aren't they considered a religion in some parts of the world?
4digitcode
JoinedPosts by 4digitcode
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6
Watchtower Society gets mentioned in U.S. News & World Report Mag.
by journey-on ini picked up a copy of a special edition of u.s.news and world report.
the title is "mysteries of history -- secret societies" in the article on p. 60, america's cult culture, the subtitle says "the u.s. has long been a breeding ground for bizarre new religions.
" then on pg.
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9
When you see someone study with the JW's...
by JH inmy front neighbour is studying with an elder.. he went to his first meeting at the memorial last april.
then he went back another time a month ago.. he went to his 3nd meeting yesterday.. today i saw him and asked him if he went to the hall recently, and he told me he went yesterday.
on saturday i noticed an elders car in front of here, so i knew he was visited by an elder.. today he told me that he liked the 45 min talk, but found the watchtower study sooooo long.. i asked if he will go back next week, and he said no.. the way he talks, he is just curious and went to see once more.. i'm afraid he will eventually be a dub.. i asked him if the elder was giving him a bible study, and he said not yet, but he will soon.. i don't understand why he is accepting to be visited when he told me that he was just interested reading the bible, but didn't want to go door to door, didn't want to go to sunday afternoon meetings, and found the meetings so long.. but still, he is falling into the jw trap.
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4digitcode
i don't think most people like the prospect of 5 meetings a week, long studies, door to door, etc. i sure no i didn't. i don't know if you can't relate because maybe you were born in the faith...for people who come later on in it it's slowly spoonfed. they don't give it to you all at once. and they're not doing this with this man either. this man probably thinks he can pick and choose what he wants. he doesn't know that soon his own 'conscience' will make him do these things against his real will.
I don't know if you should tell him to run like hell or just sow doubt but why not just give him CoC to read. If it's too hard for him to really understand, go through it with him, do your own little apostate study.
show him how people died for not accepting blood, how people gave up an education or gave up their life savings for false prophecies and show him child molestation cases. show him how the doctrines they teach ruined poeple's lives.
If he starts a study he will become too emotionally involved to leave at the first sign of trouble. he will rationalize the nonsense he is hearing.right now he is not aware of the danger and may never be if you persuade him to not do it. but imagine of you don't and one day he gets burned by the org.
sorry if i'm totally giving a guilttrip. i really don't mean to. everyone decides for themselves at the end of the day but i'm sure you will also feel good if you let this man know what he is going into. -
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Letter that my DFed wife received from her Pioneer Mother
by Hangin_on inwe have been dfed for almost 3.5yrs and have been trying to get back in for 2 yrs and we are getting the runaround.. anyway..... here is the letter my pregnant wife received from her elderess pioneer mother.. .
dear mary,.
i am writing to ask you please do not try to talk to me until you are reinstated.
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4digitcode
your wife obviously knows how hurtful it is to have conditional love from her own mother.
if you are trying to get reinstated to be brought back with the family that doesn't speak to you now think about this:
do you want to give your child a grandma that may leave him if he or you guys do something 'wrong' again???
how will he feel if he sees these people here and then the next minute gone and then maybe back again and gone again.
just a thought. -
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Trying to date in the organization...gossipers ruining relationships
by B_Deserter injehovah's witnesses are some of the worst gossipers i've ever encountered, especially when it comes to the dating habits of those in the congregation.
but, that's not really a surprise to most of us.
this story, however, makes me just shake my head and wonder why this guy doesn't question stuff.. there's a sister in my brother's hall that recently got a divorce.
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4digitcode
mono i saw that happen so many times. when you're young and single so many people get jealous.
When i just started going to this hall when i was 15 or 16 ( not baptized yet and alone in the 'truth') a sister told me i should stop always being the center of attention with the boys.
DUUUUUH! the same concept applies at school when there's someone new they all flock around you.
And a bethelite brother once told his best friend that i was flirting with all the bros at the assembly not knowing i was secretly dating him........the poor guy did a three hour trip to bethel to tell his mate to leave me alone and never talk about me again or else!! hahaha
the good ol' times. -
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Trying to date in the organization...gossipers ruining relationships
by B_Deserter injehovah's witnesses are some of the worst gossipers i've ever encountered, especially when it comes to the dating habits of those in the congregation.
but, that's not really a surprise to most of us.
this story, however, makes me just shake my head and wonder why this guy doesn't question stuff.. there's a sister in my brother's hall that recently got a divorce.
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4digitcode
one of my mates ignored me for a while because they started a rumor that he was trying to be with me. He was older and had just been appointed elder. my friend told me to leave him alone and he had to be an example now that he was an elder. then we started talking again but not until i got pissed off at him and told him to cut the crap.
Ever noticed that some couples were like ashamed of being together? cause some sorry sister said comments like 'you can do better' or 'does he have any spiritual goals. he's not a pioneer.'
i think all the gossips make young bros and sis keep a lot of relationship secret, meeting in secret, doing what they shouldn't be doing and later getting dfed for it.
that's how i experienced it at least ;) -
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What "Unwritten Rules" Did Your Congregation Have?
by minimus ini knew of a hall that allowed only white shirted speakers on the platform for sunday public talks!
when a visiting speaker did not wear the official white shirt he was either told that he couldn't give the talk or he could change shirts,as the hall kept a variety of sizes, just in case of an emergency!!!
i don't make this up.
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4digitcode
in italy--no black shirts for the brothers....;reminds people of fascism ( some elder's idiosyncrasy even though he was NOT italian)
in new york:
Afros were discouraged as it reflected the whole 'going natural trend' of a few years back...
an african brother was refused to do his part for the school because he hadn't worn western clothing.
can't think of any other.they just became so normal to you that it's hard to remember what were written and what were unwritten rules!! -
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4digitcode
all kidding aside though for a split second seeing those images a thought flashed in my mind and it was " god what if it does happen, i'll be one of those people destroyed by a rock in my head"
it's scary how much they can affect you even when you think you're over it..... -
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4digitcode
hahahaha deacon you're at it again!!good i missed 'em!
some replies have me in stitches...
and yeah that does look like raymond franz.
those pictures are really evil.i'm glad i didn't grow up in the JW while THAT was your book of bible stories!! -
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How Long Were You In Spiritual "No--Man's Land"???
by minimus inwhen you started understanding that the "truth" wasn't all that it was cracked up to be, how long did it take for you to get mentally and/or physically out??
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4digitcode
everytime i missed a couple of meetings i began to doubt......but then went back and thought my gosh the things satan puts in your head when you're out even just a little bit..........then miss again...then go...for about 4 years before they finally said STAY OUT!!! LOL THANKS WTB&TS...i just couldn't make that decision on my own.
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How bad can it get?
by TooBad TooSad inat the watchtower study sunday a comment was made that "we must stop focusing our efforts and energies.
on this old dying system and focus our energies on life in paradise so near at hand.
were many nodding heads in full agreement with this tid bit of insanity.
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4digitcode
"When I think back in time when I had family studies with my children and wife, and I was an elder, I often thought that something just doesn't feel right about what I believe. When a visting Bethel elder told me in confidence some of the things that were taking place in Bethel (in the 80's) I guess that was the beginning of my desire to learn more of what was really going on in Brooklyn. Once you begin to learn the truth about the truth you can not stop learning as you see your believe system unravel, your hopes for the "very near future" go up in flames, and the wasted years and marred childhood from being a JW pass before your eyes. It is painful and yet it feels good to be free or almost free."
i totally understand what you mean!!! that's how most of us feel i think. i didn't think you were head of a family, i thought you still were at home with mom and dad!!lol.
i felt that something wasn't right too but i had no information to back that feeling so i thought it was just me.
one of the replies was to 'not feel superior because we were in that situation' and while i agree with you, i just can't believe that i'm a 1 in a million that wouldn't have shunned my friends if they ever got out, only one of them talks to me now...and i feel llike she's a 1 in a million too.
we were all jehovah's witnesses and we all thought the same but i feel that everyone still came into the religion with their own personality. did i start feeling ill because i resisted the brainwashing so to speak? or is their a common denominator among most recruits that make them good material for this religion?
TBTS take it easy and remember that at least you know what the truth of teh matter is. and that's a great advantage already for you and your whole family even if it doesn't seem that way now.