ok, i'm fairly new here and to the whole mess that is the realm of jws and the wts, introduced to this odd world because i'm dating an inactive jw (that's a whole other ball of wax, check out my other topic on this - http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/20/101985/1.ashx), but i've been doing some research and there's one question that's been really bugging me.. jws don't celebrate christmas, i think we all get that.
they say that christmas is pagan and therefore satanic and all of that, so they've banned the celebration of christmas (among other christian holidays).
i figured that it had been like this since the beginning of the wts back in the 1870s, but i've found references to articles published in the watchtower magazines in the early part of the 20th century that state that christmas is a good time of year, that giving and charity and all of these things that come with the christmas season are good and that celebrating christmas is a good thing.
I agree with Blondie I believe it was an alienation tactic used by Rutherford. Not only did it distance him and the Organization from Russel but it also alienated the Society from Orthadox Christianity, thus effective in keeping converts restrained with its walls.
Ticker
i had a discussion today with a witnesse and was directing her toword this site and the qoutes site.
i was thinking though of how the organization used to continually stress the developing of the fruitage of the spirit, i then was reading a book entitled "leaving the fold".
an excellent book written by a doctor who delves into the psychological aspects of cults and religions not necessarilly pointed at just jw's but all such groups.
I had a discussion today with a Witnesse and was directing her toword this site and the qoutes site. I was thinking though of how the Organization used to continually stress the developing of the fruitage of the spirit, I then was reading a book entitled "Leaving the Fold". An excellent book written by a Doctor who delves into the psychological aspects of cults and religions not necessarilly pointed at just JW's but all such groups. She discussed the fruits of the spirit and gifts of the spirit and it got me thinking.
How can it make any sence for a JW according to the official societys teachings to ever develop the 'fruitage of the spirit' when they also teach that only the annointed recieve the holy spirit? How can the average witness ever hope to attain any fruitage or gift of the spirit according to their teachings if they are repeatedly told they are not of the covenent with Christ, and thus recieve no holy spirit? Does not one have to recieve the holy spirit to ever develop its qualities in ones self? This too me seems like another Watchtower twist on scriptures that leaves it confusing when it is molded to fit Watchtower doctrine. Does this not seem like a contridiction within their very teaching? Any thoughts appreciated and hope the questions are clear enough.
Ticker
msmcdukets thread what do you do when this board isn't enough?.
msmcduket, i seem to have forgotten that there is a life outside of jwd.
i lost my job last christmas, so i lost my housekeeper.
"Go to the ant you lazy one!" j/k
Just need to prioritize, although it can be difficult especially when one is recently exited from the Organization.
Ticker
i'll never forget the time the circuit and district overseers told the elders that from now on the elders would be solely responsible for all judicial matters and that if anyone was going to get sued, it was not going to be the society.
at that point, the 2 overseers laughed outloud.
i knew we were going to get screwed for sure because the watchtower society was already setting us up.
The huge waste of time, resources, and money at the Rosenburg ass hall in Texas. I knew a bro that resigned from the commitee there because of it.
I was just interested in information about this hall. What happened that made one come to regard it as a waste of time, money, etc.. I never did here any information about it that I can recall, is their a thread on it? Thanks for any info. Ticker
i'll never forget the time the circuit and district overseers told the elders that from now on the elders would be solely responsible for all judicial matters and that if anyone was going to get sued, it was not going to be the society.
at that point, the 2 overseers laughed outloud.
i knew we were going to get screwed for sure because the watchtower society was already setting us up.
The play acting and coming to the shocking realization that no real love is present within the organization, but it was all merely an illusion, a psychological ploy called "love bombing". The lack of regard for what Christ's message was, the organization assuming his rightful position, the act of removing the personal relationship with God and Christ, and the untruth of claiming the bible is an organizational book, which was a blaring contradiction with what the bible states.
Ticker
thanks and i'll chat with ya later....
Hello Biddie Welcome!
Ticker
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i've just received the raymond franz book mentioned above...(it takes time as it's shipped from america).. i've got 4 hours before my dad (elder) comes home from work.. i don't have time to read the book so if anybody could advise pages that are particularly good for me to discuss with my dad i'd be much obliged.. thanks in advance.
Ive read both books and both are excellent. Another good book in helping someone to get out of the organizations indoctrination is "How to Rescue your Loved One from the Watchtower" by David A. Reed.
Ticker
has anyone ever played with an ouija board?.
is the game as dangerous as has been suggested by the wts all this while?
wts seems confident that all inexplicable events associated with the game comes from a supernatural source, and not a psychological one.
Ive had experiences with the board, some unsettling such as the spelling out of my future mates initials which did come true many years later. Lucky guess maybe, I don't know for sure their have been things I can't explain and I've tried to evaluate what could have manipulated the answers. Other times it seems like total baloney and their is nothing legible from the board. The board always seemed to work very well though and it is kind of interesting to play with although it can be unsettling depending on your frame of mind. I would only suggest one be prepared for whatever answer may come and sometimes I found the board liked to lead the discussion not the person. I don't know if thier is anything supernatural or not but I believe thier is some force at work, whether it be of ideomotor, or something else.
Ticker
hi my name is pammy and i have some question about jehova witness topics that i did'nt understand while i was at one of their services.
i was totaly lost please help.. 1. what is the amology of yaway?.
2. what do jehova witness believe happens after death?.
Pammy, as one who has been associated with the witnesses for many years I recomend that you research their past history carefully before making any decisions on joining the group. The Witnesses are very friendly when they come to your and their love seems unquestionable at their weekly program of meetings. One will find though in short time that this love is merely alot of play acting and it is a very conditioned love. The condition being soley on ones loyalty to the Watchtower organization. If one does not meet or can no longer give such loyalty, a loyalty rivaling ones own loyalty to god, to a man made and run organization, then one quickly discovers that all the Watchtower memberships love was very conditional. The close witness companions you thought you had will in effect cut you completely off, and they will be instructed by thier leadership not to even utter a greeting to you.
This is very contrast to the picture the bible paints about how Jesus treated his followers, and where he instructed their loyalty to lie. Loyalty belongs to God and not to a earthly organization, but you will soon discover that many will pressure you to take allegiance to an earthly organization, namely the Watchtower society. In fact one of their baptismal questions prompts canidates to take such an unbiblical allegiance to the Watchtower organization. The bible clearly shows the Watchtower organization occupying a position it has no right too, that being a leader, when the leader is rightly Christ. Please carefully research first before you seriously undertake a study of their doctrine in one of their publications, it is best to know both sides while you can. Once you begin to study they will quickly discourage your research of any material other then their own, in this way one cannot make an unbiased choice because they tilted the scales in their favour.
A good place for starting an unbiased search on the Watchtowers record of truthfullness is on this very site. Another honest glimpse into the Watchtowers supreme counsel is a book entitled "Crisis of Conscience" which can be purchased online. Like I stated earlier the Witnesses are generally swell people who earnestly believe what they are told by their leadership but this in itself does not prove them correct in their reasoning.
Ticker
i didn't attend the meeting today and i haven't spoken to any fellow witnesses about the study yet.
anyone care to share how their meeting went?
any interesting comments made for or against the wts policy on higher education?
It is true though the Watchtower is digging its claws in on education. Higher education forces you to evaluate and reason, producing a greater sence of autonomy, things the Watchtower does not want its members to have. The governing body wants everyone to be focused on organizational goals instead of being able to rightly set their own life goals. I think they fear people will become sidetracked from Watchtower motives if pursuing post secondary, and that don't help bring the membership up. The leadership are essentially hardening or burdening the memberships lives by their decrees of men, whether they knowingly do so or not. With none of the Society's arguments against higher education having any sound bible backing, hopefully the majority will not mindlessly give way to this rigid demand but will seek their full potential.
Ticker
