Posts by adelmaal

14

JWs at my door today

by somebody in

jw
friends

i am home today and tomorrow per doctor's orders and i was shocked that of all days, today two jws knocked at my door for the first time in almost 4 years.

they will be back on saturday morning at 10 o'clock.

to you all here, both non and ex jws, and to any lurking jws, i ask the question... what is the difference between a servant of jehovah and a disciple of christ, if any at all?

adelmaal

I should not waste my time researching the scriptures as it would only confuse me

My experience was that the JWs read and used their Bibles often. The whole thing that really impressed me at first was that everything I heard from them came right out of the Bible. I just didn't realize how twisted their logic was when it came to interpretating certain scriptures to support such deluded practices as disfellowshipping, not celebrating the holidays, not saluting the flag, not being involved in extracurricular activities, not getting a college education, and on and on... I also didn't realize they put the teachings in the publications before the teachings in the Bible (such as is done with the Book of Mormon IMHO). I say this because if you question the correctness of what is said by the Society in the publications you are considered an apostate/a dog returning to its vomit -- give me a break!

When I studied with the JWs my parents had a pastor come talk to me and he tried in vain to prove that the Trinity doctrine was Bible based. Each time he turned to a scripture I would say, "lets read the whole chapter" and there would usually be scriptures, which put the matter in context and disproved (in my opinion) what he was saying. I would then direct him to a scripture further explaining my belief and his immediate response would not be to discuss what I had just shown him but to turn to another scripture somewhere else like that would make the point I just made go away or cancel out the scripture I just showed him or something. He got nowhere and commented to my parents as to how well I knew my Bible.

I think JWs use their Bibles and can quote scriptures all day long. They just always need to take it to another level (i.e. head chopped off at birthday celebrations; that must mean we can't celebrate birthdays - LOL). The whole problem is that they have been misled by a Society on steroids when it comes to quoting scriptures, elaborating on the interpretation, expounding on the meaning, understanding the deeper things, meditating on the solid food, etc. - blah blah blah. They use the scriptures as a means to an end or to support what is said in the literature rather than just letting the Bible speak for itself.

Sure they know their Bibles they just have severely distorted views when it comes to what's being said in those Bibles.

41

I need your guys thoughts & opinions

by kls in

have you ever met someone and for some unknown reason this person just rubs you the wrong way ,i don't know if it's a vibe they give off or what but something that makes you dislike about that person.

my son who is 21 started to date this girl and there is something about her i so much dislike and i can't help the way i feel.

i have 4 grown kids all have dated and brought there dates home and i was receptive to them all but i cannot to this girl.

adelmaal

I know what you mean. Usually when I get a feeling about someone and I just have a sense they are not on the up and up or they are manipulative or they are passive aggressive or they are narcissistic I am not able to pinpoint it at first. After being around them for awhile I will see it more clearly though and it usually takes awhile before they finally show their true colors to everyone else.

Personally, if I were in your shoes I think I might let my son know I have reservations about her, I am only telling him this because I want him to be happy and I will support him in whatever decision he makes. Reason being is in the past I have ended up looking like an ass in the beginning for writing someone off without them having shown their true colors to everyone else. She will eventually show her true colors and you can be there for your son when she does. Sit back and observe. Your son will need to see for himself how she is. Encourage him to take his time and really get to see how she is in group settings and with family. Be willing to support him because he is going to do what he wants anyways and you don't want him not coming to you with problems for fear you will tell him "I told you so".

Just a side note: Some of my closest friends and some of my worst enemies have been the ones I initially hated on gut instinct. So who knows, maybe you two will be thick as thieves eventually.

68

who is who on here??

by holly in

i know there are mostly ex jw's on here.

i just wondered how many of you are ex jws, left or df'd, how many are still in but have lost heart?.

are there any jws on here who still believe its all the truth, go to meetings and trust the organisation?.

adelmaal

Raised in "the world". Parents were mortified when I started studying at 17 years old. Baptized by 18. Started Regular Auxiliary Pioneering right after baptism. Started Regular Pioneering 1 year after baptism (pioneered about 3 1/2 years). Skipped the whole college thing (what was I thinking!). Had assembly parts, at one time had 8 Bible studies, completely believed it was the truth, married too young, got divorced, got disfellowshipped, got married again, got reinstated a few years later and then faded a year or so after that. All in all I was a JW for about 10 years and I no longer consider myself one (faded about 6 years ago). I don't believe it's "the truth" I believe the truth is found in the Bible through personal study, a relationship with God through Jesus and an appreciation for his great sacrifice. I do not plan to be part of any organized religion.

holly:

I've kind of gotten to the point where I realize I will never know the correct answers to all my Bible questions and at the same time I am not going to settle for inaccurate answers coming from some religion. I am going to study and research and hopefully be satisfied with my best guesses based on that study and research.

31

In life, how do you walk?

by Tigerman in

jw
friends

.

on a day to day basis, does it really make any difference to you as how you perceive others and how they perceive you?

if so, do you think this thought process can be altered, in one way or another, for the greater good?

adelmaal

I do not just walk through life. I try to be actively involved. If I see someone letting go of a shopping cart, which is heading in the direction of a parked vehicle not only do I stop the cart from hitting the parked vehicle but I also let the person who carelessly let go of the cart know they should park their cart rather than just letting it hit someone else's car. If I see a fight break out or someone being taken advantage of I get involved. I will throw a bottle if I have to in order to get people's attention and put a stop to the injustice. If I hear a scream I do not ignore it; I run outside to see that everything is ok. If I see that someone is not paying attention and his/her child is standing up in the front seat of a shopping cart about to fall out of it I will bring it to their attention. I feel we should treat others as we want to be treated but we also need to go that extra step when we are walking through life. We need to treat others with dignity and respect and at the same time I have no problem telling someone who cuts in line to kindly step out and go to the end. I expect myself and others around me to be treated with that same respect in return.

40

Elders disfellowship my cousin

by YellowLab in

jw
friends

just a little background, my cousin is 38 and hasn't attended meetings for nearly 20 years.

then, a week later, another elder and the circuit overseer came knocking for the same reason, so she decided to go to the thursday night meeting.

then on sunday, she went for the talk, and was told she had an elder's meeting at 12:30 that afternoon.

adelmaal

Crumpet:

I am one of those who has faded (been about 6 years). I have not written a letter purely because I choose not to play by their rules and I also don't want my daughter hearing awful things said about her mom when she goes to the KH (not that that doesn't happen anyways).

I will fight for your cause! Just let them try to DF or DA me... Not only with they get an earful but they will get a definite lawsuit slapped on them for telling my daughter that I am a bad person, that I am as good as dead and for alienating her from me intentionally.

I hope you at least had the opportunity to tell them to, "Kiss My Tiara" (Great book when you need a laugh by the way)!

- Aryn

40

Elders disfellowship my cousin

by YellowLab in

jw
friends

just a little background, my cousin is 38 and hasn't attended meetings for nearly 20 years.

then, a week later, another elder and the circuit overseer came knocking for the same reason, so she decided to go to the thursday night meeting.

then on sunday, she went for the talk, and was told she had an elder's meeting at 12:30 that afternoon.

adelmaal

Personally, I think the "organization" is completely disorganized from one congregation to the next. Just as the matters published in the literature are subject to personal interpretation, speculation and opinion so are the judicial committee decisions. I have been in various congregations. Some of them had awful elder bodies and others were much more merciful. I think it all just depends on how passive agressive, controlling or demented the PO or other elders in positions of power are in that particular congregation.

The Society interprets the scriptures and then the elders interpret the Society. In the end it's madness.

40

Elders disfellowship my cousin

by YellowLab in

jw
friends

just a little background, my cousin is 38 and hasn't attended meetings for nearly 20 years.

then, a week later, another elder and the circuit overseer came knocking for the same reason, so she decided to go to the thursday night meeting.

then on sunday, she went for the talk, and was told she had an elder's meeting at 12:30 that afternoon.

adelmaal

It's so ridiculous! The elders and their insensitivity and also that family who has associated with her (knowing she was not living according to their teachings) could all of a sudden turn on her simply because some elders made a stupid announcement. You tell me... What's changed? Nothing! She's still the same person they loved and yet now they have nothing to do with her. It's a twisted religion...

56

Are there any 'true' churches ?

by Qcmbr in

just a question because of course we all either believed we were in the 'truth', are still in the 'truth' have left and found the 'truth', there is no 'truth' or that the only truth is found in the trailer park with a bottle of bud and a bunch of 'pozzies:)

adelmaal

I do not believe there are any "true" churches in a sense that only certain churches find favor with God or certain churches teach only truth. I believe that the "truth" is within each individual; it is a condition of the heart. I believe that "truth" can be found through a personal study of the Bible, a relationship with God and a fellowship with mankind. If that includes going to church then so be it but I do not believe one must go to church (any particular church) to find truth or be a godly person.

21

Did You Feel Being Disfellowshipped Or Reproved Was Justified???

by minimus in

jw
friends

at the time you got "disciplined", did you feel you "deserved" it??

what about now????

?

adelmaal

I was disfellowshipped for dating while I was still "legally" married (divorce had not yet finalized because the 6 month waiting period in CA was not yet past). Disfellowshipped for "dating" (we weren't having sex). I was "scripturally free" but I still got disfellowshipped because I was married in God's eyes and I was not respecting that arrangement by dating.

Give me a break!

Funny though how I eventually jumped through all the hoops to get reinstated after my husband (the man I had started dating prior to the finalization of my divorce) abandoned me when I was 7 mos. pregnant with his child -- how's that for karma. I thought I needed "the truth" and that my life was so messed up because I wasn't in it. Little did I realize my life was messed up because I had been in it. Married too young (21), because we wanted to have sex and we didn't want to "mess up", had a baby and eventually divorced, rebounded and ended up disfellowshipped.

I find it interesting that some of the other posts are like mine where we got disfellowshipped, grovelled to get back and then eventually faded away on our own.

40

moral question

by rwagoner in

jw
friends

just read a thread about a child born with two heads and read some, well meaning but disturbing posts... .

here is the question: .

you and your spouse are expecting...a test is available that will reveal if your unborn child may have a physical disability... .

adelmaal

Fe203Girl:

I am so sorry you suffered the loss of your child. I wish you the best in any future pregnancies you may have. I am sure it was very hard for you and my thoughts and tears are with you.