vinman

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Posts by vinman

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  35

  Why did you choose Jehovahs Witnesses?

  by vinman in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm wondering why ones on this forum initially became jw's.

  if you were born in, why did you make it "your own"?

  if you became one later, what was your draw and driving force?

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  vinman

  I'm wondering why ones on this forum initially became JW's. If you were born in, why did you make it "your own"? If you became one later, what was your draw and driving force? I'm not really looking for comments from ones who were born in and never believed it, or ones who were never baptized. It simply is a question of curiosity and may have a common thread.
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  4

  I`m so excited

  by Sabin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello my new found friends, i wanted to share my excitement with you all.

  i got my new book today, hurray!

  combating cult mind control, (steven hassan) it`s the new 25th addition & i`ve been waiting weeks for it to arrive.

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  vinman

  Ok all you atheists, you heard it. There is your missing link. Just go to the kingdom hall. Proof indeed!
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  30

  Where you are in your life now.....What would you have preferred .... To be left in ignorance ? ...Or to know the truth about the truth

  by smiddy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think possibly their are a few valid reasons for either options to this question ,depending on a number of factors .. such as how old you might be, how long you have devoted your life to the "truth" as you believed it .

  ?....how it may affect your mental/physical health and well being.?.

  how it will affect your financial position in your life ,?

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  vinman

  I'm 45 and I was a lifer. While it felt tragic to wake up to TTATT less than a year ago, my body physically and mentally is at rest. I am a realist. If the organization is false, I want to know, no matter what the outcome is. It is WAY too much work to simply retain an artificial world. I feel fortunate that I have a decent job. I feel fortunate that I still maintain my lifestyle minus the Watchtower. The Watchtower said we would experience "the blackness of darkness". I realize that is only true if we make it happen. I try to look at my experience in a positive light. What would my life of been had I not been a witness? I look at my extended family, most likely, not a good one. Perhaps in jail. Maybe on drugs. Health issues due to smoking. I feel I did learn that life is important and not necessarily "stuff". I learned how to express myself in public. It was easier raising my children. Do I give Watchtower credit necessarily? Not really. Many Mormons come out feeling similarly. Same with Amish. It reminds me of all the crappy companies I worked for when I was an apprentice. Some taught me speed. Some taught me detail. Others taught me what work is. Even though I hated those companies, I would not be the skilled and wanted worker I am today had I not had that experience. One former elder put it nicely. He said "no one is in the right boat". We are all the same. We want to be happy. We all want to find a purpose in life, regardless of the path we take.
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  180

  What is the most bizarre counsel you received as a JW, from a JW?

  by Funchback in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there were many addressed to me.

  for example, i once had a sister tell me i was gambling because i liked playing skill crane (the machine where you have to try to pick up prizes like stuffed animals) at the arcade.

  i then fired back a her: "you saw the r-rated movie 'backdraft.

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  vinman

  1) Playing chess is a war game

  2) Stop reading old society publications. They are not good for you.

  3) " We are glad that you are not spreading around that we worshipped Jesus till 1954. Afterall, the fact that no one else knows, is what makes the slave discreet. Can you imagine what would happen if everyone knew that?"
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  10

  Blindingly Obvious - But Not to J.W.'s

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if a fellow j.w.

  asked a publisher/pioneer/missionary j.w., "how are your hours this month", they will gladly reveal how many hours they've racked up "for jehovah.".

  now ask them, "how much money have you contributed to kingdom interests this month", they'd look at you as if you were beelzebub himself, and tell you that that was "personal.

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  vinman

  Sorry about the image. It was the July 1943 Watchtower page 205.
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  10

  Blindingly Obvious - But Not to J.W.'s

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if a fellow j.w.

  asked a publisher/pioneer/missionary j.w., "how are your hours this month", they will gladly reveal how many hours they've racked up "for jehovah.".

  now ask them, "how much money have you contributed to kingdom interests this month", they'd look at you as if you were beelzebub himself, and tell you that that was "personal.

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  vinman

  It seems so strange to think about this. To have a person keep nagging you for your time just screams cult. This crap began I believe in 1943. Here is what the cult leader was screaming:
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  27

  For me the worst thing is not having a helper anymore

  by John Aquila in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  one of the things that gave me confidence in life was that i believed i had the almighty creator/god watching over me, directing me, guiding my every step, protecting me from harm, and answering my prayers.

  i now know that is not the case anymore.

  i finally stopped praying.

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  vinman

  We see what we want to see. Their are two sides to EVERY story.
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  11

  what do you really believe

  by Sabin in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  what do you really believe the percentage is for jw who are truly ignorant of what is going on behind closed doors of the w.t.

  as opposed to those who actually know something is wrong & yet go along with it for whatever reason?

  i have been asked for coffee by what i can only describe as one of the sweetest persons i have ever known & i cant even begin to conceive that she knows what is happening with the child abuse cases but then how do i know?

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  vinman

  Ding said: "the vast majority of JWs believe that the WTS is the cleanest organization on earth"

  I agree with that for the most part, especially in developing countries. It is a difficult question for a number of reasons. Each congregation has what is known as the "core". In a congregation of 100 that may only be 30 or so. These are the ones who support service regardless of weather, are ALWAYS at meetings. ALWAYS have several comments at meetings. These are the true blue. However, the majority of this "core", even if you tell them you can prove that the organization is lying from their own publications, will refuse to even listen out of fear all their hopes will be shattered. I know this because that is precisely what happened to me. Many who stopped by at the early stage of my leaving, said " we probably shouldn't know", after I told them that what I read was tragic and it takes a strong heart to handle. These refuse to see, because they know they will leave eventually due to doubt. Out of that "core" of say 30, you may have just one who is a realist and does not want to rest his hopes on dreams. He believes it is God's organization in a special way today (not like the corrupt Israelites), meaning it truly is refined, pure, and that is why people are "coming to the mountain of Jehovah" in these "last days". This you can say is the TRUE BELIEVER in every way. This type is actually rare. They are the "Goliaths" of the organization. Ironically, it is this type we want to target, because once they are no longer ignorant, they will fall in an instant, due to overwhelming disappointment. That was me. This type is also so consumed with "responsibilities" that they haven't had time to see or even think about these things. They are truly blind. So in other words, very few want to leave, except young people who never viewed it as the truth to begin with.
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  26

  What will 1914 (DROPPED) mean for you (EX-JW)

  by John Aquila in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  let's pretend this might happen.

  im not asking what it will mean for the jdubs or for the organization, but what will it mean for you---- if one day you wake up and the watchtower drops the 1914 doctrine.. (you know at some point they have to, but probably not our lifetime).

  if you are disfellowshipped or disassociated and have been shunned by your parents, by your children, by you spouse or ex-husband/wife, for years or even less, will you call your relatives and ask/tell them;.

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  vinman

  If any one in the organization was like I was when they preached that the generation would not pass away, they will welcome the change. Around 1990, I wrote to the Watchtower asking if that was going to be a doctrine that changes or is it like the hell fire doctrine. My reason for asking is because 1) I did not want to get my hopes up 2) I was tired of everyone serving Jehovah because of a date 3) I did not want organization to look foolish if it did pass. An elder came to me and said that they have received a reply. Obviously, it wasn't a direct answer. But he kept saying "We serve Jehovah Forever". I would say, "well that is true but... Then he would repeat that expression. Regardless of how we may want things to go down, the sincere witness does not serve with dates in mind. Instead of viewing GB as liars, many feel that this simply means that they are "keeping on the watch". Overall, most witnesses feel that the machine is greater than it's individual parts. In other words, the organization is God's regardless of GB misinterpreting scripture. The sincere ones are only concerned about serving Jehovah forever.
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  20

  Faulty Reasoning to Promote God's "Name"

  by Dissonant15 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as i am newly awoken, i am daily having epiphanies & revelations now.

  i've been casually wondering to myself since the propagandist broadcast about the name "jehovah" if it would be more proper to call him "yahweh" to myself.

  well tonight the answer suddenly came to me: it doesn't matter.

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  vinman

  It seems very odd for me to actually admit that God's name is not the most important thing. When you are in, it seemed SO clear that it was. Now I examine it, and it is obvious that they throw that name around like a lucky charm. One of the newest songs is "Jehovah is his name". That song is so empty. The Bible speaks of "a good name is better than fine oil." Charles Russell used the name, but it was more incidental. Their is no need to keep throwing a spotlight on it any more than Jesus name. In fact, if you think about it, if suddenly the organization started focusing on Jesus name and created a song called "Jesus is his name", many would wonder why. I mean, everyone knows Jesus name. Well, everyone knows Jehovah's name.