Posts by OnTheWayOut

15

Higher Education - is it really the end of the WT?

by OutsiderLookingIn in

as a non-jw, before i started looking into things, i must say i only encountered intelligent jws.

so i was quite surprised to read here and in the pew report about their low overall educational achievement.

granted, my exposure was limited (less than a handful of people over a lifetime) but i met two of them in post-college education (graduate school) at a very good school.

OnTheWayOut

I say all that to ask, why do people believe that higher education is a sign of trouble ahead for the WT? Is it because they’re going against official stance on education? If they still hold up the party line (no birthdays, pride in being a JW, even field service), then what is the excitement about? It’s a great personal achievement for sure, but in my experience, it doesn’t mean they’re moving from the WT. I’ll add that this was all within the last 10 years in case that makes a difference to your analysis.

In many cases, a good education will not wake someone up to the fact that Watchtower is a doomsday cult. But the statistics suggest those will be the minority as the level of good education increases.

First of all, properly educated people learn that man really did evolve from lower life forms, and they learn that the earth could not have had a global flood thousands of years ago, let alone that a small group survived that. Going beyond learning that the Bible is a fairytale, properly educated people learn to question everything. EVERYTHING. The only stronghold Watchtower has over that is lifelong training to tell it's members to question everything EXCEPT THEM. So smug JW's getting an education will fool themselves into believing that they do question everything, and they will allow God to be the exception and they will allow Watchtower to be God's mouthpiece.

The reason that often doesn't hold up is because most JW's are not smug, many who get an education value the education over strict obedience to the letter of Watchtower's commands, and education teaches them that there exists flawed thinking. When members discover that flawed thinking, they see some of it within the pages of Watchtower magazines.

Philosophy can destroy a faithful JW also. Philosophy will help them understand that if God wants to aid strangers to the "truth," God can do better than sending goofy people to their door on Saturday morning. And philosophy will further teach them that God should not see people as inherently bad because they don't become JW's. Philosophy is a huge part of a proper education.

24

Things JWs Say VS What A Normal Person Would Say...

by JW_Rogue in

when someone says "merry christmas" or "happy holidays".... a normal person: responds in kind.

a jw: says "thank you" or launches into a speech about christmas' pagan roots.

when a couple is celebrating their wedding anniversary... .

OnTheWayOut

When someone says "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"...
A JW: Says "Thank you" or launches into a speech about Christmas' pagan roots

If only that was it- "Thank you." I find they often need to declare the latter or some such thing. When asked if they enjoyed their "holiday," they need to say how they enjoyed "time off from work."

When a friend gets a promotion at work...
A JW: Are you sure you'll be able to make your meetings still?

....or reminds the person how Satan is pulling at them.

When someone passes away...
A JW: Launches into a speech about the resurrection

....and further declares how YOU must stay faithful to Jehovah if you ever want to see that person again.

22

Russell's chronology was right after all!

by Vanderhoven7 in

the kingdom of god is already begun, which is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in a.d. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of god almighty" which will end in 1914 with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced.. i just did the math....and russell was right.

christ returned invisibly in 1874 and took rulership (restored kingdom reign) in 1878.. 2520 years minus 607 when jerusalem was destroyed = 1913 (accounting for no year zero) = 1914. that`s 2520 - 607 = 2014. but wait, that`s 2520 prophetic years of 360 days, not solar days of 365.25 days.

to convert to solar days then one must multuiply 2520 x 365.25 which gives us 2,484 actual years.

OnTheWayOut

I am confident that there are any number of Bible dates and rules to apply and come up with any convenient date for the Great Tribulation or the second coming or Armageddon. It's magic.

It helps to pluck 607 BCE out of thin air. How can one argue with such a date? Well- except for this: The Book GENTILE TIMES RECONSIDERED.

72

Waking up - introduction

by Dreamerdude in

i am a male, born into the jw cult(ure), baptized as a teen, now mid fifties.

most of my life i dreamed of hugging pandas and lions, punctuated at times by nightmares of armageddon or jw drama and politics.

still going through the motions for still-in wife.

OnTheWayOut

DreamerDude, you will become my kindred spirit.

I am in my young 50's and my wife is still a captive to the JW's. I have read the same things and more, as I have been out close to 10 years now, purely from waking up because of the things they try to pass by us.

Good luck rescuing your wife. I won't go into my efforts because I don't want to discourage you- your outcome can be completely different. But I never give up hope and look for opportunities still.

I hope to hear more from you. I am in middle USA. I meet with many other former JW's and even travel to Flippers Summer gathering of ex-JW's in South Lake Tahoe, California every year.

6

PRINCE's Playlist (Only for the curious)

by Terry in

jw
friends

i'm so old, i can remember when these things were called mix tapes!https://drive.google.com/folderview?.

i've compiled the above into .mp3 below:.

id=0b6a8sp5_psf-mfrys0lxcvracwm&usp=sharing.

OnTheWayOut

High five, JRK. I see what you did there to our [Prince of JWN].

34

Would we exist if Adam and Eve didn't sin?

by truth doubter in

my son asked me 40 years ago.

should we be glad adam sinned?

because if he hadn't, we would not be the person we are.. any opinions?

OnTheWayOut

Would I exist if my parents each didn't get all those childhood visits from the toothfairy?

Really, it's just as valid a question.

32

what sort of reactions have you gotten when talking to other jw when telling them the "truth about the truth"?

by AmIright in

its funny ive read some stories on here about how they have become so infuriated by what logic dictates as being true and their own denying of it because it completely screws up their belief and shows how hypocritical it is xd some look like a nuclear reactor about to blow xd.

share you experiences here :) .

OnTheWayOut

I wish I could say that Outlaw's post would be just a joke, but I literally got that reaction.
(And I use the word "literally" literally.)

what sort of reactions have you gotten when talking to other jw when telling them the "truth about the truth"?

................... Image result for la la la la la i cant hear you

15

a unique situation

by stuckinthemiddle in

jw
friends

i think i have a unique involvement with jws.

i'm not a baptized member.

my mother has been devout for over 20 years.

OnTheWayOut

I hope I am understanding your opening post correctly. I had to read the beginning a couple of times to realize that the person you coincidentally met as a disfellowshipped JW was the same person who is your partner.

Anyway, it sounds like the pioneer comes around for a nice easy hour or more of time when she studies with you. It's all about getting time. I doubt she expects you to ever progress or she would push to come more often. J

W treatment of your partner is due to the disfellowshipping. They are supposed to shun him, not even greet him. Some either are not aware of the situation or are nice to him despite what they are supposed to do. His family overlooks the command to shun because they are family, and probably because nobody in the congregation is aware of their not following rules.

Your mother sounds like a believer in the JW's, but she is also trying to be a good mother and allows her true self to shine through beyond the JW rules. Either way, she doesn't have to shun you and she (along with your partner's parents) can claim "necessary family business" as a reason why they don't shun your partner.

I never figured out what RESP is.

Lastly, grandparents want to be grandparents. Let them spoil the kids a bit and keep straightening it out the best you can. If they want to know what happened to the things they spoiled the kids with, be straight up and say, "They felt that someone else would enjoy that." or whatever the truth is. But I wouldn't want to try to stop/change them on that.

53

Here is what kind of person (Prince) a celebrity JW is

by Terry in

jw
friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lhcparuzpc

OnTheWayOut

It all makes perfect sense now.
With this video (repasted below) by myelaine, I have it all figured out.
Prince thinks he is an artist above all the pretenders and copiers.
Terry is the "Prince" of JWN with statements like this:

You don’t know shit! All you have is a strong opinion.
Now, I’ll give you my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=H4k-d88BEsI

17

The Law of Unintended Consequences

by Londo111 in

the governing body/watchtower unduly influences millions into extreme beliefs and behaviors.

and i suspect folks like anthony morris thinks his flock is not obedient or strict enough and there are many rules and teachings the governing body would love to enact but do not have the votes, or even they have the sense enough to know it would go too far.

however, i can’t help how by the time their edicts filter down to the rank and file jw, it causes unintended consequences.

OnTheWayOut

Likely, they did not intend to become rock stars.