Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  20

  The Assembly Experiences - Standard Format

  by sd-7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  matthew 6:1: "take good care not to practice your righteousness in front of men in order to be observed by them; otherwise you will have no reward with your father who is in the heavens.".

  "now we'd like to call to the platform brother so-and-so, a [let's face it, capital letters should be used] regular pioneer and elder in the blah-blah-blah congregation.

  brother so-and-so, what helped you to put kingdom interests first?".

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  Doubting Bro

  Exactly except what was left out of the experience is that what actually happened was the employer approached all employees and told them that everyone's hours were going to be cut to part-time to avoid having to do layoffs. Or that Brother So & So is still working part time at that employer but also has another part time position to make ends meet.

  Those experiences in additon to being highly scripted are also "enhanced" shall we say. The worst example I've ever seen was a brother who had a "high stress" job and no time for field service. So he prayed to be able to study with someone and "bring them into the truth". The next year, his student got baptized. He repeated the request 2 more times and each time the student got baptized. The rest of the story I found out later because I was talking to him (Both of us worked in administration) was that the students in question were actually HIS CHILDREN! I was floored and told him I thought they were folks he met in fs since that was the implication. He was embarrased because he thought it was misleading but that's what the DO wanted so that's how he told it.
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  32

  I Believe McNabb Is Tired

  by snowbird in

  1. social
  2. physical

  he should move over and allow room for michael vick.. did anyone see vick's touchdown pass against dallas in the playoff?.

  awesome!.

  a little something from vick's bio: .

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  Doubting Bro

  I'd take McNabb over Vick anyday, its really not even close. The Eagles would be insane to get rid of McNabb unless they plan on doing major rebuilding and I don't think they need to do that.

  If I were the Eagles, I trade Vick to some sucker for a midround draft pick. I'm sure the Skins would jump on that although Shanny I'm sure would try to block it.

  Campbell is an adequate QB but I still think he has trouble quickly reading defenses and needs to speed up his release. If he's on a team where he doesn't have to carry the load, he ok. Otherwise (see this year). he's in trouble. I really wanted him to succeed since the Skins traded up in the 1st round to get him but at this point, I don't think he was worth it. They need to draft some o-linemen and then pick up a qb next year.
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  11

  Have you ever say the word f you to the elders? Do you know others that has done it before?

  by asilentone in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  Doubting Bro

  does one elder saying it to another in an argument count?
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  25

  Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Christian denomination? The Feb. Watchtower seems to say so

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have not noticed the witnesses referring to themselves in the literature as a christian denomination before: is this a new development?

  the february 1st wt says on page 22:.

  "a high-school textbook, world religions in denmark, published in 2007, described jehovah's witnesses as a christian minority who follow the bible closely.

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  Doubting Bro

  Public edition, right? There's your answer, marketing.
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  56

  More evidence that WTS is hurting for $$$ - change to special pioneer mileage reimbursement

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  per a letter sent to all special pioneers in the us:.

  previously the society reimbursed the special pioneers at a flat rate of x cents per mile, to cover the cost of gasoline and maintenance on their cars.

  if i recall correctly, it may even have been the standard irs allowable deduction, something like 40-50 cents per mile.. beginning in 2010, the society will reimburse for mileage only, and strictly follow a mathematical formula, using:.

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  Doubting Bro

  Right and I don't think the WTS is getting the bang for their buck with SPs anymore. They're really no more useful than a RP but cost more. The MTS grads are probably more useful to the WTS since they are 1) not paid and 2) fulfill an administrative role which what the society really wants. I can easily see the program dwindling down to just a few old timers and being phased out completely over time. It's really just a waste of money.
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  22

  Why am I Renouncing My JW Faith...Part 5 and final

  by tjlibre in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have expressed in this forum that sometimes im confused as to what will be my ultimate decision.

  at this point in my life there is too much at stake.

  first, my own emotional estate, ill hate to bitterly regret the years expend taking unnecessary emotional abuse and theocratic bulling.

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  Doubting Bro

  I’ve learned that I’m not stupid, but that I was duped.

  Exactly! It took me awhile to get to that stage, but once there, it makes things much easier! Thanks for sharing. It's important for lurkers and newbies to see these stories so they can appreciate that they're NOT alone, nor are they the problem. The problem lies with the WTS.
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  20

  Why Would Someone Like me Leave the "Truth"? Part 2

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as stated in part 1 the latter part of the 1980s and 1990s were very good for my wife and i. we are doing well spiritually and both had good jobs.

  our increasing income allowed us to move at a relatively young age to a nice area.

  we wanted to stay in our old congregation but i was told as an appointed man i should support the congregation in my new territory.. this new congregation had a completely different feel about it to our old one.

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  Doubting Bro

  cantleave - your description of congregation politics is repeated in JW congregations all over the world. I recall learning that the first elders meeting I attended prior to a CO visit. I was under the impression that the elders would read the qualifications from the scriptures, pray for direction and then discuss each brother in the hall. What I saw was lobbying prior to the meeting for a person's pet candidate, measurements being used that had no basis in scripture (is he getting the national average and commenting at every meeting? is his wife getting enough time and does she comment?) and the discussion was generally whether the guys in the room liked the person or not. If not, someone would come up with something to block the appointment.

  Being an elder lead me down the path of not believing in the WTS anymore because once you see behind the curtain, you really can't honestly say holy spirit has anything to do with it.

  Look forward to part 3
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  25

  Why Would Someone Like me Leave the "Truth"? Part 1

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the title of this series of threads is rhetorical.

  i am going to answer it with my own experience.

  before i do that, i want to discuss what we are told through the literature and the instruction that is given during meetings, assemblies and conventions, for the reasons why people leave the truth.. the watchtower of 15 november 2008, in the article help them return without delay indicates people leave because of the following:.

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  Doubting Bro

  cantleave - really interesting!
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  33

  Serious advice needed... being df'd without the brothers hearing my side???

  by edlewiese in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok i have asked several of my friends and they have never heard of being chased by a committee before.

  so i am hoping someone has some insight.. .

  i'll give you background and yes i am not innocent in the situation but what i was raised to believe is being contradicted by the actions of the elders.. .

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  Doubting Bro

  Sapphy is dead on.

  Can I ask exactly what this letter you signed said? If it just said that you recognize that he is "scriputally free" (code language for admitting that you've had a sexual relationship with someone), without going into any details, you may be able to argue that 1) you didn't understand what you were signing, or 2) that because of his previous abuse you were coerced into signing it.

  Your ex obviously wants to date (or is dating) another JW and that's why he's doing this. But, if you don't want to get df'ed then you would pretty much have to play by their rules and tell them how terrible he was because they will take that letter as a confession and if you're not there to defend yourself, it will be a 2 minute meeting.

  I like Scully's idea of going after the individual elders for slander but that's going to cost money. Putting it out there may make them back off. I personally would love to see someone do that because I know the WTS would not defend their individual elders.

  Of course, the whole thing is clearly unscriptural but then again, that's the WTS for you.
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  33

  New here-question about calls from the elders

  by hoggieman in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been looking around here for a while but this is my first post.

  my wife and i have been fading not so smoothly.

  i pretty much know this is not the truth but am still undecided how i feel on various issues and i am still sorting them out.

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  Doubting Bro

  tt - nice response