Posts by DanTheMan

20

I Want My Money Back!

by Beck_Melbourne in

jw
friends

do you remember the donation box on a stand at the back of the kingdom hall, or sitting on the coffee table in the centre of the room at the book study?

since i was a little kid i remember my grandmother giving me a few coins to put in the box for the world wide preaching work fund...and then as i grew older...i was given a note or two...this time for a neighbouring kingdom hall fund.

as time went by...an adult in my own right...i would discreetly put in a few notes for the kingdom hall utilities or to help with the costs of hiring a stadium for the district conventions etc...and sometimes for kingdom hall quick build projects.. i feel so ripped off when i reflect on the amount of money the wt has inherited from deceased estates...and the amount of money and real estate they have hoarded over the years.

DanTheMan

When I was a newbie, I was so impressed with the no collections, no tithing.

I know now that they gather like vultures when they hear of an old-timer who's about to kick the bucket. Sickening!

5

Identifying the Abusive System

by DanTheMan in

jw
friends

this is taken from chapter 5 of the book the subtle power of spiritual abuse :.

"the first characteristic of an abusive religious system is what we call power-posturing.

power-posturing simply means that leaders spend a lot of time focused on their own authority and reminding others of it, as well.

DanTheMan

This is taken from Chapter 5 of the Book The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse :

"The first characteristic of an abusive religious system is what we call power-posturing. Power-posturing simply means that leaders spend a lot of time focused on their own authority and reminding others of it, as well. This is necessary because their spiritual authority isn't real - based on godly character - it is postured.

...The fact that they are eager to place people under them - under their word, under their "authority" - is one easy-to-spot clue that they are operating in their own authority."

Sounds like the faithless and indiscreet slave, eh?

"Now, in view of present labor troubles and threatened anarchy, our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They say that they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain..." Zion's Watchtower , July 15, 1894

8

An email to a new person in "the truth"

by biblexaminer in

i wanted to share a few points from an email that i recently sent to a very sincere person.

i think this has value for the dub neophytes in the crowd who lurk here.. to those newbies who, despite having found out plenty about the watchtower, still continue your study and attendance at meetings, i leave you these thoughts.. i understand your thinking, more than you know.

when you take a look at the various churches around, there's not much to offer.

DanTheMan

Excellent post.

The WT emphasizes its "reasonableness", but for most people who join the cult, it is an emotional decision.

My advice to anyone studying is, TAKE YOUR TIME, don't let them rush you into anything.

Any ex-JW will tell you that there is absolutely no way you can know what you are getting into based on a 6 month study and attendance at a few meetings. I sure didn't. That is why the apostate label is so unfair. I was so eager to get baptized, but there were so many things that I wasn't aware of or didn't understand completely.

7

my friend

by DanTheMan in

the sunday after i wrote my da letter, i visited a local lutheran church.

i enjoyed the service, it was very beautiful, and i have been back several times.. after the service, a woman came up and started talking to me.

we ended up chatting for about 1 1/2 hours.

DanTheMan

The Sunday after I wrote my DA letter, I visited a local Lutheran church. I enjoyed the service, it was very beautiful, and I have been back several times.

After the service, a woman came up and started talking to me. We ended up chatting for about 1 1/2 hours. I told her how I had left the WT and all. She was very sympathetic, as she is an ex-fundy, and a lesbian Christian, so she's taken some pretty hard knocks in life herself. We ended up spending the rest of the day together. She now has become my best friend. She is exactly what I needed when I was leaving the WT. Thank you God, you are good.

53

Thoughts about Depression and Anxiety

by flower in

this is mostly directed to others that were born/raised in the cult.

more specifically those raised in the cult who also suffered from severe depression and/or social anxiety disorder or any other mental illness (other than the normal probs that come with being in the borg).

sometimes i wonder if its just me that doesnt feel like a person now.

DanTheMan

I know I was miserable in the org but I was safe.

You expressed yourself beautifully. This is exactly what I am going through right now, dealing with the fact that my WT security blanket is gone. I am praying that you can find a few good friends, or just one, to help you through this.

7

Blood Issue - Help!

by ChristianObserver in

jw
friends

the following posting has appeared on the topic suggestions folder of the christianity board of aol.. any comments?

and who is j richard brown?

any idea where the poster found this - i'm assuming from the net somewhere?.

DanTheMan

Jehovah's Witnesses primarily refuse blood for religious rather than medical reasons.

This really isn't correct, in my observation. Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood for the following reasons:

1. Because it is part of the JW package. They hope it never becomes an issue for them.
2. They fear disfellowshipping, which in turn leads to death at Armageddon.
3. They don't fully understand the WT's position on blood. If they saw how inconsistent it is, they would be shocked. But JW's are too busy to question anything or to research a matter in-depth. For a great expose of the inconsistencies previously mentioned:

http://www.xjw.com/blood.html

5

Who has the latest WT CD-Rom?

by DanTheMan in

i don't, i only have the 1995. i am needing help in doing some research.

if someone would be so kind as to help me, i would be very grateful.. whoever has the cd, could they do a search of all publications and tell me how many hits they get on the following scriptures (not including the bible itself, just the mags, books, etc.).

psalm 37:29. john 3:16. john 17:3.

DanTheMan

The more I think about this, the more I am incensed by this.

If this is not concrete proof that in JW-ism, the org is above all else, I don't know what is.

They are the 'man of lawlessness' that puts themselves in the place of God.

25

Cult?

by bchapp in

jw
friends

jw's claim they are not a cult because their kindom hall meetings are open to the public.

what are your thoughts on this?.

~seeking answers

DanTheMan

Jerome,

Regarding #3, check out this thread I started:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=27011&site=3

It is scary how much emphasis they put on their silly "faithful slave" doctrine.

5

Who has the latest WT CD-Rom?

by DanTheMan in

i don't, i only have the 1995. i am needing help in doing some research.

if someone would be so kind as to help me, i would be very grateful.. whoever has the cd, could they do a search of all publications and tell me how many hits they get on the following scriptures (not including the bible itself, just the mags, books, etc.).

psalm 37:29. john 3:16. john 17:3.

DanTheMan

Thanks so much Neonmadman.

The results are frightening. That the WT puts more emphasis on their authority Scripture than on John 3:16 and John 14:6 combined!!!!!

This religious arrogance is disgusting and absolutely indefensible.

May God have mercy on them.

5

Who has the latest WT CD-Rom?

by DanTheMan in

i don't, i only have the 1995. i am needing help in doing some research.

if someone would be so kind as to help me, i would be very grateful.. whoever has the cd, could they do a search of all publications and tell me how many hits they get on the following scriptures (not including the bible itself, just the mags, books, etc.).

psalm 37:29. john 3:16. john 17:3.

DanTheMan

I don't, I only have the 1995. I am needing help in doing some research. If someone would be so kind as to help me, I would be very grateful.

Whoever has the CD, could they do a search of all publications and tell me how many hits they get on the following scriptures (not including the Bible itself, just the mags, books, etc.)

Psalm 37:29
John 3:16
John 17:3
1 Cor 15:33
Heb 10:24
Revelation 21:4
Matthew 24:45
John 14:6
Also, any other oft-repeated WT scriptures that I may have left out here.

I am especially interested in comparing the number of hits on John 3:16, John 14:6, and Matthew 24:45. I don't have the latest CD, so I don't know, but I am sure that Matthew 24:45 will have far more hits, as the WT is an authority cult if ever there was. They have put themselves far above Jesus.