a thought occurred that the way the society has stigmatised the doing of external research by witnesses, and labelling any such questioning as "apostate", is tragic.. no doubt, in every other aspect of life, we research things before making decisions.
eg, if making a purchase, we go online and check reviews etc to check the product out.
we don't just trust the words of the marketing department.
You are 100% correct! The internet is having a major impact on WT. The internet age is here and is biting WT in the a**. Telling people not to do research on a subject is crazy. If one of my kids came home and wanted to join a church or all of a sudden became consumed with a cult like JW, you would bet I would be on the internet to do my research.
This is a good thing!
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160410/jehovahs-witnesses-properties-sale-rising-costs-force-religious-group-go-small jehovah's witnesses' properties for sale - rising costs force religious group to go small.
sunday | april 10, 2016 | 12:00 am by erica virtue.
norman grindley.
When our news team contacted the headquarters of the Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States, a representative said he was not an official spokesperson for the religious group and could not speak on the record.
It always amazes me. When the story for WT is negative. They always seem to have a problem finding an official spokesperson? Hmmm!
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160410/jehovahs-witnesses-properties-sale-rising-costs-force-religious-group-go-small jehovah's witnesses' properties for sale - rising costs force religious group to go small.
sunday | april 10, 2016 | 12:00 am by erica virtue.
norman grindley.
i have spent 45 years of my life sacrificing my soul to the watchtower.
twenty-five of those years as a ms/elder.
i gave every moment to them.
Great post.
Yes, I agree with flippers post above. WT should be held accountable for it's actions but WT has created "little monsters" out of some of it's members. You all know those....self righteous, arrogant, judgmental do gooders. These ones can tell you how YOU need to improve, yet their life is a train wreck. Most of these ones suffer from depression, yet we are told they are the "happiest people one earth."
HYPOCRITES TO THE CORE!
i asked him what happened.
he said "him and his wife lived a full theocratic life for jehovah.
doing everything the organization and the traveling brothers told them to do, like work part time, regular pioneer, serve where the need is great.
not mansfield u k , but mansfield in u s a - it doesn't look much, does it?
in fact even the uber dubs on j w talk are not impressed (that must be a first!
this thread of theirs is publicly readable:.
this is the way many of us feel no doubt: feeling like we have been betrayed by a faith that has hidden so much from its believers, and covered up some serious past and present teachings and practices.. and yet, we are the ones treated with disdain, contempt or suspicion due to fading from activity!.
simply amazing that we have had to make a conscious decision to stand up for what is right and not be a part of the organisation for genuine and sincere reasons.
and yet they slander us, malign us and make us look like the ones with the problem!.
there was a recent leak of a letter to congregations regarding a new dpa no blood card.
part of the letter reads as follows:.
as a reminder, you should provide copies of your completed advance decision document to (1) those who served as witnesses, (2) your general practitioner (doctor), and (3) your congregation secretary.
i am just venting because my sister has put on facebook that i am no longer "in the truth"!
i have kept a very low profile for years and have silently faded.
many witnesses i have bumped into are very friendly towards me, some from other congregations may not even be aware that i dont go anymore.
It really perplexes me why your closest living relative would want to trash talk you (even if you no longer attend). It boggles my mind.
I have a similar situation in my family.
It's one thing to have an acquaintance do this to you but a close relative is a deep wound. It just should not happen.
the resurrection is supposed to be a joyous occasion?, if it ever happened!
--well, this week's showing at the hall was the opposite, it was about death with violins playing in the background.
a recently bereaved member, , full of tears, (like many others) could not contain herself.
We have watched our entire family suffer from long term abuse directly from this cult. Some of the abuse has directly affected some close family members. It has affected them emotionally, physically (some working into their 70's) and financially. I truly believe some would walk away in an instant if it were not for the desire to see loved ones again at the resurrection.
The WT knows that this emotional manipulation works. That is why they are doing it. They are loosing the battle to maintain the young ones and others are running for the Exit.
When the cult gives up the hate and manipulation, I'll give up the bitterness.
