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i have to say that generally the criticism on this board toward jws is over the top.. i personally have huge problems with the 'truth' right now in my life but i notice the ones who have literally nothing good to say about anything.. there are a lot of good witnesses and a lot of good doctrine and a lot of good motives among jws.. criticism fine, but jesus commended when due.. .
When I knew I had no choice but to DA from the organization for its cult-control tactics, the Elders phoned me (I would not have them in my house) and said I was surely to die without no hope of a resurrection. So, basically, they condemned me to death.
The Nazis condemned people to death, too, on the basis of what some people believed. There are other similarities, too. Would you like me to spell them out for you?
Grace to you.
we have have all been so affected by the news from the southern us, and even up here in the middle of the canadian prairie i wish i could open my home to so many who need a home right now; however, all i can do (and it's better than nothing) is to whip out my credit card and make a donation to the red cross.. i picked up my jw husband from the kh today (i am disassociated), and he said, "... they had a report that most of the brothers and sisters in new orleans happened to be at an assembly in houston when the tragedy struck ~ so, not to worry, because not too many were affected.
" of course, it didn't cross his mind to help non-jw folks, and, quite obviously, the elders from the platform would never suggest this because it has been made clear how the rank and file should view charity and humanitarian efforts.. didn't jesus say something about love being the distinguishable mark of a christian?
uhmmmm.... and they're shunning us [those who don't agree with them]?.
We have have all been so affected by the news from the southern US, and even up here in the middle of the Canadian prairie I wish I could open my home to so many who need a home right now; however, all I can do (and it's better than nothing) is to whip out my credit card and make a donation to the Red Cross.
I picked up my JW husband from the KH today (I am disassociated), and he said, "... they had a report that most of the brothers and sisters in New Orleans happened to be at an assembly in Houston when the tragedy struck ~ so, not to worry, because not too many were affected." Of course, it didn't cross his mind to help non-JW folks, and, quite obviously, the elders from the platform would never suggest this because it has been made clear how the rank and file should view charity and humanitarian efforts.
Didn't Jesus say something about love being the distinguishable mark of a Christian? Uhmmmm.... and they're shunning us [those who don't agree with them]?
Grace
there were 5 of them, one brother and 4 sisters, at least one of them a pioneer, engaging in the field service opposite where i was cleaning windows the other day.. .
it was comical but sad to see the lengths they were going to to avoid knocking at the doors of the houses.. .
there was a row of about 8 houses, all attached, so very little distance between each door.
I've had an overwhelming thought today about the nastiness of shunning: I am thinking of one "sister" who I am surprised that she is being so terribly mean and serious when I see her at the grocery store: could it be that she is mad that I got out? She became baptized as an adult when she and her husband figured the Witnesses were the best way of educating their children about the bible. All four children are grown now and, just maybe, she regrets the whole thing but is in it too deep? How can parents say to their kids, "By the way, we were wrong in how we raised you all these years"?
But this could apply to others, too. When they get ugly upon seeing me, perhaps they are just jeolous? I, too, am thrilled when, on Saturday mornings, I can stay in my jammies until whatever time I wish!
Grace
just a little bit about myself before you answer:
i was raised a jehovah's witness by my mother, who got "the truth" by studying with inlaws who were already members.
my father had been disfellewshipped for joining the army a few years before i was born, and has nevered returned to the organization.
Hi, 24K. I am married to a pretty devout JW although I disassociated myself after 9/11. You will find in my post history some pretty frustrated times when I came to this board for understanding and acceptance - and of course I received it, because who else understands?
My JW husband is also a drinker likely because he's so mixed up inside. Indeed, he is an extreme alcoholic; however, there must be more for me IN my marriage than without it, so therefore take it just one day at a time and stay. We're best when we do other things together which have nothing to do with faith organizations: like volunteer in the community together, etc. I am encouraging him to do more and more of the things he loves because it takes him away from his own WT-programmed destructive thoughts (and the drinking).
It can be done - but only if both partners value the marriage enough to work at it daily. Take one day at a time. I know how frustrating it is to be with him and a Witness will talk to him and absolutely shun and ignore me who is standing beside him. This is just ignorance and anyone who does this is a heartless, empty monster.
You may email me at [email protected] Best of luck!
Grace
you know you are a redneck in a cult if you:
are cut off from your family or friends because they are considered a danger to your cult-like beliefs.
are taught everything through repetition,repetition,repetition.. are taught to fear for your life (everlasting) if you leave it.. question its teachings you are doomed.. everything outside of its organization is a tool of satan.
...everything, all world events, entertainment, politics, are seen through only the eyes of the cult which controls. Does anyone notice how impossible it is to talk about ordinary everyday things with Witnesses? They are programmed to respond using their rhetoric -- their pre-programmed answers.
Takes on a whole new meaning of the term "artificial intelligence", doesn't it?
Grace to you.
do you know (or have you ever known) of apparently loyal or even fanatical jws that lead a double life?
they may appear godly and obedient but in secret they bend the rules eg by fornication, cheating etc
I know of some young MS gentlemen who, for kicks on a Friday night, would drop large plastic bottles of Pepsi off the twentieth floor balcony of an apartment building - some witness there, eh?
I also always wondered about the same MS gentlemen and their choice of movies. I have seen more vile movies (language, gore, sex) at the home of young MS men than I knew existed. But their conduct at the Kingdom Hall? A different story altogether!
I never got how most Witnesses don't understand that God exists behind closed doors, too. I guess they believe God lives just in the Elders and at the Kingdom Hall.
Grace to you.
my mom (die hard witness), is not doing well, she called me for the first time in over 3 years on sunday, she probaly has a year or less left in her, we had a good chat, she cried alot and said how sorry she was, and that there might be something to the things i have said.
(wow i almost fell over).
and then today my grandma died at age 100 (witness for 75 years +).
This is a very difficult situation. If it were me, I would go the funeral for this principle:
"If equal loving cannot be, then let the more loving one be me." W.H. Auden
I truly believe the only way we can survive amidst the WT hatred is to NOT be like them! They would stay away. They would not show true Christian love. You, on the other hand, are free to love. So love. What you get in return, likely nothing at all, is not the issue.
But I know this is easier said than done. I believe you might regret more not going as the years go by.
Grace to you.
i am really,really curious as to how other people back while in the org viewed the gb.
because my oldest brother (older than me by 14 years!
) was first at the watchtower farms and then brooklyn bethel and my uncle is a member of the gb, my mother tended to flaunt these facts and look for every opportunity to go to either place with her bible studies (these terms are so weird to use after all these years lol).
Ruby, your courage is incredible. I bet your story is, too, and I would love to hear it some time.
I have been to Brooklyn Bethel a number of times, and to the Stanley Theatre on a January 1st Assembly day once. If this truly is a worldwide work and "God is not impartial," then why are the GB mostly American (are they all American?) white men likely all from the New York area?
I am not Catholic by any stretch of the imagination; however, it greatly disturbed me how JWs criticize the Catholic faith for their view of the Pope. They dismiss how the Pope could be a representative of God. But, in their own nephotistic way, they say God communicates directly to the GB who, in turn, gives us the proper instruction through the anonymously-written literature.
Divine Authority went out with the Middle Ages. It took the Witnesses to bring it back.
Grace
it is clear that watchtower directives do not show compassion or aid to those in need, with the exception if those in need are fellow witnesses.
for the tsumani on dec. 26, the rank and file were told if they wished to donate to help those in need, they must give to the worldwide work designation at the kh, then the brothers would use their discretion as how to disseminate the funds.
in a telephone conversation, it was clear that "no kingdom halls were destroyed" by the tsumani, therefore, it was not urgent in the watchtower's minds.. check this site for yourself:.
It is clear that Watchtower directives do NOT show compassion or aid to those in need, with the exception if those in need are fellow Witnesses. For the Tsumani on Dec. 26, the rank and file were told if they wished to donate to help those in need, they must give to the WORLDWIDE WORK designation at the KH, then the brothers would use their discretion as how to disseminate the funds. In a telephone conversation, it was clear that "No Kingdom Halls were destroyed" by the Tsumani, therefore, it was not urgent in the Watchtower's minds.
Check this site for yourself:
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/tsunami_relief.htm
And they follow the love Jesus showed? Uhmmmm...
Grace to you.
july 1970 km page 3 (under announcements) - "a new circuit assembly program is scheduled to begin in september.
we believe you will find it most informative and upbuilding.
the public talk will be "who will conquer the world in the 1970's?".
Just one example, from WT 1966 Oct 15, pp. 628 -629:
"President Knorr, "a new book in English, entitled 'Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God,' has been published." At all assembly points where it was released, the book was received enthusiastically. Crowds gathered around stands and soon supplies of the book were depleted. Immediately its contents were examined. It did not take the brothers very long to find the chart beginning on page 31, showing that 6,000 years of man's existence end in 1975. Discussion of 1975 overshadowed about everything else. "The new book compels us to realize that Armageddon is, in fact, very close indeed," said a conventioner. Surely it was one of the outstanding blessings to be carried home!"
There are other examples, too, where 1975 IS mentioned as THE date.
Grace
