Posts by jwfacts

25

Can you be disfellowshiped for reading other religious materials?

by paradisebeauty in

i am having a conversation with a jw and they say you can not be disfellowshiped for this.

is this true?

i thought you can be disfellowshiped for this.

jwfacts

I had an elder Friend who had a Koran, just to find faults in it and argue that with the Muslims.
That same elder Harassed me for reading "Crisis of Conscience".

There is great fear of apostate information. A person is unlikely to become a Muslim or Mormon after reading their holy books, but there is a far higher likelihood of them leaving the religion after reading apostate information. It is all about damage control.

I wonder how Maclean would square having other religions' publications sent to you with the strong admonition of not accepting other religions' literature at the door. Sometimes people will say 'I'll take your Watchtower if you will take my literature,' and we were always told to never take it.

There is quite a lot of variance on this topic. Research everything, be like the Boreans, make sure of all things, but don't spend too much time looking into information not actually provided by Watchtower - a typical form of information control.

One of the reasons that we were not to take literature from a householder was so as not to give the impression that their information was of the same value.

25

Can you be disfellowshiped for reading other religious materials?

by paradisebeauty in

i am having a conversation with a jw and they say you can not be disfellowshiped for this.

is this true?

i thought you can be disfellowshiped for this.

jwfacts

Reading religious information is not a disfellowshipping offence. Bethel and the branches have religious texts in the library that can be read by the bethelites.

I started researching various religious groups whilst at Bethel, and had some free publications posted to me. I asked Don Maclean, one of the branch committee if that was ok, and he said it was fine. He did wonder why I would want to, when the Watchtower and Mankind's Search for God book provided all the information on other religions that I would need. He also warned against spending excessive time look at information not by the Watchtower.

Being disfellowshipped would result not from reading other information, but starting to raise questions about the accuracy of Watchtower information, which is a natural result of research.

13

A wave of momentum!

by stuckinarut2 in

it certainly has to be one of the most exciting times to live in as an awake ex witness!.

the wave of momentum we are part of as thousands awaken from the hold of the society is a joy to be a part of.

the internet helps us to see that we are not alone.

jwfacts

I wonder how hard it must have been in the 1970's when people were leaving with little support or knowledge of what others were thinking and feeling. The internet is such a comfort in comparison for people leaving now.

25

"Cultivate Self-Control"

by mrssauk in

this weeks watchtower study (september 2017) about self-control states: "clearly, people who lack self-control are causing problems for themselves and for others.

and the problem of lacking self-control is worsening.

self-discipline was studied in the 1940’s, but recent studies have shown that people have become much worse at exercising self-discipline.

jwfacts

recent studies have shown that people have become much worse at exercising self-discipline.

It is amazing that they feel no need to reference these studies, or describe at all anything about what the research was. The writers assume the readers will display total acceptance. Since JW's accept what is written without question, why do they even say there were any studies, and not just dogmatically state that self-discipline has become worse the deeper we enter the last days?

63

October 1, 2017 TO ALL BOE IN NIGERIA Re: Local Needs For the Week of October 16-22

by wifibandit in

october 1, 2017 to all bodies of elders in nigeria re: local needs for the week of october 16-22.

jwfacts

Whatever happened to the old adage by Russell back in the 1800's that " we will never beg for donations " ?

Flipper, that went by the wayside a couple of years ago. The begging has been fairly constant on jw tv and in the watchtower, along with ATMs at conventions and online payment forms.

I doubt any of the new recruits have any idea what Russell said, or for that matter even care who Russell was.

I've only been gone 10 years and barely recognize the religion. I actually want to go back to a meeting to see what it is like these days.

49

BEAT that Child!

by Farkel in

jw
friends

this is sort of a continuation of threads on dubs and how they are conditioned to discipline their children.

someone questioned whether the society actually encouraged dubs to whup their children.

i only had enough time to dig up a few salient quotes from the wt magazine.

jwfacts

Jackson's blatant dishonesty at the ARC regarding corporeal punishment prompted the following article. It was a tough question, due to laws in Australia limiting violence to children.

https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/child-discipline-corporal-punishment.php

I remember the Hobart Central congregation Watchtower study conductor stepping off the stage and spanking his teenage child in front of everyone. And he was one of the nicer Elders.

63

October 1, 2017 TO ALL BOE IN NIGERIA Re: Local Needs For the Week of October 16-22

by wifibandit in

october 1, 2017 to all bodies of elders in nigeria re: local needs for the week of october 16-22.

jwfacts

It is not a tithe, as they stress the amount is voluntary. This is about regularity, and well supported by the Scripture. It is not really that new, we have had this 30 years ago when building a Kingdom Hall.

Agreed that they are shameless in the constant discussion of money over the last couple of years. It seems they are intent on copying all aspects of the wealthy growth religions.

27

How to delete my account here?

by video in

how to delete my account here?.

jwfacts

Too late, you are forever tarnished with the Apostate brush. This is your first step down the rabbit hole.

130

2017 Annual Meeting

by Jules Saturn in

this just in from the 2017 annual meeting:.

1. watchtowers and awakes won't be released regularly, at least three watchtower and awakes per year.

6 magazines a year.. 2. a new book is being released: remain in god's love, more of an update like how they did for the what does the bible really teach book.

jwfacts

Study Watchtowers will now be simplified or rather be in a simple language

How much more simple can they get? The only thing stopping them becoming comic books is that the ink or pictures costs too much.

Cut backs are not the way to grow a religion. They need to offer more entertainment; become ever more like TV evangelists and Pentecostals.

37

Grocery Store conversation with an elder

by problemaddict 2 in

i'm inactive here to the local jw's as i have faded.

i've been slandered and all that, shunned by some but not all, but the elders basically leave me alone.

i still run into to people all over though.

jwfacts

Brilliant come back.

When he tells other people about bumping into you and your son, he will probably leave out the last part of your exchange together.