for years, i refused to think of the witnesses as a "cult".
too harsh and restrictive of a word for me......but there is no denying that we were all in a mind controlling cult.
are you embarrassed or uncomfortable knowing that you belonged to a cult just like the moonies and the branch davidians are/werw a cult?
I feel angry....but I don't know how or what to be angry at.
Myself for stay in so long
Parents for raising me in it
The "sister" that first knocked at my parents house
Elders for being zombies following orders w/out thought
list goes on.............
in north carolina, a pastor told the congregation of about 100 that if they voted for john kerry, they would not be welcomed in his church.
things this week came to a head when he took action to kick out 9 who didn't support the president.
others, in protest for the action also have left the church.
What I find funny about this whole story....Kerry spent half his campaign with Al Sharpton touring southern Baptists churches trying to appeal to minority groups, the only media coverage was praise for reaching out to others. Problem is, both sides try to sway churches and churches like most businesses will go to the person where they have the most to gain.
i like guns.
i like the feel of them.
i like the fine engineering too.
Gun laws are pretty interesting and the effect on society. Here in the states, areas with the strictest gun laws have the highest crime rate. Even in other countries such as Canada and Australia, there have been fast increases in crimes since the crack down on guns. And in England, since the gun laws of the mid-90's, crime has sky rocketed, even to the point that per-capita, more violent crimes, burglaries and home invasions then the US. But back to topic, the 2 nd amendment assures us the right to bear arms, but the argument that hand guns weren't invented yet is crazy. They had cannons, does that mean it's legal to position cannons around our respected homes? A little common sense is in order here.
did finding out that the 607 date was wrong matter to any of you?
and doesn't that in fact make all the other dates fall apart?
or did you rationalize and say what's 20 years or so?
I can honestly say, 607 was the biggie for me. Everything, the whole basis of JW's is 1914. No 607 then no 1914 everything else just falls apart. The UN deal just sealed it for me.
that obituary post reminded me of those awful weekday mornings knocking on entire neighborhoods of not-at-homes.
i remember one particular neighborhood in florida where it was one big trailer park of "snowbirds" who would move back up north for the summer.
however, being the thorough jws that we were, we would knock on every single door, leaving magazines, etc, even if the awnings were down and it was obvious no one would be livng there for months.
I loved not-at-homes!!! Go there, knock, no answer, leave 2 mag's and count the placements. I must have counded hundreds like this, and yes it was legal in the WT's eyes. Just another example of inflated numbers.
my book came in last week and i picked it up on thursday.i was nowhere near as nervous as when i purchased crisis of conscience.so far i've read the first 2 chapters and i will definitely learn a lot from this book,it's a real gem of spiritual truths and christian freedom.. while i was in the christian bookstore picking up my book i took the time to order 2 more books.. -the gentile times reconsidered.
-combatting cult mind control.
i'm looking forward to reading those also.hopefully i can subtely share some of this material with my family members who are still deeply brainwashed by the wts.. goldminer
GOLDMINER.....I just got finished reading it. I was hooked from the first few chapters on the court cases. Very good book, really lays out the doctrinal problems with JW beliefs. Enjoy your read!!!
"but now we are in the end of this gospel age, and the kingdom is being established or set up.
our lord, the appointed king, is now present, since october 1874, a.d., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear; and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from april 1878 a.d." (studies in the scriptures, vol.
4, page 621)
Thanks Alan!!. I've been trying to research all I can. Makes my exit a bit easier.
blessings defined:
auspiciousness, favor, smiles of fortune, good fortune, blessings, godsend, crowning mercy, goodness and mercy, good.
no doubt we've heard statements like,
Qcmbr, JW's believe that Paul and the others did indeed heal. But, only because they did not have the whole Bible to aid them in the "ministry." We in modern times do, so we do not need to "perform signs" as proof as to the source of the message.
So instead we scare them into a "end of the world" scenario using a series of false dates. IMHO
"but now we are in the end of this gospel age, and the kingdom is being established or set up.
our lord, the appointed king, is now present, since october 1874, a.d., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear; and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from april 1878 a.d." (studies in the scriptures, vol.
4, page 621)
"But now we are in the end of this Gospel age, and the Kingdom is being established or set up. Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear; and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878 A.D." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, page 621)
I have just learned about this 1874 date. Pretty interesting, Russell believed Jesus came in 1874 had was going to complete a 40 year "harvest" and will end with the great war in 1914. When that didn't happen, the change to 1914 as the start of the last days, which would run until 1925:
"Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.
"The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." The Watchtower 9/1/22, page 262.
"Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge." The Watchtower, page 106 4/1/23.
I find it truly amazing how these dates and references are buried by the "organization." I wonder how the Rank & File would react to learn of these dates, would there be a mass exodus, or would they just ignore it as "old light"?
at some point in the 1980's, a good number of younger men were appointed to the position of servants and elders in congregations, at least here in the midwestern usa.
before the 1980's, the required age for elders seemed to be 30, and for ministerial servants 20 (except in rare cases).
perhaps due to a lack of men who were "reaching out", the organization needed to "reach down" and pick out younger men to populate their hierarchy.
Those of you/us still going, take a good look around the hall. The pool of "young talent" is almost dried up. I've seen now, any young "brother" with "zeal" is very quickly moved up the food chain. Last year I heard some in my family talking about that. In fact they said "the end" has to be near due to the lack of quality youth in the congregations.
