Posts by TheListener

32

Seeking support during confusing and stressful 'cognitive dissonance'

by LHS123 in

jw
friends

sorry for the long post but i need help.

ive been a jw for 20 years - still active and attending meetings, baptised at 18, i have recently become very dissillusioned.

a few reasons: ill treatment of my kids by a prominent 'assembly speaker' elder, then my son left the truth at 15 (not baptised) and was 'dropped' instantly, despite this community having been his whole life for 15 years.

TheListener

LHS 123 be really really careful what you say to the elders. They won't have what's best for you in mind only what's best for the congregation. You may not want to give them any specifics as to why you feel the way you do. A lot of people use the stress and depression angle to slow down their meeting attendance and service time.

Also remember that if you give the elders any specifics they will show you the WTS answer to that and expect you to accept that and move on. If you listen to them but continue to disagree they could take that as a willfully bad attitude.

I was very careful what I told my wife as I faded away. I didn't want her running to the elders to turn me in.

32

Seeking support during confusing and stressful 'cognitive dissonance'

by LHS123 in

jw
friends

sorry for the long post but i need help.

ive been a jw for 20 years - still active and attending meetings, baptised at 18, i have recently become very dissillusioned.

a few reasons: ill treatment of my kids by a prominent 'assembly speaker' elder, then my son left the truth at 15 (not baptised) and was 'dropped' instantly, despite this community having been his whole life for 15 years.

TheListener

LHS 123, welcome to the forum. I am so glad you posted and were able to express your thoughts.

As you can see you're definitely not alone. A lot of us went through something similar.

I can't tell you how glad I am that you love your son and won't shun your daughter if the WTS required it. That unconditional love is what being a parent is all about imho.

I won't sit here and tell you that the road ahead will be easy but it is manageable and although you may feel alone we are here to listen to you. Even if sometimes we don't have the answer please feel free to vent your feelings.

I have kids and also would never shun them no matter what.

Good luck LHS 123 and feel free to PM me anytime.

24

Phone call from a brother last night

by label licker in

jw
friends

the brother and his wife thought the statement at the end of this month's broad cast show was a little off.

the org stated that jehovah's organisation can not be corrupted.

(needless to say only three had shown up for the broadcast meeting at the hall) he's never heard that before so we filled him in as to what the org has been up to and gave him jwnet, jw facts as well as jw survey to look at.

TheListener

I think the local KHs played the monthly videos for anyone who doesn't have access to a computer to watch on their own.

15

How to change some significance of 1914.

by sloppyjoe2 in

i first do not think they will change anything about 1914 for at least 20 or more years but one day it will have to happen.

since 1914 is their meal ticket and they have it in print prior to the year happening, they will never abandon the year altogether.

they have too much tied into 1914-1919 as well as have held onto it for too long.

TheListener

I think they will hold 1914 for awhile longer but eventually it will cease to be of any importance. It's already so long ago to most younger ones that it might as well be 1799. But, eventually they will have to update the date. I don't know how but I am sure they are working on it.

I also think the overlapping generation teaching won't be around a long time. I think that whole thing is part of a two step plan. Step 1, overlapping generations. Step 2, generation just means common collective memory regardless of when you were born, they could say that theoretically this type of generation could last for hundreds of years since modern technology keeps our memories much sharper than they would be generations ago. See, our kind God gave us modern technology in this time of the end to ensure the generation spoken of could be long enough to see the events of 1914 or XX date and the end of the system of things whenever it happens.

just my idea.

18

Merritt Island Shopping Mall in Florida allows the harmful cult to spread their propaganda to their unsuspecting customers

by Watchtower-Free in

.

merritt island shopping mall in florida allows the harmful pedophile protecting cult to spread their propaganda to their unsuspecting customers...here's contact info for management http://www.merrittsquaremall.com/info/management.

TheListener

I just think it's funny to see the dubs look so cultlike. they remind me more and more of scientogists. seriously, when we dressed up and went door knocking at least some people respected us for our dedication even if they didn't listen to our message. Shopping mall kiosks? Desperation.

23

'great crowd' are in the temple (naos) but not in the new covenant???

by fukitol in

in one of the biggest about-faces in watchtower history, in a 2002 question from readers it was admitted that the great crowd is indeed in the temple itself (naos) in revelation 7. .

but notice the statement bolded below from that article comparing the great crowd to the proselytes in ancient israel.

the statement is made that the proselytes "submitted to the law covenant.

TheListener

I think in the typical witnesses mind the order goes publisher - governing body - jehovah. Jesus is someone that lived a life on earth that we should imitate and he will be used by jehovah to accomplish his will but he isn't really viewed as the active head of the congregation. The gb knowledge and guidance comes from jehovah through his holy spirit.

I don't believe the gb will ever do anything to jeopardize their power over the rank and file. That includes promoting jesus and his role in christianity. I saw the 2015 regional convention program on another thread and completely believe that all the jesus talks are a smokescreen for actually talking about jehovah.

23

'great crowd' are in the temple (naos) but not in the new covenant???

by fukitol in

in one of the biggest about-faces in watchtower history, in a 2002 question from readers it was admitted that the great crowd is indeed in the temple itself (naos) in revelation 7. .

but notice the statement bolded below from that article comparing the great crowd to the proselytes in ancient israel.

the statement is made that the proselytes "submitted to the law covenant.

TheListener

I know from experience that dubs talk about Jesus but not about actually having a relationship with him. They talk s lot about his earthly life and his coming in the near future but not Jesus in the present as the head of Christianity.

When I was a dub and heard songs about Jesus or praise Jesus this or that I chalked it up to the trinity and falsehood.

I think that when dubs hear Christians talk about having a relationship with Jesus they automatically put that person in the born again category. And most experienced dubs will tell you that it is near impossible to convert a born again.

Imho

91

Setback

by EdenOne in

i saw this coming since my mother-in-law's funeral .... the congregation's "love-bombing" over my wife had its impact.

i watched her drawing closer and closer to her friends in the congregation.

then she decided she would attend the memorial.

TheListener

Wow, a lot of great feedback on this thread.

Dubs seem to swing back and forth like a clock pendulum. From hot to cold and back again. From my own experience I know it's hard but if you can keep being patient she may very well swing back again and this time be more convinced that it's not the truth. Being a dub takes a lot of effort and unless she is 100% convinced it's the truth she will tire out. IMHO.

But, I just want you to know that I understand the feeling of loss and frustration that you have right now. It can eat you up and make you act very differently from your normal personality if you let it. Please keep posting here and venting here because there are a lot of great posters who will listen and reply.

9

Conti Verdict - what will this mean for congregation?

by sparrowdown in

will the outcome of this case translate into any major changes for the way congregations are run?.

what do you think?.

TheListener

Although I feel that the average witness will have no idea why any of the changes have occurred.

26

Wife wants a Family Study after the special talk...but initially refuses Bible only study.

by garyneal in

my wife asked me to attend the special talk with her because she wants to attend something like this as a family and feels that she "enjoys worshipping together" as a family.

i have not been to church for at least a year and have pretty much abandoned the practicing of my faith but i can remember how i used to want to have a church going family so i obliged.

i feel kind of apprehensive about doing these things because she wants the kids and i to be on our best behavior and has even fussed at me for playing tablet games during other talks.

TheListener

Garneal, my wife could not tell you what the current WTS teaching is on most subjects other than trinity, blood, hellfire, heaven and the end is soon soon soon, but she believes everything and attends regularly.

We have come to an unspoken agreement where we basically don't discuss witness stuff in our home. I can't imagine what stress trying to do a regular reading of the bible together would cause.

I have found that in the past when I have made what I think is a great point with her and that maybe just maybe she agreed, it only lasted until the conversation was over and then she forgets all of it and continues on as if no discussion happened.

Good luck with your bible reading but don't hold out too much hope that it will magically help her see TTATT. The 'wait on Jehovah' or 'we'll understand it in the new system' is their ultimate fallback no matter what they hear or learn.