I knew two pioneer sisters who counted their time going through their return visit books and discussing who they should call on and what they would say. This was during a 30 minute to 1 hour coffee break. It didn't bother their "conscience" at all. As for me, I lost a lot of hours when I had to go out in service with them. I should have ignored that little voice in my head that told me it wasn't right. Maybe it's not too late to turn in that field service slip?
38 Years
JoinedPosts by 38 Years
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10
How do you do time in the field ministry?
by buffalosrfree ini have a unique way of doing time (prison rares its ugly head as a thought), i sit with my animals and talk to them and once in awhile i mention that i thank god for them.
sit with them 20 minutes a day and in seven days wa la 2hrs and 20 min x 4 weeks + 2 days left over and you have the magical 10 hrs every month.
what a deal huh?
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14
Angels, Angels everywhere! (need research help)
by lovelylil injust wondering what the societies official stance is on angel decorations or figurines??.
i guess i did not pay too much attention to this when i was in the borg, probably assuming they would believe having such things in your home was either; opening it up to satan or that it is a form of idolatry.. this q came up in a conversation with my brother today because i was telling him about a new angel figurine i bought for my collection (starting collecting about 3 years ago) and he used to study with the witnesses, so he is like "isn't having those against the bible?".
he swears he was told this by the elder he studied with but cannot recollect a scripture to support this view.
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38 Years
I enjoy angel figurines now too. As far as the Witnesses are concerned, the control is everywhere, even from opinions in the congregations. When they can't prove it scripturally, they will turn to their own type of reasoning. In this case, since churches of different faiths find enjoyment in angels, then obviously, good dubs can't. It would be siding with Christendom. With the dubs, angels are portrayed as doing good things but most of the time, they should be feared (they have a really bad temper and slaughter people)
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SCREWED up...simply because we were DF'd
by feenx inhey guys,
i am pissed and need to vent.
so i have been df'd for 5 years now.
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38 Years
This is so sad. She deserved so much more. I'm sorry to hear of your loss. This is more proof of how selfish and brainwashed those "brothers and sisters" are. They are all responsible for what happened to her, whether they want to admit it or not.
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18
Ever had the "privilege" of ...
by Frequent_Fader_Miles in... attending an international convention?
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was it a total waste of time and resources, or did you actually gain something from the experience?
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38 Years
I've attended a couple since 1968. They were always a big deal. but I was a young kid at the time and totally brainwashed. I can't remember the dates but I think one was in Buffalo, NY and one was in Philadelphia, PA. Everyone would have to save their money to go, including us. These were the conventions where you could hear the bigwigs talk, like Knorr, Schroeder, Henchel and Franz. Everyone was in awe of them. But I do remember, most people brought binoculars that would be passed around so you could locate your friends. You would have to bring or share umbrellas to shield yourself from getting a sunburn (I'd get one anyway). Then if it rained, what a pain. All those poor people with little kids and all of us covering up with plastic. But the show would go on.
I noticed most people spent their time looking around the stadium until it was a really important talk. It was fun to notice those that fell asleep. I think the only thing I learned from it was how to survive in large crowds, and handle outdoor stadium events.
My mom told me they are planning another International Convention. Does anyone know if this is true?
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Alcohol and JW's
by sweet pea init seems like alcohol is a very grey area when it comes to jw's.
when i was a jw i knew many witnesses, particularly brothers, who seriously liked their drink and it appeared that when it came to elders and ministerial servants, the organisation seemed to turn a blind eye to alcohol abuse if those brothers were being faithful and especially if they were looked up to and liked in the congregation.
it reminds me of the mormons and the fact that utah is the prozac capital of the world - when something is not perceived as quite as bad a sin as another (even though all sins are equally bad in the bible/book or mormon), it becomes the one form of escape for people who have nowhere else to turn.
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38 Years
Drinking alcohol was a way of life in my congregation. Everyone indulged. I had my first beer at 14. You could go to anyone's home and at least have a glass or two of wine. I saw quite a few elders overdrink with all types of liquor. Get-togethers were a guaranteed alcohol fest. When my teenage friends saw the elders were over-drinking, it gave them a license to do the same. But the drinking was never spoken about. Once in a while, an elder would give us "young people" a lecture on "moderation", but we ignored them. Worldly people I would talk to or associate with could never understand that Witnesses would alllow drinking when there were such severe restrictions on everything else.
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My opinions of Crisis of Conscience and Awakening
by LongHairGal ini read the two books.. awakening - this was the story of a married witness woman (elder husband) with family in the religion.
she had childbirth/blood rh issues and had to deal with not 'associating' with a disfellowshipped daughter.
throughout the book she wrestles with various issues and suffers mental anguish jumping through hoops because of the religion.
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38 Years
I've been looking for this book to look at before I buy. Apparently it is only available to you once you purchase it, can anyone else confirm different?
You may be able to find it at a public library. Or go ahead and buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. If you don't like it or need it, donate it to your local public library. It may be of help to someone else. It's a must read for anyone who has doubts about the witnesses or has already left. It will help someone to make a decision to quit. It can also confirm to someone who already left, no matter what that reason is, that they made the right decision.
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are we inactive or what?
by inactive? ini would like someone to discuss some issues i have.
i understand all are welcome here, so i am sure some elders or former elders could help me.
i was a pioneer for 7 years, before that i was a regular auxiliarry pioneer for 3 years, i have been a witness for 17 years.
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38 Years
I haven't had a chance to read all the posts, but here's my opinion:
As you've long been taught, "You will know you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves". Being a Witness has nothing to do with your love for God and serving him. But I understand that at this point in time, you just can't quit. You will have freedom to love God more and worship in the proper way once you have done some research and soul-searching. You will not lose favor with God for doing this (remember the Boreans?).
My suggestion would be that you read, "Crisis of Conscience", by Raymond Franz. Please come back and share your thoughts or questions with us on what you read.
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31
Help - running out of "excuses" for not attending meetings
by truthseeker inmy situation as some of you know, i'm married and my wife is a jw and still wants to go to meetings.
i on the other hand do not.. over the last few years, i have suffered with poor health and i also studied, so when i was studying i would say "i'm at college/doing homework/taking exams" which for the most part was true.. i also have ill health, suffer with chronic chest infections for part of the year.. trouble is, people at the hall are having a hard time buying my excuses, or if my wife tells them the reason i'm not there, they now start giving her the eyeroll, or they say to her "well, you're here and so am i.".
not one of the elders calls to see where i am, what they can do.
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38 Years
It was my experience that no matter what excuse I came up with, it was never acceptable. No one would be bothered with me, like I was a marked person. They had already made up their mind about me and unless I became their puppet, they weren't going to change their judgement. I learned to live with it for many years, but stayed on the fence because of family. You're right, it's a depressing existence.
I'm sure they like to blame it on your college studies. Health problems won't impress them either (tried it). Don't forget, the brothers in Africa walk through crocodile infested rivers to get to all the meetings.
Everyone else may need to learn to live with your "token" appearances. It's a good path toward fading, which in my opinion is the best way out. Your wife will never like it, but she'll get used to it. She will be in the "hot spot" trying to explain why you're not there. Eventually, she may see the hypocracy and lack of love.
Let us know how things are going. Again, if you want out, you've got a good fade going. They will just say you were never the same after you went to that "big, bad college".
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Did the Watchtower screw up your life ?
by JH inon a scale from 1 to 10, to what degree did they screw up your life ?
let it be the watchtower or the jw's... 10 is the maximum.
i'd say 7.
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38 Years
So I'm 36...no life to speak of, shunned by all former friends and family. Life is great.
I hope things get better. Welcome to the board. This board is a great start in healing from bad experiences. Don't let all this get you down. You deserve better treatment than you were given, so hang in there.
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38 Years
Most are miserable because they have to keep proving to themselves and othersthat they are happy and love what they are doing.