Posts by AllTimeJeff

130

Not a sympathizer

by Richard Oliver in

i think everyone here is under the impression that i am a watchtower sympathizer, i am not.

i just like facts and when people say things, which are their opinions but that facts point out as not being true, than that is when i get so motivated to make a comment.

i have read posts here, listened to six screens and read jwsurvey and seen things that people say, which are opinion, but pass them off as fact.. there are legitimate things that people on here and former jws have concerns over without manipulating what is said or trying to pass off opinion as a fact.

AllTimeJeff

If there is one thing 2016 taught me, it's that beliefs are more powerful than facts.

As the old saying goes, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not your facts. I disagree with this actually. Civilized behavior means that we control our emotions and behavior. As such, being civilized means that some opinions should hold sway. Facts should rule. You are entitled to say it if you want, but if you say stupid stuff, you shouldn't expect to be celebrated for exercising your Constitutional right to free expression. Babies do that too.

In any case, JW's are full of crap. Just because some people are hurt by them and may not have their facts 100% straight doesn't change the established fact that JW's are a cult, and it is accepted that they have harmed many people, especially those who no longer want to be a part of their fruity little club.

Having said that, I have never approved of Six Screens and I never will. The end has never justified the means IMO.

63

Life is changing for me: no pioneering, got a job!

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

a month ago i decided to register in this board.

i had decided to step down pioneering but was frightened about the consequences.

i had finished my university degree some months before (despite disaproval from brothers in my congregation) and i had to choose: continue pioneering and working in jobs with no future or starting a career, working full-time.. i was thinking to postpone the decisiton but... i was fed up with preaching.

AllTimeJeff

Congrats on the college degree!

Just another perspective, understand that there is no "one way" that pioneers stop pioneering, servants and elders stop "serving". The personality of each congregation and their elders, along with the current CO affects those events. I always advise to be cautious as you fade away, especially if your plan isn't to blow up the bridge.

I personally like the advice of LisaRose. I think as you get older you'll regret the times you don't fully listen to that voice inside yourself. In fact, you'll probably find that like an underused muscle, once you start getting to know you, you'll get stronger.Get to know yourself. That won't happen EVER inside a KH or talking with other JW's, because part of the whole JW indoctrination is to take away your identity. That's why everyone is "brother" and "sister". Because your name represents YOU, and that doesn't jive very well with a cult....

Get some friends too. I wish I had done that when I left. Best wishes!

14

What is Gilead's current curriculum?

by careful in

some years back alltimejeff reported on what gilead's curriculum was like from a guy who had gone thru it.

it was detailed and enlightening for those of us in the dark.

(hey, atj, are you still checking in here?).

AllTimeJeff

Thanks Blondie for posting that link. Can't say that I am surprised with GB 2.0 fully putting in their program. That is to be expected.

I am not sure what they are teaching at Gilead these days. 2016 is 10 years out for me. Careful, I am not sure that JW typology has been replaced so much as it is not not referred to. (outta sight, outta brainwashed minds) They really didn't teach it too much during my time prior to Gilead, which was probably for the best. (As Harrison Ford once famously said to George Lucas and his idiotic Star Wars scripts "You can write this stuff George, but you sure as hell can't say it. Same principle, even if you did "know" JW typology, it was practically useless...)

As I read this and reflect on my class at Gilead, I realize I got "JW Classic", with riffs from Franz and Knorr. Geoff Jackson was appointed in the summer of 2005 to the GB, and frankly, I am sure they all thought the typology was ridiculous.

Whatever they are teaching, you can be sure it will be self serving and protects their financial interests. The world has changed,and sending missionaries from the US to dangerous third world countries, as I learned the hard way, doesn't work like it used to

14

What is Gilead's current curriculum?

by careful in

some years back alltimejeff reported on what gilead's curriculum was like from a guy who had gone thru it.

it was detailed and enlightening for those of us in the dark.

(hey, atj, are you still checking in here?).

AllTimeJeff

I'm still here. I'm marking this to reply later

56

One reason behind the slow steady decline of JWs

by AllTimeJeff in

hello first of all to those that remember me.

i'm doing well, 10 years since my missionary trip to cameroon.

i've met a couple of goals.

AllTimeJeff

Enjoying the various viewpoints. I like Room 215 and the point made. Knorr actually wanted to make the JWs of his day more skilled and qualified. (Thus the various schools) These days, GB 2.1 has shown themselves Wanting to take anyone charismatic and with knowledge out.

The GB (I believe we should distinguish the leadership from the captive sheeples) is in major decline. The flock will either wake up or join other cults, because in the grand scheme of things, JWs don't matter, and never have. One of my biggest learnings is that there usually is someplace for most everyone to pool and collect in, especially if one feels a need to "belong" to something.

My concern isn't that JWs are crumbling. It's the group that will replace them that concerns me.

113

I just found out that my youngest brother committed suicide

by SnakesInTheTower in

jw
friends

my middle brother called me a couple of hours ago.

our youngest brother, josh, who was 38, was found by his friends in his apartment.

he hung himself.

AllTimeJeff

When my brother ended his life, he was DFd and I was under the full spell of the Borg. It took me years to process. I'm not sure there is a right or wrong way to grieve. I do know that the Borgs involvement makes it unique. Don't be afraid to talk to people and trust them within your circle. Also, there's nothing wrong with you not crying. I didn't for many months until it hit me one day.

80

Are there any ex-missionaries here??

by fulano in

i have been a missionary in the dominican republic for almost 10 years and i was wondering if there were any ex-missionaries on this forum.. i am back in my country now for 3 years and totally inactive.. what i noticed in those missionary-years was the lack of spiritual interest among the missionaries.. discussions were about rooms, cars and greater responsibilities, the bad territory.

and the local c.o.s and d.os.. was this only in the dr or are there other experiences??.

ere other experiences?

AllTimeJeff

Fulano, I was attacked twice, 10 years ago next week. I stayed three more months struggling to figure out my next move and what to do with the ex wife. I came back and started formulating plans to start over, which happily, I did.

80

Are there any ex-missionaries here??

by fulano in

i have been a missionary in the dominican republic for almost 10 years and i was wondering if there were any ex-missionaries on this forum.. i am back in my country now for 3 years and totally inactive.. what i noticed in those missionary-years was the lack of spiritual interest among the missionaries.. discussions were about rooms, cars and greater responsibilities, the bad territory.

and the local c.o.s and d.os.. was this only in the dr or are there other experiences??.

ere other experiences?

AllTimeJeff

Hello. I was in Cameroon for 5 months after class 119

80

Are there any ex-missionaries here??

by fulano in

i have been a missionary in the dominican republic for almost 10 years and i was wondering if there were any ex-missionaries on this forum.. i am back in my country now for 3 years and totally inactive.. what i noticed in those missionary-years was the lack of spiritual interest among the missionaries.. discussions were about rooms, cars and greater responsibilities, the bad territory.

and the local c.o.s and d.os.. was this only in the dr or are there other experiences??.

ere other experiences?

AllTimeJeff

Former missionary here. Glad you got out and have lived your life. 👍

74

Jehovah's Witnesses May Have Peaked in Membership at 8 Million (+/-)

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

i don't have all the details of their new "service year" numbers, but i have read enough on jwn to state my opinion pretty strongly.. memorial attendance for 2015 was down.while they kept saying they were going to build a bunch of new kingdom halls, and everybody is still in recovery from watchtower taking all the local money away, they say pretty much that there isn't enough money to build new kingdom halls.putting gb members on the videos at jw .

org has allowed people to really put a face and personality to these guys and remove the mystery of how they should be such deeply spiritual serious men.

instead they see silly thoughts about tight pants and, really everything that comes out of lett's mouth is delivered ultra-goofy, along with the money reports.. the gb lost credibility a little more with every new light that shone down, with the strangest one being "overlapping generation.

AllTimeJeff

Flipper, I don't think that they'll admit old doctrines were wrong any time in the immediate future. Like water on rock, time will have its way with these clowns. I suspect a disruptive circumstance will occur that will force their hand.

just another thought, scandal could do it. So they're investing money in hedge funds while consolidating their real estate holdings? And no one is profiting off it illegally? Or maybe it's something as benign as coveting thy neighbors wife. Regardless, that could do the trick.

After close to 10 years away, I personally am glad I got off the boat while the hole in it was relatively small. It's still a good time to leave.