i'm a new poster as well as being new to jw's (currently having bible studies) and i have been researching the religion to make sure i go into it fully understanding what it is about, and what implications it would have on my life.
i am 20, a single parent with a child and although i was brought up being told 'the truth' by my mum, only have early memroes of attending kh.
they are now trying to suck me back in but i have grave reservations and would lke everyone's opinion/view/advice.
They already told you to run for your life.
If you want to give presents on Dec. 26th, and they say you can't...
If you want to go on unchaperoned dates with a non-JW, and they say you can't...
If you want to have gay friends, and they say you can't...
WHY LISTEN TO THEM. The rest, read on...
many ex jws and faders agree that being shunned, or the thought of being shunned, is the hardest part of leaving the wts, and undoubtedly keeps many in who would rather be out.
i wonder what would happen if the majority of current jws defied the rule and refused to shun leavers.
would there be mass df'ings, which would leave the ranks somewhat depleted, or would the wts be forced to change it's rules?.
If it were mostly one congregation or one area, they would probably try the mass DF to scare the rest into falling in line.
If it were widespread everywhere, it would be the CO's talk and a District Convention part and a WT study.
They might still try DF for a few here-and-there to scare the rest.
This would be similar to the 1980's shake-up in New York, removing Bethelites who were
READING THE BIBLE ALONE.
if it's called 'judicial', i don't see why you can't
If the accused wishes to bring witnesses who can speak
in his defense regarding the matter, he may do so.However, observers are not permitted.
These witnesses will be called in to speak their piece, then dismissed again.
They will not stay IN the committee meeting room with the accused.
if any have followed my latest thead you know that i am scheduled for 'termination' by a jc in about two weeks time.. i am deciding what if anything to do about the matter - i.e; da letter, just ignore and let then df me, or some other option.
one appealing option is writng a da letter, not to the elders, but instead to three or four former friends in the truth, explaining the reasons for my exit, based entirely on conscience.
i have the base of this letter underway, but would like to list succinctly three or four of the more significant matters of moral interpetude by the wts.
AuldSoul has some pretty good ones.
who is the biggest villain in watchtower history?
let's have a poll.
here are the candidates with a few possible reasons for voting for each:.
7. Ray Franz
I hate putting him on the list of possibles.
Ray Franz is my hero. He tried to stay and make changes.
He was sincere (wrong, but sincere- all former JWs were WRONG including me)
Once he couldn't make changes, he left and tried to avoid DF (like many on the JWD).
Once DF, he spoke up louder than many others have, revealing information to help others become AWOKE.
He clearly rejects Jehovah's Witnesses doctrines, even if he won't satisfy the masses with a verbal rejection of some of them.
i am new to the site, although i have been a lurker for quite some time.
i was very nervous to create an account.
all of the people i work for and with are jw's and we are all family.
Welcome.
I am active, but slowly becoming inactive. Like you, I don't want to lose family by DA or DF. (More if you read my biography)
I am not really able to preach, like you. Unlike you, I decided to quit the School. I still comment.
If I go out in field service (don't much, just turn in a couple hours) I share a scripture and offer a Bible study.
Nobody is really interested if you use the direct method. If someone says YES, turn them over to a
pioneer. (If you feel guilty doing that, start the study, on the first or second visit say
"I would never google JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES or WATCHTOWER. There's too much hate information there."
They will check it out.
as many of you know i`ve just got back to the board in the last little while..what did i learn yesterday?..the generation of 1914 means nothing..nothing!
!..back in the day,you could have been disfellowshipped for such a remark..disfellowshipped!
!..what did you think and how did you feel when you found out the generation of 1914,now means nothing?.....outlaw
Post 1995: This Generation = People contemporary with the sign who take no notePass Away = Destruction by God at Armageddon
All these things = The entire sign including Armageddon
Put this all together and you get something like this:
"Those contemporary with the sign who take no note will not be detroyed by God at Armageddon until the entire sign is fulfilled and Armageddon occurs."
......The JW's have reduced the statement to a semantic nil while at the same time, patting themselves on the back for their "Clearer understanding."
Sheer genius, I will use this reasoning. Thanks, TD
as many of you know i`ve just got back to the board in the last little while..what did i learn yesterday?..the generation of 1914 means nothing..nothing!
!..back in the day,you could have been disfellowshipped for such a remark..disfellowshipped!
!..what did you think and how did you feel when you found out the generation of 1914,now means nothing?.....outlaw
Post 1995 - the "generation " refers to individuals around at the time of christ's presence. These individuals being independant of 1914 or any other date. The end of the system of things is therefore no longer dependant on 1914.
the term "generation" as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics. -WT 11/1/95 p.17
What this means is, the WT will later tell us what the historic period is, but it is the modern generation starting "around 1914" and continuing until people have different characteristics. Since this is "the time of the end," they will say that this generation continues until the end, WHENEVER THAT IS. All people are experiencing the common characteristics of people living faint out of fear and fulfilling all the stuff at 2Tim 3:1-5. BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I never believed it, only thought my understanding might clear up if I continued to listen to the FDSGoverning Body.
as many of you know i`ve just got back to the board in the last little while..what did i learn yesterday?..the generation of 1914 means nothing..nothing!
!..back in the day,you could have been disfellowshipped for such a remark..disfellowshipped!
!..what did you think and how did you feel when you found out the generation of 1914,now means nothing?.....outlaw
I was 9 when it was changed in 1995, and I don't remember it. I asked a few of my JW friends around my age and none them had heard of it either. I found it amazing how easily the Society managed to cover up such a major teaching in such a short amount of time.
Whatever doctrine is not constantly repeated in the Watchtower is forgotten. That is the plan. 10 years from now, virtually nobody will talk about it in the organization. It's almost forgotten now.
GENERATIONS severely stumbled me. (In retrospect, GENERATIONS severely woke me up) It was beat into me during my indoctrination in the late 1980's that the end was "right around the corner."
who is the biggest villain in watchtower history?
let's have a poll.
here are the candidates with a few possible reasons for voting for each:.
It's a toss up between Rutherford and Freddie the Frog Franz. ..........I'd have to say Freddie Franz is the biggest villian
I essentially agree with everything Mary said. Fred got the universally rejected NWT into our hands, now we use the flawed Bible to prove the flawed doctrine is right. He tied everything together with double triple fulfillments of prophecy. He made the WTS out to be a prophet.
Rutherford was a flim-flam lawyer who just used those of us who were suckers. Fred had greater influence and ran amuck with it.
