Posts by Doubting Bro

25

2009 Drama - Kudos to Bethel. Sorry.

by Open mind in

my overall impression of this year's modern-day prodigal son drama was that it was one of the best i've ever seen.

"best" if the goal is to try to convince young jws to stay in the org.. the amount of cheesiness was at an all-time low, imo.

there were a few exceptions, but i got the impression that bethel is getting pretty good intel from the field and incorporating it into the program.

Doubting Bro

OM

I agree that they used a lot of lines that many JW kids (and even older ones like me who grew up in it) would use. Like, "they've been saying the end is coming my WHOLE life" and some thing about playing the elders, etc.

Obviously the whole senario about the "prodigal son" deciding to go to work outside the family business and having the ultimate result being a huge auto accident where they almost lost their life was unrealistic. BTW, I know when I was a JW "youth" - there were lots of parties with alcohol flowing, going to clubs, concerts, etc. Being a JW had no bearing on any of it nor the sometimes terrible consequences of drinking & driving.

They also made a big deal of being a part time JW. The thing is, it is my belief that the majority of the JW kids today are just that and its been that way for awhile now. That's why so many kids leave. Putting a guilt trip on them may work for a few and even then it won't last more than a month but they are merely addressing the symptoms not the disease. For the WTS, the disease is the terrible retention rate of those who have grown up in it. Losing members that they don't have to indoctrinate or convert is just bad business for any religion. Kids and adults leave for a variety of well discussed reasons. Bottom line, for many the WTS doesn't offer them something good enough to stay. If it did, they wouldn't have the problems they have.

Also - that song at the end was probably supposed to be moving. I saw several folks (including me) stiffling back the laughter. Others had that WTF look and then about a thousand or so decided it was time to hit the hallways! That was a serious error in propaganda 101 and I'll bet it discounted what was a moving scene at the end with the prodigal son running to his crying parents arms.

21

I need a good excuse

by rockmehardplace in

jw
friends

i am thinking of stepping down from my position in the congregation.

this is the first big step to my fade from the jw world.

i talked to my wife about it and she told me that she thought it was best i did because there is no reason to do something if your heart is not wanting to do that.

Doubting Bro

rock,

I used a combination of need to take care of my family and burnout. I really stressed the scriptural obligation to look after my family first and they didn't argue with me too much. They froze my resignation for about 2 weeks and asked me to reconsider. They finally sent it in but the COBOE was sure that the branch wouldn't accept it. 3 weeks later, a form letter came back confirming my no longer "serving".

It doesn't sound like you have kids and if your wife's health is fine, then you probably can't go with the family route. You can always use depression. You can say that in your current, depressed state, that you feel that you can not be encouraging to the brothers and thus your conscience won't allow you to continue serving in your present capacity.

You could also say that you are burned out and that you really need a break from the weighty responsibility of being an elder.

Obviously, getting into doctrinal issues, saying that you no longer wish to enforce WTS rules, etc isn't a viable option unless you plan on fireworks.

If I remember correctly, you really didn't need to get super specific as to why you want to step aside. Of course, if you are reappointed, then you have to get specific as to why you wanted out in the first place.

PM me if you'd like. I can send you what I sent in.

33

For those that were raised in the Truth, why did YOUR PARENTS become JW's?

by BonaFide in

jw
friends

it's weird putting two and two together after 40 years of have the two things separate.. my uncle was killed in a car accident in august of 1969. i was a child, but i remember my mother being very sad and crying and staying in her room.. it was in october of 1969 that the witnesses first visited my mom.

my mom was in the front yard watching us kids when jw's came door-to-door.

that sister and my mom are still friends to this day.. anyway, my mom started studying.

Doubting Bro

double post

33

For those that were raised in the Truth, why did YOUR PARENTS become JW's?

by BonaFide in

jw
friends

it's weird putting two and two together after 40 years of have the two things separate.. my uncle was killed in a car accident in august of 1969. i was a child, but i remember my mother being very sad and crying and staying in her room.. it was in october of 1969 that the witnesses first visited my mom.

my mom was in the front yard watching us kids when jw's came door-to-door.

that sister and my mom are still friends to this day.. anyway, my mom started studying.

Doubting Bro

I don't really know my grandmother's story (she passed several years ago) but she pressured my father & mother. She was baptized sometime in the early to mid 60s. She skipped my parent's wedding in 67 because it was held in a church. I am told that in 1970, she held baby me in her arms and started crying. She told my dad that if he didn't become a JW, he was condeming me to death at the big A. Seeing how the end was coming in just a few years, they began studying and were baptized in 72.

22

Summary of JW Beliefs

by jonathan dough in

many jws are unfamiliar with the jw's beliefs.

after considerable research i have discovered the following.. .

the jehovahs witnesses believe that only 144,000 people go to heaven (reasoning from the scriptures (reasoning) [new york, watchtower bible and tract society, 1985], 166).

Doubting Bro

double post

22

Summary of JW Beliefs

by jonathan dough in

many jws are unfamiliar with the jw's beliefs.

after considerable research i have discovered the following.. .

the jehovahs witnesses believe that only 144,000 people go to heaven (reasoning from the scriptures (reasoning) [new york, watchtower bible and tract society, 1985], 166).

Doubting Bro

FYI

We are currently in the first judgment day period. Under the guidance of the remaining earthly anointed 144,000, the Great Crowd of Jehovah’s Witnesses are today separating the earth’s sheep and goats through their door-to-door ministry (The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived) (Great Man) [New York, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1991] chapter 111, 12-15). The sheep join God’s one and only earthly organization, thus becoming members of the Great Crowd (if they survive the Great Tribulation) and earn the opportunity to live life everlasting; all the goats, those who do not heed their invitation, will be destroyed forever during the Great Tribulation and Armageddon with no prospect of resurrection (Ibid.).

This belief changed (as JWs are known to do) I think in 1995 with an article in the WT. I don't have a WT library on this computer but basically it moved the separating the sheep and goats to the GT. Otherwise, I think this pretty accurate.

17

Kansas City DC

by stillajwexelder in

by now you all know of the 5 release.

1) new song book but through the congs sept 1st.

2) new cd of all the new songs with vocals - also downloadable from sept 14th.

Doubting Bro

One other observation. The Friday attendence was nearly 25% less than the Sat & Sun figures! I think that says volumes about the committment level. They also announced that next year's convention will be 3 days (God willing of course).

I wonder how long it will be before the Friday is dropped? Obviously it must continue to be profitable for them or they would have tossed it a long time ago. I know they get some pretty sweet deals on various convention venues and that the cost to rent some of these arenas is offset by the promised revenue to the convention city in terms of business generated and the resulting tax revenue. Does anyone have any idea how that works?

17

Kansas City DC

by stillajwexelder in

by now you all know of the 5 release.

1) new song book but through the congs sept 1st.

2) new cd of all the new songs with vocals - also downloadable from sept 14th.

Doubting Bro

One other observation. The Friday attendence was nearly 25% less than the Sat & Sun figures! I think that says volumes about the committment level. They also announced that next year's convention will be 3 days (God willing of course).

I wonder how long it will be before the Friday is dropped? Obviously it must continue to be profitable for them or they would have tossed it a long time ago. I know they get some pretty sweet deals on various convention venues and that the cost to rent some of these arenas is offset by the promised revenue to the convention city in terms of business generated and the resulting tax revenue. Does anyone have any idea how that works?

34

Update from Open Mind.

by Open mind in

i don't get much chance to post on jwd, err, jwn anymore thanks to a major tightening of web policies where i work.. .

this place was a lifesaver for me.

i owe simon and the heavy-lifter posters of yore an enormous debt.. .

Doubting Bro

Hey OM! Good to "see" you. Glad to hear things are good with you & your family.

17

Kansas City DC

by stillajwexelder in

by now you all know of the 5 release.

1) new song book but through the congs sept 1st.

2) new cd of all the new songs with vocals - also downloadable from sept 14th.

Doubting Bro

Oh yeah, one other thing that annoyed me:

There was a part on Friday afternoon I think that one brother asks questions and the other answers it (sorry I don't remember the name of the part). Anyway, they talked about 1975 and while the organization still took no responsibility, the speaker said that even the apostles had wrong expections regarding dates. To back this up, he read Acts 1:6. Here's the text:

6 When, now, they had assembled, they went asking him: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

The problem here is that NO WHERE can you find writings or scriptures that indicate the apostles SET A DATE for the end!! Perhaps there's a missing book of the Bible where Peter gave his stirring "Stay alive until 55" speach? There is a huge difference between asking Jesus if he's going to restore the kingdom at this time and setting a date for Armageddon. I have no idea why they brought this up or why its so hard to just say, hey we were wrong and we're sorry about that. The lack of humility is maddening!!