Posts by drew sagan

part of me still believes in some of the teachings, i just don't agree with the organization, its difficult to find amiddle ground, i just wondered what some of you have decided on, what your beleif system is now?

drew sagan

After a few months of fighting with myself I finally came to a conclusion. I believe that the Bible does contain Gods message for mankind. In reviewing the teachings and history of Jesus I'm left to feel that DOCTRINE is not the main issue of a Christians life.

Jesus never told people after he healed them physically that now they needed to spend 3 months going over publications to understand EVERYTHING! Instead he put more emphasis on FAITH.

There are so many Christian religions with good and bad in them. This tells me that what Jesus had in mind for his Church is bigger than any man made organization. Instead, it is the common bond of those who truely put faith and believe in him and his message, living their lives in such a way that proves it has affected their heart. This goes beyond any organizational boundry.

Simply put faith in Jesus and you will be saved. Continue to live your life in a way that proves you believe it. Continue to study the Bible and learn about God, but don't judge others because of their own opinions on matters that arn't spoken of in scripture.

AND BY ALL MEANS DON'T say that what you believe is the truth because God appointed you as his sole channel of guidance to mankind.

5

More Good News On The Family Front

by Bstndance in

jw
friends

a couple of weeks ago i posted something saying how it was shocking that my mom was missing meetings to bring my little brother to school competitions, etc etc.... so last night i called my mom to see how buying her first house was going.

we talked and talked about everything.

i told her i went and saw brokeback mountain and she asked me about it, and sounded slightly interested.

drew sagan

I don't know about that gay cowboy movie, but it's good news to hear when someone is fading. Remember though that sometime people fade away without ever letting go of the Watchtower. Their lives sometime become full of guilt for not keeping up with the "spiritual food". It's the mindset that must be faded away. Keep working on her, showing the benefits of a free mind to believe what you personally feel is right.

29

What's your expierence at a DUB wedding/reception?

by stillAwitness in

jw
friends

i'm invited to wedding/reception tomorrow (on christmas-naturally) only reason i'm going is because its my one chance to get new shoes, dress, the whole bit at my mother's expense (since she seems to think i will find my future middle-aged elder husband at one of these functions)

i definetly plan to buy one of those mini-bottles of seagrams and get buzzed of course.

who wants to listen to 10 different speeches from family and friends about "how wonderful this spiritual union is of so and so) yawn!

drew sagan

Boaring and drepressing. I say depressing because you see these people act like animals when the food comes out. Made me sick.

7

Who won't be posting over the Christmas break?

by jwfacts in

jw
friends

well this is my last post for 10 whole days.

a record as from the time of my first post i have not been able to stop coming here every day.

i am off with the family camping, 4wdriving, staying in a resort in the tropics and my wife is forbidding access to the computer.. i would like to wish everyone a happy new year and hope to be back in touch soon.. anyone else going to be away from the site for the break?

drew sagan

I'll be here. No fun Christmas vacation this year.

21

Thursday night meeting woes(self sufficiency and blood)

by FaithfulDoubter in

as yours trully is still attending meeting, i thought i might vent a little on what going on.

i got there late, so i missed the first part.

last part: the blood issue.

drew sagan

This meeting went pretty normal for me. They had me give the prayer! The brother that gave the last part hates giving prayer and allways asks me to do it. Made a special effort NOT to thank God for the Society. Afterwards a brother told me I should be up there more often. He said this twice and walked away. What does that mean? Oh Well, gotta love it. It's great, they don't have a clue about me.

22

How many ex JWs return to the Borg?

by greendawn in

someone told me there are statistics showing that ultimately one third of jws leaving will go back to the borg.

this is not the general impression one gets from this forum.

so what's really happening?

drew sagan

There are so many people that leave for bad reasons. There was a guy in one of my old book stuides. He grew up a Witness but eventually left. He was a drunk and more than likely used drugs. One night at the book study he made this comment about how during that point of his the the "truth haunted him" and that it followed him everywhere he went. This is a feeling amongst many who leave for reasons dealing with simply poor choices in their life. They leave for bad reasons, get hurt by going overboard, and then return to Watchtower because they never really stopped believing it was the truth. I know a bunch of people like this, thank God i'm not one of them.

3

Bible Study Statistics

by TheListener in

jw
friends

i've always thought that a meaningful statistic, that isn't specifically reported by the society is the percentage of bible studies that get baptized.

there is a steady downward trend of those studying getting baptized.. here is the u.s. and world statistics since 1990 for the number studying vs. the number baptized:.

(honestly i can't figure out how to format this stuff very well).

drew sagan

Let me first say that my comment is not ment to be a cold view of those who have problems with their thinking ability (mental problems). We should feel compassion for such people and allways be willing to help them.

With that said, it seemed to me that 85-90% of the Bible studies people had in the field where with people who would never comprehend what was being discussed. Of the many Bible studies I went along with people on, only two or three where reasonable people. All of the others (and there where alot) where very distressed people.

I know a pioneer who makes these kinds of calls his speciality. He has various Bible studies, but all of these individuals have mental problems. He even jokes about the funny things they tell him.

Is this the best JW's can do? I actually think this kind of behavior is kind of insulting to these people they are studying with. These people need real help, not the "Require" brochure.

These stats only prove to me that more and more reasonable people are not interested in this religion.

13

Need help with this..

by JackC in

jw
friends

hey everyone.

im 35, have been a witness for 30, baptized at 19, married at 22 and now have 3 kids.

my wife and i are leaving and are considering all the options.

drew sagan

I agree that you need to evaluate the situation and decide what is best for your family.

Once I am able to help my family to see the need in using their own minds as regards their religious beliefs, I probablly will go for D/A, and then send letters to all friends saying they are more than welcome to come talk with me anytime and that I still view them as my friend. The big exciting withdraw from the Society is appealing, but my fear is that honest people in the hall would see such wild actions as "thats what happens to apostates" and then rely even more on the Watchtower. Leaving quietly, and proving to be a humble and honest person long after you have left gives me the peace of mind that I didn't help keeping anybody there by my own crazy actions.

By the way, I'll take the bound volumes. I got baptised late 99 and have only read some of that older stuff on CD. The pictures would be great! [email protected]