Posts by Doubting Bro

27

24 hour field service marathon ??

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

field service for up to twenty-four hours non-stop.... it's a bit of a fad in our area with pioneers - the twenty somethings especially.

we've heard from other family members and a jw friend that it's a thing in their part of the country as well.. it sounds like a group decides on a day and then piles into a van or suv to 'work' the territory - 12, 18 and even 24 hours.. anyone else hearing of this?.

ginger.

Doubting Bro

I've done it before. We started at around 6pm doing a few friendly calls (that took maybe an hour each) then hitting landry mats and other businesses then 24 hour places. It was super easy. We even drove to another city about an hour away, stopping at truck stops along the way.

Got back met with the regular group for Sat FS, then made some calls in the afternoon. I think we ended up getting around 20 hours. I was aux pioneering that month so it really boosted me making my time. It was actually much easier than knocking on doors.

The elders (I was a MS at the time) critized us but one of my friends had a yearbook where this practice was related. He asked the elder if that elder was questioning something the "slave" encouraged. LOL - you should have seen his face.

It's never about reaching people, it's always about "counting time".

19

Old Literature being destroyed again!

by KW13 in

jw
friends

the society are at it again.

witnesses at a local congregation are getting rid of old literature that predates the early 90's.

you can imagine why.

Doubting Bro

I've never seen that happen. Our KH library has WTs dating back to 1900 (or there abouts). Plus all the Studies in Scriptures and tons of other very old books. The only thing I've seen done is the request to not remove them from the KH but that makes sense to me since they don't want them lost.

Is it a space issue in your hall? Just trying to understand because I've never seen directions to destroy old publications from the WTS.

30

I want to Believe in Something

by James Jackson in

after serving in an appointed position for over 26 years (21 elder, 5 ms,14 pioneer), i have no more dreams of paradise, bored at the meetings, do not enjoy the field ministry.

the desire to do anything is gone.

i want to believe in something!.

Doubting Bro

JJ - I think that's a pretty normal reaction. The WTS is a high control religion and it just takes awhile to realize that you don't need them. Give it some time.

40

FROM Italy : The 10+1 Urgent Reforms.....to return the trust and honesty in your Organization

by LaFrancia in

reform of goverinig body.

transparency of their regular meetings and reports to the brotherhood.

creating a committee for biblical reforms.

Doubting Bro

LaFrancia,

when pigs fly is just an expression in English that means it's impossible.

I think your English is just fine. While I agree those reforms would make the WTS a much better place, I also agree with the others that say it won't happen. I used to hold out hope that the WTS would reform but I've come to realize that the only changes they make are when they are forced to make them.

What you are describing is the GB giving up power and basically changing their high control structure. If they were to do that, the whole organization would spin out of their control. I suspect a large number of people would simply walk away if the threat of shunning wasn't there. Look at the number of people that leave despite the high cost of shunning.

As much as I'd like to see them change, its simply not going to happen.

97

First post

by thedog1 in

jw
friends

this is a very strange thing for me to do.

i have been an active witness for over 25 years.

i currently serve as an elder and i conduct the watchtower study.

Doubting Bro

thedog1 - Welcome! I think many can relate to your story. I am a born-in, family on both sides and served as an elder for around 10 years. The best advice I can give is to take a deep breath! Don't do anything rashly. Like OM suggested, maybe call in sick or have a talk scheduled out for that upcoming WT. One of the best places for unemotional doctrinal issues is www.jwfacts.com

The author posts here pretty regularly.

Don't tell anyone about what you're learning yet. It can be quite a tough time coming to grips with the reality that the WTS is not who they say they are but once you do, things will at least make a little more sense.

Honestly the best thing I did was to resign as an elder but it took me a few years before I got to that point. Once I did that, I was pretty much ignored in the congregation and while I still attend to keep my wife happy, they don't bug me.

Look forward to your comments!

39

The Current State of the Watchtower & The Cynicism of Soviet Communism

by cofty in

i am reading a book by victor sebestyn called "revolution 1989 - the fall of the soviet empire".

if you lived through the astonishing collapse of communism in the late '80s i highly recommend it.. what has struck me is the description of life under communism in the six soviet satellite states of east germany, poland, czechoslovakia, hungary, romania and bulgaria.. here is a couple of paragraphs that really stood out to me as a possible parallel to the current climate in the regime of jw.org.. ---------------------------------------------------------.

once idealism or revolutionary fervour had disappeared - certainly by the soviet invasion of czechosloakia in 1968 - the system stagnated.

Doubting Bro

Berlin Wall = WT Shunning policy. If they were to drop it, the whole religion would come tumbling down which is why they will never willingly do so.

18

Mr. Wade from noblood.org

by turtleturtle in

choices are or are not.

witnesses we do not.

of their choices.

Doubting Bro

He's definately a JW and I've also met him before although didn't really know him very well. Small world in JW land.

38

Do You Still Wear "Meeting" Clothes?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i have dozens of suits.

i still buy them .

i wear ties sometimes too.

Doubting Bro

Wear suit & tie to work. Hate it!!!

406

Goodbye JWD/JWN (my last post)

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

after some considerable thought i have decided that i will no longer post on this forum because i want to return to jehovah.

thank you for all the kindness and many interesting discussions over the years.

i wish you all well in the future and the decisions you make.

Doubting Bro

Sorry to keep this going but SBF, if you are reading these comments, I want to wish you the best. I still attend and while I hate it, I've developed the ability to cope somehow. We all have choices some of which are very difficult. It really boils down to what is going to cause the least amount of pain.

I always enjoyed SBFs contributions and he'll be missed. I think he brought a bit of balance to the board that was needed.

122

Can the jw organization be reformed?

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i know that this has been discussed in the past but i wanted to get some fresh opinions.

there are many out there that recognize the "rot" that is in watchtower but still feel that there is a "wholesome" side to it and are trying to bring about change or reform from within.. in 2002 when the rose colored glasses came off for me and i truly started to understand ttatt, i still felt that there was some redemable aspects of the organization.. i felt that russell had some doctrinal things right.

i don't feel like that anymore.

Doubting Bro

Not in my opinion. To reform would require such a drastic change in policies and even in people that it would just implode. Plus, anyone who voices a contrary opinion is quickly squashed. The only ones that have the right to question anything are the GB and it's in their best interest to continue things as they are. It's hard to imagine even a black swan event that would make them drop their most cult-like traits.