For many others its being treated unfairly or seeing corruption that allows them to consider the possibility the religion isn't special.

Thats how people leave. It has to be something meaningful to THEM. The branch itself has plenty for everyone to work with to get out, but the narrative and control is strong.

I will say though, when someone gets their button pushed.......it usually leads to a pretty fast wake up.