Posts by Enlighted UK

46

What Caused Your First Doubt ?

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

for me it was when i was about twelve years old and my best friends dad was disfellowshipped from the congregation.. i could not understand how a god of love would treat someone so coldly.. i used to think what if that was the way my parents would treat me if i had done something wrong, that would be so hard and cruel.. as i got older another thing that bothered me was the beard issue.

it may sound pretty trivial however the society has always refused to make a good arguement as to why they would give you the old cold shoulder if you were to grow one.. two more items; first i could not understand why all the congregations and all the assemblys would give income reports.

and the society never did.

Enlighted UK

I agree with "I AM XJW".

It was the blood issue that started me thinking. My daughter was born nearly 3 years ago with a heart/lung defect caused by chromosome deficiency. Since that point our lives have been intertwined with hospital visits/tests/ and preparation for open heart surgery, so the blood issue came up.

The Society, back in 1950, stated that "abstaining from blood" means just that - no blood, at all.

But then in 1980, if your conscience allowed, you could have bone marrow transplant (even though red blood cells would be part of that transplant as they are in the marrow??). That is contradicting their statement back in the 1950's.

They also then stated that you could have immuno globulin (which had previously been banned back in the 1920's).

Haemophiliacs could now receive transfusions.

They have been changing their minds about this issue all the way along the line. What is banned one week, could be perfectly acceptable the next. But PEOPLE WILL HAVE DIED because of following their rules, when if a particular crisis had happened a few months/weeks later, they could have survived because the prescribed treatment would then be deemed "ok".

When my daughter finally underwent open heart surgery, we respectfully requested that the surgeon not use blood, but if it gets to a point where he has to use blood, to go ahead, he would have no problems/resistance from us.

Anyway, under UK law, a hospital can make a child a ward of court if they feel that the child's life is under threat, and can give the child a transfusion anyway. (The parent's working relationship with the medical team is then shot to pieces)

I then started asking myself "What if that was me, and I needed a blood transfusion. What would I do??" I had to admit to myself that although a blood transfusion wouldn't be desirable because of the risks that blood carries, if there was no other alternative and my life was in the balance, I would accept it. AND I WOULD NOT FEEL GULITY FOR DOING SO.

I could not then go out in the ministry and make a stand on the blood issue, or explain to people why JW don't accept them, because I believe that what the society teach is from their own heads, and nothing to do with God.

If that was the case, what about the other teachings?? After doing research and reading posts on this board, it became evident that the Society is not trustworthy, they change their minds as they please, and do not admit to making mistakes.

I could not live that way any longer, and I could not allow my daughter to be brought up in that kind of environment.

THEREFORE I QUIT!! and I am enjoying my life - I am planning Christmas already and it is only June!!

Enlighted UK

Enjoy your life, it is the only one you'll have

46

Canada's Numbers Declining-Worries Bethel

by Had Enough in

jw
friends

man it's good to be home, relaxed and de-stressing right now!

how many times today, i just wanted to say aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhh!!!!

at my circuit's one-day assembly.

Enlighted UK

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at the numbers dropping.

Take my wedded other half for example. I used to be the one trying to get the family out on the ministry on a Saturday morning. Other half hated the ministry with capital HHHHH!!

Since I left the org (7 months ago), other half has done precisely ONE HOUR in the ministry.

Enlighted UK

41

Elders appointed by Holy Spirit?

by LadyBug in

jw
friends

amazings justice points brings me to this point.

elders truly believe that they are appointed by gods spirit.

so when they appoint someone who is:.

Enlighted UK

I think most elders enjoy the status of being in a "position of authority in the congregation", because it is the only part of their lives where they are able to strut round looking important with briefcases and clipboards.

The body of elders in the congregation I left was made up of the following:

PO - cleaner
Elder 1- window /floor cleaner
Elder 2 - carpet fitter
Elder 3 - back street mechanic
Elder 4 - retired
Elder 5 - window cleaner/decorator

So it is pretty much evident that their working lives did not stretch them intellectually, nor did they have any serious responsibility. So they use their position as an elder to the full, and they won't relinquish it lightly!!

Enlighted UK

41

Elders appointed by Holy Spirit?

by LadyBug in

jw
friends

amazings justice points brings me to this point.

elders truly believe that they are appointed by gods spirit.

so when they appoint someone who is:.

Enlighted UK

I don't think even the elders that are still in know what they are doing, here is an example of one elder who DEFINITELY seems schizophrenic:

One day out in the ministry, after advising my husband and I not to talk to my Mum, Dad and my husbands sister (who had all "drifted" out the org), he said that "although the organisation isn't perfect he thought it was better than anything else around".

Then a few weeks later, after i had "seen the light" and left, the elder came around and, amongst other things, told me that the organisation was perfect (ie what the heck was i doing leaving it??)

Then that same evening, the elder advised my husband and I not to let my non-attendance at meetings break up our marriage because the "truth isn't worth it".

Now you tell me - what does he actually believe and is what he said inspired by Holy Spirit as well? I think he was inspired by the spirit (of the Jack Daniels variety).

Enlighted UK

105

Issue Facing Apostates

by Mishnah in

jw
friends

most of the stuff posted here is negative, hateful, and blasphemous against god.

even if many of you are right in saying that the jws are wrong on many and important issues, that does not make you right.

so unless you are convinced that there is no biblical god you are facing serious trouble when you die or if the lord comes during your lifetime.

Enlighted UK

GOD KNOWS - I LOVE YOU TOO!!

It is just a shame that most in my local congregation don't feel the same way, including my in-laws who no longer want to socialise with me, former "close" friends who refuse to see me in my own home (after I had invited THEM to dinner), and near neighbours (JW's) who repeatedly drive past me and my mother (at a distance of 2meters at a speed of around 15mph) and refuse to even look at us, even though we are waving at them, and the Elders wife who "encouraged" me at the KHall by saying that she thought "it better that my daughter die now rather than later".

There is not a lot more I can say to that. If you can't see that those in the congregations are so frightened to be friends with anyone but a JW - then you are a lost cause my friend. But I still LOVE YOU!!

Enlighted UK

8

Help with article in 7/1 wt

by Bodhisattva in

jw
friends

can someone please reproduce the article in the 1 july 2001 wt, p. 18?.

bodhisattva the kafir.

the god of the dolphins has fins.

Enlighted UK

"Of course not all doubt is bad. At times, you need to suspend acceptance of something till you are sure of the facts. Religious exhortations to the effect that you should just believe and should doubt nothing are dangerous and deceptive. "

So what happens after you have "suspended your acceptance" of a fact, but still cannot believe it?

My next question would be, but don't they view themselves as a religious organisation? In which case:

"Religious exhortations to the effect that you should just believe and should doubt nothing are dangerous and deceptive. "

An “expression,” a teaching or opinion, might appear to emanate from God. But did it really come from him? Exercising some doubt, or suspending belief, can be a real protection because, as the apostle John says, “many deceivers have gone forth into the world, --2 John 7.

For the first time in a long time, I am actually going to take the WTB&TS advice, because EXERCISING SOME DOUBT, OR SUSPENDING BELIEF, CAN BE A REAL PROTECTION BECAUSE, AS THE APOSTLE JOHN SAYS, "MANY DECEIVERS HAVE GONE FORTH INTO THE WORLD" 2 John 7

Enlighted UK

20

Why do they have clothes on?

by Simon in

jw
friends

just a thought.... in most of the publications that have pictures of people in the new order / new system / paradise earth - why do they have clothes on?

not only that, but they usually wear their national costumes !.

i guess the practical reason is that if everyone was naked then the watchtower would be classed as soft-porn and could only be sold from top shelves.... anyone have any thoughts on this?

Enlighted UK

There was a WT article in the last 18 months that had a picture of a naked Eve - although unfortunately for all the men in the Hall she was again "hiding" behind a tree!

It made me wonder - on one of the WT videos they say that models pose for photographs in the magazines, and also to get a good likeness for the paintings. It showed a brother dressed as Moses (?) posing for a painting.

So my friends, which randy brother at Brooklyn got the assignment for the Eve picture mentioned above??

Enlighted UK

105

Issue Facing Apostates

by Mishnah in

jw
friends

most of the stuff posted here is negative, hateful, and blasphemous against god.

even if many of you are right in saying that the jws are wrong on many and important issues, that does not make you right.

so unless you are convinced that there is no biblical god you are facing serious trouble when you die or if the lord comes during your lifetime.

Enlighted UK

The way I see it is:

Life is like Microsoft Word.

There is more than one way to justify a paragraph (live your life); a) using the mouse (strong belief in God and a particular religion) b)using control keys (strong belief in God, but lets forget any religious group) or c) a combination of both (totally atheistic).

But the end result is identical - a beautifully aligned paragraph (or a fulfilled life).

Just make sure that in the process you don't crash the computer (forget your manners) , or you're stuffed (probably arrested or sectioned)!

Enlighted UK

Enjoy your life, it is the only one you'll have.

42

Notes from 2001 District Conv.---Friday

by LostMyReligion in

jw
friends

here are a few notes i took at the friday session of the 2001 "teachers of god's word" district convention.

i thought i would share these upbuilding theocratic point with my new friends, along with my thoughts as i was listening to the program.

1st instruction of the day: sing loudly and listen to the prayer!

Enlighted UK

Thanks for the copious note-taking.

They are still banging on about people not getting any decent education??

I am still MAD at the society (and myself for being so gullible at the time). My former boss (a nuclear physicist) offered to send me on a degree course. I (foolishly) declined, thinking that i would never get all the studying done with theocratic meetings etc etc. I then left that employment (what an idiot!) as I kept missing theocratic meetings, because I was held up in meetings elsewhere in the country with merchant bankers/ hospital managers etc etc.

I am now back in full-time employment in a field where I can expand my knowledge and qualifications and I am loving every minute of it!!

I feel sorry for all the youngsters who are doing the same as i did, and blowing excellent opportunities.

HAve you noticed though that when the society require brothers and sisters to work on their assembly halls, they always require those that are QUALIFIED to do the job?? Well how do they think people become qualified - peddling magazines??

Just a thought.

Enlighted UK

4

Conventions

by podsy1 in

jw
friends

it has been more than twenty years since i last attended a district assembly.

i have heard that the society no longer has the assemblies at statiums where the crownds would number into the thousands.

instead, they are now held at different assembly halls that the society owns.

Enlighted UK

In the UK (south), there is an assembly held at Twickenham Rugby Stadium that has 15,000 capacity (?), that is used every summer, as well as Crystal Palace (9,000?) and Brighton Convention Centre (3,000), Norwich footbal stadium (9,000 ?) There are also others, but these are the ones I know and have rough ideas of seating capacity.

They never seemed full, and they always cordoned off area behind platform. To allow everyone a good view of the platform, or to prevent cynical brothers and sisters throwing things at the speakers head (I was never sure which!!).

It is blissful not to have to contemplate another assembly, along with the joys of volunteering on car parking/cleaning/keeping baby happy for 2/3 days.

Enlighted UK