OnTheWayOut

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Posts by OnTheWayOut

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  19

  Hello again

  by BlackWolf in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello everyone, it's been a while since i've posted anything on here so i thought i might give an update.

  next month i turn 18 and my mom is constantly berating me about getting baptized, so much so that my siblings have even told her to stop.

  ive just been flat out telling her no which i know is irritating her.

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  OnTheWayOut

  You stood your ground so well. You can be short on explanations with Mom and Dad if you are sure it will just hurt them to try to explain. But you have said so much and gotten so far, and you are a non-baptized human being with valid thoughts. Tell them what you think you need to. And you have helped your siblings so well. They may come around and be your best friends as adults because of your honesty and willingness to say what you said.

  I am also confident that your siblings have not looked anything JW up on the internet, but sooner or later they will.
  
  It sounds like you are prepared well to proceed with whatever comes your way. But I tend to agree that it is already time to make progress with the non-JW relatives. Thanks for the update.
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  33

  Wanting Less Involvement (long newbie story)

  by DepthsResounding in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was raised a jw and am currently pioneer in a foreign language congregation.

  i have been unhappy on and off with my involvement in this religion and am ready to step back again.

  growing up i was always active but extremely reserved and a low hour publisher.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Wonderful of you to share. I wish you well. As far as slow exits, many do them. With immediate family already inactive, you might find it not so bad to make a bit faster progress. At least get off that pioneer list ASAP and start working more on a paying job.

  The ex-JW, non-JW dating dilema is a problem for many. Some spend time with other ex-JW's to vent and bring their non-JW spouse along to learn.

  We would love it if you keep us updated.
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  23

  Will there ever be an apology from GB for going beyond what's written ?

  by Chook in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just a simple " we are sorry " .

  .

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  OnTheWayOut

  Governing Body : "Shame on you if you run ahead of us or read the Bible alone or decide matters with your conscience without consulting Watchtower pubs, and also for not doing your own independent research so you can keep quiet about disagreeing with us until we admit that everyone is to blame for following our lead."

  I hope that covers all bases.
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  37

  Police cordon around Honiton's Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses after fatal stabbing

  by ShirleyW in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey uk folks, what's going with this story?

  was it an unbelieving mate that attacked and elder or something?.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Maybe they will take the Trump road and call it fake news.
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  17

  Online Donations for Conventions

  by Funchback in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.jw.org/en/whats-new/online-convention-donations/.

  online donations for conventions.

  donations to support the annual conventions of jehovah’s witnesses may now be made online from a number of countries.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Thanks for showing me one more step they are taking in the very direction they criticized "Christendom" for not so long ago.
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  26

  Last of the big conventions?

  by NikL in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  had lunch with some friends during today's waste of time convention.

  they spoke of the rumor floating around that the jws will move away from these big regional conventions and have them at assembly halls and tie them in to kingdom halls.. they seemed to believe it was a pretty reliable source.. i think it would be too good to be true but who knows?.

  anyone else heard this rumor?.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Money facts are money facts. When they did not make money from the voluntary donations for food service, they pulled it so fast and told members to bring baloney sandwiches.

  If big conventions are not making money, or more money can be made by figuring out how to utilize Assembly Halls and video feeds, they will definitely do this.

  It sounds real and true. If not next year, sooner or later.
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  16

  My husband reinstated our son

  by Finally Left in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  dear friends, we were so touched by your warm welcome and all of your comments to my ballroom dancing post.

  thank you so much for your kindness.. i have more to tell you, but i wanted to share this with you.

  we have a son that has been disfellowshipped for 18 years for smoking.

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  OnTheWayOut

  It is so great to read such a good update. Thanks for sharing.
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  11

  How do I get you to Visit my house

  by I have question in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  okay simply put i am not of your faith however my faith allows me to learn and study other people's beliefs and faith's.

  now i believe at least from what i have seen that you people are humble and respectful, when interacting with me.

  and that watchtower book thing u hand out has actually helped me in the past.... taught me that resentment only hurts me and not the person i resented, that was really needed at the time.

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  OnTheWayOut

  If you do sit down with the door-to-door recruiters, ask

  "Your governing body says they are spirit-directed. What's the difference between 'inspired' and 'spirit-directed' ?"

  "Has your organization ever taught something that turned out wrong? What about what they teach now- could it be wrong?"

  "Please explain, using just a Bible, 1914 and the overlapping generation."

  "Can Jehovah's Witnesses hold and discuss openly with other Jehovah's Witnesses opinions that differ from Watch Tower doctrine?"
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  27

  Day 1: The Night of Anger, Tears, and Pain

  by Saethydd in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my freedom came with a heavy cost.

  i couldn't stand the dishonesty so when my sister went out of town on a trip i told my parents that i no longer wanted to be a jw.

  when my sister got back and i told her she was so angry, said she really wanted to slap me, then she ran off sobbing, a few minutes later she deposited every gift i ever gave her in front of my door.. my entire family has turned against me.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Oh my. What a tragedy. I wish there was a way to ease your family rejection pain.

  If there is any comfort, it may be to say that you have done the hardest part and will know you were right.

  You might want to write to your family members what they won't allow you to say. Stay strong.
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  36

  Crossing the Elders

  by Cold Steel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  few things draw my interest as much as people on this board who talk about the elders, the insidious little toadies who lurk around kingdom halls, the proverbial big fish in little ponds.

  it amazes me the terror and the veneration they inspire, as well as the occasional ridicule.

  it makes me wonder how they're selected and whether most of them come into the position with a sense of power, entitlement, authority and control, or whether many of them are pretty nice people and that i'm just hearing about the bad apples?

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  OnTheWayOut

  There are 53 distinct types of nuts on the planet. I don't think you will manage to sub-categorize elders into 53 distinct types, but there are all kinds of elders.

  Typically, elders are selected by their ability to promote and demonstrate full faith in the corporation of Watchtower. Accepting and using their doctrine on the platform and being willing to do any menial task they ask of you helps.
  
  But it isn't that simple. Some are made elders because their family donates money. Some because they pioneered long enough to impress the other elders, or because they married into the right influential family. While I was made elder for the first reason I list, demonstrating and promoting the corporation, I was made an elder kind of fast because I studied with the elder who wanted to be a huge fish in a small pond, and nothing was more impressive than all his male students making elder quickly.
  
  Being raised a JW, you get there faster if your family already has "men in position" and especially if they hid any of your youthful indiscretions to protect their own positions. If you were converted as an adult, you won't have your youthful indiscretions held against you. So many different paths to elder. Hell, someone who buys a minivan for recruiting every Saturday and gives the C.O. a green handshake every 6 months could get there fast.