a recently published book, by best selling author eugene walker has started creating a buzz inside the jehovahs witness community.
in his new book, "jehovah's witnesses exposed - what really goes on inside the kingdom hall walls", eugene walker brings to light hidden issues that many jehovah's witnesses now face in the organisation.. .
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/11/prweb13083118.htm.
STEVE2 Eugene strongly warns the reader by saying: “Now if you’re reading this and your conscious is not ready to be shocked beyond belief, then stop reading here. Really. It means this book is not for you
Is that your typo or from the website? It should be conscience, not conscious.
my wife is taking a literature course at a local college.
this was her final topic of the semester: why rational people buy into conspiracy theories?i automatically thought of this site and of jws.
the jws i knew, were the kind of people that would believe in conspiracy theories, and i noticed a small following on this site.. the article that was referenced for this course was: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/magazine/why-rational-people-buy-into-conspiracy-theories.html?_r=0.
Anyway whether inside job or more to the story or not, it won't change my life so I don't waste time thinking about it since my initial research.Yeah, that is the problem. You read the conspiracy theories, believed it and stopped thinking about it. Did you read anything critical of those conspiracy theories? How much fact checking did you do? Do you know the background and motivations of those who are making these accusations? What about them makes you certain they are being honest and have the expertise to analyze these issues? Have you considered your own motivation in buying into this theory? Does the idea that the government is in a vast conspiracy appeal to you for some reason?
my wife is taking a literature course at a local college.
this was her final topic of the semester: why rational people buy into conspiracy theories?i automatically thought of this site and of jws.
the jws i knew, were the kind of people that would believe in conspiracy theories, and i noticed a small following on this site.. the article that was referenced for this course was: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/magazine/why-rational-people-buy-into-conspiracy-theories.html?_r=0.
i was watching the news about the french terrorist attacks.
not getting into that but i notice the media is churning it over a bit, now.
moving switly on; there were prayers for peace reported.. question: what do those praying for peace think that god will actually do about their prayers?.
I don't get offended when people say they are praying for Paris, I think most people just mean they are thinking of them and hope thelat God brings them some spiritual confort in a time of sorrow, I think most people know that God isn't actually going to do anything concrete.
after 1975, the vast majority remained as though nothing has happened.
but some left the organization.
however, there arose a third category who did not leave the organization, but brought a new view into their heart: jws are right in their core cause (gods kingdom as the solution to mankinds problems) but may or may not be right in their supplementary teachings, hence are not bothered about changes happening in this unimportant area..
But here are many people like me still enjoying the countless benefits of JW system by being right in its midst supporting its good contributions,
The contributions the Jehovah's Witnesses have made? What would that be exactly?
The preaching work? For all the hours spent in the ministry, what have they accomplished? Growth is no more than the population growth and most people couldn't tell you what the Jehovah's Witnesses believe, and that's only in Western countries, most people in China have probably never heard of them. Most of the hours reported are spent on coffee breaks, driving around, the meeting for service or standing by a literature cart, in other words completely wasted.
Perhaps you think they have made contributions in people's lives? If the Jehovah's Witness way of life is so much better, why do they have the lowest retention rate of any religion? Why are there so many suicides? Why is there so much depression? Why do they have so many problems with pedophiles? Why are so many reporting that there is no love on the congregations, no joy, no support? Why are the meetings so dry, repetitive and boring?
No, the Jehovah's witnesses have nothing to offer, that is why they are having money troubles right now. If the Jehovah's Witnnesses were happy and fulfilled in their lives they would be gladly supporting the Watchtower with their pocketbooks, but they aren't. If the preaching work was effective there would be growth and the Watchtower wouldn't be shutting down half finished projects and laying people off. Instead of taking care of the spiritual needs of their members, the governing body is consumed with coming up with new ways of getting money and obsessing over tight pants and colorful socks.
So there are no benefits to the Jehovah's Witness way of life, or not any that are better than what any other religion offers. I have attended a few churches, their services were more interesting and spiritually fulfilling that any meeting at a Kingdom Hall. There was love and beautiful music and genuine caring for each other. I was a Jehovah's Witness for thirty years, since I have left I have become a better and happier person. Being a Jehovah's Witness kept me from being my best self, it held me back and taught me nothing useful. It is a religion of fear, obligation and guilt.
While this is a horrible tragedy, it's not the end of the world, or even the beginning of the end of the world. 127 lives were lost, in a most brutal and horrific way, but the threat to any one individual is still really quite small, so try to keep things in perspective. The threat is real, but it is not hopeless.
last night we were invited to a get-together with quite a few heavies attendingelders and regular pioneers.
there was beer and later some music.
everyone got relaxed and let down their guard and starting talking all kinds of non-theocratic stuff that you only discuss after a few beers.
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201511/organized-religion-dying/.
pot calling the kettle black?
no one can do it better than the wt!.
Yes, people are getting disillusioned with religion, which is why the Watchtower is having trouble paying the bills. Since they have the lowest retention rate of any religion right now obviously young Jehovah's Witnesses are are not finding them trustworthy at alll. They have a lot of nerve trying to pretend they are not being affected as much as any other religion, if not more so.
But I guess they are going with the best defence being a good offence, point the finger at others before they point it at you.
thousands of mormons have simultaneously tendered their resignation from the cult following secret changes to the handbook that further discriminated against gay members and the children of gay couples.. "last week secret revisions to the handbook for the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints was leaked to the public, sparking a furious backlash and ultimately resulting in the mass resignations.
" source....
i'm a non-jw guy.. joined this forum 2 weeks ago to learn about jw.
i enjoy the valuable intelligence, humor, and "community" it provides.. question:.
it appears that a non-jw guy is "off limits" to a jw girl-gal.
I mean is she thinking that since the guy is in "the world" that, no matter how nice he has been, he must be inspired by satan or something?
Not exactly, but he is considered "worldly", and that's not a good thing. JWs are discouraged from forming friendships outside the organization, and that goes double for romantic relationships. They do believe that Satan is always trying to mislead them, so she might see it as Satan tempting her.
Has she likely consulted w/JW family members or JW friends who negatively influence her?
It's very possible, or she might have kept the relationship secret, it's not something she could be open about.
Or, have her "brainwashed" beliefs just short-circuited her ability to think rationally?
Yes.
Does she likely experience "mixed emotions"?
Yes. There are more women than men in the organization, it makes it hard for women to find a suitable partner. She is probably quite attracted to you, but at the same time to marry outside the religion is socially unacceptable. They also are quite strict about sex outside of marriage, so that can create a lot of guilt, if that has happened between you, or if she has even thought about it.
It's hard for a non cult member to get how much they manipulate their members. It is a religion of guilt. They disfellowship and shun people, for things most people consider normal. They use guilt, fear and obligation to keep people in line. She might sleep with you in a moment of weakness, then feel guilty and confess to the elders. This might lead to being privately counseled, what they call "reproof", or public reproof, or disfellowshiping, it depends on the elders. If disfellowshiped, her family and friends would shun her, it might be months, if not years before she would be allowed back. It's not a good thing to go through.
I wish I could be more hopeful, but this is how it is. We have had a lot of people come here with similar stories, it doesn't usually end well, the deck is stacked against you.
