Posts by freetosee

23

as a jw..did you ever have a REAL theological discussion with anyone?

by candidlynuts in

jw
friends

this came up in a conversation with a non witness friend lately.

he said its like i thought i was having theological discussions all the time but from what he could tell...i would go to the door with prearranged comments, which would illicit one of a few comments and my response would be as programmed as the initial comments.

i'm no brainy person.. and freely admit i'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.

freetosee

I grew up in an English speaking congregation in Germany, publishers had assigned territories to work in, mainly housing (British and American military homes) and search territories. My first territory, after baptism, was a search territory with very large student and refugee homes. As I have posted before I didn’t feel comfortable placing literature and went only with my bible, tracts and the multi-language "All Nations" brochure.

I meat many wonderful people and almost very door was open. Meeting perfect strangers not understanding each others languages and yet preparing a beautiful meal was most encouraging and baffled my concept of spiritual paradise.

It was most challenging as I spoke to very educated people, including theologians. I was well familiar with all the WT teaching and could explain them by using the bible. But I think they were most impressed that I was only 16 and going out preaching. Many times it was them teaching me and not the other way. But on returning I was well prepared and we got into lengthy and deep conversations. This was very educational for me. Discussing the bible with Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims I was often impressed by their bible knowledge. When asking elders to join me in support I soon realized how little qualified the elders are.

These deep conversations were my stronghold and "down fall" at the same time. To me field service (this may sound strange to many) was the best part of JW life. I continued FS and ‘bible studies’ after discontinuing meeting attendance.

And you are right all we were thought to do was: distribute WT literature and prepared-question-and-answer-coverage-of-WT-indoctrination-material called ‘Bible Study’.

Thank you, this question brings back nice memories.

Freetosee

12

Ex-JW convention visit ended violently

by observer in

jw
friends

ex-jws in finland have every year arranged demonstration during district convention in helsinki since 1999. sometimes one or more apostates have peacefully visited in the rented icehall which is the convention place across the street from demonstration place.

in summer 2004 jw's ordered doorkeepers who work there by the owner of the icehall, to bring out one very widely known apostate from the audience in the middle of program.

attendants said he took photos and videotaped, which he really did without any disturbance, which they claimed was forbidden and wanted to remove him from the hall.

freetosee

He was beaten outside of the convention hall by the doorkeepers

Was the beating by the doorkeepers j ustified according to the police?

Nice video! They seem to be afraid of cameras.

freetosee

7

Help! I need to buy a Gift.

by Smoky in

jw
friends

i was invited to mu 6 yr old jw niece's (kinder) graduation party this sunday.

as you ex-jw know, they dont celebrate birthdays, so i wanted to get her something special, for i dont get to do this very often.. what do you get a 6yr old girl?

(dolls, books..i dont know).

freetosee

My nice loved Sponge Bob –so do I!

39

Grand Climax

by mouthy in

don't know if you knew this or not - they have a new study aid called "bible teach".

and guess what they will be studying come january 2007!

the revelation book - it's grand climax at hand!

freetosee

LOL -- The one book that has probably driven more people out than any other and they're going to study it again.

That’s also my observation!

39

Grand Climax

by mouthy in

don't know if you knew this or not - they have a new study aid called "bible teach".

and guess what they will be studying come january 2007!

the revelation book - it's grand climax at hand!

freetosee

Those of you who are sill attending meeting or are in close contact with active JW’s, how do they respond to this? I remember complaining when it was announced to be studied for a second and third time. Somewhere in between was the "Greatest Man" study, which everyone enjoyed. How are they taking to it?

Especially the trumpet blast interpretation was extremely strange even as a Witness.

I wonder why Grand Climax again? As a book study conductor (my first time) I remember the topics like "two witnesses", the locusts, the trumpets and trying not to confuse Jehovah and Jesus was most awkward. And I got in trouble for having open discussion after the bs meeting.

I think they just want to reinforce the urgency of time and the selection of the WTS as gods only channel of communication and show how much it was predicted it scripture. Freetosee

32

baptized roommate talked to elders about Barbara Anderson

by oppgirl63 in

jw
friends

my roommate(baptized) met with 2 elders last night and gave them "the discoveries of barbara anderson".

she told them that she believed mrs. anderson was telling the truth.

she didn't think that mrs. anderson would have given so many years of service to jehovah and then just walk away.

freetosee

Welcome!

I’m impressed by your roommate (and you), she sounds like an open minded person with a good sense for what is right. Sorry to hear about her past. It would be a bad thing for her to waist valuable years to the WT. I would have loved to be there and see the faces of the elders when she told them about the Andersons and the gravestone. Most likely they will influence her to keep away from you. Because the day she quits, they already know whom to blame. You are dangerous and are giving the elders more work to do. What does your roommate want the elders to do about the Anderson case? I don’t think her faith in the elders will last very long.

I would like to see them investigate the Russell-pyramid. Eventually they will come up with the new light explanation. When I first saw the pyramid as a JW I remember it gave me a very bad feeling which I couldn’t explain. A pyramid gravestone with a cross by the founder of the WTS, that was extremely confusing and disturbing to me then.

Thanks for exposing the WTS, keep us informed about the developments,

freetosee

15

Urban Legend

by Siddhashunyata in

jw
friends

don't know if this has been posted somewhere but i just received it in an email : ( for your encouragement.

"thought you'd all enjoy this experience.. > .

> this is an experience from andre' ramseyer, overseer, just back from the.

freetosee

I remember this blind dog story and as a young JW I found these legends very exiting.

Another one I remember is about a man walking on a street and a piece of paper flies into his eye. He flings the paper away but it keeps coming back at him no matter where he turns. Than he takes a look at the paper and sees a turn page of the WT advertising an offer for a free home bible study. The man is moved to make contact and became a JW.

A farmer who had a very aggressive attitude towards JW’s and would never let them witness to him, but chased them off his property, finally did become a JW. How so? As he has a publisher run for life, this terrified witness lost some of the literature on the way out. One of the cows found the magazine picked it up and started chewing on it. The farmer saw this and took it out of the mouth of the cow to put it in the garbage. On this way to the can he started looking at the beautiful pictures and is drawn to read what was left of it. The next time a JW came by he requested a bible study and eventually he and his family became witnesses.

This one might even be true; a man told the JW he is not interested but "I don’t mind you talking to my dog!" So the witness bends down to the dog and goes through his presentation and then says "Your dog would like to have the WT & Awake! and you to read it to him." The man paid for the printing cost (old) and became a JW.

A woman brought a book, I think it was the Paradise Book, that was offered to her at the door. When her husband came home and saw the book he throws it out the window. It hits a man walking on the street. The man grabs the book to throw it back, he looks around but cant find where it came from. Angrily he looks at what it is and starts reading… today he is a faithful JW.

A speaking parrot of JW’s flies out the window. Among other things he could say the family’s name and "God’s name is Jehovah!" the next day or so they get a call from the police to pick up their lost bird. At arrival the police officer asks them about the name ‘Jehovah’ and wants to learn more and he later got baptized.

A thief steals the service bag of a sister in street work. He runs away hiding and goes through the bag and reads the literature. A couple of days later he finds the sister to return her bag. He became a JW eventually.

All the many legends put emphasis on placing the most effective literature, none found the truth by reading the bible itself. I wonder why?

Freetosee

21

How about this one ?

by Free in

jw
friends

i was visiting some friends from out of state that had moved there from my hometown.

when one of the friends that was from their cong.

( pioneer ) said they wanted to get their time started before are 4 hour trip to a national park walked into a supermarket to hand out a tract.

freetosee

I noticed this time counting practice mainly with elders and pioneers. With the elders it took ages to approach the next door. Between the doors they like to have long "up-building" conversations. When I indicated to move on, I was told by an elder that he uses the time in service to do his shepherding work. And many pioneers before travelling to an RV briefly show a WT to a person on the street so that they can start counting their time.

Visiting California I was out with the group doing RV’s. We were six witnesses in a van and we would all six drive up to the RV together, two got out and enjoyed a lengthy visit while the other four of us waited in the car. And that is how it continued all day. I spent hours in the car that day and just got out once with a sister only to find out the person to be visited was not at home. So when we were back in the car I told everyone that I didn’t feel I was doing much service and felt like I was cheating counting this as time. I was told that I was out supporting the group and it is safer to do it this way.

Freetosee

23

New Avatar

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

i've changed my avatar, 'cos after a few comments on here about me being an 'old man' i realised that some people thought my old one was a pic of me.

it wasn't (honest) it ws a scan of a postcard.

i'm not that old (50).. so now, i'll use a pic of the car instead.

freetosee

Nice car! I look forward to more of your postings!

freetosee

63

Some apostates are more equal than others...

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

ever noticed that the most cleverest apostates are the ones that were "brought up in the truth"?

i mean people like little toe, leolaia and narkissos who provide the most intelligent dicsussions on the forum - they never chose the witnesses, but were dragged up in it.

do you think maybe they can't help but look down on the rest of us who were stupid enough to actually choose to become witnesses?

freetosee

I was born into JW life. My parents were very extreme, and we were brought up seeing the world the WT-way. Always being told how lucky we are and what advantage we have over other (being raised in the truth, never smoking,…). Worldly people even school friends were kept at a certain distance. Our life centred on the KH. Everybody ‘outside’ will be dead very soon anyway. “The world does not have the wonderful unity we enjoy!” So the WT fantasy world was my reality. Is was one experience to realise the truth about the WTS and JW life. It was yet another to comprehend the reality of the real world, with all it's good and bad, and find my way in it. What I noticed when I was young in that usually the people we meat in service who became witnesses were the ones with many problems, suffering from depression and loneliness. The happy people told me to enjoy life and don’t waist my time working for my church. I remember talking to my sisters about this, complaining that there are so many difficult and sad people getting baptized into our congregation. -Not saying there were no fun people- but the WT literature is designed for people going through turmoil. So anyone can fall victim. Joining or leaving the WT has not much to do with stupidity or intellect. I fell down to many times finding my way through, I have no reason to look down to anyone.

Freetosee