Posts by My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

68

Update: New Governing Body Pics - Have fun!

by Neo in

jw
friends

the twelve men who exert control over the lives of 6,000,000 people and who could put a stop to all the harm caused to families if they wanted to:

as i said in another thread, most of them started partaking the emblems after 1935. that's a clear sign that there's a corrosion of the "remnant" doctrine, because now most of the governing body are considered "replacements" of 'anointed ones who have fallen away'.

i finally found out the new gb members' ages.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

Most Wanted Cards ?

71

Need advice - marriage in crisis

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

i've been a member of this forum for a while now.

i need some advice.

i can't say too much about myself because i'm still an active witness, though not by choice.. my marriage is in trouble and the one thing that causes it is being a member of jehovah's witnesses.. i was born and raised in the truth like so many others here.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

We have considered marriage counselling, but we already know the problem - the therapist will simply point to the religion as the source of our problems.
Having been in marriage counseling with a JW, I can almost guarentee that this will not be the attitude of a marriage counseler. Furthermore it sounds like you and your wife have decided that the religion is the problem. Maybe it's not, Maybe its possible to maintain the marriage, raise children and not make the WTS the center of your marriage. Having been an expert at dissapointing my wife, I can only say welcome to the club. I am a leader in my family, just not by JW standards. My kids are going to college. Counselling can work....try it by yourself first. Good luck!

356

Say You're a Bethelite & Monitoring JWD - How Would You Feel About THESE??

by Seeker4 in

jw
friends

i'm talking about the new posters, like kitten whiskers, who started posting today (hope this works: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/120817/1.ashx).

and it seems like we're getting a few like this nearly every day.

people who were raised jws, really worry that they are doing the right thing in leaving, yet who have been made to feel not good enough by the wts, who felt they never measured up, who struggled with it, but came to realize that what they'd been brought up to believe was just not the truth.. the same stories are told over and over again, and they come from sincere, good people - not whiny, fault-finding apostates like the rest of us riffraff around here!

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

Johnny Cip and SF

As a nonJW, I have for 30 years stood up to my MIL on issues ranging from child rearing to holidays, to doctrine. Recently, when she shunned my wife after 25 years, I fired off three angry letters pointing out her and the WTS hypocracy. The letters upset and unnerved her greatly. After coming to this forum, and studying the content and demeanor of Auld Soul’s posts, I came to the conclusion that, while the tirades of my 3 letters struck a certain chord I’m sure, I was becoming a One Trick Pony. So I layed out a new letter in which I asked my MIL or any of her elders to please write to me and describe how, when, where, and why did the FDS turn the power over to the GB during the 1914-1930 time period. I ended with AuldSoul’s words: I am not attacking you, I just don’t understand….Please explain.

Then when I spoke with my MIL, I apologized for what may have seemed like personal attacks, but they were directed at the WTS doctrines, not her. She hugged me. I told her that she being a lifelong JW, probably had her own share of doubts….and she preceded to talk for 30 minutes about 1975, elders, etc….all of her doubts. Did standing up to her originally help? Yes. But having her open up required a non-threatening tone. …one I borrowed from AuldSoul.

This forum has readers in excess of 60 years of age. Those in their twenties to fifties may not be offended by bad language, but those in the 70+ generation most certainly do. Out of respect for those fine older folks, would you please stop using swear words? JW’s didn’t invent the laws of common decency, they have existed in society for thousands of years.
Please show some respect. You are in the outside world now. We have laws also.

22

Active JWs: lurkers and posters, is your religion ritualistic?

by AuldSoul in

watchtower october 1, 1998, p. 14, par.

2. the coldhearted attitude of the pharisees constituted a crime against humanity and a sin against god.

(john 9:39-41) with good reason, jesus warned his disciples, "watch out for the leaven" of this elitist group and other religionists, such as the sadducees.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

When my 19 year old brother in law died in a violent motorcycle accident and my bereaved Father in Law (a JW elder) and I picked up his JW uncle (an elder) at the airport....the uncle's first words were "I'm sorry for what happenend....then he went on to say, because your son smoked and therfore will not make it into the New Order." This is what I view as the real JW definition of compassion and mercy.

22

Active JWs: lurkers and posters, is your religion ritualistic?

by AuldSoul in

watchtower october 1, 1998, p. 14, par.

2. the coldhearted attitude of the pharisees constituted a crime against humanity and a sin against god.

(john 9:39-41) with good reason, jesus warned his disciples, "watch out for the leaven" of this elitist group and other religionists, such as the sadducees.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

Auld Soul I apologize in advance if this is slightly off topic
One of the most disturbing rituals that WTS practises to me is their use of certain words and language. It's scary. I'm not a JW. but having been around them for 30 years, I can easily identify the buzzwords and hear the mantra that nearly everyone within that org. says. For instance when someone dies all the left behind JW's will talk amongst each other about how the eulogy if given by a JW in a KH will be a fine witness to all the "worldly" in the crowd. What about euligizing the dead. They have also rendered many words completely useless. Take the word "worldly" . It is usally meant as an insult by JW's, yet the true definition is something completely different. No wonder people outside the JW's scratch their heads. They repeat words and phrases and thoughts over and over again without questioning or consulting a dictionary. This to me is the epitomy of ritualistic behaviour.

23

Issuing a Statement to the Discussion Board

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

issuing a statement to the discussion board since becoming a member of this discussion board it.

is important for me to come clean as it were.

the topics that are written by me are varied, from contro-.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

Wanderer,
You have style and focus and your posts contain substance. As far as taking yourself too seriously, I don't think you really do. I think you take the process of uncovering the half truth very seriously. Keep it up. Peace to you as well.

9

Would a JW or exJW please answer these FDS questions for a nonJW? Please

by My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW in

jw
friends

i am a nonjw.

i posed a couple of very straightforward questions to my mil and asked if she or any other jw would please explain them to me?

i've read alot of jw material from this time period and i find very little in the way of clarification.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

OTWO and Greendawn
Thanks for your responses.
The WTS assertion of being God's Channel hinges on the FDS passage saying Christ came back in 1914 and found and identified the FDS (at that time Russell) to his liking. But since many if not most of the doctirnes being practiced by Russell in 1914-1918 were later changed or dropped by Rutherford and Knorr (including the FDS), then what sense does it make that Christ would choose Russell to begin with. This is illogical.

9

Would a JW or exJW please answer these FDS questions for a nonJW? Please

by My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW in

jw
friends

i am a nonjw.

i posed a couple of very straightforward questions to my mil and asked if she or any other jw would please explain them to me?

i've read alot of jw material from this time period and i find very little in the way of clarification.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

I am a nonJW. I posed a couple of very straightforward questions to my MIL and asked if she or any other JW would please explain them to me? I've read alot of JW material from this time period and I find very little in the way of clarification. I am trying to understand.

Nothing difficult, something every JW must get taught in the beginning. . Please explain how the “Faithful and Discreet Slave” governed and made doctrinal decisions between 1914-1935 and when, where, how and why did they create an entirely new group called the Governing Body and turn all of their power over to them.

What I expected was clarification… something along the lines of in 1926 all of the FDS got together at the polo grounds and voted, and the following doctrines were adopted.

An elder was kind enough to take the time to respond, however he did everything but answer the questions. He did refer me to McMillan’s book “Faith on the March” which I found on line and read in its entirety. It provided a great insight in terms of a gentlemen who actually knew Russell, Rutherford and Knorr and how decisions at the top came about since 1914. His personal ideas as to why this was God’s channel was that since other sects of that time made predictions about the time of the end and later disintegrated, but this one survived, then God must have been behind them. This proves nothing to me, but does show how little it takes to convince some people. Nothing mentioned of the FDS.

Later when explaining the GB arrangement he stated that because the early Christians used a Theocracy then the current JW’s would use one. What jumped out was the following reasoning:

Faith on the March page 157
Besides taking the lead in the preaching work the governing body was responsible to make reproofs and corrections and direct the conduct of the organization. This could not be done unless those in responsible positions in the congregation were representatives of the governing body, being appointed by it. These appointments were not made by an organization of men, but by the power of God's holy spirit. Hence, those who opposed or resisted the theocratic arrangement were not opposing or resisting men; they were striving against the spirit of God.

According to this reasoning then if I put on a Chicago Bulls uniform #23 and walk onto the Chicago Stadium court and declare that I am doing what Michael Jorden did, then I must be the modern day Michael Jordan? This is a joke right?

Again…. Nothing mentioned of the FDS. I was hoping for something like, under the current system it is difficult for Brooklyn to communicate with all of the FDS, so we are switching to a Theocratic organization and the Circuit overseers will meet monthly with all the FDS anointed and report their insights to the GB. In this way the FDS will continue to run the organization.

I’m losing patience here. Just a straight answer.
Please explain how the FDS governed and made doctrinal decisions between 1914-1935 and when, where, how and why did they create an entirely new group called the GB and turn all of their power over to them.
Thanks in advance for your comments.

44

Challenging the Discussion Board with Unsettling Questions

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

does the watchtower live with you everyday?

this post contains reasonable questions due to the fact.

that individuals who no longer claim to be one of jehovah's.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

Wanderer,

I don't think these questions are unsettling at all, nor are the reasons people use this forum. Since my wife found this, it has become a part of her daily routine and I don't question it for the following reasons.

It is most definately group therapy and a very important support system for her and others raised as JW's.

Only those raised in WTS can truly understand it, so there is an undeniable bond.

The dynamic of a very healthy group support system like this is that you have a whole range of people with a whole range of experiences.

The next logical question is what about the older posters. Why would someone hang here after they have left WTS and are better mentally and post 5000 times. The answer is to help others who suffered like them. It is for all the right reasons and is a most admirable quality. They are doing very, very good work and helping many people. When people like noble wander on here by mistake, it helps everyone, because it reminds you of what a current WTS mind set is.

In other words its all good. The young, the old, the new posters, the old timers...you learn from everyone.

16

Friends wanted to strenghten my faith in china

by Noble in

jw
friends

dear brothers and sisters, .

it's incredible that such a wonderful forum exists!

how glad i am.

My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW

OK Noble I'm glad that you finally checked in. The Governing Body has been waiting to talk to you. You are to be given this very important message. Before Armeggedon comes, the truth needs to be preached to all the inhabited earth which includes approximately 1,306,313,812 Chinese people. So, the way we figure it, if you can witness to 1000 people a day. We should be able to cross China off the list in about 1,000,000 years. If you need a megaphone or any additional literature please let us know. Now get out ther and DO IT!

Yours Truly the Governing Body's Faithful and Discreet Slave China Division Anointed Highness Person