Posts by Andyman

69

True, or FAlse?

by Andyman in

jw
friends

i am sure most of you have seen the following quote form the wbts's pr site:.

"do you shun former members?.

those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned.

The whole issue of shunning is a very touchy subject. I have never been DF'd or DA'd, unless it was done with out my knowledge, yet many in my old congregation shun me and my family. Not all mind you, but most of them.

I simply stopped going to meetings and told the elders why. I told them the congregation was having problems and that nobody wanted admit it. I said that if they wanted to pretend everything was fine and cover up for those who were causing the problems it was up to them, but I wanted nothing to do with it.

Many of the congregation knew wha the problems were, and many had come forward in the past, to no avail. But the thing is I ceased to be involved and am being shunned for that choice.

As for friend, I think I may have to take back all the things I said about you being a nice guy! Your really seem to be in a rotten mood lately. You just can't accept that some JW's aren't very nice people. I know several sisters in my old congregation who didn't care one thing aobut who they mouthed off to. Now how would you feel if you were telling an experience and somebody accused YOU of embellishing what you were saying? Seems like many JW's have a problem with believing stories that make the society or JW's in general look bad.

If you want "embellishing" just listen to some of those "experiences" at the hall sometime, now those are "embellishment"!

Chill out friend!

Take care.

Andyman:

69

True, or FAlse?

by Andyman in

jw
friends

i am sure most of you have seen the following quote form the wbts's pr site:.

"do you shun former members?.

those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned.

Andyman

Hi SS;

Here is a link to the "frequently asked questions" part of the site. You can find all kinds of stuff over there by checking out the site map.

[url] http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm[/url]

Take care.

Andyman:

69

True, or FAlse?

by Andyman in

jw
friends

i am sure most of you have seen the following quote form the wbts's pr site:.

"do you shun former members?.

those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned.

Andyman

Hey waiting;

Nope neve posted at wit.net, I don't think I would last very long over there! Just the same old Andyman who has been posting here for the last month or so.

I guess it does depend on how you read it. Of course like you said if you do "anything" wrong the rest of your life, you are in "big" trouble.

For myself from what I have seen, if you stop going to meetings 90% of the hall will treat you the same as if you had DA'd or been DF'd, that means you get shunned.

Same with family ties, some of the family will be alright with things, but never really the same, while others will treat you like a leper. I guess it has something to do with their "heart" condition. You know some of them have a heart, some of them don't!

Take care.

Andyman:

69

True, or FAlse?

by Andyman in

jw
friends

i am sure most of you have seen the following quote form the wbts's pr site:.

"do you shun former members?.

those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned.

Andyman

I am sure most of you have seen the following quote form the WBTS's PR site:

"Do you shun former members?

Those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned. In compliance with the Scriptures, however, members can be expelled for serious unchristian conduct, such as stealing, drunkenness, or adultery, if they do not repent and cease such actions. Disfellowshipping does not sever family ties. Disfellowshipped members may continue to attend religious services, and if they wish, they may receive pastoral visits. They are always welcome to return to the faith.—1 Corinthians 5:11-13"

I have been having a pretty hard time on another site trying to get a straight answer to a question about the above quote.

I have simply asked him if it is true or false?

Do those who simply cease to be involved get shunned?

And do family ties get severed by DF'ing?

I just can't get him to give me a answer. Is the question that hard?

What does everyone here think, is this statement above true or false?

I vote for FALSE myself.

Take care.

Andyman:

21

Drugs....why?

by Tigger in

jw
friends

im new here, so go easy with me!

just wanted to know if any one has any idea's or personal experience in regard to drug and alcohol abuse in former jw's.

all the one's i know have just lost the plot when it comes drugs and alcohol, especially drug use.

Andyman

Well here is my take on the subject.

I really don't know to many ex-JW's except the ones I meet on the discussion boards. So I can't comment on the ex-JW thing very well, except for myself.

I had a alcohol and drug problem long before I became a JW. I finally decided my life was in need of a change and stopped using almost 15 years ago. I was clean and sober when I became a JW, and had been for about 4 years.

Now when I became a JW, I thought they didn't go for drunkeness, or abuse of alcohol or drugs. I found out different.

There used to be "big" parties on the weekends, and sometimes the party resulted in a huge amount of brothers and sisters missing the Sunday meeting. It was a common joke to make the comment that brother "so and so" had another party last night, ha, ha, ha!

I know that this "brother" would go to the liquor store and buy booze by the half gallons. Several "worldly" people have seen him, and have asked about it.

I know that I have been out with JW's who drank like I did when I had a problem with it. So I know that JW's have a problem. I have family members who are still JW's who have drinking prolems, one of them is an elder, the other is his wife. I know of seveal other elders who have drining problems. They have well stocked bars and don't hide it from anyone.

As for the drugs, I know that in the area I am in there is a big problem with prescription drug abuse. Many of the sisters have been using tranqs, prozac, pain pills etc. and passing them around to other sisters. Not a good idea! I pulled my back out one time and my neighbors wife came over, elders wife, and offered me several kinds prescription pain pills. I refused, but she left them for me anyway, said she had plenty more.

My wifes cousin was using Valuim, and my sister in law was getting them from him because she said she was having a hard time "coping" with here kids. She was driving and drinking while using them. Now that my friends is abuse!

I feel that if there is a problem with ex-JW's and drug and alcohol abuse, it may have started while the were still active JW's. I know that even minors in the congregation have problems with the alcohol thing. Leaving the JW's can cause severe emotional problems, and if they are used to abusing these things already it could grow to an even bigger problem.

Being cut off from friends and family isn't easy to cope with. Many ex-JW's may find that alcohol and drugs kills the "pain" at least temorarily. It is not the answer, but it is something that happens.

Well thats my take on things.

Andyman:

14

Speakin' plain English

by Zep in

jw
friends

collateral damage= we just shot the hell out of some civilians.

friendly fire= shot the hell out of some of our own.

new light= we stuffed up big time.

Andyman

Hi Waiting;

You said: "I think one of the reasons why no distractions are allowed is they want as much of our attention as possible - when we're awake."

Do you mean we were supposed to stay awake during the meetings? No wonder I had so many problems!

14

Speakin' plain English

by Zep in

jw
friends

collateral damage= we just shot the hell out of some civilians.

friendly fire= shot the hell out of some of our own.

new light= we stuffed up big time.

Andyman

Hey everyone,

The old hall I used to go to had windows, then we did a remodel and they took them all out. I have been to other halls around the state, but none with windows.

Now I don't know the reason, but I asked and elder about it, and his response was that with now windows they couldn't throw in a bomb! He was dead serious. Anybody else heard why the no window thing is so popular?

Take care.

Andyman:

7

Persuasion Techniques used by JW's

by waiting in

jw
friends

a study of the persuasion techniques used by jehovahs witnesses and the watchtower.. .

a research report submitted to tabor college, adelaide, by nathan charles beel as the directed study project component for the degree of bachelor of arts in christian counselling--- november, 1997.. -introduction.

-liftons criteria for thought reform.

Andyman

Hi Waiting;

Ecellent site! I havn't read everything yet, but what I did read sure seems to fit the scoiety and how they recruit people.

I can remember when I was studying the elder I studied with would use things like "any intellegent person can see", or "this isn't really that hard to understand", and "a person with a good heart condition can see".

Right now I am in the process of reading Steve Hassan's book "Releasing the Bonds". It is a fairly long book and I just got started. My time schedule hasn't permitted me to get very far, but I hope things calm down soon and I can really get into it.

I also have started Ray Franz's second book "In Search of Christian Freedom".

Thanks for providing this link, I hope everyone has a chance to go there and read it.

Take care.

Andyman:

25

LOVE THIS QUOTE

by Zep in

jw
friends

"if you find that you are stumbled or are offended about something being taught in god's.

organization, or some adjustments being made, keep this in mind: god has put enough in the.

bible to provide a complete foundation for faith.

Andyman

Yes I think the society has put down very well when theys said:

<font color=red>*** w89 9/15 23 Be Obedient to Those Taking the Lead ***
But a spirit of independent thinking does not prevail in God’s organization, and we have sound reasons for confidence in the men taking the lead among us.

*** w83 1/15 22 Exposing the Devil's Subtle Designs ***
21 How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization.

</font>And of course this sums it all up"

<font color=red>*** w67 6/1 337 Move Ahead with Jehovah's Organization ***
What, can we say, is the basic principle underlying the movement of Jehovah’s living organization? It can be expressed in one word: OBEDIENCE!

</font>Take care.

Andyman:

30

To celebrate or not to celebrate

by Dubby in

jw
friends

i wonder how much validity is in the wt teaching that it's wrong to celebrate holidays.

did jesus followers in the first century really not get involved in nationalistic activities?

is the celebration of one's nations independence at odds with jesus and the apostle's teachings?.

Andyman

Hi Waiting;

Yes if you are going to clebrate you need to "give". My children, 8 and 6, love to buy presents, of course they love to receive them also, but buying and wraping presents really get them excited.

My kids love the holidays, and that is what it is all about!

Take care.

Andyman: