Doubting Bro

Joined

• started 10 topics
• posted 2,130 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Doubting Bro

• 
  46

  Please say hello to Faded4SoFar...

  by AuldSoul in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...an old friend of mine that made his way here..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Welcome F4SF!

  Look forward to your comments.
• 
  48

  Is the Watchtower beginning to lose its grip on its members?

  by Gill in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have seen a counsellor on and off since leaving watchtower land.

  she has made efforts to find out more about jehovah's witnesses.. we were discussing why my jw family (not my husbands' they shun us as if we smell bad!!!!

  ) are beginning to spend more time with us.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  It seems to me their reaction has been the exact opposite. My perception is that they are bringing the hammer down. About a year & a half ago, they reversed their view on college from one of tolerance to the old view that it was evil. And, in the elders school, they really drove it home. We recently got a BOE letter that said elders should set the example in this regard which reading between the lines seemed to indicate to me that you could get deleted if you or your kids decide to go to college. Same thing with shunning relatives. The 1-15 article was the second in less than a year dealing with that subject.

  OTWOs plan is the most rational but I don't think we're dealing with rational beings. The GBs reaction is to tighten the grip even more. Yes, they've been forced to expand the blood policy and I do believe that will drop. But, only due to legal pressure, not due to any concern on the GBs part to get right scriputally.

  They're clearly losing grip even on the little things. That sound bite from the SAD took about 2 to 3 days to make it through the JW grapevine despite the pointed direction in the KM to not pass that sort of stuff along. The younger generation is leaving in droves and Bethel doesn't 1) understand just how dramatic the departure is and 2) doesn't know how to address it.

  I just heard about a brother in my old congregation who was a long time PO and now doesn't go to meetings. The story is that he's burnt out (which I'm sure is true) but you don't go from zealous leader to inactive in one swoop and still believe. He may even be on this forum. His story is likely to be repeated over and over again as the WTS dies a slow death.
• 
  28

  Do JWs know who the king of the north is?

  by cultswatter in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i think they used to believe that germany was the kng of the north.

  what is their official take on that.

  btw does the rev grand climax book talk about that ?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  The funny thing about the King of the North speculation, is that very, very few JWs understand their own doctrine, apparently even that Ciro guy doesn't understand it.

  Right, even the Bethel speaker that declared the fulfillment of Matt 24:14 doesn't understand JW doctrine. If there is no clear canidate for King of the North in Daniel, how can it be that the next prophesy to be fulfilled is the turn on religion? I'm trying to block that Daniel commentary out of my mind, but in having to conduct the study (I know, I should have just resigned back then) I really tried to figure out what the sequence of events would be if we didn't recognize the King of the North or if we are in a period of time when the KON is not active. It really seems to me that they had no good answer for how the whole thing was going to go down and at the end of the day, I gave up trying to understand the societies take. Basically, its all a prop to hold up the 1914 doctrine. All the explainations of this particular prophesy are really self serving (same with Revelation). Actually, the research I was doing in preparation of the Daniel book lead me to discover many of the WTS doctrinal issues and directly lead me to research 607. Bottom line, their guess is as good as mine. Which is pretty bad considering I don't proclaim myself God's channel of communication on earth today.
• 
  3

  REV book? elders, what instructions have you been told reguarding the ....

  by ?me? in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  minor changes?

  i have an old book and i am going to be one of the readers.

  and i am not one of those nerds that cut and pasted the "minor changes" overtop of the old stuff.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Nothing other than what was printed in the KM. If you're a reader and can keep a straight face, I would just keep the KM insert handy (or the version here where the changes are commented on).

  The pace being covered is exactly the same as last time. I have the dates from the 1994 (I think) review still marked in my book.
• 
  62

  If Jesus could talk to Satan...

  by AuldSoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  consider the scene: jesus has just been baptized and immediately leaves for an extended stay in the wilderness all on his lonesome.

  now ... already this is something the governing body would discourage any jw from doing, but i digress.. along comes satan.

  jesus knows it is satan, because of how satany he is.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Sir82,

  You beat me to the punch! And, they would also answer that Adam and Eve were both perfect and they (at least Eve) were seduced by temptation.

  In my recent reading of Paul's letters, I noticed that the superfine apostles (basically fit the WT definition of apostate) were still in the congregation. Some left, but it seems to me that they left on their own. And, I don't see where the command to never speak or even debate with them. I do see that Paul told Timothy to fight Hymenaeus and Alexander. I take that to mean prove them wrong.

  Just rambling off the top of my head.
• 
  61

  Sophistry Lessons—JW Baptismal Prerequisites

  by AuldSoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  (definition).

  in this thread we will examine chapter 18 of the book what does the bible really teach?, entitled baptism and your relationship with god.. .

  is there any scripture provided to support the statement?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  AuldSoul,

  I've been thinking about this since your raised the point and we went over the chapter in the CBS.

  You said:

  Consider: Is there any Scripture that shows this step is required by God? If it is not required by God but it is required by Jehovah's Witnesses (specifically by the Governing Body), then who is it that actually requires dedication?

  That is it in a nutshell. I think you've proved to a reasonable degree (at least to me) that the WTS has in fact added to scripture when dealing with the baptism requirements. Why doesn't this cause more issues with current JWs? I think because if you are convinced (as both of us once were) that JWs are Gods chosen people and the GB/FDS is Gods channel on earth today, then you don't have a problem with them adding additional requirements. Why? Because, Jehovah must have directed them to do so. That would be just fine with me if the GB/FDS could actually prove that they have Holy Spirit. Paul, Peter, the other apostles and leaders of the early Christians could prove they had Holy Spirit by performing miracles.

  The only "miracle" they can point to is the legal manuvering that got Rutherford and the other WTS directors out of prison in 1919. Now, compare that prison release with Paul's release and conversion of the jailer. Hmm, slightly different senario right? I would expect that Jesus selecting a group of individuals to represent him on earth would be a much grander event or at least on par with the 1st Century events.

  Even the outpouring of Holy Spirit at Pentacost 33 CE. Why wasn't there something similar reported after Jesus allegedly inspected his "house" or all organizations claiming to be Christian and chose the Bible Students? Wouldn't the prophsey in Joel have a second application that coordinates with this second coming? Seems to me it would.

  I really think that some JWs could conceed the fact that the WTS has added to the scriptures regarding numerous things, including baptism, yet still not be bothered that much by it because of the claim that they are God's chosen ones.

  That's why my recent discussions with my wife have been surrounding 607. That date being off and the society misrepresenting secular sources they say support 607 is the lynchpin to JW doctrine. Pull that out and show the deciet, I think the whole thing falls apart. Then, once free, I'm planning on studying all these doctrines to see if ANY of them hold water. My guess is that most do not.

  Great subject and I love your questions to consider.
• 
  56

  My Wife Just Left Me Because of the Evil Watchtower

  by rassillon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is very difficult to write because i am crying.

  i am normally not the kind of person you will ever see cry because things don't affect me that much but this has got to be the hardest things i have ever went through.. i just got through discussing with my wife my feelings.

  i guess it has been hard to hid some of the things that i have felt since i have learned that many of the wt teachings are false.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  (((ras)))

  I'm so sorry to hear about this. My heart goes out to you, man. I really hope this is a temporary thing and that she comes back.
• 
  16

  607 website - part 1

  by Jeffro in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  adherents of jw dogma are boastful of a new website (http://www.jehovahsjudgment.co.uk/607) which they claim has "irrefutable" proof for their 607 doctrine.

  it is full of problems, and i will indicate these section by section, as time permits.. why is 607bce an important date to jehovah's witnesses.

  the introduction paints jws as the persecuted underdog.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  I'm bookmarking so I can find later. Jeffro, thanks for your work. I've brought up this topic with my wife and told her I am researching. I need to calmly be able to present facts, especially using the WTs own work. I know there are numerous misquotes on this subject which I also want to show her.
• 
  21

  Congregation member lists: do they still use them? Current Dubz only!

  by MinisterAmos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for some reason (read they are afraid that exiting jws will use them to "stumble" other bros.) my new congo will not issue the normal member list with names, addies, numbers and congo appointments; the same list that everyone uses to call their jw buddies over for a booze party.. i was switched to this new congo two or so years ago and since have heard of two other congos that have stopped distributing lists.

  since i have only inquired of two congoes, i ass-ume that the distribution of "friends" personal info is now forbidden?.

  please comment all you current members/faders.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  As shocking as this may seem, I don't believe there is an official Bethel policy. I do know that late last year, there was a request from Bethel for congregations to compile such lists (if they don't have them already) which should include cell phones numbers if possible, for use by the elders when there is an emergency (actually good planning in my opinion). If I remember, that expanded information list (with the cell phone numbers) was to remain confidential.

  I've been in places where they've distributed them and places not. I could see if you had an unlisted number why you wouldn't want it on the list. But, if you really thought these folks were your brothers and sisters, why wouldn't you want them to have it? I never got a straight answer on that line of reasoning. Now, I understand the real reason, the members really don't consider themselves brothers/sisters.
• 
  15

  Week 2 Rev Grand Climax

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  *** re chap.

  2 p. 9 the grand theme of the bible ***.

  interpreting the scriptures the mysteries locked up in the book of revelation have for long baffled sincere students of the bible.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  It is not claimed that the explanations in this publication are infallible. Like Joseph of old, we say: “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8) At the same time, however, we firmly believe that the explanations set forth herein harmonize with the Bible in its entirety, showing how remarkably divine prophecy has been fulfilled in the world events of our catastrophic times.

  In other words, we won't take responsibility when if these rambling speculations fallible explanations do not work out the way we forsee. However, if you disagree with any of them, you will be disfellowshiped immediately for apostacy.