Posts by boyzone

44

Ray Franz on Fear Among JWs

by compound complex in

to this day, in all countries, any persons among jehovah's witnesses who find they cannot conscientiously support fully the organization's teachings or practices live in a climate of fear, feeling they must constantly be on guard as to what they say, what they do, what they read, with whom they associate, from whom they receive letters, not feeling any sense of freedom even when among personal friends or close relatives if these are also witnesses.

as stated, in my personal experience i have had people phone who were afraid to give their name or who felt it necessary to use a fictitious name, some who even felt it necessary to take out a special post office box to be able to correspond without danger of their correspondence with me or other former witnesses being discovered.

they face a form of "hostage" situation, produced by the organization's authority.

boyzone

I sincerely believe that, of all the personalities on the Governing Body during the 70's and 80's. It was Ray that God saw something special in. Something good he could use to help others.

I believe he used Ray's unique experience, personal knowledge and kind heart to free many of us trapped in this cult.

I hope and pray that Ray now looks back on the first 60 years of his life, not as a waste of time, but as a training ground for the work given to him after leaving JW's. Similiar to Moses with the Egyptians or Daniel with the Babylonians.

I owe that man a H U G E debt of thanks for the life he's had. For without his experience, my whole family would still be trapped and misreable.

15

Sick Highlights 2009 Yearbook =Bosnian Witnesses claim divine protection from Jehovah??

by Witness 007 in

dont you hate this!

witnesses claiming jehovah saved them while thousands around them, including brothers die!!

{p.169} during the war a brother after seeing his fellow witnesses executed for their nuetrality, he being the last one alive, compromised and joined the army {as you would} the yearsbook states "three months later he returned home due to illness...the life he tried to save by compromising he lost prematurely due to sickness..." lesson = jehovah kills compromisers in the end!.

boyzone

Its pure subjective spin as usual. If a KH is bombed during the war or a bro dies, its time and unforseen occurance. If a KH is missed on a bombing raid or a bro has a narrow escape its Jehovah's protection.

Either way they win.

69

Can't speak with me, unless they need something

by Stan Conroy in

jw
friends

after many, many years outside of the jw world, my elderly parents finally decided to give me an ultimatum.

i either rejoin the jw's or they will never speak with me again.

apparently my brother is going to get the same choice.

boyzone

Hi Stan.

This is the article studied in depth at the Congregation Book Study last week.

How should we treat a disfellowshipped person? The Bible says: "Quit mixing in
company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an
dolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man."
(1 Corinthians 5:11) Regarding everyone that "does not remain in the teaching of the
Christ," we read: "Never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he
hat says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works." (2 John 9-11) We do not
have spiritual or social fellowship with disfellowshipped ones. The Watchtower of
September 15, 1981, page 25, stated: "A simple 'Hello' to someone can be the first
step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want
o take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?"
Is strict avoidance really necessary? Yes, for several reasons. First, it is a matter
of loyalty to God and his Word. We obey Jehovah not only when it is convenient but
also when doing so presents real challenges. Love for God moves us to obey all his
commandments, recognizing that he is just and loving and that his laws promote the
greatest good. (Isaiah 48:17; 1 John 5:3) Second, withdrawing from an unrepentant
wrongdoer protects us and the rest of the congregation from spiritual and moral
contamination and upholds the congregation's good name. (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7)
Third, our firm stand for Bible principles may even benefit the disfellowshipped one.
By supporting the decision of the judicial committee, we may touch the heart of a
wrongdoer who thus far has failed to respond to the efforts of the elders to assist
him. Losing precious fellowship with loved ones may help him to come "to his
senses," see the seriousness of his wrong, and take steps to return to Jehovah.
-Luke 15:17.

What if a relative is disfellowshipped? In such a case, the close bond between
amily members can pose a real test of loyalty. How should we treat a
isfellowshipped relative? We cannot here cover every situation that may arise, but
et us focus on two basic ones.
In some instances, the disfellowshipped family member may still be living in the
ame home as part of the immediate household. Since his being disfellowshipped
oes not sever the family ties, normal day-to-day family activities and dealings may
ontinue. Yet, by his course, the individual has chosen to break the spiritual bond
etween him and his believing family. So loyal family members can no longer have
piritual fellowship with him. For example, if the disfellowshipped one is present, he
would not participate when the family gets together to study the Bible. However, if
he disfellowshipped one is a minor child, the parents are still responsible to instruct
nd discipline him. Hence, loving parents may arrange to conduct a Bible study with
he child.* -Proverbs 6:20-22; 29:17.
In other cases, the disfellowshipped relative may be living outside the immediate family circle and home. Although there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter, any such contact should be kept to a minimum. Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have
dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home. Rather, loyalty to
Jehovah and his organization moves. them to uphold the Scriptural arrangement of
disfellowshipping. Their loyal course has the best interests of the wrongdoer at heart
and may help him to benefit from the discipline received.* -Hebrews 12:11.
[Footnote]
* Bible principles on this subject apply equally to those who disassociate themselves
from the congregation.
* For more information about disfellowshipped minor children living in the home, see
The Watchtower of October 1, 2001, pages 16-17, and November 15,1988, page 20.
* For more information about how to treat disfellowshipped relatives, see the
Scriptural counsel discussed in The Watchtower of April 15, 1988, pages 26-31, and
September 15, 1981, pages 26-31.

THis was also discussed on a thread posted by LUKEWARM

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/173718/1/Congregation-Bible-Study-Comments-Week-Commencing-6-April-2009

69

Can't speak with me, unless they need something

by Stan Conroy in

jw
friends

after many, many years outside of the jw world, my elderly parents finally decided to give me an ultimatum.

i either rejoin the jw's or they will never speak with me again.

apparently my brother is going to get the same choice.

boyzone

Hi Stan

I'm so sorry to hear this ridiculous request from your parents. They've just had heavy indoctrination on "how to treat a disfellowshipped person" at the book study meeting last week which I suspect is the source of their ultimatum.

I urge you NOT to be bullied by them.

As for the "we'll talk to you when we need something" clause, this would come under "necessary family business" which the book study article highlighted as an exception to the shunning.

This clause enables Witnesses to indeed have their cake and eat it, as you so aptly put it. In fact they allow themselves all sorts of clauses to speak when its convenient for THEM.

For example, I pass several sisters every morning at the school gate, they always ignore me despite my knowing them for many years as good friends. They've ignored me all the time I was alone in assisting my elderly Witness mum recover from bowel cancer. But as soon as one of them wanted a letter delivered to them, suddenly it was ok to ask me for it.

As soon as I gave the letter over, this sister went straight back to ignoring me again.

So be careful with this type of stunt. They write the rules to suit themselves but it ends up with you on the "will they speak, won't they speak" emotional rollercoaster.

I vowed after that not to ride that rollercoaster anymore. I'm not playing games to suit them.

In your situation I would give it time as I suspect your parents will bitterly regret giving you and your brother this ultimatum. They'll miss you and the grandkids too much.

This hardline is the Society speaking, not them.

38

Does anyone have a scan? - JUNE 15 2009 WT Study Edition

by Ultimate Reality in

jw
friends

this one has an important article on the faithful steward and the governing body.

cannot find one anywhere.... .

thank you in advance!.

boyzone

Why do they insist on using Romans 8 in para 12 again? Again they take a passage of scripture that clearly says ALL christians MUST be spirit begotten sons or they will die, and twist it to say it only means them!

Nothing makes me angrier than their use of this scripture. Its the one that freed me from them - once I read it in context. Now they're using it again to keep people captive.

I so pity the JW's sitting there in their sunday finest having to swallow such lies.

54

What Did You Do With All Your Watchtower Publications?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i needed room when i moved so i sadly threw my entire library away.

i mentioned this to an exjw.

he and his wife took all the hundreds of books, including bound volumes from the 1800s and are now using them for research and proof of watchtower lies.. what did you do with your books?.

boyzone

Didn't want to keep any of the paper crap except the "Organized" book. My youngest was disturbed by some of the pictures and I didn't want those books around anymore to influence him. Still got the WTCD though.

But the rest I took to the tip and had great fun lobbing the whole lot into the recycle bin.

67

How do you feel when you see groups of Jehovah's Witnesses in the ministry?

by nicolaou in

regret, anger, frustration?

how about sadness, sorrow, sympathy, understanding, even compassion!.

it can be quite confusing at times, especially if some of those witnesses were your friends.

boyzone

Totally am with you Iknowall558. I get the same treatment every day too.

I bet if the householders knew how we were being treated just for disagreeing with the Society, they'd realise this smiling, gentle, bible-carrying sister on their doorstep is a delusional nutter.

I once had the privilege of putting a couple straight. They were next to me in a restaurant chatting with each other about JW's and how nice they were on the doorstep. I politely interrupted and told them I was a Witness for 21 years and now that I've left, not one of the local witnesses were allowed to speak to me.

They were in total shock at my treatment and had no idea thats what Witnesses do to those that have officially left. They were pretty disgusted.

At least thats 2 more householders that'll shut the door.

25

Any mores news / rumors on no COs come 2011 - (winston?)

by tresdecu in

jw
friends

i hate to beat a dead horse.

but just curious.

winstonchurchill a new poster on the board is a former longtime co, what is your take on this?.

boyzone

The CO'S visit was always a bit of a strain. We shared our hall with another cong but for some reason our meetings had to be switched round to other nights the week of the visit. God knows why, something to do with pioneer meetings etc. Made getting kids up for school the next day a pain in the arse. Then he would likely overrun his final talk on the latenight meet and still expect everyone to be out on field service at 9.

Some CO's were great. I remember Richard Cullen and his wife Dana. They were lovely and he was an excellent and lively speaker, great to listen to. Ok it was all WT fodder but beautifully delivered. He also made the kids laugh and kept them engaged, quite a feat for a CO.

On the opposite side was Charlie Scurlock. I think his wife was called Mavis or Doris or something. He was the "field service addict". He was passionate about field service and only spent time with people if he could count it. With a personality of a wet fish, the kids ignored him as much as he ignored them.

I had a shepherding call with ole Charlie about 3 years ago. I was going through a rough time having just found out my eldest lad was gay and been disassociated. Hubby wasn't going anymore either so I was on my own. Charlie, full up with roast beef and apple pie from a lunch at a sister's house could hardly keep his eyes open. The git even had the audacity to suggest it would be a good thing if my son contracted AIDS as this would make him come back.

No, I didn't like Charlie. I don't think many in the Cong did either. The elders certainly didn't.

15

KINGOM HALLS IN SCOISH HIGHLANDS

by badboy in

jw
friends

any details?.

boyzone

Oh cool. Enjoy your holiday guilt free for not attending meetings then. Its a fabulous place. If you get a chance head for Glenfinnan where they filmed the Hogwarts express crossing that sweeping rail bridge.

15

KINGOM HALLS IN SCOISH HIGHLANDS

by badboy in

jw
friends

any details?.

boyzone

Is he a JW or are you? Will you be heading for the local KH?