Posts by Doubting Bro

43

new september 2007 Kingdom Ministry Qbox

by patientbrother in

brothers i absolutely had to join this web site once i saw the new km for this coming month, has any one else had a chance to view this?

i'm absolutely flabbergasted for the first time in my life, what about the the apostle paul and the bereans?

didn't he encourage them to go and find out for them selves the truth?

Doubting Bro

Patient Bro, Welcome to the board!!

I can also relate to your situation as I have a wife that is not about to leave and pretty much my entire social circle is in. I still go to meetings and outside some brief discussions with my wife, no one realizes that I no longer believe the WTS is Jah's organization.

The Sept KM is really just the tip of the iceberg. There's the sexual abuse scandle, the UN relationship of 9 years, the whole 1914 doctrine, conflicting messages on blood, lack of caring congregations. All that stuff adds up. The more you read and research, the sicker you will feel. But, knowing the "truth about the truth" is better than just ignoring the facts. You will be in for an emotional ride.

Being able to vent here has been a vaulable resource for me and I'm sure it will be for you.

Look forward to your comments!

30

A warning would be fair

by greendawn in

given the often devastating consequences of disassociation and disfellowshipping isn't it fair that those studying with the jws should be explicitly warned about these precedures in advance so that they know where they walking into?

so that they would be able to better judge whether they want to become jws and potentially risk losing jw family and friends at some future time?

how many of you would get baptised into the cult if you really knew about the policies of dfing and shunning?

Doubting Bro

For converts I agree. Kids don't have a chance because many families shun the kids even if they are never baptized and just walk away. I always found it ironic that when a non-JW family member gives a JW family member grief over their religious choices, the JW talks about persecution. But, when a JW spouse decides they don't want to be a JW or a kid decides that's not the path for him/her, the pressure put on that person is often much more than a non-JW would ever subject a JW to. And, in many cases, whole families break up over a JWs choice to not be a JW. It really makes no sense. Nice double standard!

41

Elder for 30 years, lost privelages due to WT Education policy

by justhuman in

this is a really good one.

an elder who was serving for more than 30 years, faithfull to the organization at all means, has lost his privelage due to the wt education policy.

the reason was that he allowed his son to study at the university.

Doubting Bro

When they flipped back on college a couple of years ago, we had the elder's school a few months afterward. They said at that school that "elders should be setting the example" in regard to NOT sending their kids to "higher education". I took that to be a threat that if you were advocating going to college either in word or in deed by sending your own kids, there would be consequences and the possibility of losing your position.

I doubt they will ever put this in writing but I'll bet that some local BOEs got the same impression that I did and there are probably some COs that will back them up.

38

Calling all ELDERS

by The Oracle in

jw
friends

if you are an elder who frequents this site, please let me know.. i am trying to connect (completely anonymously - your privacy is assured) with as many elders as i can.

i know that there are hundreds of elders in the same position as myself (have had our awakening and have come to realize that "the truth" is a sham).. i encourage you to continue to serve as an elder and for you to work together with other like minded elders as a collective force for true good.

there is much we can do from the inside to help the cause.. there are thousands and indeed millions of kind and honest hearted people whose only crime is that they have allowed themselves to be deceived and are still active jws.

Doubting Bro

Oracle,

I recently "stepped aside" after being an elder for around 10 years and a MS for almost the same length. Born and raised in. Groomed from infancy to do things the WTS way. I was pretty gung-ho until I realized that several policies and doctrines (1914 being the chief doctrine) were unscriptural and in some cases, downright dangerous (policy on child abuse and the blood policy for two examples). I had thoughts of reform as well and if this request had been floated about a year ago, I would have jumped on the bandwagon. The main block to reform that I can see is the fact that the organization is so top down driven.

I'm not sure what type of reform you're hoping to achieve, but maybe laying a high level overview out would generate some interest. Minor things may change, mainly due to threat of legal action, but any large scale reform (again, not sure if you're looking for doctrinal reform of some sort or policy reform) is probably impossible. Remember that Franz tried to get the GB to change some things (at least according to him) and you see where that got him. If the GB wouldn't listen to one of their own, I'm not sure they would listen to any of their field hands.

I appauld your attempts but my belief is that even if you were able to get several high level Bethelites, COs and even numerous elders to put pressure on the org to make changes, the results would be their being DF'ed. Remember, they purged some pretty high ranking Bethelites before in the early 1980s and they wouldn't think twice about doing it again.

I'm interested in hearing your plan. I realize that since I'm not in the position you are looking for, there is probably very little I could do to assist, but you never know. I still have lots of folks I'm friendly with that are elders and they all think I stepped down because I needed to spend more time with my young family (which is mostly true). If you don't want to post it, maybe you can PM me with it?

25

Letter for my daughter as she leaves...

by Confession in

my precious chelsea,.

this friday you will be twenty years old.

this thursday we will be moving you from the home in queen creek to your dorm in phoenix.

Doubting Bro

Beautiful. You got me a little teared up!

Unconditional love - that's what a good father is supposed to provide. I'm sure Chelsea will cherish that letter for a long time.

62

staying "in Truth" for family--is it worth it?...hyporcrite needing help

by oompa in

i have just been outed on this site due to my own stupidity, and lost my anonymity after just a short pleasant while here.

i have been turned in folks, compete with screen name/avatar, by family and i have a ton in.

it is easy to tell it is me, although i never use anyones names.

Doubting Bro

Is there anyway you can deny it? Just how specific were you? Locations could be a coincidence and so could comments depending on what you are talking about. Unless they used a computer that only you have access to, how could they prove it was you?

9

Question: Who Owns the Kingdom Halls and land?

by brojo in

jw
friends

i have a question.

who actually owns the kingdom halls in the us?

the local congregation (which has paid or is paying the mortgage) or the wt society?

Doubting Bro

Joe,

I know that in one congregation I was associated with, the congregation appointed trustees who acted in their behalf (always 3 elders) but the congregation as an entity actually owned the hall and the property. I think that arrangement is becoming more rare. This particular congregation's hall was about 25-30 years old and no RBC style work with WTS loans were done.

Many are now incorporated and I believe the articles of incorporation state that the congregation owns the land/hall until such time as they are dissolved, then it reverts to the WTS.

Of course, the WTS has put out a lovely brochure explaining the two ways ownership is handled. I think I may have a copy at home. I'll look through my stuff and report back.

80

I JUST FOUND OUT.......!!!!!!

by Es in

jw
friends

that im having another baby!!!!!.

just done the test and the line came up straight away....... we were planning on falling pregnant in about three months and happend to fall pregnant straight away...im still in shock but had to share it with you all my family.

luv ya.

Doubting Bro

Congrats Es.

32

Do You Think The Watchtower will Crack Down On Faders?

by choosing life in

jw
friends

i have been wondering for a while if the new koolaid version of the watchtower will try to crack down on faders in some way.

i read about the marking talk of nvrgbk's brother and i wonder if this is a sign of things to come.

i know the elders do not like to have loose ends out there that they can neither control or influence.. what do you think?

Doubting Bro

It was one of the most egregious misapplications of scripture I have ever heard.

Yes, but I've heard this misapplication made many times. Hell, I even made it myself from the platform Maybe not unforgivable sin strong, but definately that having a custom of staying from the meetings was treating Jesus sacrifice as being of little value.

Sir82 - Was this a part of the COs outline or did this come up in the meeting with just the elders? Maybe your congregation has low meeting numbers (uh, that's probably a safe bet if your in an English congo) and he was trying to beat you guys so you could hammer the flock.

I just don't see the advantage to making the lack meeting attendance a df'ing offense. Yeah, maybe you get some folks back, but you could end up losing even more. I would not put it past them though.

Scully makes a good point. The framework is in place and it would be a natural progression. Perhaps smaller and more loyal is the long term plan.

6

Greedy Jw Baseball player!

by AK - Jeff in

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07225/809108-63.stm.

he should retire now and pioneer if he was not a hypocrite.

imo.

Doubting Bro

Sounds like the two law firms he spoke with told him he didn't have a case. I've never understood why JWs (and others) seem to always make things about their religion when it has nothing to do with it at all.

I'm somehow thinking that God & the angels are not in heaven worrying about whether the Pirates or some other professional team have winning seasons.