Posts by TheListener

Every marriage has ups and downs. Every marriage mate vents. The cult just adds extra issues, hence extra venting. This board is a refuge for all types and I believe that is why it's so successful.

I could complain about my mate for 30 minutes and I could also sing my mates praises for 30 minutes. Just depends on mood, circumstances and recent events.

56

Any former elders brains I could pick?

by BarelyThere in

jw
friends

i posted in another topic a few hours ago.

it is my first time on here or any website like this, ever.

i was dfed back in september for adultery.

TheListener

I'm really sorry about everything you and your ex have went through. The witnesses have waaay too many young marriages that either end badly, as yours did, or last a long time with unhappy mates.

I for one am glad you ended the marriage before it dragged on too long. Although you could have chosen a different method. At least you are both free.

In my experience expect a year before reinstatement. I think marrying the other guy is not a good idea. Not because of reinstatement issues but because of your emotional state. Be by yourself for awhile and experience life, learn more about what you really believe and only then can you be the kind of mate to someone that you want them to be for you. Never marry for sex.

8

Watchtower financial yearbook statements 1989-2016

by the comet in

since the 2016 yearbook yearbook was released i've been tearing through the numbers, trying to figure a few things out.

i have several different projects i'm working on, and this is one of them.

i looked through all the yearbooks from the 1989 one through 2016, the only thing they really state about money is how much they spent on; special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers.

TheListener

That is really something. I wonder why their costs per special pioneer went so high. I suspect they are hiding other costs in those line items but I don't know why they would do that.

32

New WT pdf tells children to report. Irony?

by wifibandit in

pdf.

why won't watchtower tell abusers "i'm going to tell on you!

" and follow through with the proper authorities?

TheListener

How dare they tell make it look as if they have the best interests of children in mind when they know full well those in witness authority have a history of doing almost nothing to help and protect the kids and certainly not reporting it to the local policing authirities

They don't even mention their perverse requirement for two witnesses!

They are exactly what they accuse Christendom of being - a white washed grave.

34

How far will they go?

by careful in

i've been drawing back lately and looking at the big picture going on in the org, somewhat like slimboyfat has also been doing, but i am wondering about different possibilities.

so the current gb has modernized recently in various ways.

they have done a strong and sudden about-face regarding the electronic world, from viewing the whole thing suspiciously and condemning bros. use tablets from the platform to suddenly embracing them and causing the r&f to do so to such a degree that old ones are spending hundreds of dollars to buy devices that they have no clue how to use; they have heavily embraced this media for their message, very much like the churches have been doing for years, especially with their jw broadcasting and their caleb and sophia animations.

TheListener

I see all the changes they've made so far as business changes. They seem to only change things that affect their bottom line.

If they feel allowing people to dress how they want and to have facial hair would result in higher donations, they will do it.

But I agree with others that once they relax the personal rules that dubs live by all bets are off and that their control using the BITE model won't be able to keep going. I feel that dubs love to be martyrs and pride themselves on standing out in certain ways - dress and grooming being one of them.

40

Returning

by Doubtfully Yours in

i was a member of this community a long time ago and have lurked for years.

well, i am back and still thoroughly conflicted, with my heart/loyalties as divided as ever.

please welcome me back, hear me out, and make me feel as welcomed as before.. the wtbts has changed so very much in recent years that i feel trapped in a completely different religion altogether.

TheListener

Godzoo, as usual your post states your feelings in a direct manner. Although I didn't see any comments on the thread where someone was asking to be love bombed out of the fake truth.

What I read was an OP and several follow ups of people trying to survive and find whatever small amount of happiness they can while dealing with the reality of their situation.

DY, glad to see you post again.

17

How could i have ever let myself get involved with this cult? pains me when i think about it.

by goingthruthemotions in

when i think about where i am at now in my life, in my marriage, with my kids.

why did i get involved with this cult?

i have brought out the cult personality in my wife and there no turning her back.

TheListener

Hang in there GTTM. We all have bad days, even couples who don't have the witness issue have others to deal with.

For me it was all about the kids. I put all my effort and straight to raise my kids to not be dubs. That added even more stress on my marriage but I considered, and still do, my marriage as secondary to my kids freedom.

My kids are free and my maritam stress goes up and down. Probably a lot like yours. Hang in there and enjoy the good times and if you can, stay focused on your kids.

48

Massive Plunge in Number of New JW Congregations from 1990 to 2014

by steve2 in

in a separate thread on the very latest figures for the current world wide annual report of jws, discussion turned to how "we'll know decline has really set in.

one of the posters said: .

the figure that interests me most is the number of congregations.

TheListener

My anecdotal evidence comes from shirt tail relatives in the US northeast. They had 1 congregation in their area in the 1980s which split into 2 congregations in the early 1990s. Now both congregations are nearly empty and they are considering merging.

I've heard them say that attendance is way down in most of the congregations in their area. Their area is suburban.

45

Don't know what to do

by looter in

jw
friends

i'm in a crazy situation.

about a year ago, i was going to get baptized.

it was all planned and arranged until ttatt was learned.

TheListener

Great advice everyone. My thought was to talk with the elders. Perhaps even stalling your dad by saying you want to study more and get your service hours up....all lies just meant to buy you time.

While slowing them down by seeming sincere you could talk to your school counselor, find an alternate safe place to live and find some sort of job that would help you get ready to live on your own or with some roommates.

There's no easy answers when dealing with fanatics like the witnesses. Best of luck.