I remember my first book study. The people had the study in a sunroom in the summer. They were reading the Greatest Man book. I attended that book study for a few years, but when the person I studied with became an Elder and got his own book study I followed him.
The funny thing is that if it were not for the book study arrangement, I possibly might not have been a JW. After about a year of attendance at the Kingdom Hall I was sort of tired of going. My parents had not permitted me to make a commitment to the group, or participate in 1 on 1 study. It was at the books study that a Ministerial Servant (working his way up to Elder) approached me and asked if I wanted to 'study' again. I told him my parents position on the matter but he didn't seem to be phased by it. He continued to ask me to study again and finally every evening after the book study it would be 1 on 1 in the 'knowledge' book. It was mainly because of that person and those studies after the book study that made me begin to believe that the JWs were the truth.
drew sagan
JoinedPosts by drew sagan
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Add something to the FLEA MARKET JW Memory collectibles
by journey-on inif the wts and jws were to dissolve, i'm sure many of us would have mixed emotions....elation that a destructive.
cult has finally lost its hold....joy at seeing family members embracing us as people once again...etc.. having been raised in it, i have so many little memories that have come to be like little collectibles on a shelf.. i'll give you one.
if anybody else remember these, i'll be surprised.
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drew sagan
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The "Bait and Switch" tactics of the Watchtower Society
by drew sagan ini haven't been around jwd much these past few months, mainly because i've been busy with many other different things.
that is all the bait.
most people know that the jehovah's witnesses are not there "just to talk about the bible".
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drew sagan
I don't agree that they ease you into the faithful slave crap.
In EVERY meeting; during the prayer, the talks (even public), they always talk about the "slave" and how they are God's chosen ones etc.I can attest to the fact that to a potential member, these types of things go right over your head. I had gone to the Kingdom Hall for over two years and had no idea what the faithful slave was until I was taught 1 on 1 by my 'bible study' conductor. Even then I had a hard time grasping the idea. There was only one paragraph or two that discussed it in the 'Knowledge' book, and now that has been completely removed from their 'Bible Teach' book, which is their #1 publication to study with potential members.
Potential members are given an information overload. They are provided with books, magazines, meetings, tacts and brochures that are teaching hundreds of different things. If a new member buys into the idea heavily that the Witnesses believe 'nothing but the Bible' they will begin to take the advice of active members that things they don't understand will be "comprehended in time".
It is a matter of routine practice for Witnesses to tell potential members that they should join the group even if there are things they don't understand. I remember telling people I wanted to wait and they simply urged me to put my cares aside.
Those teachings may appear to be right there for the potential member to examine, but their lack of emphasis during the 1 on 1 study especially hinders the chance that people will question it. So much information goes over your head when you are new to the Kingdom Hall. It is all so new and there is no way to grasp much of it. Not to mention that JWs have their own 'language' per se, with special words and phrases that sound pretty simple but hold different meanings within the social experience of their group. -
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Why and when I lost my faith
by LunaFing inmy father started studying after a while.
he studied off and on for the next 8 years.
i was abused during this time as well.
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drew sagan
Welcome to the board, and thank you for sharing your story. All I can say is that I am glad you have been able to get away from the cycle of abuse. Good for you.
I have seen stories like yours many times. The social culture of Jehovah's Witnesses is so favorable to new converts that the average member is typically not able to comprehend that bad people have come into their religion. They reason that because the person 'passed the test' by getting baptized and receiving privileges God must be blessing them. Such naive thinking allows for abusive people to stay free from the responsibility of their actions sometimes for years or even decades.
Watchtower policy is also very poor when it comes to dealing with women who have husbands that are abuse either to them or their children. Women are often told to put up with the abusive behavior and hope for better days. Even if this poor advice is not given directly, it is certainly suggested in their printed materials.
Again I am glad that you were able to break free from that world. Thank you for sharing your story. -
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The "Bait and Switch" tactics of the Watchtower Society
by drew sagan ini haven't been around jwd much these past few months, mainly because i've been busy with many other different things.
that is all the bait.
most people know that the jehovah's witnesses are not there "just to talk about the bible".
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drew sagan
Now I understand were you are coming from slimboyfat. You make some very good points.
As time has progressed their 'grand narrative' has lost its cohesiveness, at least as compared with the Franz.
Of course the old Franz model still is present in the Revelation book, it's just not that precise. They still believe divine powers chose them during certain years and such. I think the fragmentation of the narrative has actually perpetuated much of what I talked about in my original post. By breaking up different doctrines that tell how they are part of the divine cosmic story, the seek to make it a side point to potential members. Over the years they have relegated this narrative to the 'members only' sections of their belief system.
At this point in time most JWs know there is a divine story following their religion, but are not very prepared to defend or explain it. The leadership tells them that other doctrinal issues are more important to preach and so it is never really discussed in public. When books like Revelation, Its Grand Climax are read the JWs are impressed at how scriptures are interpreted, but have no way of piecing it altogether. I remember being in book studies where people would simply remark that such information was 'beyond them'. It's readily accepted but since it is not comprehend it is quickly forgotten.
The way I see it, the Watchtowers non stop insistence that it is part of a divine narrative coupled with their complete failure to define it and teach it to their members in an easy to understand way is the biggest problem facing their religion. How can you continue to claim your religion is at the center of the universe without having cohesive arguments that take you there? -
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The "Bait and Switch" tactics of the Watchtower Society
by drew sagan ini haven't been around jwd much these past few months, mainly because i've been busy with many other different things.
that is all the bait.
most people know that the jehovah's witnesses are not there "just to talk about the bible".
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drew sagan
The group process at the meetings makes the person less likely to disagree openly and publicly challenge what is being asserted.
And that is exactly why they use such an atmosphere to teach the 'faithful slave' doctrine rather than the 1 on 1.
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Funny Picture of Bill Clinton taken by yours truly!!!
by drew sagan inwell it was on the eve of the pa election and guess who decided to show up for a suprise campaign speech just blocks away from my parents house.
none other than former president bill clinton.
he was giving a speech on the front porch of a local residents home.
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drew sagan
Well it was on the eve of the PA election and guess who decided to show up for a suprise campaign speech just blocks away from my parents house. None other than former President Bill Clinton.
He was giving a speech on the front porch of a local residents home.
Here is the funny part. When you look at the picture it appears that the old lady behind him on the porch is sleeping! I took a number of photos and she appears quite grogy in many of them. Seems that having the former president on your front porch isn't enough to keep you awake.
I have posted it up on Digg.com, please take a moment to 'digg' it on up if you can.
Woman Sleeping During Bill Clinton Speech -
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They found me
by Stefanie inafter six years of hiding from them.. the same elder and wife have found me.
they have taken to writing to me, sending me stuff in the mail.
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drew sagan
It really depends upon how you want to deal with JWs in the future. Do you have family that are still in? Friends you talk with? If not just send a photocopy of the United Nations scandal papers to their house.
If you plan on interacting with JW family, then putting up with that kind of stuff is the price you pay for a successful fade. -
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Well I'm Out!!!!
by ImFreeatlast init took a long time, but i can finally say i'm out and i took my family with me.. this is my first post but i have been reading here for a while.
i was brought up a witness, in a family that was very 'strong' (or so everyone thought).
i didnt have a relationship with my perents at all other than the 'family study'.
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drew sagan
Good for you. I managed to help get my wife see the "truth about the truth" as well. It can be quite hard on the nerves. Glad it went good for you.
Our biggest problem was a family member who took our fade way to personal and decided that they would try to put pressure on us (mainly my wife) to come back. It backfired and she was disfellowshipped. Of the three family members she has in the religion 2 will speak with her (parents) but her sister will not.
You do the best you can. Glad things went well for you. Welcome to the board. -
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What do you thing the next big announcement will be about?
by 5go inremoving a another meeting.. doing away with door to door and concentrating on business and phone witnessing ( my guess ).
new light.
new something else..
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drew sagan
I really think we will be seeing 2 day conventions. Nobody ever thought they would be getting rid of the Book Study but now it has been hacked down to just another small boring part at the kingdom hall.
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The "Bait and Switch" tactics of the Watchtower Society
by drew sagan ini haven't been around jwd much these past few months, mainly because i've been busy with many other different things.
that is all the bait.
most people know that the jehovah's witnesses are not there "just to talk about the bible".
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drew sagan
Great points WTWizard
I never have thought about how the articles in Awake! make it seem like there is actually diversity and activity within the Witness community.
I remember quite well all the promises made to me by the Elder that I studied with. He told me about all the many opportunities for young people in the religion. Of course it was an idealized picture of what the JWs wished they had and not what they really have. Once I became a member I hit the ground running, only to find out that there was no opportunities for me. This led me to be very discouraged. By my third year of being a Witness I had given up on advancement and fell into a stagnant routine of personal blame and guilt. It was my fault that things weren't working out, not the Watchtowers.