Posts by TheListener

48

Bible Study Student With A Ton of Questions

by AddaGirl in

jw
friends

i am both new to this forum and new to the jehovah's witness organization.

i am currently about half way through the 'what does the bible really teach?

" and have been attending both sunday services and ministerial school for 3 months.. my biggest problem is that, being a researcher by nature, "verifying that all things are true," i have also been researching the organization which has stumbled me greatly.

TheListener

Welcome Addagirl.

You are doing the right thing. Checking out an organization before you join. Your study conductors should know and encourage you to check things out for yourself. I once used the example of reading several movie reviews prior to seeing a movie - would I do less when possibly changing my religion?

Of course, they don't see it that way.

If you come up with too many questions or material they view as apostate they will try turning you over to a more mature study conductor and finally you'll be dropped (you're heart condition must not be right at this time will be the likely excuse).

I wish you and your husband the best of luck.

My main pet peeves were:

607BCE for Jerusalem's destruction

Confession to men and judicial committees and the secrecy involved (plus the non-biblical reasons that can be used for disfellowshipping someone)

216

I'm a Pioneer Married To a Wonderful Brother Reaching Out to be an MS...

by cognac in

and petrified... i just recently became a pioneer and always had nagging questions in the back of my mind.

so, i decided that when i have get a study i would research all the questions as i go along so as to prove everything in the truth... i got 4 studies in about 2 months.

all was fine, until i reached i think chapter 6 in the bible teach book about the resurrection.

TheListener

Welcome to the board Cognac. I have successfully faded from the witnesses over the past several years. For some fading can be quick and for others it can take a long time. I have a wife and kids who are still loyal witnesses. My marriage has survived so far but each new WT inspired crisis or issue makes me nervous.

I know you're in a whirlwind of emotions right now. But, I wanted to tell you how excellent this thread has been. You come across as a very sincere, kind indvidual.

My main issues with the WTS when I began fading were:

607 (at first just the date and then as I researched I realized there was no biblical precedent for interpreting the day for a year counting and no scriptural reason to link Daniel and Revelation - but you can worry aboutt that another day)

Confessing to elders for forgiveness

Blood

The inaccuracy of certain parts of the NWT

Having the Society instill fear of open communication in my marriage so that I couldn't talk to my wife honest and open without fear of beng turned in.

I wish you the best of luck. You've started down a dificult road. We will be here to help anyway we can. Please ask any specific questions you'd like. You will get all sorts of viewpoints.

63

any former elders have an answer for me?

by helricha in

jw
friends

so i was df'd for living with/having sex with my boyfriend for 3 years and then not ending the relationship and moving out within the week between the first meeting of confession and the second meeting where they tell me what their decision was.

i did move out 3 months later with the intent of being reinstated over a period of time.

well i couldn't cut off the relationship with my bf even though i did move out, so i married him after a year and then 2 weeks after that i slept with someone else.

TheListener

You have a pm.

28

new public edition of the WT

by loosie in

ok i have about 4 friends who don't know that i am out of the org.

because there is 3000 miles between us and the subject has not come up.. well one of them has emailed me a jpg copy of each page of the public edition of the wt.. i was feeling a little ornery, and i replied back.

i said wow having a private copy and then a public copy of the wt makes me feel like a secret agent.

TheListener

You could reply this way:

"You're right. Sometimes there are dificult things to understand in the WT. I'm glad, like the Society says, that the Bible is simple and designed for everyone."

Good luck.

37

I may lose my wife because of Disfellowshipping

by freedomfighter in

have only been out of the organisation for 2 months and the wounds still run deep.

particularly hard is the fact that my wife and 8 yr old son are now divided in our beliefs.

we cannot go out as a family with our old friends like we use to.

TheListener

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation.

Perhaps explaining to your wife that you're the same man she has always loved will somehow help her to understand.

If I were you, though, I would read Steve Hassan's books. He can help you learn how to deal effectively with the cult personality.

Good luck

9

Any experiences dealing with Jw's and Barbara's Pedo CD?

by AK - Jeff in

just curious if anyone has spoken with any jw's who have seen the cd?.

jeff .

TheListener

Sorry to hear that your conversation went that way Skeeter. However, you never know what is going on behind the witness facade.

What you said may resonate with your father at some point.

I've found that seeds I didn't even know I planted with my wife bear fruit at the oddest times.

19

Lowly publishers can now attend international conventions

by unbeliever in

jw
friends

i don't know if this has been posted yet but my mom told me that there was a letter from crooklyn that publishers can now attend international conventions.

before only the pioneers, elders, etc could attend.

she said that there was a tremendous amount of excitement among the publishers that they now have the "privilege" of attending.

TheListener

The last round of international conventions were in 2006? (maybe 2007, announced in 2005).

Anyway, the letters to the congregations began with elders who had been serving 10 years or more could apply.

The next letter asked for any elder who had been serving for 5 years as well as pioneers.

The next letter asked for any elder and pioneer.

Now, they've decided that instead of embarrassing themselves by slowly lowering the requirements they would just open it up to any approved publishers.

I distinctly remember my wife and I snickering how funny it seemed that for a several month period letter after letter was read which lowered the attendance requirements. (remember, snickering is a big deal for her because she's a dyed in the wool dub).

Note: anyone can attend the conventions, they are open to the public, however, if you are a foreign delegate you won't be able to travel with the approved dub groups. Also, if you go to just any old international convention you would need to ensure your language will be supported. Even with conventions in the US they don't want dubs to randomly travel to any old DC they choose. The WTS has stated several times that dubs should notify their congregation secretary that they will not be attending the DC they are assigned to and which one they plan on attending. For food and room requirements plus ensuring enough seats are available for all planned to attend a particular convention (BS BS BS BS BS BS).

151

Just a little Update...(with pictures)

by RichieRich in

jw
friends

so today i was thinking... and i haven't posted here in quite some time!

i came and started reading through some recent posts... and boy have i missed a lot.

the whole trevorgate thing... and danny haszard... whew.

TheListener

Thanks Richie. I appreciate you answering me so quickly.

151

Just a little Update...(with pictures)

by RichieRich in

jw
friends

so today i was thinking... and i haven't posted here in quite some time!

i came and started reading through some recent posts... and boy have i missed a lot.

the whole trevorgate thing... and danny haszard... whew.

TheListener

I'm glad you checked in Richie. I always wonder how you're doing. You look great and your girlfriend does too. It's obvious that you're in a much happier place now. Alright!!!!

Some questions:

The tongue split? I've never seen that. Can you wiggle each side separately or do they work together? Can you feel or taste food in the split part?

How big will you make your ear lobe?

Does the nose ring make it hard to blow your nose? (I know, gross, but I've never had anyone else to ask).

46

Thanks for the support, but MY HUSBAND and THE BROTHERS WANT ME BACK

by AWAKE&WATCHING in

jw
friends

the hell with that.

my husband came to my store today telling me that we are so close to the end now, he can tell by all the changes in meetings.

you know the kool-aid edition and time frames etc.

TheListener

((((((A&W))))))

What you're doing takes great strength. I'm glad you find comfort here. We may be supporting you but you are still doing the hard work on the front lines of your life. Stay strong and always know we'll be here for you.

I've heard the same talk about the end being closer because of the changes. I was even guilty of the same type of thinking while I was in. It just shows the importance dubs place on the WTS and not on the Bible.