Posts by James Free

28

Going Door to Door...

by Priest73 in

jw
friends

some thing just occurred to me.

i live in a city 500+ miles from my home town.

in a large metropolitan area.

James Free

There are literally millions who have never spoken to a witness. I asked an elder about this once. I said, how can Jehovah destroy them if they never heard the good news? he said basically that everyone at least knows someone who knows a witness and also most people know about Jehovahs Witnesses so that should be witness enough? HUH?

Actually, there are BILLIONS who have never spoken to a Witness! More than one billion in China alone!!

Witnesses always think they are bigger than they are. In fact, there are nearly 7 million. To put that into real perspective, there are more than 48 million blind people in the world! The population of the world is growing at the rate of 6% a year. So the 'growth' of the Org. does not even keep up with the number of births and deaths, let alone grow bigger.

I always used to smile every January when some idiot or another would comment on the 20 or 30% growth on one country or another. On closer examination you would see that there were only 100 in the country to begin with, so it only took 4 families to move in to record an amazing growth! Like the famous quote says, there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

71

Intro

by mavie in

jw
friends

hello from mavie.

currently happily married for a number of years to a great jw wife, i currently serve as an ms in our local kh.

my wife and i have been told we are pillars in the congregation.

James Free

From "Does God Really Care About Us":

How can it be further determined who the people are that God is using as the foundation for his new world? Well, who fulfill Jesus' words at John 13:34, 35 ? He stated: "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus' words and act on them. As God's Word instructs, they "have intense love for one another." ( 1 Peter 4:8 ) In addition, they "clothe [themselves] with love, for it is a perfect bond of union." ( Colossians 3:14 )

Ask yourself honestly, are these statements about the Org. true? Do the 'brothers' have 'intense love for one another'?

If you have not had that experience, and do not find those with whom you associate to be like that, full of loving concern for you and your wife, you may conclude it is a local problem. Surely, the Org. is loving, it's just a local problem? Unfortunately, evidence shows that there are big problems relating to the personal application of love amongst the Witnesses, in congregations throughout the world. Sure, they don't kill each other, but what about on a personal level?

It may interest you to know that cases of clinical depression are common within the organization. The WT recognizes it, and claims it is because of the pressure put on faithful ones in the 'time of the end'. However, many have found that this is not the reason. They have found it is the culture of judgement within the Org., having to live up to the expectations of others within the congregations, feeling the need to explain every missed meeting or why you are no longer pioneering, that brings on the depression.

John 13:34,35 are very important verses. They are Jesus' own words. He tells you that you don't have to get involved with doctrinal discussion, consider 'logical' explanations, prove or disprove the Trinity in order to determine who are his disciples. Rather, he says you should look for the 'love among yourselves'.

The Org. tries to explain away people's actual experience of lack of love within the congregations by mentioning disaster support etc. What they forget to mention is that after 9/11 or Katrina, there were HUNDREDS of organizations and THOUSANDS of individuals who did what they could to help. Clearly, Christ meant more than that, more than basic humanitarian aid. That's why the bible goes further, talking about 'intense love'.

And, you won't find that in your congregation. So what does that tell you?

24

Are Public Talks Really Public?

by Blueblades in

what would the watchtower say to that?

notice that no public talks are shown on their official site.

ever wonder why public talks are not really public.

James Free

Legally, a Kingdom Hall is private property. They are not 'public buildings' in the legal sense. If you are not wanted by the local elders, they are perfectly within their legal rights to ask you to leave. It's the same in a shopping mall or a theater. If the owners wants you to leave, you must, and you can be banned from returning. If you refuse, the police can remove you for trespass. That's the law, and even your local supermarket can turn you away if they want.

52

INACTIVE....FOR ALL TO SEE!!!!!!

by Gill in

my husband and myself have not been to a meeting for over 4 years now.. we learnt last night from my sister that our names are still pinned on a list of inactive publishers on the notice board at the back of the kh along with about 15 others!!!!!.

i'm totally gobsmacked having considered ourselves successful faders!!!!.

what the hell do they think they're playing at?!!

James Free

IT IS ILLEGAL.

You should contact the Bethel and tell them the name of the congregation and that if the list is not removed within 24 hours you will be taking legal action, seeking damages. You do not have to identify yourself as being anyone other than 'one of the people on the list'.

I know the Org. likes to use legal manipulation to get out of things, but this is clearly against the law. They will tell the PO to remove it, I am sure.

49

Pink slips at Bethel

by beavis in

jw
friends

does anyone still have any friends at bethel?

it seems that there is a massive layoff at bethel in all three american complexes.

the layoff is supposed to affect everyone between the ages of 35-50 or maybe 60. i feel sorry for persons who chose to stay there, they gave up going to college, possible job offers or making a decent amount of money, having children, the list can go on and on.

James Free

Not sure if anyone heard this either, but supposedly those that are staying at Bethel, have "worldly education", whether it be a degree, lawyers, doctors, nurses, you know the drill. But this goes contrary to the recent "educational"studies put out in the Watchtower. I thought wordly education was refuse and not needed. The right way, the wrong way, and then the Bethel way is what we were always told. So many contradictions, I think I need to vomit now.

so many contradictions indeed...

11

Interesting how things seem to happen sometimes......

by troubled mind in

ever since i have begun this jw fade i have this strong desire to reconnect with those i have shunned in my past.

thankfully my own brother and wife have accepted my heartfelt apologizes and are now a part of my life again.

on my husband 's side of the family he has a brother he has not seen in about 12 years.

James Free

I hope it works out for you. I have two sons who currently shun me. I don't know if they are dead or alive.

25

Sickoflies audio from JC and Appeal meetings (reliable, fast downloads)

by Jourles in

jw
friends

here are the audio files that sickoflies made.

these work on windows media player and are significantly smaller than the original .wav formats.jc meeting (7.4mb)conclusion of jc meeting (1.4mb).

part 1 of appeal hearing (3.2mb)part 2 of appeal hearing (5.8mb)conclusion of appeal hearing (1.3mb)

James Free

Many people have been asking me what's next on my list, once I recieve verification that the decision is reversed for 100%

I listened to all the recordings, original and appeal. You have not won the appeal yet, so don't make too much smoke until you do. They are considering the medical angle, to be sure.

I hope you win, but does your mother, who fought so well for you, know that you are posting the sound files etc.? I suspect she does not. She is very special, so why undermine her efforts to save you from DF'ing?

I hate the Org., but your case is special, from the medical angle and from having such a supportive mother.

26

Do you still refer to God as Jehovah?

by nomoreTRUTHplz in

i am curious if anyone still calls their god jehovah.

when i think of jehovah all i can think of is what they taught me.

it was true at first i felt a much more personal and stronger relationship with god when giving him a name, however certain things they taught forced me to see him as a cold and unloving god.

James Free

No - it's not God's name. Even the WT admits that, but say they use it because it's the most well known way of saying it.

But for me, after so many years in the Org., the name represents the Witnesses version of God, vindictive and slow, allowing millions to suffer because of some celestial court case that could and should have been settled thousands of years ago.

98

UPDATE

by RichieRich in

jw
friends

yesterday afternoon, i recieved 2 text messages from an anonymous source that read :.

(person that turned you in) i turned you into your brothers for your own good.

gal ?:?

James Free

I think there is one lesson, however, for others similarly situated as yourself, and that is that they should be better prepared to face the consequences or for exiting the Organization if that is what they desire. I am a bit shocked that you seem to have put no thought into savings or planning for your future.

LOL - JW's are not encouraged to plan for the future. They are not even encouraged to get an education!

Yes, there are consequences - ones that WT students do not have properly explained to them - once you are in there is no way out without being shunned, insulted, lied about, gossipped about by self-righteous bigots who remain in the Org.

As for Richie, who was in the Org. because his parent brought him up in it,(like most who are getting baptized these days), escape brings pain and family disruption. This is deliberate, of course, to dissuade people from leaving.

Is it loving? Is it what Jesus would agree with? Is this an example of 'love amongst themselves', an identifying mark of true Christians? NO WAY.

Also, any Witnesses 'lurking as spies' on this site are also living double lives, the thing they accuse others of. They are hypocrites.

46

Will the elders listen to me even though i'm disfellowshiped

by Lehaa in

he's refusing to pay maintenance.

hanging aroung with disfellowshiped people and just being a plain arse hole.

after enduring months of shit from him i'vce decided to call the elders in his congregation.

James Free

Most have the decency to stand down in cases like this

NO WAY! Whilst some may 'stand down', most hang on to their positions as if their life depended on it. Many who 'stand down' were actually pushed, but resign to save face.