i mean, for forty years believing the witness lie it always made me wonder.. judas was the keeper of the money box - and there are statements that indicated that the apostles thought that wasting money that could be used to aid the poor was sinful - so indications are that the earliest christians were doing charitible works.
of course there are many scriptural passages that encourage that activity among believers.
today all the organization ever does is pay lip service to charity.
Yes it did,but I used to try and convince myself that the jw's were preaching the good news,therefore doing a very good work.
It really bothered me though when my dad started studying and shortly thereafter he stopped donating to a relief organization that was helping a young person in a foreign land.
i have had a rash of jws on this board leaving comments in my inbox telling me how mislead i am.
but what amazes me not one of them yet will analyze the facts with me.
a real discussion means nothing to them.
I personally think some real jw's come here to chat or leave messages in order to use that as field service time.A few return visits and a few comments and well,ok,about 2 hours this month.Whew,at least I'm still active and I didn't have to knock on any doors this month.Those of you who do this know who you are,do your elders know what you are up to?
Goldminer
i will be very brief on my introduction as i need to get straight to the point.
i was raised in the 'truth' from birth.
i got baptized at 16 (elder dad hassled me) and managed to do the 'slow fade' at 18 (it helped that i moved 50 miles away from home).
Hi and Welcome!
I also would recommend that you get the book In Search of Christian Freedom by Raymond Franz and read the chapter on blood.It is quite an eye-opener,I believe every jw should read it and meditate on it.
Keep showing your dad you love him,hopefully some day you can show him some WT errors and you might soften him up to some of these bigger issues concerning blood.
Goldminer
i have vaig memories of a christmas, but other than that, being a jw was all i know.
she begged me to stay but i knew it would be easy just to give in (again).
i have never felt so much hurt in my life.
Hi Paul,
Very interesting story,you really lived some tough times buddy,but I'm happy to see things have worked out for you.I also enjoyed soccer when I was a teenager but I never tried to pursue it because of the religion.My phys-ed teacher was impressed with my talent and felt I could become a pro player.I still wonder about it sometimes,but then how many people have had their life course altered because of that religion?
Anyways you hang in there Paul,I'm sure you can help a lot of people with your life experiences.
Goldminer
so last weekend was my last district convention.
i plan on breaking the news to my wife real soon.
nowadays even at the meetings my blood pressure raises and my back gets all tense as i sit and listen to some of the stuff we are supposed to believe.
Hey Ithinkisee,
Ithinkyouheard better than I did,I didn't pay attention as much as you.I only went friday morning,saturday afternoon and sunday morning.We stayed at a cottage by the lake and spent most of our time in the water.Btw,an elder from another district stayed at the same place as us,how's that for following society's orders.(the cottages are not on the hotel list).
I do remember the "no regrets" part and the emphasis on equating education with immediate riches and unhappiness,to me that was more the theme they pushing on us.I doubt many bought it.The parents that want to send their kids to college will do it anyways.The ones who are too cheap or lazy to help their kids will use this as their excuse.
Anyways,they had 2 young brothers share their experience.Both were in their late 20's,university education,making $100 000+/year.But they weren't happy,something was missing,they wanted to pionneer!!!!!So they quit their jobs,just walked away and became full-time pionneers with....NO REGRETS! What they failed to tell the audience is that they still have their university education and can always get another good-paying job in a couple of years when they're fed up of being pionneers.
Did you notice a decrease in attendance? Here we're down to about 2800 from 3500-3800 about 8 years ago.
Goldminer
i like "theocratic strategy", "new light", "the slave", and "lovers of truth"......anything that you find amusing?
Truth!!!!!!!
He came in the truth...
He made the truth is own...
He shared the truth....
He was baptized in the truth...
He married in the truth...
She was in the truth...
They were in the truth...
But their hearts was not ... in the truth...
They left the truth...
At least we have the truth....
Ask the average JW what is the "truth" and watch their face as they mumble something about the bible or Jehovah's teaching.Then calmly tell them : The "truth" is the current teachings of the watchtower bible and trap society.
Goldminer
a few of you may remember when i came to this site back in sept. i was seeking advice about my bf who had been studying with jw.
well i hate to say it but they won.
after being together almost 2yrs we broke up.
Hi,Sorry to hear your relationship is breaking up.
I am trying to fade but my wife is stubbornly clinging to this religion that does not make her happy.She often talks about leaving and how depressed she is because I don't want the "truth".As sad as it feels,maybe it's the best thing for you right now.Hang in there.
my whole mothers side of the family made us think like that as well.
everyone knew who my family was!
i knew he was the once since i was 9 years old.
Hey! I enjoyed your story Brooke.Actually I enjoy all witness stories,I try to put myself in the person's shoes to see what they went through.I find it sad how many people are affected emotionally and are still screwed up years later as adults.
You hang in there girl and live life for yourself and your family!
Goldminer
to understand so that's why the wts published the new book being released at this year's district conventions.. the new book gets "straight to the point".
according to her "and many others", the knowledge book was too difficult for those just beginning a bible study.
i said, "you're kidding!
The new book has a chapter entitled "Are we living in the last days" which lists a few signs,basically what was in the live forever book.The appendix has a 2 page section on 1914-A significant year in bible prophecy.I'm telling you,don't expect too much from this book,I won't be reading it.It'll end up on a shelf with all the others.
I think the FDS or is it the GB,whichever,are afraid to come out with too much new light because they know people are on to their games so it's just easier to stick with the tried and true.I doubt very seriously that there is anything new in this book and I still don't know why they published it.
Goldminer
.
i hear these random, dogmatic numbers all the time.... noah preached for 70, 90, or now it's 120 years.... noah worked 40, no 70 years on his ark.... even as a dub i wondered where these wacky numbers come from... says who?.
help me out please and give me examples that you've noticed of unverifiable numbers!.
607 bce?????
still unverified......
