Posts by jwfacts

88

Damned if they do, Damned if they don't

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

i see an attitude among some people here which is not very helpful.

i can understand it, but still, it's not constructive or helpful.. if you condemn the society for not changing, but then you also condemn them when they do change in a positive way, what incentive or motive does that provide for the people at the society to ever want to change for the better?.

also, what does that attitude look like to current witnesses who are having doubts?.

jwfacts

There is nothing Watchtower can change to justify the countless lives it has destroyed over the last 100 years. Even a positive change will not be able to redeem the religion and make it an organisation worthy of anyone belonging to. For instance, whilst it would be ideal if they removed the practice of shunning, they still:

teach harmful unrealistic doomsday doctrine
rob followers of their time and money
lead to death refusing blood transfusions
are against higher education and encourage ignorance through restricted research

If they changed all the bad, they would not be the same religion. There is no point congratulating small changes as a step in the right direction, as this is the sort of distraction used to justify the wrong and pretend things are improving when in reality they are not.

The concentration needs to be that it is a harmful religion that is beyond repair, and its followers are victims that need assistance to leave.

25

Jehovah's Witnesses---From Walking Tall To Living In Shame

by minimus in

jw
friends

i remember the days when jws were proud of their religion, they walked tall and carried their big stick, their bibles, proudly.

now, it's embarrassing for a witness to admit their faith to others.

the average witness can't explain their beliefs, as they have changed so many times.

jwfacts

I'm too young to remember the early 70's, but that must have been an exciting time to be a JW. The 1980's were the glory days for me. The end was so certain, the generation almost up. The downward spiral started with the change of the generation teaching in 1995, and they just have not been able to reignite the "sheep" since then.

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

jwfacts

I think it would be a good idea to watch it together, so as to gauge her reaction. It is a horrible broadcast and should disturb her. If it does not then you will know not to watch further ones for now. If it does upset her, then it will help in the process of leaving.

37

Geoffrey Jackson Bio!

by elkatire1980 in

in the watchtower august 15 in the topic: "let the many islands rejoice" appears the following paragraph: .

then, however, it came time for a serious decision.

would i accept a scholarship to go to university?

jwfacts

Under the Australian system at that time, If he received a "school certificate" and left aged 15 it was at the end of year 10. To go to university you need to finish year 12 and get a "higher school certificate" in order to matriculate. It seems odd that he would have been offered a university scholarship with only a school certificate.

I loaded up year 11 with extra subjects and received my higher school certificate without going to year 12, but was the youngest person when I entered university. I still needed to get the higher school certificate though.

Who knows, maybe they were scouting for talented youth, and offered him a potential scholarship, but he would still have been required to finish his HSC before getting into university.

62

Hello, just introducing myself

by Miss Behaving in

jw
friends

i've just signed up two days ago, but i've been lurking for about a year and a half.

here's my story if you're interested:.

my parents converted when they were in their first semester of college.

jwfacts

Welcome, your story really moved me.

The freedom to think and believe whatever I wish is very precious to me now.

I have been out for 9 years now, and I still cherish that freedom to think, to research, and to let facts speak for themselves, rather than force them into a belief system where they do not fit.

30

"Evidence" of a "smokelike pall"... This was the last straw for me back in 2008. Fade began with this:

by DarioKehl in

from that nutty red book of insanity, the grand climax at hand book, chapter 22, paragraphs 7 & 8. .

i had my doubts since childhood.

i went along with it to please people.

jwfacts

The Isaiah book was the last for me and going to the book study. I could not bear sitting through such repetitive, baseless garbage.

The final straw at the book study was after a news report about JWs and pedophilia in Australia. The study conductor said it is all lies made up against Jehovah's people.

I thought how can I sit here listening to this brain dead fantasy book whilst real things like child abuse get swept under the carpet.

9

Kind of looking for a quick update

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i have been out of the religion since 1996. i used to come to former witness boards a lot in the distant past, and then i lost interest in the subject.

however, with a couple relatives still in and passing the 1914 one hundred year mark, i find myself looking to see what a modern jehovah's witness is believing.

could i get kind of an update on some things.

jwfacts

It is much the same at the core, but with plenty of minor adjustments. The Governing Body are pushing more than ever for total obedience.

I think the Watchtower's latest Generation teaching best highlights the plight of the religion. Since the generation is almost all dead, they now explain it as an overlapping generation. It is such a shallow concept, a grasping at straws, yet the older JWs lap it up, showing just how desperate they are for the end to come. I personally feel the younger ones are no longer as involved, and go along for the ride for family and friends.

18

Trapped.

by trapped28 in

jw
friends

as i write this,im aware of my heart hammering in my chest.ok where shall i start,ill try to keep this as short as possible.ive never been religious before in my life,the occasional wedding or funeral was the only time ive been in a church or viewed a bibles cover.in 2013 my step-dad was diagnosed with cancer and had to go for an operation to remove the tumor.i became close to his nephew and we communicated a lot and had a few strong feelings for each other,but neither of us told anyone,it was just harmless flirting and a few hugs that lasted a bit longer than normal.two days after my dads operation,he died through complications,and my path of self destruct was set.my boss had also been sexually harassing me at work and i was unfairly dismissed and was told by my landlord that i was to pay the rent or be evicted.then out of the blue my cousin tells me he was an unbaptised publisher (he was baptised at the aug convention last year)and to start having faith in god,that it would all work out.so i went to a kh and took up a study.that was a year ago and they now feel im ready to become a publisher.the thing is..i was made homless and am living with a jw of 50 years,a real spiritual person.these last two months ive been researching and i simply like you all disagree with so much of it.for the past twi weeks ive avoided meetings because of work,or pretended im at work and stayed away from the home i have with this witness.i cant afford to leave but at same time im being pushed to go into ministry and meetings.guys what the hell am i going to do?im so trapped scared and i cant believe i wanted to get baptised!

!my son lives with his dad and there trying to get a hold on him when he visits me!

!

jwfacts

Welcome. You are aware enough to have worked out what is happening, so you will get through this. At the moment you just need to keep calm and trust in yourself.

There is no rush. Get on your feet financially and then you will have more options for how to move on. You are not baptised, which makes things easier. You may need to play the game a bit, so as not to lose where you live, but don't feel guilty, as it terrible that you should be in fear of being kicked out for not going along 100% with what the Watchtower teaches.

Careful with your child. It does not matter what they say to him, provided that you are able to later discuss what he is being told, and why it is not correct. However, they do a lot of love bombing, so try not to let him get involved socially, as he may learn to love that side and want to remain involved.

36

How do stop myself getting too Bitter?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

you know, i always maintained that during this fading process, and while learning ttatt, i would not let myself get "bitter twisted and angry".... but, in all honesty, if i examine myself, i have become quite bitter toward the org, toward the false friends and the gb.. i have become angry as i see the extent of damage i feel being raised in "the truth" has done.... i feel hurt towards the lost opportunities in life etc.... how do i not allow myself to get too swallowed up by such bitterness?.

i have always been a very happy, positive, selfless person.

i can put people at ease, i am someone people feel comfortable chatting to.

jwfacts

Go and make a new and better life for yourself. There is no benefit to you or those trapped in cults if you remain bitter. When you have successfully moved on you will then be able to positively help others that are ready to be helped.

6

Does the WT CD download on a Apple Computer?

by Quarterback in

jw
friends

sorry, this question may have been asked, already.

jwfacts

I use Crossover, which is based on Wine. It works well but you need to pay about $40 for the license.