Posts by problemaddict 2

25

Can you be disfellowshiped for reading other religious materials?

by paradisebeauty in

i am having a conversation with a jw and they say you can not be disfellowshiped for this.

is this true?

i thought you can be disfellowshiped for this.

problemaddict 2

Here it is. Technically....no you can't be disfellowshipped for the "act" of reading "apostate" or critical literature.

Now.....if you TELL anyone what you have read, then you could be considered a cause for stumbling, and be disfellowshipped. Although it is very likely they would meet with you, and perhaps reprove you first if this is the case. If you feel like there was something you read that was on point......now you are really boned.

So the woman telling you this isn't wrong. But I wager if you said "are you allowed to read apostate information, or information critical of the stance of JW's".....you wouldn't get an "of course" or "yes". You would probably get a dog and pony show with obfuscation to the max.

31

Picture in latest Watchtower . . . What is it?

by neat blue dog in

in this picture from the latest watchtower, what in the world is the guy watching on the left side of the picture??

it looks like a female vampire holding a lightsaber.

am i missing something?.

problemaddict 2

A not so veiled (for the really serious bretheren), swipe at Star Wars fervor (coming to a theater near you in December)?

You have to change it enough to not be sued, and it could double as any sort of "uncanny" type unapproved social entertainment.

I think "the uncanny" is what they normally call it.....and how they link it with spiritism.

10

So this is what JW's do out in service

by mann377 in

jw
friends

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5058729/married-jehovah-s-witness-seduced-actress.html.

i never had a good time like that!.

problemaddict 2

Dude has facial hair. Out by himself. Clearly nonsense.

23

JW HLC....a mixed bunch...what has been your experience?

by Lee Elder in

i have had greatly varied experiences with hlc members over the years.

i was never one myself, but i knew several of them personally.

most struck me as being generally decent human beings.

problemaddict 2

OC,

thanks for sharing that. I am incredibly relieved that he is ok, yet also annoyed that the JW response to hearing your story would be along the lines of "see!?........everything was fine".....which is of course not the point, and not accurate.

I was being groomed to be part of the HLC as a young guy. Most of what we did, was go through the hospital and visit JW's from other places registered as JW's. The guy "training" me now in hindsight, was not qualified in the least bit to understand and advise on complex medical issues. I found this to often be the case with the boots on the ground guys that show up to the hospital.

They were more focused on being a "presence" of sorts, to make sure what they called the patients wishes were respected.

On a personal level, my wife as a JW had a medical issue during pregnancy. By then, even though i was practicing still, I was awake on this one issue. The doctor came in and said it says here you are a JW, we are very familiar with their stance, and as a teaching hospital it is our firm conviction that we allow you to decide how this will proceed based on your faith. Would you like us to contact your religions liason?

My wife looked at me......and we decided NO. We then told the doctor to erase the religious affiliation from the chart. Even indoctrinated and semi-indoctrinated, we were fully aware of the level of intrusion that would be in place if we agreed to that. Later during complications, I was texted and asked "should I have the HLC brothers come by". My answer was nope......brother ______ is a UPS driver....and I have a hospital foll of doctors and nurses. I think they can get a good nights sleep and we will work with the pros.

Probably the beginning of the end for me.

19

Alternative witnessing

by Zyron in

jw
friends

those of us still attending meeting are actively encouraged to use out tablets or smartphones to direct people to jw.org.

how about, after doing the standard presentation casually say to householder, you can also look at this forum to read of experiences of life as a jw as well as the official version?.

obviously you need to be working by yourself or with a pimo jw..

problemaddict 2

Steve that story is hilarious. I remember having the balls to straight yell into peoples houses, or walk into garages. Where did I get off!?

I'm in a metro area of southern Cali (6th largest city in the state). I am much more likely to see a cart being ignored, or spanish brothers and sisters walking slowly down the street, than I am regular door to door.

I am right in the heart of the territory i served, and know many JW's here. So it makes it a bit odd. I have let them slander me for the sake of not having people I know come to the door.

Personally, I think you HAVE TO have been a JW to really understand the oddities. Telling a householder (are you really preaching still?), to look up this forum would be confusing, and honestly, most likely you could get yourself in trouble. But I would say there is a 99% chance they won't look up either one.

The "look at our website" line.......is literally the death rattle of the public ministry. Its a total joke now.

9

Updated Recommended Reading List

by doubtfull1799 in

not long after i joined here i posted a reading list of books that helped me wake up, but since then i've read so many more that i've found invaluable in furthering and refining my new worldview, plus giving me a more in-depth well read perspective on theological and scientific issues.

so i thought i'd post an updated comprehensive list for other voracious readers like me who are always looking for good books to read.

how jesus became god - bart d. ehrman.

problemaddict 2

May I ask why "Black Swan"? What about Talib's work there contributed to your awakening?

28

If You Question The Governing Body, You're Like Korah

by pale.emperor in

anyone who questions the governing bodys authority is labelled as an apostate and almost always they bring up the story of korah and his revolt against moses.. watchtower august 1st, 2002, the article loyally submit to godly authority paragraphs 8-15.. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002563.

in not so subtle hint, the gb likens themselves to moses, and those who disagree with the gb are korah.. paragraph 15 is actually quite damaging to the gb's argument though:.

it was so unnecessary for all those people to lose their lives.

problemaddict 2

This has been a comparison I have used in speaking to people. Its damning, because in this scenario, the GB compares themselves to an actual prophet....Moses.

So in order for me to be Korah....they need to be Moses. But......where is the evidence they are Moses of today? Didn't Jesus rebuke the Pharisees for "seating themselves in the seat of Moses"?

In the end, it comes down to authority. the bible says "all authority in heaven and on earth" was given Jesus when he ascended. So.......after that.......did he give it to anyone? At best, they can claim special "responsibility", which is very different than authority. This is not just a semantics argument. There is a HUGE difference between responsibility and authority.

27

Asking for help with wife

by Are you serious in

hello everyone, my wife wants nothing to do with my awakening.

every time i try explaining something she tells me she doesn't want to hear it.

i believe she's afraid of learning something she's not ready for.

problemaddict 2

If my wife can get out.....anyone can. She was a pioneer for 15 years striaght, DC parts, all that. Daughter of missionaries etc...

I had to reassure her that I was only doind what i was doing based on principle, and that she was the most important person in my life. The subconscious tells her that i am going to leave her, be a bad person, etc... the more i talked about my doubts.....the more she fought me.

I finally told her I would support her in whatever she decided, because I loved her unconditionally. I would love to speak to her WITHOUT her feeling like I am "trying to convince her" of anything. More than anything, I just reassured her of my love for her, let her see the emotion of what i was going through and be vulnerable (it was a rough exit).

Then she felt safe to talk, and we eventually found out what her thing was. Everyone has a different path....your wife included.

But do not reverse preach to her. I can't think of anyone that has woken up that way. Focus on reassuring her.

My wife is out....she is taking the kids trick or treating tonight. :)

32

Stagnation of JWs in Britain

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

this is an 'off-topic' continuation of this discussion.

steve2: in britain, growth of publishers is slowing down, if not stagnating.

darkspilver: .

problemaddict 2

On a large scale, worldwise population goes up by about 1.1% each year.

Last year the JW's had an increase of 1.3%

In that sense they could be said to be outpacing growth of population worldwide.

If you remove the rates of south america and Aftrica however, you find an increase of only about .4%.

So extrapolate what you like there. I would suggest that south america and africa, while lovely continents, also are still largely developing, and are sort of ripe for JW preaching (catholic countries that have experienced grand hypocrisy for example).

That would just be my personal observation of course.

35

Polish EX-JW Activism compilation video

by WTS Archive in

i'd like to show you a short video i made about exjw activism in poland.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt3qdtyxgd8.

i'm one of the people responsible for those information campaigns/protests, so you can ask me anything you like.

there's a lot i didn't show on the video because of the limited time i have for editing, i have tons of footage more.

problemaddict 2

Can I just say.....I LOVE the "anti-cart".

We need to do some of that here. Imagine just setting up opposite a JW cart, dressed nicely.......just sitting there. I am cracking myself up thinking about this.