Posts by Nocturne

64

Does the Watchtower Society stunt personal development and growth

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

with so many "responsibilities" given to the witnesses by the "faithful and discreet slave", there is little time for them to do anything these days except sleep - and that is when they're not out preaching at unearthly hours in the morning.. .

the enormous pressure to perform, and to be under the watch of the elders to make sure you perform, is a draining experience.. .

a book i have on sociology says this regarding jehovah's witnesses, when discussing sects, that "they require intensive commitments and demonstrations of belief by members.

Nocturne

If it were God's will for me to be a businessman-ladder-climber who has his first heart attack at age 52, and then a pension, bag of old golf clubs, and a fat rear,

Sure beats being a businessman-ladder-climber then to be a ladder-climber in the Borg. At least in the real world you actually get rewarded compared to what the wts has to offer you which is nothing...unless you become part of the GB.

Btw, the only reason the Theocratic School is there, is because it's suits the organization's goals. It's not about personal growth whatsoever. The Society never encourages anything that promotes personal growth for it's members...like college education because, of course, it doesn't take a college graduate to sell their magazines.

And finally, just would like to say, great post truthseeker, you're right on the money.

Nocturne

34

What Made You Realize The WTBTS Was NOT The Truth

by Kevin in

jw
friends

my wife is a jw.. i've been trying to point out the errors of the wtbts but she just doesnt want to hear it.. i'm wonder if some people could share your turning point in regards to your relationship goes.

with the society.

what made you realize that the society was false.

Nocturne

Kevin, first let me welcome you to JWD! This website is a great place to find information on the jws. When I was younger someone tried to show me information on Charles Taze Russell, about his involvement with the occult, and how he came about some of his calculations...but you know what? At the time, I didn't even want to look at the information, I was just following the wts' orders to ignore any "apostate" material.

So basically, jws will refuse to look at information and facts presented to them, and if they are truly loyal to the org., even if they look at the information they won't look at it objectively, and they will dismiss them as lies from "opposers". So what happened to make me realize that it wasn't the truth was over the years? Little things eventually started to make me think, certain little things I noticed that weren't quite right, and finally when I heard about the wts' affiliation with the department of public information of the United Nations, that's when I was willing to look at all the other things.

In the end, your wife will only really look at the information if she's willing to do so. But until then, keep trying to give her bits and pieces of information, but not too much such that she will go defensive. Also, another good way is to try to show her things in real life that are contrary to what the jws, for example, showing her that things in the "world" are not as bad as the jws claim they are. Finally, a big stumbling block for some who are jws is that sometimes they have difficulty differentiating God and the organization. So it's important to make her realize in the end that they are not the same.

Hope this helps. I know there are some posters here that are living in a similar situation as you are, and they will be able to give better advice then I can.

Nocturne

15

Parents don't understand...

by überRabbit in

my parents just don't understand why i don't want to be part of the jehovah's witnesses organization.

it's not that i don't believe jesus' teachings, but i believe that the society has taken it too far.

they read too deep into god's words, that they end up putting training wheels on everyone.

Nocturne

überRabbit, welcome to JWD. I can understand your frustration with regards to your parents, especially since to them, there is nothing else but the Jehovah's Witnesses. They are victims of what you can call tunnel vision, not being able or not wanting to look at alternatives, and thus they impose their vision of the world onto you.

When I was your age (i'm only 21, so not that long ago), whenever I would start to drift away or lose interest in the religion, my mom would give me these long lectures about there is nowhere else to go, or why would you want to go back into the "world". Like you, I was under a dictatorship at home, where there basically no negotiating with things I didn't like that were going on.

Like many posters here have said, don't rush into making harsh decisions just because you want out. Take your time and work through the issues that you have to deal with, and then come up with a plan of what you want to do. I hope things work out for you, and hang in there.

Noctune (btw...cool name)

16

Presents all year round!

by Nosferatu in

jw
friends

so, how many of you got presents all year round?

most worldly kids get 2 days of presents a year, birthdays and christmas.

some even get something on easter, valentine's day, and st. patrick's day!

Nocturne

I always loved that expression. When someone always asked if i felt left out for not getting presents on my birthday, I always gave the conditioned response "but I get presents all year round, and I don't need a special day to receive presents", but of course the day when someone said that they also get presents all year around plus birthdays, and christmas....let's just say I didn't know what to say.

Besides, I never really got presents "all year round".

23

Persecution of JW's Imminent?

by blacksheep in

jw
friends

probably dating myself, but remember all those assemblies/yearbooks, etc., that focused on the possibility that jws would suffer persecution at the hands of nazi-like regimes?

i remember attending an assembly which dramatized jw's being held, as in wwii, as having to make a choice to either "renounce?

" their jwism or die.

Nocturne

I don't think it's as serious as what you mentioned, but I know for the last couple of years, at assemblies, and meetings, they have mentioned being prepared in case of persecution. At the Special Day Assembly I went to a couple of weeks ago, they mentioned again that we never know when violent persecution to strike, and that every witness must prepare for such an eventuality.

Nocturne

86

Most hated WT publication

by Nosferatu in

jw
friends

what is the wt publication you hated the most?

why did you hate it?

for me, it was probably that damn pink great teacher book.

Nocturne

I would have to say it's a tie, between Young People Ask, and the daily text. I hated both of those, and considered them to be absolute torture.

26

I'm new, Hello everybody !!!

by Rodin in

i have been lurking for quite some time and thought i would finally drop in.

as my alias might suggest, i am somewhat of a history buff.

i have enjoyed reading metatron, farkel, maximus, blondie, and countless other posters insightful threads over the past several years.

Nocturne

Welcome to JWD Rodin. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Nocturne.

10

My S.A.D. experience....

by Doubtfully Yours in

had a special assembly day just this past saturday.

we were blessed (ha!!!

yeah, right!!!

Nocturne

I had the "Special" Assembly day a couple of weeks ago. Never been so bored in my life to be honest. We got some of the same stuff as usual, do more, meeting attendance is down, why aren't you doing more like the brothers in africa or other third world countries. The baptism ceremony was quite a shock since all of the candidates were men, with the exception of one who was 14 years old (poor guy).

Of course, and assembly wouldn't be the same without them promoting pioneering and encouraging the young ones to get as little education as possible.

The funniest part though came from one of the experiences where this sister came up and said that her unbelieving father "forced" her to take some university classes. She said that her father had false impressions that JWs "encourage their young ones to go door to door instead of getting an education". I'm just sitting there, watching people just agree with what's being said on the stage and I can't believe I used to be like that, just accepting everything that was being said.

So that was my day at the Special Assembly

Nocturne - also looking forward to the day where he won't have to attend another assembly

11

Todays dose of Irony

by Nocturne in

jw
friends

i was just reading some posts on the vancouver canucks usenet newsgroup, when i noticed a topic by the name of this thread from a poster named "lonnie" which i found funny.

i was walking downtown and went past some poor tired old man.

supposed to be standing up outside the coffee shop handing out his.

Nocturne

OK, so if he fell asleep while out in the ministry ... can he count the nap time towards his hours this month?

LOL, good one Dan-O.

I'm glad you guys all liked it. I almost skipped over that post since no one had replied to it, but I'm glad I didn't...it made my day.

11

Todays dose of Irony

by Nocturne in

jw
friends

i was just reading some posts on the vancouver canucks usenet newsgroup, when i noticed a topic by the name of this thread from a poster named "lonnie" which i found funny.

i was walking downtown and went past some poor tired old man.

supposed to be standing up outside the coffee shop handing out his.

Nocturne

LOL!! But spare toilet paper?? All i've got to say is