Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  33

  Did You Expect Perfection From Jehovah's Witnesses?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ....either from others or yourself?.

  were you regularly disappointed when the elders, brothers or sisters didn't measure up to what they were preaching?.

  did you actually believe "the truth" was 100% true?.

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  Doubting Bro

  Like others, I didn't expect perfection but did hold them in general to a higher standard. Especially those in positions of leadership. After all, holy spirit was appointing them, correct? Many would point to the issues in the 1st century congregations as proof that we can expect problems today. However, they don't understand that the JW teaching is that the spiritual paradise is now and was not in existance then. Also, the "great apostacy" was already starting in the 1st century (according to JW theology) and that after the appointment in 1918, the JW organization was supposed to be the restoration of the true religion. So, you can't have it both ways. An occasional bad apple is one thing, but you would expect that would be rare. Oftentimes, finding a BOE without a bad apple is the exception.

  I began to slowly realize this as I worked my way up the organizational ladder. COs that seemed nice to the flock would often say horrible things about members in elder meetings. Administration at conventions were really no different that corporate leadership that I worked with secularly and many times were worse.

  By their fruits you will know them. How many times have JWs said that about other religions? Yet, when problems arise, they often say "other religions are going through the same thing". Its the double standard that really gets me angry.
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  27

  New issue of THE WITCHTOWER: The Internet - Satan's trap

  by processor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to publish the second issue of the witchtower, containing translated articles of german erbrechet!

  the internet - satans trap: how dangerous is it?.

  should christians use wireless technology?

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  Doubting Bro

  I am sitting here crying at my desk!! LOLOLOLOL - Great job guys. I love the article on the calendar! The insane circular reasoning is spot on!

  Look foward to more.
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  22

  Is it possible for the Pittsburgh Steelers...

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends
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  Doubting Bro

  I was rooting for the Cards, but I thought the officials were fine. There were a lot of penalities but the holding calls in particular were SO blantant that they had to be called. I see why that O-line only gave up a handful of sacks if they were getting away with that all year!

  Warner clearly fumbled on that last play as the picture above shows. And, the author is compaining about the last personal foul on the Cards? Isn't that the one where the safety clobbered the holder? Uh, that's always going to get called.

  I did think that Harrision should have been ejected for throwing that punch.

  BTW - I guess Jesus wasn't really all that into Warner this time.

  Overall, another great Super Bowl. We've had several this decade - sure beats the 80s & 90s where the games were blow-outs!
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  9

  FS chatter: Abrahamic Convenant Length (the end is nigh)

  by yknot in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  okay so today was my day to take three very sweet and lovable older sisters out in early morning fs.. our territory was to visit those in nursing homes who had showed interest or were in need of 'encouragement' (by request only of course).

  it is here that an interesting conversation occurred between the sisters and a very old (nearly 100) oldtimer jw.. he was very discouraged but yet encouraged with the generations change but wanted to discuss covenants.. specifically the abrahamic coventant and how it was 2000 or so years from then to christ and how we should be encouraged to ponder the fulfillment of christ's return either in 2030-2033.......... he referenced da judges "jehovah" book as confirmation that the slave had once touched on the subject....... none of the sisters objected to his musings nor remarked deeper once we left.. this is the first i have heard such talk in the jw world....... is anyone else hearing this kinda rationale?.

  opinions..... .

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  Doubting Bro

  I've also heard this line of "reasoning". Here's the thing, people are always going to make up stuff and religions like the WTS really need to have a date to look forward to because they can't keep up the frantic "life saving" work without it. There have been several references to the whole Noah preaching for 120 years thing and I'll bet those references start getting stronger until about 2024 when they go ahead and actually name the date. What choice do they have other than to mainstream?
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  17

  How to fade quickly and get off the JW "radar screen"

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so you want to fade quickly, and keep the elders off your back?

  here's an easy way to do it:.

  1) recruit a sympathetic friend - doesn't have to be an elder, heck, doesn't even have to be a jw - to pose as the secretary for the "xyz" congregation.. 2) tell your congregation secretary you are moving to the "xyz" congregation.

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  Doubting Bro

  OTWO - wow, that's pretty slick. After all, who would think a Bethelite was trying to fade?
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  17

  How to fade quickly and get off the JW "radar screen"

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so you want to fade quickly, and keep the elders off your back?

  here's an easy way to do it:.

  1) recruit a sympathetic friend - doesn't have to be an elder, heck, doesn't even have to be a jw - to pose as the secretary for the "xyz" congregation.. 2) tell your congregation secretary you are moving to the "xyz" congregation.

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  Doubting Bro

  It can be done. I was a secretary for a few years and when a secretary from somewhere else called, I would make small talk and just send him the cards. Actually, depending on the CO, there is pressure to make sure that the cards are moved in a timely fashion. A word of warning, you'd probably want to recruit someone who was a JW, preferably an ex-elder. The small talk could easily back-fire if the person requesting the cards says something that doesn't sound right. With caller id, you'd want to be sure that the person calling is from the same area you told the old secretary that your moving to and that the name of the congregation is close but a little off.

  The problem I see is if there is any suspicion or if someone knows someone else in the area (JW land is pretty small), it could back fire big time. If your goal is to fade, that sort of action could probably get you df'ed.

  I probably wouldn't do it. It would be easier to go to a hall in the new area, give them your name to request the cards and then a bad address and a bad phone number. Go to 2 or 3 meetings and once you confirm they have your records, quit going. Any follow-up would result in the wrong address and phone number. If you don't list your number, I highly doubt there would be an elder that doesn't know you that is going to bother tracking you down.
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  30

  Jehovah's Witnesses Can Only Do What They're Told

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if a witness is instructed to be separate from the world, they will follow the order.

  but if they are told to be helpful to their neighbor and make them a meal if they are sick, they'll follow the instruction.. if the organization rules that it is compassionate to help a disfellowshipped person in real need, then jws will help out a disfellowshipped motorist who is stuck in the road.

  but if the watchtower decides that we should treat them as "dead", then we ignore the person.. if the "truth" teaches that accepting a heart transplant is "cannibalistic" then it's better to refuse such an operation and please jehovah to your death.

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  Doubting Bro

  Spotting the loopholes has to be the favorite game of every born-in JW.

  Yknot hit the loophole on the head and uses the same line of reasoning that many JWs use now in regard to the NA. Standing=polite, hand over heart = worship. Also, we used to make sure that we were standing for some other reason so that when it would come on, we'd be able to say with a straight face that we were already standing! That's if I really wanted to see the kickoff and/or mistimed my trip to the restroom.

  It's all so stupid anyway.
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  35

  Jehovah's Witnesses For Dummies

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please contribute to this "book".

  help someone understand what jehovah's witnesses are all about..

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  Doubting Bro

  #1 - Everyone should examine their religion - except JWs who "know" they have the truth.

  #2 - False religion has clergy that do bad things, pedophiles, unkind members, divorce, ect which proves they are false. When a JW experiences those things in the local congregation, well, its a perfect organization filled with imperfect men and doesn't mean anything.

  #3 - Elders and higher are appointed by holy spirit, unless they do something unChristian at which point they could still be appointed by holy spirit as long as the unChristian conduct happened a few years ago. Also, the spirit can work to unappoint you but only if another human actually turns you in.
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  30

  Jehovah's Witnesses Can Only Do What They're Told

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if a witness is instructed to be separate from the world, they will follow the order.

  but if they are told to be helpful to their neighbor and make them a meal if they are sick, they'll follow the instruction.. if the organization rules that it is compassionate to help a disfellowshipped person in real need, then jws will help out a disfellowshipped motorist who is stuck in the road.

  but if the watchtower decides that we should treat them as "dead", then we ignore the person.. if the "truth" teaches that accepting a heart transplant is "cannibalistic" then it's better to refuse such an operation and please jehovah to your death.

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  Doubting Bro

  Min, I know plenty of JWs that stand for the NA now. I agree with undercover. When I was a kid, even say 15 years ago, JWs weren't allowed to stand for the NA and I would make sure if I was at a sporting event, to duck out to the bathroom or arrive late so that no one knew. I'd say in the last 10 years, that has been not reinforced and has quitely moved to the background. I think this is one of the things that wasn't an official change in policy but more of a lack of pushing. I'll have to look in the latest edition of the "School" brochure to see what the official teaching is. I think most believe that as long as you don't sing the song or put your hand over your heart, its respectful to stand.
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  52

  Snapped. It just occurred to me that I REALLY hate my life. Mostly all of it.

  by easyreader1970 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here lately, i have just been wishing that i could just fast-forward through my remaining years on earth and just die to get this nonsense all over with.. i have only myself to blame.

  if i had gone through with my attempt to leave this hokey religion about sixteen years ago when i attempted to--before i got married and had kids--then maybe i wouldn't be teetering on the very slippery edge of sanity.

  instead i punked out, buckled under the threats of shunning and guilt of abandoning family members, and so here i am--looking into the mirror every morning wondering when the nightmare is going to end.

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  Doubting Bro

  Easyreader 1970,

  I wish I some advice to offer. I do know somewhat how you feel. Sometimes, I wish I was still deluded. Life would be so much simpler. But, you can't unring the bell. I'm lucky because my wife isn't hard core and apart from the JW routine, we have a very average normal life. Still, the self-loathing, depression, feeling of having no control and just not wanting to wake up in the morning can take its toll (at least it has on me).

  There are no easy answers my friend.