Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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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

  First welcome!

  The problem I see is that since you spoke to both your mother & your sister, they have their 2 witnesses if they really want to hold a JC they can.

  WAC's advice is dead on. Is there a local example of something that wasn't done "properly" and that you could use as a source of your frustrations? Or is there someone in the hall that has been "stumbling you"? Or, you said that your dad left and was an elder so you could say that you were thinking about that and it caused you to temporarily have some doubts but your taking the course that WAC suggested.

  Then, if this blows over and you fade, try to move to a KH that doesn't have family (if that's possible). Having a relative on the BOE can be either very good (to make things go away) or very bad depending on your relationship with that person. If this is your mother's brother, he's probably hypersensitive to "apostacy" given that his brother-in-law went that route.

  Good luck!
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  9

  Proof that children being baptised at WT conventions

  by moshe in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the wt had an international convention in trinidad this past week and here is a picture of a young boy being baptised- get them early before they can undersatnd what they are getting themselves into.

  how old does this boy look?

  for story: http://guardian.co.tt/features/life/2009/12/30/keep-watch.

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  Doubting Bro

  10 tops
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  16

  Then What?

  by tjlibre in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after knowing what i now know about the wt and the gb.

  now that i can see the real spirit behind this organization, now that i have convinced my self that i dont need this religion or any other organized group to have a personal relationship with god and his son... i wonder, whats next?

  should i stay as part of the conscious class, a less committed jw for the sake of my marriage and emotional stability?

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  Doubting Bro

  I hear you. I'm sort of in the same spot in that I see that JWs aren't even close to the truth, yet leaving would create such heartache and pain that it doesn't seem worth it. I'm hopeful that one day my wife will come to the same conclusion because I'm not leaving without her.

  TJL, the one piece of advice I'll offer is that you don't have any specific time pressure so don't do or say anyting rash. Learning that your belief system was misguided can be tramuatic. I recall a sick feeling coming over me when I was forced to admit JWs don't have the truth and never did. It's very similar to the grieving process and from first hand experience, I went through all the steps.

  This board has been a fantastic plan to vent frustrations so continue posting. It will get better.
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  21

  Did You Know Anyone That Celebrated "Family Day" Instead of "Christmas?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i knew a few families that wink wink did not celebrate gift giving for christmas.

  instead, they celebrated "family day".

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  Doubting Bro

  Yup, my family started doing it a few years ago since between my siblings and I there are 7 kids. We never gave gifts to the adults (although we all give something to my parents). Sometimes its on Christmas Day, other times the day before or the day after, depending on when it falls. This year it was on Christmas day.

  Reminds me of Sinfield when Kramer invented a holiday called Festivus. It was a celebration for any non-Christians. "Festivus for the rest of us".

  To me, it respresents a bit of rebellion for WTS rules. They don't want us to gather as a family and celebrate each other. BTW, my dad is an elder and one of my brothers just got appointed.
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  30

  Please Join in Celebration! My DFed brother is coming to dinner!!!

  by Open mind in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  we're killing the fattened young bull and having osso bucco (spell?

  ) tonight.

  i'm going to the airport right now to pick up my long-time dfed, over 20-years shunned, gay older brother!.

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  Doubting Bro

  OM - that's awesome!
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  22

  A JW attending funerals at a church.

  by garyneal in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my mother-in-law attend the funeral of her father-in-law (my wife's grandfather on her father's side) at his church (a baptist church).

  before we went in the church, she (mother-in-law) told me that she wanted to warn me that if they get into the singing and praising of god, don't be surprised if i see her not participating.

  i said, "because of that whole, interfaith thing, right?

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  Doubting Bro

  I've gone to numerous family furnerals as well as those for coworkers and non-JW family of JWs. This was as an elder and as a rank & file. Never had anyone question it. Same for weddings.

  The last furneral I went to (non-JW family), my dad & brother (both serving elders) were upfront with the rest of the family (mostly JW). Only one JW family member that should have been there wasn't and the rest of the JW family thought he was way out of line.

  Of course, many of them didn't bow their heads during prayer or say amen. I don't have a problem with them not saying amen and such. After all, I don't say amen to the prayers at the KH because I don't agree with them.

  It really depends on the local situation but I would say that most JWs I know don't have a problem with attending furnerals.
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  52

  Facebook condemned

  by straightshooter in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my wife told me that at the last meeting, the elders announced that youngsters going to the skateboarding park were no longer to have any privileges in the congregation.

  this is to prevent jw youngs to be rounded up if a drug raid was made at the skateboarding park.. also because of individuals requesting that they be friends on facebook that contain bad pictures, that anyone with a facebook account will automatically have their privileges removed.. sounds like the pharasees protecting the people by adding additional traditions upon them.. .

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  Doubting Bro

  I know at the current CA program there is mention of social networking sites and how they could potentially be dangerous. Not an outright condemnation but I know lots of self rightous elders that could take that and run with it.

  They already have a terrible time of retaining young people and stuff like this ALWAYS backfires.
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  14

  Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 12-20-09 WT Study (MY FRIENDS)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  comments you will not hear at the 12-20-09 wt study (october 15, 2009, pages 13-17)(my friends).

  review comments will be in red or headed by comments.

  wt material from today's wt will be in black.

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  Doubting Bro

  BB - I agree that par 17 had the most blatant appeal for money in a regular study. A whole paragraph devoted to giving materially toward the WWW? I know they always have that Nov article about ways to give to the WTS but that is never studied.

  Cash flow must really be getting tight. I honestly wonder how long before they institute tithing?
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  33

  Question for still active JW's / Faders

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you still contribute for literature, give to the worldwide work, kingdom hall fund or contribute towards the upkeep of your local kh?

  if you do - why?.

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  Doubting Bro

  I haven't given for about 3 years. Not one cent. Instead, I give to real charities and to individuals in need.
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  14

  Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 12-20-09 WT Study (MY FRIENDS)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  comments you will not hear at the 12-20-09 wt study (october 15, 2009, pages 13-17)(my friends).

  review comments will be in red or headed by comments.

  wt material from today's wt will be in black.

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  Doubting Bro

  I mentioned this on another post but normally I can tune out the dribble coming from the platform. But, not this past Sunday. Paragraphs 15-18 pissed me off beyond belief. If you read the entire chapter, Jesus was constrating those who follow him merely by word and those who follow him by deed. Then he summarizes during the separating what he meant by deeds when he told the "sheep" that because they were willing to take care in a tangible way (providing food, shelter, care) for the least of the people of the earth, then they would be rewarded. He told those that performed religious works in his name but didn't lift a finger to care for the least of the people of the earth that they would be destroyed for their lack of compassion.

  I never thought about this passage before Sunday but clearly if you were to claim to be a follower of Jesus, you would be involved in some sort of charitible works. It doesn't appear to be an option. Although Jesus gave his followers the command to "spread the word", notice that he didn't use that as a measuring stick in Matt 25:41-45. It suddenly hit me that that's one of the biggest reasons that mainstream Christian religions are so involved in charity. They really see it as an integral part of their faith. James 1:27 says the same basic thing that taking care of the less fortunate is the essense of the faith.

  Of course, other individuals both religious and non-religious (I consider myself non-religious) do good deeds and they are genuinly trying to help. But for the WTS to claim to be a Christian organization and do very little to help the less fortunate, the exception being the relief work that sometimes helps out non-JWs, is really contrary to what the philosophy of Jesus.

  If there is a God, I think we would be judged based on how we treat others. Certainly, the WTS would fall into the goat side based on their conduct.