iamfreenow

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Posts by iamfreenow

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  52

  Describe Your Feelings When You KNEW It Wasn't The "Truth" After All

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when it finally registered that you did not really have the "truth" after all, what went thru your mind?

  .

  when things "clicked", what was your emotional state and what did you about it?.

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  iamfreenow

  Initially very angry that I'd spent my entire life, over 59 years, believing in falsehoods, and had succeeded in getting several others, including my eldest son to believe it as well.

  Also, I felt a great sense of disappointment that all the things I'd worked so hard to be part of weren't going to happen after all. I felt and still feel a deep sense of sadness for my many former friends who still put their faith in the false promises of the Watchtower Society. I hope that they, like me, will one day open their eyes and see the WT for what it really is, and leave.

  Nowadays, as a Christian, I am relieved to have finally found the true God, and not the Watchtower version.
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  52

  What are you reading?

  by Hortensia in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's rather quiet on the jwd forum tonight - probably you are all out partying, eh?

  i'm wondering what's in the pile of books by your chair or bed?

  i have a couple of mysteries, robert barnard's newest one and a really old arthur upfield.

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  iamfreenow

  I am reading Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple by Deborah Layton.

  A very good read in my opinion, and a warning to anyone thinking of joining a cult.
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  23

  Is it stealing to get lit without paying the borg for it?

  by SnakesInTheTower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm a pyromaniac.

  i want a fire on this thread and soon .

  so i wanted everyone's opinion on something.

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  iamfreenow

  The literature is "free", there is no price displayed, so how can it be stealing not to pay for it?

  Anyway, the Watchtower Society doesn'r say you have to give

  What financial contributions are expected of those attending meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses?

  Regarding money contributions, the apostle Paul said: "Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." ( 2 Corinthians 9:7 ) At the Kingdom Halls and convention auditoriums of Jehovah's Witnesses, no collections are ever taken. Boxes are placed so that it is convenient for any who wish to contribute to do so
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  40

  Favorite Classical Music Piece?

  by El Kabong in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm kind of partial to strauss....listening to "tales from the vienna woods" now......(with images of bugs bunny cartoons in my head).....what are your favorite classical pieces?

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  iamfreenow

  I love so many classical pieces it would be hard to pick one, but the one I play more than most is the Symphonie Fantastique, by Hector Berlioz. Here is a rendering of the 4th movement I found on youtube

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL8df-r2drM
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  7

  In your "opinion" are "DF" treated worse than "DA" ex-jws? Are equally?

  by booker-t in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i was growing up in the 70's you rarely heard about "so and so" has "disassociated" themselves and are no longer one of jw's.

  that was how i remember a jw's sister being announced as "da" in 1975. her family and my family were best friends and it sent chills down my family's back.

  i was very young and i kept asking my mom, "can we speak to sister x-witness" "is sister x-witness still a jw's" "will she be destroyed at armaggeddon?

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  iamfreenow

  In my experience, most people who disassociate by letter state their reasons for doing so, which in my letter was that I no longer believed in Watchtower doctrine. Therefore, the elders at least are aware why these peole have left, although in the Hall I attended gossip often circulated that the one leaving had done so out of shame because they wouldn't or couldn't meet Jehovah's standards. I very much doubt that anyone apart from the ones I sent personal letters to know that I left due to the research I had done,as it would not be in the eldes or the Society's interest to publicise that.

  Because I disassociated, I haven't been bothered by elders calling on me to see if I want to return, which tends to happen with those who are disfellowshipped, unless they request otherwise. I would imagine that those who leave for the reasons that I stated in my letter would be viewed as apostates, and thus considered to be more of a threat to the congregation than those disfellowshipped for say, sexual offences,smoking etc.
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  23

  Some people are just so kind

  by fullofdoubtnow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when our friend marion was baptised a few months ago, trev and i went to the service, and we briefly met a couple there who have become good friends with marion since she has been attending their church.

  they seemed very nice people, and since then have occasionally asked marion how we are.

  they gave her a lift to the hospital to see me last thursday, and could see how concerned she was about me, i was very unwell last week.

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  iamfreenow

  Trev and Linda just called, they arrived safely. The drive wasn't quite as long as Trev thought, and they got away at 3pm.

  They are just having a rest, then a walk on the beach. I'm sure they will have a lovely, restful break. I doubt I'll hear much from them before they are setting off back, but if I do I'll post it.

  Marion
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  44

  Trouble in Paradise??

  by Gill in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was having a look at the accounts of three local congs as i had heard a bit about the borg beginning to run low on cash as donations are falling.

  locally, i was very surprised to see the cash flow problems of these congregations.

  i had a look at other areas and saw that there were a minority making a small 'profit', a lot breaking even when it comes to contributions and a fair amount that are losing the plot financially.. congregation 1. accounts for 2005/06 income was short 19,000, yes, their expenditure was that much over their income.. congregation 2. accounts for 2005/06 income was short 11,000.. congregation3.

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  iamfreenow

  MR PRESIDING OVERSEER
  XXXXXXXX	MR OVERSEER XXXXXXXX
  	MR OVERSEER XXXXXXXX
  	MR OVERSEER SECRETARY XXXXXXX
  	MR OVERSEER XXXXXXXXXXX
  	MR OVERSEER XXXXXXXXXX

  That's how one of the Derby Congregations listed their Trustees.

  Don't they just love their titles?
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  5

  i don't know

  by Jerry1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i never was a witness, never been inside a kingdom hall.

  i lurk sometimes in this forum because i have one in my family.

  i am going to try out a similar conversation on her and would like to know how any of you would have answered these questions thanks jerry.

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  iamfreenow

  I will get back to you

  I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for him to do that
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  44

  Trouble in Paradise??

  by Gill in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was having a look at the accounts of three local congs as i had heard a bit about the borg beginning to run low on cash as donations are falling.

  locally, i was very surprised to see the cash flow problems of these congregations.

  i had a look at other areas and saw that there were a minority making a small 'profit', a lot breaking even when it comes to contributions and a fair amount that are losing the plot financially.. congregation 1. accounts for 2005/06 income was short 19,000, yes, their expenditure was that much over their income.. congregation 2. accounts for 2005/06 income was short 11,000.. congregation3.

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  iamfreenow

  Thankyou for that Gill

  I looked at all the local Congregations , and none seem to be doing particularly well. I looked at the lists of Trustees as well, and one Congregation, where the elders were always big on titles anyway, had Mr Presiding Overseer xxxxxxx. Mr Secretary xxxxxx etc as their list of Trustees, as if their titles would be of interest to a casual observer.
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  25

  What is the purpse of the Jehovahs witnesses

  by theyoungone in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have been on this site for a while looking around at all your comments and most of you have pretty good arguments and i am not trying to argue for either side i am just wondering and maybe this has already been discussed but what is the purpose of the jehovah's witnesses most of you believe that the jw organization is a cult and that they are controlling the minds of their people, but why are they trying to control the minds of the people?

  is it to get their money?

  is their reports of the jws having like billions of dollars stashed away?

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  iamfreenow

  Hello theyoungone, and welcome.

  Agapa 37 said

  The purpose of JWS are to preach, teach and make disciples. Jesus commanded his followers to spread the Goodnew of Gods Kingdom. That is JWS number one priority. Also, there purpose is to serve the Tue God Jehovah, like his son Jesus did. Jesus said he made his name known amoung men and will continue to. JWS represent The true God.

  I used to believe that, for most of my 60 years. Many JWs still believe it, and it would be wonderful if the leaders of the Watchtower Society shared the same altruistic motives, but they do not.

  Their purpose, if one can call it that, is to maintain control over the 6 million or so they have indoctrinated by any means at their disposal, whether it be by evasive tactics or outright lies. Whatever it takes, they will do it to uphold their authority and maintain the comfortable lifestyle they have built for themselves over the years. Any threats to their authority, in the shape of JWs who begin to see through the man made nature of their doctrine, and dare to challenge them, are quickly eliminated by disfellowshipping.