Posts by concerned elder

F. Zygmunt's article "PropheticFailure and ChiliasticIdentity: The Case of Jehovah's Witnesses," published in the American Journal

17

hi guys, i'm hoping that you may be able to answer a question for me as you seem to have a pretty broad range of experience with the jws, about a year ago i met the most fantastic woman i've ever met, we 'clicked' straight away went on a few dates, held hands, cuddled in country pubs but i never got more than a peck on the lips when we said goodbye.

she soon informed me that she was a jw, i didn't really know anything about them except for when they knock on my door on a saturday, so i said ok, we'll deal with it.

she's adamant that we can't be together unless i'm a jw too, i know that this doesn't have to be the case but it's her decision.

concerned elder

I will address your question from the standpoint of an active elder in the congregation of JW's. Although I strongly disagree with the outcome of how your girlfriends situation would be handled, I will tell you as one who has been behind the closed doors of the KH library many times, (a place no JW would like to be), I know that your girlfriend, a sister in the cong., would be strongly counseled against such a relationship, she would possibly be disciplined for her actions, undoubtedly in private, but disciplined non the less.

JW's are strongly counseled to avoid any kind of relationship with an outsider. And maybe this sister is allowing her heart to motivate her into thinking that she can change you and bring you around to her religious viewpoints. But be assurred, if she is honest in her heart, it will not even be considered that she should consider changing for you.

The harsh reality of the situation is only unhappiness for the both of you unless either you converted or she abandoned her faith. Would you want to start a life long relationship with that hanging in the back ground?

I for one an growing more and more concerned with the lack of flexibility of the interior structure of the organization and although I have been a thorn in the side of many brothers over issues such as this, I am now making my plans to exit the organization due to their unwillingness to adjust to life and the complexities that we all seem to face from time to time.

My very best to you and I hope, no matter what decision you make, that you be open, honest and straight forward with you girlfriend and that she do the same for you.

4

Governing Body

by concerned elder in

for those who may be interested in a detailed discussion of the gb please go to posts under watchtower society / bible research and study articles / p287 topic jw's and eccisastical authority

concerned elder

Link request:

Simply go to home page of JWD and under the subject column Watchtower Society click on Bible Research and Study Articles / than go to page 287 and you will find the topic Jehovahs Witnesses and Eccesiastical Authority. From there you may request a detailed article concerning the GB

4

Governing Body

by concerned elder in

for those who may be interested in a detailed discussion of the gb please go to posts under watchtower society / bible research and study articles / p287 topic jw's and eccisastical authority

concerned elder

For those who may be interested in a detailed discussion of the GB please go to posts under WatchTower Society / Bible Research and Study Articles / p287 Topic JW's and Eccisastical Authority

25

Jehovahs Witnesses and Ecclesiastical Authority

by concerned elder in

i have research the subject throughly and would be willing to share with those who have an interest.. concerned elder.

concerned elder

For anyone interested in receiving a copy of my study can contact me directly at [email protected] or simply post an email address that I can send to you.

Side note: I appreciate the words of Jedi's second response but I do believe strongly that I as well as many I have come into contact with are clearly determined to allow the research to speak for itself. Although the findings could be defined as biased or opposed to WBTS teachings the process of obtaining those findings were and still are unbiased from the standpoint of the researchers. I was simply determined to find an answer to a challenging question possed to me and my research determined my change of thought. I agree with Jedi in not quibbleing over words and that is good advise. I on the otherhand try and avoid words that have a deffinate negative slant. Respect for the thinking of others as well as the opposing subject demands this.

For those of you who have contacted me with words of thoughtfulness and respect for the materials found (as well as your welcoming me to JWD) I thank you and look forward to further discussion and contact. The present study took me over 6 months to produce but I have numerous other subjects I am working on that I will gladly post as they near completion. In the mean time, thank you for your interest.

With regard to the post asking me what I will do now: My future is my own and I am planning on making changes in my life but they will be made in such a way as to make the transition as easy to bear to my family and those whom I love as painless as possible. I may be hoping for too much but I will proceed with this approach regardless. I will walk away with as clean and clear a conscience as can possibly be achieved.

MJDera

25

Jehovahs Witnesses and Ecclesiastical Authority

by concerned elder in

i have research the subject throughly and would be willing to share with those who have an interest.. concerned elder.

concerned elder

It's difficult to understand why Jedi feels my views are biased when in fact the entire study used sources other than my own. But all are entitled to their own view.