Posts by IW

Some people stay because they honestly believe it's the true religion. There are many people whose lives before becoming a Witness were not all that pretty but when they became Witnesses their lives improved, in their view anyway. That is not a small thing for many people.

I don't think the Witness religion is the paradise they like to advertise themselves as but neither do I think its the total dump many on this board like to characterize it as either.

Just my opinion. And no, I'm no Watchtower plant. LOL

IW

156

Thirdwitness -- An Agent of the Governing Body?

by AlanF in

thirdwitness -- an agent of the governing body?

this evening i was talking with an old friend about recent postings on this forum by jw defenders.

we concluded that something unusual is going on.

IW

Alan wrote:

Any such defense would have to be covert, in the sense that whatever GB member or WTS official leading the charge, or giving the green light, would have to keep all connections to those in the field secret from other JWs. This would be necessary because the Society has directly instructed JWs to avoid the Internet at all costs. It is also a WTS tradition that only those directly appointed by it are allowed to publish public defenses.
Given the above, I have a strong suspicion that thirdwitness and his collaborators are either Bethelites, or JWs with extremely close ties to Bethel, or both, all of whom have been given the green light by Watchtower officials to get on the Internet and do battle with JW critics.

You're losing it Alan.

These guys are among the quasi JW/exjw born again/e-watchman/richie/kline/etc., Christians posting on xjw boards you apparently don't frequent. Third Witness has entertained the folks at aimoo hourglass for some time now.

Paranoia does not become you! Whether you agree with them or not hardly matters since they are convinced they're right just as much as you are convinced you are. What I don't understand is why you let them get under your skin? What makes them that important anyway?

Whoever your friend is he/she has spent way too much time hating the Watchtower to the point that it's pickeled their brain. There is another life out there a good life. Fighting the watchtower's windmill is fun and at times even important but it's not a living, if you know what I mean.

Take care of yourself, Alan.

IW

22

NEW Interview with Bill Bowen of Silentlambs on recent events

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

the last interview i did with bill bowen was in april of 2003, and new things have happened regarding the pedophile issues in the watchtower's corrupt system led by ted jaracz and his corporate cronies.

some things are the same (mainly wt policies), and others have changed.

it took 10 years to develop some legal precendents to be laid down in order for lawsuits against the catholic priest pedophiles to move ahead, and some important legal precedents have now been established in court so as to pave the road for effective lawsuits against the watchtower leaders for their complicity in allowing pedophiles to remain in the congregations in good standing, some even as elders.

IW

Blondie,

Excellent advice. Changing state law is the first step to helping abused children.

28

Are Jehovah's Witnesses communists?

by ozziepost in

that was the title of a tract i recall distributing in the 1950s.

it responded to the demonising of so many people in the mccarthy period.

the answer seemed obvious at the time - no, dubs are anything but communists.

IW

Are Witnesses communists? Are exJWs prone to paranoia?

37

How many people did Satan kill in the Bible?

by Stan Conroy in

for some reason i've been wondering about this lately.

i've read the bible end to end many years ago, and i can't recall how many people satan personally struck down.

i'm not talking about twisted reasonings and long term implications.

IW

Martin Luther called Satan, 'God's ape".

If that's true then Luther committed a sin since not even Michael the Archangel would bring a word of "railing judgement" against Satan but rather said "let the Lord rebuke you."

80

The real impact of "apostate" sites

by dozy in

in a recent discussion with a couple of district overseers and other heavies , the topic of the internet and apostate sites came up.

i asked what impact these were making , numerically , among jws.

the prevailing view was that , numerically , there was negligible impact.

IW

The internet has more of an effect on those JWs questioning their faith than those who are happy and sure of their JW beliefs.

I know many JWs who would not leave simply because of the internet or even Ray Franz' books, myself included. The Society's propensity to shoot themselves in the foot is more damaging to them than the apostate internet sites, imo.

22

NEW Interview with Bill Bowen of Silentlambs on recent events

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

the last interview i did with bill bowen was in april of 2003, and new things have happened regarding the pedophile issues in the watchtower's corrupt system led by ted jaracz and his corporate cronies.

some things are the same (mainly wt policies), and others have changed.

it took 10 years to develop some legal precendents to be laid down in order for lawsuits against the catholic priest pedophiles to move ahead, and some important legal precedents have now been established in court so as to pave the road for effective lawsuits against the watchtower leaders for their complicity in allowing pedophiles to remain in the congregations in good standing, some even as elders.

IW

Thanks Dogpatch,

I appreciate Bill's work very much. I believe though more must be done to change state laws here in the U.S. with regard to clergy not being required to report child abuse. Isn't that what the Watchtower hides behind in those states that do not require reporting? Or am I all wrong on that?

IW

87

Gregg Stafford returning to the Big O

by Amazing in

jw
friends

greg stafford posted on july 1, 2006 that he is returning to the organization.

you can read his article at: http://www.elihubooks.com/greg-stafford/another.htm.

his rationale and logic are most interesting.

IW

Hi Farkel,

Hey, IW,
Let me rephrase what I said: you are a very INTENSE and a very NYC INTENSE person (NYC INTENSE is more intense than any other intense in the known universe).
Where I come from that intensity is considered to be kinda crazy. Where you live, that may be considered normal. Sorry for not clarifying my former statements.
Farkel

No offense taken Farkel. I never take offense, friend, though my "intense" responses may appear that way.

I truly hope you are well and happy and I hope your old and rude buddy, AlanF is also.

I'll soon be running away from exJWs and so if I don't get to speak to you again please know that I love and respect you and wish only the best for you and yours.

Keep well!

Island Woman

P.S. See you in the next life.

87

Gregg Stafford returning to the Big O

by Amazing in

jw
friends

greg stafford posted on july 1, 2006 that he is returning to the organization.

you can read his article at: http://www.elihubooks.com/greg-stafford/another.htm.

his rationale and logic are most interesting.

IW

Farkel,

I've actually talked with IW some years ago. She is as crazy live on the phone as I am on the board!

Is that so?!

Getting back on topic, I don't think anyone deserves the treatment Stafford got on this thread just because he's going back to the Witnesses. Why not just let the guy do what many exJWs claim the Watchtower does not allow: give him the freedom and dignity of his own conscience. We have it why not let him have it too. Or do exJWs have all the answers?

As always just my "crazy" opinion.

Good to "see" you again, Farkel. Hope all is well with you.

IW