Posts by TheListener

40

Hi all, I've been lurking.........

by jibberish in

hello, i've been lurking for a few months now.

like many others here i've been through quite a bit lately, and what i've learned (thanks to jwd) is very eye opening to say the least.

will write my story when i have time.

TheListener

Wow. Welcome aboard Jibberish,

I am so glad you decided to post your story. You give me encouragement that one day my wife and kids will see the light.

Stay strong and happy in your new life.

103

Jehovah's Witnesses turned Christian....Post Here

by R.F. in

i would like those of you former jws turned christian to post here.

specific denominations can be mentioned.

i'd just like to get an idea of how many of you there are.

TheListener

I hate these kind of threads. That's why I'll post on this one.

It's been said by earlier posters and probably said better than I'll restate it, but:

BELIEVING YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN IS NOT THE SAME AS ACTUALLY BEING ONE.

FOLLOWING SOME OF JESUS WORDS AND COUNSEL YET REJECTING HIM AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND MEDIATOR DOES NOT MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN.

CLAIMING JESUS IS YOUR LEADER YET NOT BEING ALLOWED TO TALK WITH HIM DOES NOT MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN.

ok now I can't turn this blasted bolding off.

I always believed I was a true christian. Now I am searching for Christ - and I don't mean the GB or 144,000!

20

Why not baptize at the kingdom hall?

by Mysterious in

jw
friends

lots of churches baptize those willing right at the church why do you think the jws don't do the same?

would it be too "discouraging" in congregations where there were no new ones baptized for a long time.

maybe they are trying for a bandwagon effect?

TheListener

Current dubs find baptisms upbuilding. Being allowed to see those from other KHs around the circuit or district get baptized is a real blessing from Jehovah.

Plus it reminds everyone how vast the organization is and how fast it is growing.

Puke Puke Puke

3

New District Convention Releases?????

by TheListener in

jw
friends

can someone who has attended the dc please let us know of any new releases?.

if there is a thread i missed i apologize.

can someone post a link to any existing threads about 2007 dc releases..

TheListener

Can someone who has attended the DC please let us know of any new releases?

If there is a thread I missed I apologize. Can someone post a link to any existing threads about 2007 DC releases.

27

So I finally broke the ice with my fiancee....

by R.F. in

for those of you that don't know, i've recently had many doubts about the org and realized that i can't just let them go.

the thing was however, that i was nervous as to how my fiancee would react when i would make my doubts known to her.

so.....i finally talked to her today and it went a little something like this.......... i started with us reading together acts.

TheListener

R.F.

I am really sorry to hear about your situation.

Marriage is not something you should enter into with any sort of "issues" - and your belief system is a major issue. If not to you then it is to your fiance.

I have a couple questions, feel free not to answer, but at least consider the answers yourself:

Has your fiance talked about moving with her mother in the past? Or is this a new development? If so, is this the first time she's mentioned it?

Is it possible your fiance discussed some of your information with her mother? Is the mother a die-hard witness?

Is it possible that your fiance discussed some of your information with the brothers (i.e. anyone who's a witness besides yourself and most likely and elder)?

Those are just some thoughts I had when I read your post.

I will tell you from my experience that this sort of thing is fairly common. I am on, as Arthur rightfully said, that is married with kid(s) and wish things had turned out differently. When I would discuss a point with my wife she would listen. I would be excited and because she was listening so well I would push the conversation ever so slightly further. Not too far mind you! About a day or two after the conversation was over, and I thought pretty much forgotten, my wife would either explode in anger at me for some trivial matter, which would always turn out to be a misdirection of her anger towards me for fading away, or she would be cold to me for a day or two (perhaps so she wouldn't burst out in anger?). Then a couple of days after that, she would return to normal and sometimes even apologize for her attitude or actions and let me know that she loves me regardless of what I finally decide to do spiritually. It was one hell of a roller-coaster. I have realized that if I just don't discuss my biblical research and apostate thinking that she can go about her merry way without a care in the world. Well, mostly.

Please be cautious before entering into a relationship where she would expect you to support her spiritually (and from her perspective that entails all the extras of JW living like reaching out, field service, meeting attendance, etc etc etc). Put yourself in her shoes. Would you want a mate that didn't really believe the truth anymore and that your mate's main interest was convincing you it wasn't the truth? Probably not. Why enter into a relationship with that kind of baggage. Trust me, it's hard enough to make a marriage work without that kind of crap hanging around your neck.

You and your fiance deserve to have the type of mate each of you desires. That may not be the same thing anymore for both of you. Better you find out now before it's too late. If, and I don't even know why I'm putting this in my post, but here it goes, if either of you feel you "need" to get married, either because of your raging passion or deeds you may have done together, you need to stop a moment and think about the consequences of each path you could take. Take the lumps for something you've done wrong, if it can be proven, and move on with your life or get married and settle in for a potentially bumpy ride on the pendulum of will she leave the witnesses or won't she.

Good luck R.F.

PM whenever you'd like

25

Truly disgusting plead for cash in KM School this week

by MinisterAmos in

i wish i had posted this earlier so you guys could have gone to school this week to check it out, but the km school was a long winded plea plea for cash donations, reminding us that "jehovah will be grateful".. how i wanted to raise my hand and ask if the great need was related to paying off the child molestors or ask what happened to the$100s of millions from the property sale, or ask why they needed money after kicking out all the bethelites (two booted bethel couples in the congo).

anyway you guys missed a good laugh.

if anyone wants i'll post the km magazine.

TheListener

Nicely written WT Wizard. I needed a good laugh today.

I remember trying to wear my suits until they absolutely had to be cleaned.

The funniest thing you said was about the changing shirt color requirements. You must have been around awhile to remember that one. ROFLMAO.

49

Attention former elders and ms: I have a question.

by R.F. in

i'm currently a ministerial servant and pioneer in my congregation.

i want to begin my fade soon.

i'm going to get off the pioneer list first instead of quitting both positions at once, hopefully to ease potential gossip.

TheListener

You're engaged right?

Just tell the elders that you need to focus on your relationship with your fiance right now. Tell them you've been handling too much and you don't want to burn out. And that you can't wait until you can serve on the body and pioneer in the future.

Whatever reason you give don't be too specific and don't take anyone's bait for badmouthing the witnesses. It may be your own father or best friend that is trying to find out your real feelings or reasons.

Also, you must let your fiance know that you intend on not being a ministerial servant or pioneer. She has a right to know.

Good luck.

8

Kings of Isreal and 607/586

by GramblingMan in

can someone help me out here, i have been going back and forth with the jw study, regarding 586/607, from reading what has been written here and visiting the library.. i have been able to present what i understand.

now he is saying that the jw also were able to locate the date for the fall of jerusalem based on the kings of isreal.

i serious doubt it, he should me the list of jews kings in the "insight on the scriptures" but could tell me how they arrived at the start date for the 1st king.

TheListener

There is no concrete way that I've seen to independently date the start of the rule of Saul. You can work backwords from a given point but depending on where you start... you get the picture.

10

This Is My Current Stage

by R.F. in

i'm currently in the stage of mixed feelings.

i feel torn at times because of this.

i've built up courage to come to this website, and recently i've built up enough to take part in it.

TheListener

Hi RF

I haven't had an opportunity to welcome you to the board yet.

Man, I really remember a few years back when I was in a similar position to you. The main difference was that I am married with kids. My wife doesn't understand my feelings and probably never will.

I went through a couple of different phases as I came out of the WT.

1. I totally believed in the truth and just knew the doubts I had were my issues of my own making and that when I really studied enough or asked the right person the answer would be obvious.

2. As I looked into the specific things that bothered me and asked a few questions of those around me I realized that what I expected to happen - didn't. I didn't receive clear answers to my doubts.

3. At this point I was thoroughly confused. I readily admit that every time there was a thunderstorm or a large scale world event I would panic in my mind because I knew the end was nigh but I wasn't in a good relationship with Jehovah - thus I probably wouldn't make it.

4. After a long long time feeling the fear of destruction I decided to take my questioning to the next level. I and a friend drove a state away and I made him buy Crisis of Conscience. I left the book at work and went so far as to hide it so no one (even though no other witnesses worked there) would see it. Every time I opened it to read I would be nervous that somehow someone would see me and rat me out. I was deathly afraid of losing my wife and kids.

5. I realized that I just didn't agree with many of the scriptural teachings and began to fade. I guess I was unknowingly fading through the entire process, but it was this last step that helped me realize that I wanted to be completely free from the JWs but retain my immediate family relationships.

Good luck RF. I highly recommend settling your mind on these issues prior to getting married. It wouldn't be fair to you or your fiance to get married while doubting one of the main cornerstones of your relationship.

By the way, what issues caused me the most trouble? It's different with everyone, but for me they were (in no particular order): 607; added rules and regulations that all witnesses live under (both written and unwritten); blood; disfellowshipping; what constitutes sacred service; confession

These caused me the most trouble. Do I understand every aspect of every point on these subjects? No. But, I have learned much more than I ever thought possible.

7

Prince In The News Again-Studying Bible

by Justitia Themis in

http://www.cnn.com/2007/showbiz/music/05/08/prince.london.reut/index.html.

prince to play 21 nights in london posted: 1:48 p.m. edt, may 8, 2007 story highlights prince to play 21 dates in london later this year.

tickets to cost 31.21 pounds ($62) after recent record "3121".

TheListener

Perhaps he has some inner turmoil occurring and feels that a study of the Bible will tell him for sure if the WTS is right or not.