https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-october-2020/how-to-conduct-a-bible-study-that-leads-to-baptism-part-two/.
i recently came across the above watchtower article which spoke about conducting bible studies which lead to baptism.
it progressed to say that if the bible study instructor does not see growth within the student or the desire to work towards baptism, then the studies should end.
MARIA NIEVES:
I believe they would be willing to end studies if someone doesn’t ‘progress’ in a certain amount of time.
They are lucky they can hang onto the JWs they already have! They will not want to risk having these JWs around a so-called worldly study that possibly has more education than they do, thinks too much and asks questions they cannot answer!
there will be another new generation of watchtower society followers that will be introduced to ''the.
carrot and stick.
'' promise something that will never be attained!.
PISTOLPETE:
Yes, it is true that the older generation of JWs is passing away. These people who expected to walk into the ‘new system’ are mostly gone.
Even years ago when I was active, I heard an elder in conversation say to somebody (about someone who died) that many JWs will get to the new system the ‘underground way’. This made me angry when I heard this because it sounded like they were backing away from their belief that the new system was coming in time so they wouldn’t need to experience death.
When I began my Fade several years later, the first thing I did was to rid my mind of this paradise earth teaching because I felt it was a cruel trick to play on my mind. I don’t know if I truly ever believed it. It was a nice mental exercise..Everybody and every creature has died all throughout history (unless a few special people are keeping their existence secret).
The fact that a new publication might possibly be in the works to whet younger people’s appetite to supposedly ‘live forever’ and hang onto the religion doesn’t surprise me..I just know I’M past the point of falling for this.
i look back on my life & realize all major mistakes fall at the feet of the jw leadership.
no college, no birthdays, basically no celebrations.
lived my younger years as an outcast.
GREATTEACHER:
Well, I’m certainly not ‘chained’ now and I’m glad I was raised Catholic and had a normal childhood and heeded my father’s ‘worldly’ wisdom.
Yeah, I know different congregations may have differed slightly but overall - the hypocrisy stinks to high heaven with these people. They thought single women were going to be targeted to do favors. But, they got nowhere with me.
At some point, some younger wives got jobs and then it was OKAY!! But, it sure wasn’t if I did it...Also, ALL the older JWs that I knew without exception had been in the workforce when they were younger and were getting their pensions!
Don’t ask where the trend came about pursuing poverty. But, the poverty being pushed wasn’t for THEM - just some other fool....A lot of the people who criticized me went to their graves after living a cushy life.
Looking back in retrospect I’m delighted I never listened to the foolish talk by older ones and even my own age peer group. These people wouldn’t be supporting me in Retirement now, that’s for sure. In fact, some of the younger couples may have gotten smart over the years and one partner got a job in an office because they needed medical benefits. Good for those who did because they were probably able to Retire!
One thing’s for certain: I’m glad I’m not there now because anybody who came up to me with an envelope asking for money for people who never wanted to work would be told off.
i look back on my life & realize all major mistakes fall at the feet of the jw leadership.
no college, no birthdays, basically no celebrations.
lived my younger years as an outcast.
GREATTEACHER:
Interesting you say your dad was an elder who ‘always’ held a full time job - and was able to retire at 58 with a pension.
I also had a full time job but treated like shit in the congregation because of it..I guess because I’m a woman, right?..(Double standard).. These covetous idiots (who were apparently bothered by the existence of an independent woman with self-respect - who minded her own business)..thought they were going to get ME to quit my full time job to pursue poverty and pioneer - and do favors for Users to boot. I refused of course and let their garbage go in one ear and out the other! I wouldn’t be Retired today if I had listened.
I’m not the envious type and never resented anybody who was affluent, rich, dripping with diamonds, comfortably well-off or whatever. If they were able to retire early - fabulous. But, what I DID and do mind are older hypocrites who already had a job/pension under their belt who attempted to interfere in my life as a young person. Luckily, I never listened!..Maybe because I wasn’t born in.
There is absolutely No forgiveness in my book for what I experienced in the JW religion and this is mostly why I got the hell out.
i look back on my life & realize all major mistakes fall at the feet of the jw leadership.
no college, no birthdays, basically no celebrations.
lived my younger years as an outcast.
MRQUIK:
I feel some of your pain and I wasn’t even a born-in.
I’m a twenty year ‘Fader’...What particularly bothers me is that there appears to be no accountability. Time just marches on, people die and the wrong done to them is forgotten, etc. I’m just grateful I followed my gut years ago..The only thing I can take comfort in is that the internet and the media exposes everything today and young JWs aren’t going to remain ignorant like in times past.
You deserve to get some happiness out of life!
a while back, i suggested that an easy, quick, quiet exit with the signing and dating of a concise and irrefutable document would spur faders and pimos to preempt the elders' interference by quitting quietly first , before a fade or a confrontation.
here is the document .
https://1drv.ms/w/s!avoitfxyvyqghq3gbmkhfyqp_jqp?e=8bttg1.
GONE FOR GOOD:
Hi. I’m sorry if I misunderstood as I thought your intent was to stop shunning by submitting this signed and dated document. I see where you are coming from in that you want to stop the disfellowshipping of voluntary leavers.
However, if you were able to do this, what would it accomplish as far as the religion is concerned? Whether DFd or voluntary leaver: they see you as Out. It’s a distinction without much of a difference. It’s sort of like saying I quit so that somebody can’t say they were fired. Once somebody submitted this written document there would be a private meeting about the person and it would be put in their file. Even though there would be no formal announcement, the gossip would start and the person would be the talk of the town. There would be gatherings where the person is the topic of conversation and the whole circuit knows.
Having no announcement made does not mean a person will retain their friends and family there. I don’t think you can win here..Even if somebody retained one friend, this person would be your friend secretly and would not broadcast it because then THEY would be judged.
Of course, none of this matters if a person wants to leave and not have anything to do with anybody there. The problem arises if somebody hopes to defeat the JW system in general to avoid being shunned or gossiped about because this would be a lost cause. I would say just Move On with your life!
the wt sponsored zoom meetings reduce individual freedom, spirituality.
the wt sponsored zoom meetings enables ego maniacs, narcissists to have their influence beamed right into your living room.
conversations that were private, personal are now broadcast, forced on all participants.
WATON:
Earlier on in 2020 when I read about Zoom meetings for JWs, I felt this was an invasion of privacy.
At least when a person attended the hall, when they went home and closed their door they were in privacy. With Zoom they can see right into your home and even make comments on things you have hanging on YOUR walls. (I would be livid if somebody did this.)..Plus, a person is supposed to be dressed up just to be in their own house!! Also, there is an assumption that because people are mostly home because of Covid that you should always be available for a Zoom meeting or conference. In other words, a person can’t hide.
I would hope that after all these months and now that we are into the New Year, that these intrusive Zoom meetings have lost their charm and more JWs are switching off the camera. That way busybodies can’t see into people’s homes or make criticisms about the decor, people’s dress or whatever!
a while back, i suggested that an easy, quick, quiet exit with the signing and dating of a concise and irrefutable document would spur faders and pimos to preempt the elders' interference by quitting quietly first , before a fade or a confrontation.
here is the document .
https://1drv.ms/w/s!avoitfxyvyqghq3gbmkhfyqp_jqp?e=8bttg1.
GONE FOR GOOD:
If the purpose of this letter is to prevent a JW from being shunned by other JWs in the congregation, I do not believe it will work - regardless of what any JW or soon to be ex-JW says about their so-called status as a believer, non-believer or whatever.
Maybe in their files it will say you stated you were no longer a JW on such and such a date (for legal purposes), but this will not prevent you from being shunned.The plain fact is that nobody can force people to talk to them or associate with them. And we all know what they are like with shunning and judgmentalism - even with people active in the religion. If somebody were to submit a letter like this - they have no idea what’s being said about them and what it will be perceived to be in the JWs who hear about it.
If I submitted such a letter and afterwards were in a store - and my former JW friends ignore me when I say hello..if I ran after them waving the letter in my hand saying in a loud voice what it states..will that compel these JWs to change their attitude towards me?? I doubt it.
i have a few jw relatives who are true believers.
by this i mean, they believe with all their heart that 1914 was the beginning of the last days, that this is the last generation, that we are in the very last of the last hour of this system of things, and that you should obey the governing body even if it does not make sense.
all of them are in their 60s and up into their 90s there is nothing you can say or show them to convince them or even cause a small doubt that the wt is not god organization.
PHIZZY:
You are probably right that there are several grades of “Depth of Delusion”. In addition to that there are levels of fakery among JWs. So, in any congregation it is impossible to know how many people there even believe it. And of those who do, how much? One thing is for certain: that number of people is surely dwindling.
All I know is that I am not among that number having gotten myself out of this trap about twenty years ago. I am so grateful I wasn’t the obedient type to accept what the GB and others said. I wouldn’t be Retired if I was a ‘true believer’ or follower. Maybe because I wasn’t born-in? Who knows.
Let’s try to have a Happy New Year and be glad we’re Out.
i could of gone to a two college program.
but gee-hovah didn't like it and my parents wanted me to sling watchtowers and awakes.
it's a good thing i'm in a profession that i can work and pay the bill's and finally left the "trooth "..
MAGNUM:
I want to wish you a Happy New Year.
I also despised talking to JWs who were dense (deliberately so in my opinion) when you tried to make an important point to them about some situation or hypocrisy related to the JWs.
Yes, it’s true that that guy didn’t like his secular job..many don’t. But, the distinction is that they are getting PAID - as opposed to JWs who are knocking themselves out for Free. Of course, some fools would say they are being ‘blessed’ 🤮. Yeah, they can keep their blessings.
I think many JWs will not be honest with you when you attempt to point out things to them. Probably if they were to do so..maybe it would call into question everything else they believe in and cognitive dissonance will kick in and it will send them into a depression..I had fruitless discussions with married JW women I was friendly with when I attempted to tell them what I encountered and how I was criticized for supporting myself - meanwhile a man was supporting them!!
People in general are sometimes unable to think about other people’s difficult situations. But, in my experience, JWs in particular are in denial about difficulties caused by following the religion’s advice and many other things!
