Posts by shopaholic

29

Prove the Truth to yourself.

by integ in

jw
friends

a sister from my "congregation" has a bible study, and this study had compiled a boatload of questions about russell, the wt history, and incongruencies etc.

and the sister told her that she refuses to answer the questions and that they are apostate teachings.

she told the study that "it isn't up to me to prove the truth to you, you need to prove the truth to yourself".. as another poster put up the topic of "doesn't it blow your mind?

I've heard that saying a number of times but the witnesses don't really mean it. When they say "prove the truth to yourself" they want you to do it through their literature and absolutely no use of independent materials. Its crazy.

I just had something similar happen to me when talking with a JW friend about a matter. They recommended that I research the issue, which I had done already. When I shared with them what I found, they told me "No, you should research what the slave says and base your decision on that." I told them I already know what the "slave" says regarding the issue but thought it was very interesting what I found outside of the "slave". Their response "Why would you need to look outside of the materials provided to us by the slave?"

How crazy is that?!

Honestly, that put the nail in the coffin for me.

13

I'm going on a date on Monday

by Newborn in

jw
friends

as some of you've adviced me lately...i have to "get out there and check my options", so i've a date this coming monday with a man who seems really nice.

wish me luck .

thx.

shopaholic

Good luck...have fun...be safe...

18

JWs and Multi-level marketing

by belbab in

someone, who was a jw a long time ago, sent me a message promoting an expensive cure-all drink called noni from tahiti.

i thought i would do a research on it and found out it is an expensive multi-level marketing scheme.. i found an interesting quote at the following site: (it is evident in the text that the witnesses are jehovh's witnesses).

http://noni.worldwidewarning.net/www/noni-utah-mormon-and-mlm.

shopaholic

Yep, all MLMs have a number of witnesses involved. I've even gotten suckered into an MLM before by someone at neighboring congo. Witnesses tend to recruit each other. I know a few Witnesses that make $$$ from MLM programs and about 70% of their downline are witnesses. You be amazed to find out that how many Witnesses are featured in promotional videos for various MLM programs.

In their mind its all about making money but still having time to pioneer.

31

How did you feel the 1st time you visited this or other "apostate" site?

by Newborn in

jw
friends

i thought jehobar would struck me dead with a lightning right on the spot.

seriously, i was so scared.

shopaholic

I was extremely nervous. I felt as if the elders were going to knock on my door at any moment. It took me a while to post. The first time I posted, I felt liberated and sick to my stomach from nervousness at the same time.

7

Another seed planted

by IWillBeDubbedNoMore in

jw
friends

at a family gathering over the weekend we played password.

we werent following the rules.

we would all guess at what the word could be after each clue.

shopaholic

Very interesting...never considered that it wasn't in the dictionary.

39

How Long Were You Mentally Out Of The "Truth" Before You Left?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was totally spiritually and mentally out of it at least 2 years before i resigned as an elder.

it was actually a long process but i can say it is a complete one.

shopaholic

I guess I did it backwards, I left first then worked on getting mentally out. I think I'm 89% there.

7

Inauguration Bible Verse for Mr. Obama

by cameo-d in

traditionally, during the inauguration the bible is opened to a "meaningful" verse of scripture chosen by the pres.-elect.. what scripture would you like to see mr. obama swear upon?.

do you think he should be sworn in using a bible, with all it's mistranslations, additions of the divine right of kings, and messages of the destroyer god?

when swearing on a bible, is there an implied allegiance to the catholic church since the papacy had all the authority to chose the canons "allowed" in the bible?.

shopaholic

I don't think he should be sworn in on the Bible. I think he should be sworn in on the constitution and the book "The Four Agreements".

35

Reject Worldly Fantasies, Pursue Kingdumb Realities?

by WTWizard in

according to the feb 2009 kingdumb misery, this is the title of the new hounder-hounder talks for public talks starting march 1. now, i can only imagine worldly fantasies include having a family, a reasonable measure of health and security, and being able to live a decent life.

kingdumb reality means throwing your life away out in field circus, attending boasting sessions, dutifully studying washtowel publications every tuesday all evening, and dying stagnant and having produced zero value in your own life.

shopaholic

You know... now that I'm away from the WT, Ihave a few friends now that are devout Christians.
It's amazing how many of them are incredibly balanced in their lives are.
Many keep amazingly high moral standards - but at the same time, they have real lives with real careers. Doctors, Lawyers, Musicians.

Same here. I think about many of my friends that have chosen not to have children (its not to late for some). I wonder what will happen to them when they get older. It has been very eye-opening to me to meet so many non-witnesses that have high moral standards. Most are not the sex-crazed, drug-taken, alcoholic, pill-popping maniacs we are taught to believe they are. I know many pioneers that are now entering thier 40's that have no health insurance and no retirement and work low-paying jobs to make ends meet. Nothing wrong with that, but what happens when they turn 60, 70, or 80. They will be like so many older JWs I know that still have to work and rely on others in the congo to help them make ends meet.

Its all about balance and the JWs are NOT balanced, among other things.

18

December 15,2008 Watchtower.pdf

by bronzefist in

http://www.sendspace.com/file/juhf6b.

brzfst.

shopaholic

thanks!

47

Cancelled bookstudy- but do you remember 4 day Assemblies!!!

by Witness 007 in

assemblies used to go for 5 days which caused problems for brothers with work so....it was changed to thursday to sunday......then half of thursday to sunday.....then 3 days only.

does anyone remember this....i remember 3 and a half days.

shopaholic

I remember the 4 day conventions. Thursday and Friday would always have really low attendance because it usually fell on the same day as finals or graduation for students and most folks did not want to take off work. We only went to the convention field service arrangement once. The brother told everyone to just do return visits. We went home and watched cartoons.