Posts by alanv

32

As The Governing Body Tightens its Grip...

by passwordprotected in

two and a half years ago i predicted that the governing body was going to have to tighten its grip on the rank and file witnesses.. "it's time to get in the compound, brothers and sisters...." it's classic sleight of hand.

distract your audience.

pull off the trick.

alanv

Everything you say is true, including that there have been particular times in the past when they have tightened the screws.

However they have made some things easier for witnesses. Remember it used to be five, one hour meetings a week. That has been reduced now quite a lot . Pioneers used to have to spend 150, and 100 hours a month as special and regular pioneers. District assemblies used to be four days, they are now three. Circuit Assemblies used to include Friday evening. Now they just go for two days.

Now having done all that, they have realized they have given witnesses too much wriggle room. So they are tightening their grip.

As has been said, they are now demonising the internet, ex witnesses, Facebook and other forums and blogs, repeating again that further education can seriously damage your spiritual health. And the biggest thing they are now pushing, is the unquestioning obediance to the governing body.

As we have said, these things go in cycles, and the present cycle is to scare the sheep into submission

8

please deconstruct John 3:16 - our memorial scripture

by Curtains in

our memorial talk focused on john 3.16 - the exercise aspect of exercising faith.

the speaker began by saying 'this evening whilst we are all gathered together many are exercising in the park - they are working hard - jogging and running.

shouldn't we work that hard when we are exercising our faith'.

alanv

Thanks still thinking and curtains. That is unbelievable. Especially if their own interlinear says believing

17

Rant Against the Borg HERE! NOW!

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

do you have a particular set of issues that really honk you off about the borg?.

would you like to just vent sometimes without having to engage in a drawn out discussion of the topic?.

are you reluctant to post your rant on someone else's thread for fear of hijacking it?.

alanv

And they wander why we can't just move on, after spending say 20 years of our life in it. It is not that easy.

3

Apostasy vs. Heresy

by Quendi in

hello friends,.

the july 15, 2011 issue of the watchtower and its hard line on "shunning" of the disfellowshipped has generated much discussion on this board.

i thought i would start a thread on a related issue because i would appreciate getting your thoughts on this.. we all know how liberally the wts uses its favorite curse word, apostate, to describe those who have left the organization.

alanv

In fact all JWs that came from another religion can be described as apostates. That is what it means, to leave your religion for another one.

It's good to remind JWs of that now and again.

2

How many times has the end of the world been prophesied?

by jean-luc picard in

i found this page very informative.. .

i dont know if it has already been posted.. .

http://www.religioustolerance.org/end_wrl2.htm.

alanv

Hey Jean thanks for that. I have never seen those sites before. Especially the first one is good, as it is not just having a go at the society.

It is clearly about anyone who got it wrong over the years.

20

My Encounter with Local Jehovah's Witnesses

by whereami in

the second jw woman is the typical "i'll show you", jw know it all.. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r45kymualfw&feature=player_embedded.

alanv

I actually thought the woman did well up to that point.

She showed there were indeed many gods and lords. But only one true God and one true Lord.

You probably would have done better if you had showed her the holy spirit scripture earlier.

As it is, she showed that she could answer your questions. However once JWs decide you are there to prove them wrong she and others will flee.

You were right of course you are not an apostate, but as far as they are concerned, you are tarred with the same brush for being anti 'Jehovah's organisation.'

138

July 15th WT out - Coming out Swinging at Apostates Hard

by LostGeneration in

this is one of the most aggressive watchtowers i think i have ever read.. four study articles on not "following the crowd" not following unrealities(page 13) not following false teachers, meaning apostates of course(p 15).

avoiding false teachers means "refusing to read their literature, watch tv programs that feature them, examine their web sites, or add comments to their blogs.

(para 7, pg 16).

alanv

For those of you who are interested there is a thread on the 'Jehovah's Witnesses Topix website about this.

It will be interesting to see if the JWs there pay the society any attention about not commenting on 'false teachers' blogs.

I hope they stay, it's so much fun exposing the society to them.

81

New simplified Watchtower

by alanv in

beginning with the july 15th 2011 edition of the watchtower, the society are producing a simplified version of the study copy.. this is apparantly for the many people whose first language is not english, and yet they live in a predominantly englsih speaking county.. the normal study edition will still be produced but it looks like the cong.

will be able to ask for a supply of the simplified version each month.. this simplified version can be downloaded from the watchtower site.. http://www.jw.org/index.html.

alanv

Beginning with the July 15th 2011 edition of the Watchtower, the society are producing a simplified version of the study copy.

This is apparantly for the many people whose first language is not English, and yet they live in a predominantly Englsih speaking county.

The normal study edition will still be produced but it looks like the cong. will be able to ask for a supply of the simplified version each month.

This simplified version can be downloaded from the Watchtower site.

http://www.jw.org/index.html

16

Did you fake a prayer at the dinner table?

by fade_away in

i was terrible at prayers.

it was hard for me to talk to someone i can't see or hear.

everyone else put their heads down at the dinner table so i needed to do the same or i'll look suspicious.

alanv

I could never understand what it meant to get God's blessing before we had a meal. I could understand saying thankyou, but what does ak God's blessing on a meal mean?

I was also against praying in public like at a restaurant. I felt that should be saved for when you are at home. After all that is actually what Jesus said. I seem to remember he said not to make a showy display of prayer

12

No shortage of prophecy

by jean-luc picard in

jw
friends

it is easy to understand why some could have nagging doubts when seeing world events.. "maybe it is the truth after all?".

i came accross this site http://www.prophecynewswatch.com and realise ( well i knew already) that there is no shortage of prophecy, or prophets.. in 1970, i was just a boy, i remember hearing on the radio.

"by 1978 there will be no water left that is fit enough to drink, but we shouldnt worry because by 1977 the air will no longer support human life".

alanv

It's not easy after being in such a depresing religion. The problem is that most people who are attracted by the religion are fairly vunerable. I believe it attracts lazy people who are quite happy for someone else to give them all of lifes answers.

Since leaving years ago I have realized that there has always been famine, wars, unrest etc. Not just things that happened in our generation.

Strangely enough yesterday I had a look at Wikopedia at all the wars that have gone on in past centuries. I couldn't believe it, there were so many.

And yet I used to believe it had been a preaceful earth before 1914.

Today there is no excuse for anybody not to know their history. It really is so easy with the internet now available.

So that is my advice. Check for yourself if you have any doubts. The Watchtower works for many because they are ignorant about the past and the truly terrible things that went on in past centuries.