i am sort of new here, used a different username for a while but things got 'difficult' at home so i've since been lurking.... what i would be really interested to know, if you don't mind sharing, is what it was that triggered your doubts and initial research which led to awakening, was it a bad experience, injustice, changed doctrine?
for me, it was seeing mistreatment of young ones in the congregation, they're under so much pressure and as soon as they go even slightly astray they are shunned, either informally (as bad associations which pushes them further into the 'world') or formally - with elders dying to throw the book at them so they even lose their family.... ...then reading about child abuse issues in the press.... ...which led me to silentlambs.
...then jw facts, this forum and coc, wham!
The 'Generation' flip-flop/adjustment really did it for me. I knew then they had to be pulling this crap out of their assess just to accommodate their failed prophesies.
If not for the loss of close friends and relatives, I would be far gone physically as I am mentally/emotionally from these charlatans.
SL
last night at the meeting we watched the "jehovah will help you be bold" video.
just another piece of propaganda to get children to recruit other children.
i was just reading another thread discussing the other video (where they guilt trip kids to give money) and i recalled a something from the video we watched last night.
Well, it is nothing new. Everyone peddles their thing. In school, they indoctrinate patriotism, holidays stuff, etc.; it is only natural that this Org want to influence everybody across the board, not only the adults.
I know of some adult JWs that do not show these videos to their kids because they are too heavy on their psyche being so small and impressionable. They have openly expressed it that, unless they see it at the KH, they will not let them see it.
Heavy indoctrination like this is what gets mere children wanting to enter such a heavy burden like baptism.
I applaud those type of parents.
SL
in the past i have read on this forum that the wt have a say in the "bedroom" of couples.
i thought that was a bit overkill at first, but recently i have come to conclusion that this is true.. the control administered by the wt cooperation on ones sex life is not on only intrusive, its damaging.
they control every aspect of ones thought and action, thus leading most down a path that said corporation wants them to tread.. this path is to get married young, and then eternal loyalty the the organisation.. so how can an organisation force you to get married young?.
By my experience in the Spanish JW community I can honestly say this is pure bs. I have been married for decades and have never experienced this type of intrusion in mine or any other couple's private intimate life. Lies, lies, lies in this regard.
One has to keep intimate stuff private. The Org has no business in mine or anybody else's bedroom.
Outside of adultery or fornication, enjoy sexual pleasures so that marriage is as much fun as possible!
SL
after leaving the organisation 10 years ago i fought with everything i had to stay in my marriage and with my three children.
after a tumultuous number of years trying to maintain a happy family life while living in a divided home, it's finally over.
the religion is single handedly responsible for destroying my marriage and my family.
Continue to be a good father and do not give the JWs reason to believe they were right by you ruining your life now that you have left the Org.
Provide a good example and in time your children will follow.
SL
in may's "we will never solicit for money, but now we're going to solicit you for the next hour" broadcast, we kept hearing about all the "facts" that the gb would like for us to know.. hmm...what facts did they leave out?.
-- $millions have been spent in out-of-court settlements of child abuse cases.
-- $untold amounts are being spent on legal defense of wt policies related to child abuse.
Well, I still attend regularly for the sake of keeping my family and life-long relationships intact, so it's only fair in my mind that we as a family unit contribute to the local KH expenses. However, I am now comfortable with treating it as a gym membership of sorts, therefore, it will be much less starting next month.
SL
in may's "we will never solicit for money, but now we're going to solicit you for the next hour" broadcast, we kept hearing about all the "facts" that the gb would like for us to know.. hmm...what facts did they leave out?.
-- $millions have been spent in out-of-court settlements of child abuse cases.
-- $untold amounts are being spent on legal defense of wt policies related to child abuse.
As a matter of fact, I am lowering my monthly contribution for local expenses. I have not contributed for the worldwide work in years. Those jerks better smarten up about finances!
Seems like they are not following Jesus' advice to sit down and calculate prior to beginning any projects.
SL
well after a full watchtower study last week about how we should not read to much into bible account as types and antitypes, we had a whole study article on what the 10 wise virgins now means.
interesting though is the fact that only in 2007/8 they taught that the discreet virgins were the annointed ones who waited for christ's return in 1914 and the foolish ones were the ones who fell away in 1914 because the end didn't come.
now though, we have new light!
I have come to the realization the WTBTS is like a 'think tank'. Every so often the crap will change.
For a God that is using this Org as a mouth piece, he sure changes his mind on what his word, the bible, really means!
Wow!
SL
if youve followed the news lately there are more and more child abuse cases popping up.
one lawyer said he has over 28 cases in the pipeline that are going to be coming out soon.
on december 1 st a new one just popped up.
And let me tell you all that this is not the only religion that provides a safe heaven for all type of abusers.
How I wish that it was a Federal crime throughout the USA to not turn in abusers to the legal authorities. Punishable by loss of tax exemption. If so, you would sure see the Org and all other religious orgs changing their policies.
SL
once you really start thinking about it, the whole paradise idea is kind of depressing.
i remember growing up as kids my sister was the first to tell my parents (admittedly very courageously) that she wasn't sure she wanted to live in paradise, it sounded boring living forever.
i thought she was dumb for thinking that, i mean playing with lions!!!!
If it lives up to biblical description, it will be awesome. I sincerely hope, if real, I get a chance to experience it.
We imperfect humans cannot even begin to grasp the concept of eternity, but we strive for it. Why else would the industry of beauty, medicine and well being is so huge?! Life. We want as much as we can get.
The only thing I think would seriously suck is if we had to continue worshipping so much. Ideally would be fine if only a day of thanks was assigned and be done with it for the year. A Thanksgiving of sorts.
SL
which bible translation is the best, according to biblical scholars, anybody knows?
please chime in.. i plan on getting it and doing comparison with the new world translation.
sl.
Which Bible translation is the best, according to Biblical Scholars, anybody knows? Please chime in.
I plan on getting it and doing comparison with the New World Translation.
SL
