Posts by zack

27

You Are Going to Die at Armageddon

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

you are going to die at armageddonduring public talks, assemblies and written throughout the watchtower literature .

was the threat that anyone who was not doing gods will, would suffer the loss of their life.

during the great day of god almighty.. what affect did that have on you?the fear brought on by this doomsday message probably kept me in the organ-.

zack

As a young person, hell yes, I was afraid of the Big "A"---- it still didn't keep me from falling into sin, only made me have a dark outlook on the future.

As i progressed "in the truth" I learned to see the Big "A" as some kind of deliverance. When I began to study the Bible for myself and learned that love throws

fear outside, I quit talking about the end, the end, the end. Why is the end such a BIG DEAL if you really beleive you are going to live forever? What do you live for

the day after the end? Frankly, most JW's I know look to the Big "A" as the means to solving all their problems. Itis isn't about righteousness or justice or even LOVE-- it is

about not being old, sick, poor, not having to have a job, not having to do anything but let God take care of them. The Big "A", the end, paradise--- its all about what

God will do for THEM rather than enjoying God for who He is.

Know Fear? NO FEAR now baby!

43

When Elder's Fade

by zack in

jw
friends

as a publisher, still buying the wt line that they were god's sole channel and any problems, doubts, etc... i had were all a product of my own lack of.

wisdom and or humility or failure of application, i would be shocked and puzzled at how long-time elders would resign and then fade away.

i would wonder: what could have happened.

zack

Elder figures are from MTS school 2006 spoken directly by the CO. They are roughly the same figures from my pioneer school 3 years ago given by the DO.

These are US Branch figures. The Branch attributes this to "burn out"----- too many responsibilities. I used to buy this. Now I know the truth.

48

Is the Watchtower beginning to lose its grip on its members?

by Gill in

i have seen a counsellor on and off since leaving watchtower land.

she has made efforts to find out more about jehovah's witnesses.. we were discussing why my jw family (not my husbands' they shun us as if we smell bad!!!!

) are beginning to spend more time with us.

zack

I shared some thoughts with a coworker whom I beleive is seeking mental permission to connect all the dots and arrive at the truth about the WTS.

This person's intial reaction was to defend the WTS. This is understandable. No one wants their beleif system attacked. However, this person is

almost typical in that they DO NOT AGREE with everything. They SEE THE DOTS!!! And sooner or later, this person, like so many others, will connect them.

The message of the WTS is not the message of Christ. Once a true beleiver allows hinself to ADMIT this, it's all over for them.

Zack--------

43

When Elder's Fade

by zack in

jw
friends

as a publisher, still buying the wt line that they were god's sole channel and any problems, doubts, etc... i had were all a product of my own lack of.

wisdom and or humility or failure of application, i would be shocked and puzzled at how long-time elders would resign and then fade away.

i would wonder: what could have happened.

zack

As a publisher, still buying the WT line that they were God's sole channel and any problems, doubts, etc... I had were all a product of my own lack of

wisdom and or humility or failure of application, I would be shocked and puzzled at how long-time elders would resign and then fade away. I would wonder: What could have happened

happened to that brother to suddenly lose his faith in and zeal for GOD?

NOW I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM ALL!!! They, like me ( elder, pioneer, circuit star) pulled back the curtain and------ no Wizard.

93,000 elders in 1994. Less than 60,000 today. Coincidence with 1914 generations? The internet? The iron fisted approach to education? The absolute

demand for loyalty in and obedience to the FDS??? I think not. Thank you all. Thanks Simon! Thanks Randy! Thank you to Ray.

When you get the truth, it sets you free. I never knew how true that was 'til now.

Zack-----

40

Are JW kids allowed to be kids?

by tall penguin in

jw
friends

i had a memory come up today.

i recall there was a time when kids were allowed to read the subheadings at the watchtower study.

they cut that out because they wanted kids to participate in the same way as the adults, by answering the questions for the paragraphs.

zack

DannyH:

The "Paradis Book" should have been called the "HELL" book. I had nightmares as a child because of that horrid, dreadful, psychotic book and illustrations. The WTS seemed to dwell on DEATH and DESTRUCTION and PUNISHMENT. WTF? I look back and I think it is a MIRACLE that I have not taken leave of my senses but managed to recover.

I remember sitting through the announcements of disfellowshipping for "conduct unbecoming a Christian," and listening to lurid tales of fornication, adultery, murder, vengeance, blood feuds---- all from the BIBLE!! The adults seemed to thrive on that. WHAT were they thinking? And always the meetings, study, feild service. I would feel guilty and and on the edge of Gehenna for being at home on a Saturday and watching the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner hour!

Allowed to be normal? HELL NO!! JW kids are fortunate to survive puberty w/o commitment to an institution!

Zack-----

6

Could This 'Preaching End' Have Legs?

by metatron in

jw
friends

ok, so they reamed the idiot bethelite who dared to suggest that the preaching work was fufilled - but does that.

end the matter?

suppose you're a witness in a western nation in which all the witness kids are leaving?

zack

If people aren't "preaching" it's because they realize what a waste of time and energy it really is. If kids are leaving it isn't because of what they here

at meeting, assemblies, etc.. it is IN SPITE of it. I know for a fact that the preaching work a la WTS is done: I ain't a goin' no moe'.

Zack----

44

Going door to door to recruit members doesn't work

by JH in

when you look at all the hours they do going door to door world wide and then you look at how many hours preaching it takes to bring just 1 person to their organization, it's not efficient.. my mom goes to a baptist church now, and i was surprised to know that 500 go to that meeting on sundays and they don't go door to door to go get these people.. there might be 80 witnesses at my hall and going door to door doesn't make much of a difference.

maybe it's even counter productive since people don't like being pested at home..

zack

The ones that leave are doing what the scripture says: GET OUT OF HER!

12

Does God want us to be rich?

by Bonnie_Clyde in

jw
friends

interesting article in time magazine (sept 2006, p. 50) - jesus said, "for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

this article states that a growing number of christians say" the question is better restated, 'why not gain the whole world plus my soul?'......

christians should keep an eye on heaven.

zack

God wants us to make our own way. Some are happy with a few things. Some are happy with many things. The point is, they are happy.

The one lending to the poor one is lending to God, and He will repay. If you have nothing to lend, then how can you help out someone else?

Likewise, do not say to your fellowman 'come back tomorrow' when it is in the power of your hand to do good today.' If we are generous--- and I believe very many people

are truly generous of heart and share with others and give to charities and volunteer in their communities----- that's what gives us happiness. Most people want to

have something for themselves so they have something to share with others. Just my thoughts.

Zack-----

26

Two Classes?

by VanillaMocha73 in

so i am going through the bible from a christian perspective this time and then going back to the reasoning book to figure out how on earth the jws ever came up with the stuff they did.

it is not like i am a n00bi3 - i was raised jw, pioneered, went to pio school, studied diligently for years, zealous, etc.. .

where do they come up with the two classes - one going to heaven and one not?

zack

Thanks Lilly.

48

Is the Watchtower beginning to lose its grip on its members?

by Gill in

i have seen a counsellor on and off since leaving watchtower land.

she has made efforts to find out more about jehovah's witnesses.. we were discussing why my jw family (not my husbands' they shun us as if we smell bad!!!!

) are beginning to spend more time with us.

zack

Most younger ones do not stay. What options are open to them? Most young people want to get an education. Nothing wrong with that. They want a family. Nothing wrong with that.

They want to spend time WITH their family. And then they see that if they did everything the WTS tells them to do, they would never have time for their familes, never would have a family,

and would not have a job that could support a family. They look at their parents and grandparents, aging or dead, and DO NOT want to end up like them. Here is the Kicker:

More and more parents DO NOT want THEIR children to end up like them either. S, they end up not listening to the "suggestions" from Brooklyn. More and more have figured out and

are taking the position that if it's not in the Scriptures, then God left it up to them to decide.

Zack-----