TheListener

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Posts by TheListener

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  37

  Scriptures the Org never quotes in talks or publications.

  by wanderlustguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i just read a post today that caught my attention, and gave me an idea.. name off some scriptures the society rarely or never quotes and the subject they pertain to.. job 1, 1-3 and job 3, 1-5, birthdays..

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  TheListener

  jgnat,

  there are plenty of wt articles on the thief on the cross. They just change the location of a comma and voila! paradise isn't today after all.
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  113

  Judicial Committee Audio Recording

  by Shaolu in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  about a week ago i had my little meeting with "the bobs" (yuk yuk), and i got the whole thing digitally recorded.

  it's available online, along with a written transcript here...

  http://www.ichthusstudios.org/cults/jw/

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  TheListener

  Gutsy move. I congratulate you on making the recording. Although it sickens me to hear it.

  After listening to the tape I will admit that you didn't sound very sincere to me. You sounded as if you were too prepared and too callous to be helped.

  It is apparent to me while listening to the elders talk that they recognized this right away.

  Welcome to the board. I hope I never have to make such a recording.
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  43

  JW Children and the absence of Christmas

  by Clam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ive just collected my 6 year old son from school.

  he sat in the back of the car and told me about a little girl from the year above him who has to leave her classroom and sit in his due to christmassy things going on.

  my youngster remarked "she doesnt believe in christmas.

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  TheListener

  I had to sit in the principal's office for each holiday celebration and all the birthdays.

  Sometimes they'd put a chair in the hallway outside the classroom. Imagine sitting there at 6 years old and hearing all your friends whooping it up and you're just slumped down in your chair feeling sorry for yourself.

  A few kids made fun of me, but most just didn't understand. When asked why I didn't celebrate I took the easy way out and said my parents wouldn't let me. I hated it being different. I dreaded holiday time. As I got older it became more and more embarrassing to be so different. I would usually miss some school days around the holidays.

  I know my parents were only trying to do what they thought was right. And even with that they also tried to ease the pain of being different when they could.

  One teacher would wrap a piece of birthday cake up for me so I could eat it later; after the birthday. My mom would keep it for me until the next day so I could eat it after the birthday was over. Pharisaic? yes. But, I'm glad I got to have it.
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  11

  reasoning with a JW on myspace

  by Sam87 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ok so im still talking to this jw over myspace, and i seem to have hit a stump.

  hello again, just thought id message you to see if you got my last message about this quote, as ive been having problems with myspace at the moment, my apoligies if you have already recieved it.

  " the time is at hand, page 101 (1908 edition).

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  TheListener

  Ask him this:

  When Jesus sent the helper to his apostles and said it would be with them until the end of the system of things what did he mean?

  Did he mean it would disappear at some point only to be sent again at 1919? or 1914?

  If he didn't mean that then why didn't God's directed organization, of which russell was the faithful and discreet slave, have god's holy spirit and get things right?
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  11

  reasoning with a JW on myspace

  by Sam87 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ok so im still talking to this jw over myspace, and i seem to have hit a stump.

  hello again, just thought id message you to see if you got my last message about this quote, as ive been having problems with myspace at the moment, my apoligies if you have already recieved it.

  " the time is at hand, page 101 (1908 edition).

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  TheListener

  There are other things after 1919 that you can show him. Highlight the 1925 date. Show him the text from the talk and/or "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" which talks about 1874 and 1925. I know the millions talk was given prior to 1919 but the book came out in 1920 and subsequent wt and golden age articles reprinted the text and restated the 1925 date.
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  57

  A question for the men on this forum.

  by restrangled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've read so many posts from the men on this forum.

  how many of you are are willing to defy the society, and defend your wives, sister, and/or daughters in the face of this religion?.

  just a question not a threat.. r. .

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  TheListener

  Why oh why do I feel the need to respond. I'll never know.

  I do and will continue to defend the women in my life. I would lay my life down willingly for my family - regardless of their sex.

  That being said, my wife believes that if she commits certain sins she is likely to die at armageddon. If someone from her religion reminds her of this I don't personally view it as a threat.

  In fact I am hopeful that having ones in the congregation act like asses and saying things like this will help wake her up to their 'love'.
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  41

  Did leaving the borg ruin your marriage

  by Billzfan23 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone else here left the borg and had it go over like a lead ballon, ruining their marriage?

  mine is quickly heading that way.

  i have been married for about a decade, and have a couple of kids - both in grade school.

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  TheListener

  Wow what a lot of information and personal experiences - good for this board! This is exactly why I come here. To learn from others.

  Billzfan,

  I faded over the course of a few years. It was the cause of many many arguments and some non-speaking days and some sleeping by myself. I have children living at home.

  I went very slow. I gave her time to adjust to each new step. She realized pretty quickly what was happening and didn't much like it. I was very concerned that she was going to leave me. We discussed it and she told me that she wouldn't leave.

  I relaxed some after that but I know she could change or be influenced by others to change her mind on that at any point.

  I started out telling her what I was finding out and how blown away I was by all the information I found that I had no idea existed. That went over like a lead balloon. She would listen to me with her mouth gaping open and she couldn't believe it either. Then when I was finished speaking she'd say that I was negative and she didn't like to hear negativity.

  I soon learned to keep my mouth shut.

  I haven't attended meetings for some time now. We have developed a don't ask don't tell policy. I don't tell her how I feel about the organization and she doesn't tell me how she feels about me not going. Occasionally something will erupt and we'll have an argument, but that is the exception not the rule.

  However, I do realize that her deep abiding love for me has waned. We are married because she took a vow, we have kids and I provide for the family. We're not married because she enjoys being with me or because we communicate so well. We really don't have the kind of quality relationship I'd hoped I would have with my spouse. I'm hanging in there because I want to save my kids. Maybe she'll eventually leave and maybe not, but I want to save my kids.

  My kids do sports, have worldly friends, etc etc. It helps balance them. Make sure they understand that God doesn't hate everyone not a witness and that many people can love God and be good people yet never be a witness. And most importantly, love your children unconditionally!

  Good luck. pm me anytime.
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  35

  Tonight's service meeting

  by sspo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what a load of crap- 10 min.

  asking for more contributions in order to build more kh and reminded everyone not only to give cash but don't forget about leaving something for them in your will.. 25 min.

  on the proper use of blood which is also a joke.. the km mentioned you cannot take the four components of blood individually in your body but every component was broken into smaller fractions which is up to you to make a decision to accept or reject.. the common jw does not know their left from their right in making decisions about the dozens of fractions of blood but they will obey blindly and not ask a question because that would be considered apostasy.. .

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  TheListener

  Loosie, the card that ajwrb has up isn't the newest US card. A revised card (just like the card in the UK, almost) was issued in January '05. I'll see if I can find mine and scan it in.

  It has a list of components and you check off whether you will accept, not accept or are willing to discuss it. I should have a blank somewhere floating around the house.

  Unlike the past there is no reason to update the card each year. You only fill one out if your decisions have changed, or if you move to a different state.
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  98

  My favorite JWD posters are:

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in order: .

  garybuss- he says everything so straightforward.

  it's just a publishing company that has no real control over your lives.. blondie- tends to always post the correct wt to help us see how .

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  TheListener

  That guy TheListener is incredibly insightful and witty. I could read his posts all day. I've read everything he's written.

  "Is it wrong to love yourself?" (in an upcoming Awake article).
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  32

  Hello all, here's my story.

  by Paralipomenon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  brace yourself, this may make you gag.. holidays were spent in service.

  some friends were having a bbq that we were invited to, i went down and asked to see if there were by-products in the wieners.. i was baptized at 15.. i asked to be baptized at 12 and to humor me they let me take the test.

  to their surprise i actually aced it but the elder convinced my parents that i was still too young.. i would run lemonade stands in the summer time and donate the proceeds to the hall.

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  TheListener

  Welcome Para.

  I really liked your story so far (well, you know what I mean). I am looking forward to the rest.

  Please do tell us what it felt like to research your faith for the first few times. And especially what it was like as you learned what you believed wasn't really what the bible taught.

  Glad to have you hear.