Posts by OnTheWayOut

25

Do elders feel any different after they are appointed?

by dido in

jw
friends

i`d like to ask all ex elders and current elders (lot`s of new ones on the forum today), if they feel any different after they were appointed?

like a special portion of `j`s spirit`, or did they feel the same?

OnTheWayOut

I was appointed sometime before the 1995 doctrine changes. It was a work assignment, nothing more, but I felt that I should do it for

Jehovah. I moved and was not an appointed elder when the 1995 change came. I was disturbed and when I was asked later to be an

elder again, I thought I would get that extra portion of spirit to clear up my misunderstanding. Of course, I didn't. I always wanted to

step down since then, but figured I could do the work. NO SPECIAL FEELINGS UNTIL I STEPPED DOWN RECENTLY. YeeHaa!

64

How much influence did the internet have on you leaving the organization?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

untitled document  discoveries about the organization on the internet admittedly, had it not been for the internet, and all of the dis-.

coveries that were found on it; i would still be one of jehovah's .

witnesses.

OnTheWayOut

The point of the Witness teaching is that God had chosen them and divested them of their "Babylonish" teachings.

Yes, that is the point. Even if claiming they are not prophets, the GB claims Jesus' guidance (used to be an angel) by saying he

appointed them over all his belongings. I expect that every change since 1919 would be correct. A DISCREET slave would never

run ahead with guesses saying they are God's promises, such as "the generation of 1914" and other predictions that might be wrong.

They would say, "Nobody knows the day or hour, and we are the same. We need further clarification, but it might be possible that

Jesus meant..." They might also just say, "We don' t know."

64

How much influence did the internet have on you leaving the organization?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

untitled document  discoveries about the organization on the internet admittedly, had it not been for the internet, and all of the dis-.

coveries that were found on it; i would still be one of jehovah's .

witnesses.

OnTheWayOut

I am not going to go buy the Russell books on CDROM to confirm OLD GOAT is right or wrong. I only have the internet version of

what happened to learn from. That's part of the problem. The Proclaimers Book had the opportunity to present the information in a

clear understandable way. Same about 1975. The Governing Body chooses to hide it's past regrets. Even in the recent past,

doctrine that isn't repeated, they hope we forget. I haven't read any updates on the start of the 7th creative day sometime after Eve

was created. The GB abandoned the "We are a prophet" statements from the past, now saying they are not infallible, because they

need to be wrong once-in-a-while. What's the truth from "The Truth" about Beth Sarim? How about an open understanding about how

the NWT came about? Tell us what led to decisions about Bethel Layoffs, and how the Bethelites feel about the deal.

I am starting to see why people are so hard on the WTS on these threads. Stuff just gets to you.

36

If the UN dissolves...will the WTS recover?

by AuldSoul in

there is a public groundswell of support within the united states of america, inc. for the us to withdraw from the un.

while this departing of one-half of the seventh king (and the "king of the south") could be prophetically spun into a harmless twist and twang on an old saw, the general consensus seems to be that the un would have great difficulty maintaining orderliness within its ranks.

also, there is a strong argument to be made that without us financial backing the un would fold due to a shortage of funding.. although it isn't particularly likely, it is certainly a possibility.

OnTheWayOut

They have recovered from far greater changes in doctrine and false prediction. A number would fall away, but another big preaching recruitment drive would bring in a whole new base of followers that wouldn't even know about the UN. A bit like 1975

Yes. I lean toward agreement. There would be a serious number falling away, though. The King of the North and South is a bit

complicated for the average witness to follow, as the kings have changed over the years, according to doctrine.

But the teaching about the United Nations is pretty clear. The spin will be along the lines of "The League of Nations was eventually

revived as the UN" but JWs being told the end is imminent won't buy it. New recruits will learn as much as post-1975 people learned

about that fiasco.

16

How accountable is the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

untitled document  should the governing body of jehovah's witnesses be held accountable?

understandably, this question is going to create some controversy.

however, think for one moment?

OnTheWayOut

I think that they are accountable for the way they have tied heavy burdens upon the Witnesses just as the Pharisees did in Jesus' day.

Good point. They say the Bible is the guide. The guide says that Jesus held Pharisees accountable for their actions. The GB is accountable for the heavy burdens they have put upon people.

16

How accountable is the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

untitled document  should the governing body of jehovah's witnesses be held accountable?

understandably, this question is going to create some controversy.

however, think for one moment?

OnTheWayOut

For those of you who have read the exceptional account of Raymond Franz' Crisis of Conscience there is no doubt you may have a different perspective regarding the matter.

We can't help but answer from Ray Franz's book. It's clear that many members know that some teachings are wrong, but don't want to bring them up for a 2/3rds vote, because

A) they will lose the vote

B) Other GB members will know their viewpoint, possibly regard them as lacking faith

C) Rank and File are not going to take the new light well, many would leave the org.

If all of these brothers were sure this is "God's Will" then JW who did not read apostate literature would know how things work.

I imagine some are convinced that this is Jehovah's way of doing things. I'll guess "two."

64

How much influence did the internet have on you leaving the organization?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

untitled document  discoveries about the organization on the internet admittedly, had it not been for the internet, and all of the dis-.

coveries that were found on it; i would still be one of jehovah's .

witnesses.

OnTheWayOut

Also, the internet taught me about the UN scandal (no idea before 2006). While I knew of problems, I did not know the

extent as far as silentlambs was concerned with abusers not seeing justice. I had never watched the long videos about

the WTS before the internet (detailed history of Russell, Rutherford, Knorr and Fred Franz). I did not know much about

the house in California, the trips, who really translated the Greek and Hebrew. I had never considered the misinterpretation

of scriptures about blood, before the internet.

64

How much influence did the internet have on you leaving the organization?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

untitled document  discoveries about the organization on the internet admittedly, had it not been for the internet, and all of the dis-.

coveries that were found on it; i would still be one of jehovah's .

witnesses.

OnTheWayOut

I have not left yet - but - Randys site www.freeminds.org was very instrumental is getting myself to ask all sorts of questions

Almost the same here. I already decided that JWs were wrong about so much stuff. I poured myself into research using only the

WT Library. Finally, I went to freeminds and lo and behold, I could have saved myself weeks/months of research and read stuff in a

few hours on the same stuff. I also found out that I needed to read Crisis of Conscience from freeminds. That clinched my decision

to start the withdrawal.

24

Do you believe that you are the only ones that will be saved?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htmdo you believe that you are the only ones who will be saved?no.

many millions who have lived in centuries past and who were not jehovah's witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life.

many now living may yet take a stand for truth and righteousness before god's time of judgment, and they will gain salvation.

OnTheWayOut

I think that we are told that people who have died as NON-JW have a good chance of resurrection, so that Witnesses and Bible Students feel that their relatives stand a chance. It gives hope.

70

NEWBIES how many of you

by plmkrzy in

jw
friends

have joined in the past month or two?.

i can't keep up there seems to be so many so i wanted to start a welcome thread for new newbies.. sorry if this was already done recently.. note: the in-built search system is currently being redeveloped so i am not able to check for this topic without looking through tons of pages.. anyway...say hello!.

plm.

OnTheWayOut

I am a newbie. Been reading for a short while from freeminds.org links. Once I just had to respond to a thread, I just kept going. I really like getting it out of my system, as I am still in the congregation (You can read my biography).