Posts by JWdaughter

20

Hello Everyone

by Mozzie in

jw
friends

hoping this is the right section..... my story so far,,,.

hello everyone, i have been reading a lot on what most jws would say apostate websites, but i have been asking myself, how much of this s true and considering a lot of these are run by ex jw elders, bethalites and one who was with the gb at one stage, overseers and the like.

i was an unbaptized publisher many years ago but never got to the point of baptism as i fell into sin, that pretty much ended my attending meetings again.

JWdaughter

I am not an atheist. I read Bart Ehrman and Reza Aslan and Christian writers and Jewish and Muslim thinkers. I don't think it is disloyal to God to 1. read them or 2. Call them BS when that's what it is. I can agree and disagree with them on many different points based on the information and their reasoning about it-and I do!
The Watchtower organization, Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to READ anything that opposes THE ORGANIZATION.(notice, I didn't say Jehovah God, or God,most are not leaving the borg ranting about God-their gripe is with the org) That can be directly or otherwise-just not agreeing with them is opposing them.

Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to QUESTION (openly or to any JW but an elder which will land them in a JC if they persist) ANY of the WT teachings. Now, maybe you can question the validity of the Bible to them and they will just try to "reason" with you, but question the WT LEADERSHIP??? THAT IS APOSTACY!!! You can call Ehrman or Aslan or Osteen or billy graham sloppy scholars TO THEIR FACE, or that they make ridiculous arguments or are just plain wrong or say how you disagree with their conclusions and NONE of them are going to have you exiled from their company/friends/family.None are going to declare you a mentally diseased person with a poor heart condition. Every last one of them would enjoy having the discussion over a cup of coffee and a peace of pie, so long as you are not coming off as a threat to them physically. The WT and JWs are a cult that despises and actually forbids independent thinking.They won't sit down at a table with anyone who disagrees with them.

You have a strong family and are with a strong partner. Twenty years is for all intents and purposes a marriage as we think of it and how your family functions-without, presumably, stereotypical roles being required. Adam and Eve didn't have a ceremony, they just landed in Eden together for all we know. But they stayed, they built a (disfunctional, but STILL) family of their own. That is what your partnership is-you built a family together and THAT is what its about, so don't let anyone put you down because of a label or piece of paper.
DO put your legal affairs in order so that your partner and children are protected. You and your partner should do that.
I'd keep asking the pioneer hard questions until they chicken out and end the study. Don't go to the meetings. They don't have "the truth". It is a manipulative, high control religion and you have let it make you feel bad about yourself for TOO long.

31

Why JW's Rave So Much About Conventions

by freemindfade in

"it was so beautiful, we are truly blessed!

now, they also plaster these affirmations all over social media, "this is the best life", “so blessed”, “best convention”.. why the gushing?

have you ever heard anyone say, “mmmm it was ok”?

JWdaughter

It's all they GOT, that's why they are raving. It is the only time JWs get new clothes. The only vacation(such as it is) they might get at all. It is the closest thing to a "holiday" gathering that JWs have. The memorial is just another boring meeting. An assembly might mean going out with friends to eat, playing in a hotel pool, getting drunk when mom and dad are out with their old buddies. getting drunk with the old buddies. Playing pranks, meeting a new boy/girl and there MIGHT be something revolutionary, apocalyptic even! Bunker videos--that will have 'em talking for MONTHS.

13

How baptism rate at conventions relates to yearbook growth rate (Discussion)

by bohm in

jw
friends

we had a number of posters report on the baptism rate at conventions which is usually less than 1% and rates lower than 0.5% is by no means uncommon.

despite this there is still a positive growth rate in the us (0.71% according to the yearbook) and i wonder how these numbers relate.

i wonder if anyone can help me out if these assumptions are true:.

JWdaughter

They are playing with the congregations, with the consolidation and re-arranging that's going on. All the shuffling about probably has even long time elders getting a distorted view of the growth or lack thereof when they are making smaller language groups(so very few could make up a congregation in a given area) and then larger consolidated congregations to save money and sell off buildings.

Why are people even showing up for the Memorial? I went to one years after I left and while the speaker was excellent, his presentation of the talk just reminded me of unusual it was. He spoke of things that sounded Christian instead of JW-in spite of the stupid JW stuff that couldn't be left out-like reminders not to eat at the lords evening meal and all. But seriously, the memorial is so weird. I can't imagine why any of it convinces a non born in to join or an apostate or df'd one to return.

I have seen more than one hall used for 5-6 congregations (drive by's). My aunts hall had 6 congs that have since been consolidated to 3 (they had shrunk) and now that hall is being made redundant and they are moving to a couple of other halls. I think they may be playing with the numbers more than they will admit because I don't see how they are growing AT ALL.

44

Expanding number of DC/RC's

by DwainBowman in

according to my elder in law, by next year the number of dc/rc's will increase by 143. the size of conventions will get smaller.

the elder in law says the goal is to make them all have around 2,000 or so at each.

they are going to make more manuals detailing each job and it's responsibilities.

JWdaughter

I live in the greater Houston area and we have dozens of very large venues nearby-but we got invited to the loyalty convention at the assembly hall about 20 miles from us in a upscale community. Can you imagine all of Houston (local pop over 6 million) JWs meeting 2000 or so at a time ? That assembly hall will be BUSY.

31

Serena

by Darryl in

jw
friends

i was watching serena win yet another wimbledon title recently (congrats to her) but it got me to thinking about her for a moment.

she identifies herself as a jw and if you look up any info on her it will tell you that her religion is jw so that means that she herself and the rest of the world identifies her as a jw.. for those of us who are df'd as well as those of you who are about to be df'd what is the reason?

and what is the main difference between a df and a fade away?

JWdaughter

Barrold, you can be DA'd if you are not baptised. I was never baptised and I was DA'd.

49

Contempt of court, case in San Diego county really disgusts me!

by Crazyguy in

this case has to be talked about by ever awake jw every apostate everyone.

this case because they refuse to hand over documents the court already knows they have because they handed them over before but heavily redacted, is the icing on the cake!

this case shows thier evil plain and simple.

JWdaughter

They will just try to settle for more than the original judgement. 13.5 milion is clearly not going to hurt them one bit. Neither will 20 million if it makes this nightmare go away. The original plaintiff would have to be a better person than I am to turn that down.

49

Contempt of court, case in San Diego county really disgusts me!

by Crazyguy in

this case has to be talked about by ever awake jw every apostate everyone.

this case because they refuse to hand over documents the court already knows they have because they handed them over before but heavily redacted, is the icing on the cake!

this case shows thier evil plain and simple.

JWdaughter

Wow, they can redact everything and still not have privacy rights respected (according to WTB&TS) and yet they can DA or DF a person (WITH A NAME) in a PUBLIC MEETING HALL (at least one) and then give a "special needs talk" about whatever that person was accused of and STILL try to pretend that there is any privacy, confidentiality or privilege in their communications with JWs?

Yeah, right. They could (and I hear do, mostly these days) leave off the special needs talk and the DA and DF actions still marginalizes individuals (AGAIN< NAMED INDIVIDUALS) and subjects them to abuse and neglect by those who should care the most for them. Family and friends. But hey, they are SUPER worried that unnamed individuals will have their privacy rights removed if these documents are presented.

Seriously, they are a joke.

47

here i am

by notalone in

i was a 4th gen born in.my adult children were the 5th.

my mother was one of the newly'anointed' we have all left.

i have been lurking since october.i was really too terrified someone would find out who i was and what would happen.well we are out now so here is a part of my story.

JWdaughter

I am so proud of your daughter for speaking up! I am so proud of you for sticking up for her. I am so proud of your entire family for standing behind each other and doing the right thing even though it is darn hard to do so.

If you ever want to adopt a 50 year old, I need a family like that!

Edited to say: WELCOME!!!!

39

$40,000.00 USD, and counting.....

by DATA-DOG in

i'm not sure if anyone is keeping track, but as of today, the wtbts has spent $40,000.00 usd to avoid releasing sensitive documents to the superior authorities.

that's $40,000.00 usd of "dedicated funds.

are you a born-in jw?

JWdaughter

It occurs to me that this opens up negotiations for settlement a nd puts the WaY is a vulnerable position. They love settlements. B I hope the lawyer in the plaintiffs case holds out for lots of money and no silencing clause.the borg just wants this to go away.

60

New Here ... Just woke up

by Sevan in

jw
friends

hey all, .

this is my first post.

i haven't been out in service or to a meeting in over a month.. i realize now that i've been having serious questions for years and many articles and talks have greatly disturbed me over the years.

JWdaughter

Welcome. I'm glad you seem to be at peace with your husband about this. I hope your plan works!