when i departed the organization in early 2006, i was giving some serious thought as to why jehovahs witnesses were going through a period of heightened expectation of armageddon.
the district convention theme for 2006 was "deliverance at hand", and it was announced by the governing body that a stinging message would be carried out against "false religion" in the fall through a tract campaign.
certainly throughout the organizations history, convention talks and watchtower publications have always used manipulative tactics in urging a sense of urgency; even in times of relative peace.
Brilliant post.
It really is a case of those who've been in so long have too much lose if they let themselves see what's really going on here, particularly their loss of identity. I see this with my mother-in-law and in friends of my parents. Makes me sad to see them all trapped.
when i departed the organization in early 2006, i was giving some serious thought as to why jehovahs witnesses were going through a period of heightened expectation of armageddon.
the district convention theme for 2006 was "deliverance at hand", and it was announced by the governing body that a stinging message would be carried out against "false religion" in the fall through a tract campaign.
certainly throughout the organizations history, convention talks and watchtower publications have always used manipulative tactics in urging a sense of urgency; even in times of relative peace.
Brilliant post.
It really is a case of those who've been in so long have too much lose if they let themselves see what's really going on here, particularly their loss of identity. I see this with my mother-in-law and in friends of my parents. Makes me sad to see them all trapped.
i have been giving a lot of thought to the young people who are leaving the watchtower organization in recent years.
last night, i was reading the thread posted by jwfacts a while back in which he provided some statistics and graphs showing the rapidly declining growth in the watchtower.
one factor that was discussed at length was the high number of young people who do not stay in the organization.
You nailed it Jeremy, as always.
When we left the JWs, I went to HTP in London with Rev. Nicky Gumbal, the guy behind the Alpha Course. It was completely enlightening, inspiring and uplifting and confirmed many things that were so obviously wrong with the WTS that deep down I had been feeling for many years. Amazing music, interesting sermons, youth programs, an incredible Christian bookshop and refreshments after including the most fabulous home made cakes after! A strong community that was full of love and had a lot of fun! I almost wish I still believed . . .
The WTS is just a tired, sad organistion that keeps pushing that self destruct button having canned the only things that made it fun, interesting and fostered community spirit: original talks (not strictly tied to outlines), food at assemblies and the book study to name just a few.
pm me if you feel more comfortable.. i was there friday, saturday & sunday for family and friends.
cant say i listened to it all tho!
- although i did listen to the last "exciting" talk with the new toe light, and the obligatory beware of apostate talks.... .
Oops, posted under Besty's account, that would be me above Sapphy . . . :-)
just got paid a visit by one of my family members.
she stops by my house every time they work my territory to see how i am doing and to take a peek at the little guy.
she's a hard core dub and she's been pioneering for many many years.
humanity from the Watchtower a human
fixed.
i had a call with a good buddy......still an elder the other night.. when i mentioned generations/overlapping.......he had no clue what i was talking about.
such a good man.......... but it doesn't matter.....they don't even realize what is being said to them; what is being done to them.
a high stature elder in their organization....and he had no clue there was another change..... how the hell does this happen?.
marking
for me it was many things.
most concerned certain teachings that invloved genders, children, sex, sexuality and sexual orientations, disfellowshipping, apostates, blood, rape, and few other things, as well as the jw's unloving attitude toward so many people..
The teaching that Jesus is not our mediator.
After this the house of cards fell down and all those other things that had bothered me (disfellowshipping/shunning, not celebrating birthdays and Christmas/discouraging further education, etc) suddenly fell into place. There was no way I was going to throw the rest of my life away or my beautiful, happy, curious, children's lives, to a cult.
it's amazing how similar all of these high-control groups really are.
"this is how i discovered truth.
my name is chris and i'm an ex mormon.
marking
this has no doubt been covered before and if anyone has any favourite threads on this subject perhaps they could post them here .
what are your best one liners/questions to make jw's think?.
i had a heated conversation with my mum this weekend and apart from mainly going round in circles (as is often the case with brainwashed cult members) one thing made her stop and i could see that she was having major trouble processing the logic.
@Sapphy - like the "if the WT said that 1914, etc" - reminds me of a question I put to a sister while we were still in - I asked her what she would do if the Society said that it was now ok to celebrate birthdays? She replied that she wouldn't celebrate them! I also asked my best friend once what would it take for her to see that the organisation didn't have Jehovah's blessing? She replied that the numbers of the annointed would stop decreasing. Conveniently she's forgotten all about this as the number is now coming up!
this has no doubt been covered before and if anyone has any favourite threads on this subject perhaps they could post them here .
what are your best one liners/questions to make jw's think?.
i had a heated conversation with my mum this weekend and apart from mainly going round in circles (as is often the case with brainwashed cult members) one thing made her stop and i could see that she was having major trouble processing the logic.
@Rockygirl - you're a girl after my own heart!!! We're living parallel lives!!
@Mickey - Loving the one liner answer
@Chemical Emotions - brilliant!
