Posts by civicsi00

i was checking out another topic and pulled off something that wobble said.. given that - how many of you would go back if the wts decided to enact shunning for everybody who was not active?

if tomorrow they decided that da'ing or fading or in simple terms, being inactive for any reason whatsoever, was a shunning offense - how many would start going back immediately just so their family wouldn't be cut off?

how many would not go back and would instead would be willing to stand firm on their belief that the wts is wrong in what they teach?

civicsi00

For months I felt like I was just "sitting on the fence". I didn't know if I should go through with DA, or getting DF.

Now I could care less. I wouldn't go back just to keep in touch with family. If they don't want to talk with me, that's on them.

26

X-Witnesses and Faders - have you had a help them return visit yet?

by eyeslice in

with the watchtower study about helping 'lost sheep' return, i have been half expecting a visit.

i have mentally rehearsed how i should handle the situation, which is fairly tricky as i still have family in.

but no call yet.

civicsi00

Nope, no visits or phone calls.

Rumor has it that I'm an "apostate" so I believe they're just going to stay away from me.

I do kind of expect something near the Memorial, but if the elders show up, it will be time to confirm the rumors.

30

Name Things Witnesses Do or Believe That Is Not "Scriptural"

by minimus in

jw
friends

jehovah's witnesses pride themselves in believing that they alone are picked by god, jehovah god, specifically.

they say they are not part of the world and are unlike the false religions that are mired in their traditions.

i say they are liars!

civicsi00

They don't pray to Jesus.

Acts 7:59; John 14:14

22

Apostles of Denial (1970) -- PDF!

by cabasilas in

information on how to download the book apostles of denial (1970) by edmond c. gruss will be given at the end of this post.

before this, however, id like to present this introduction:.

apostles of denial a personal recollection and a tribute.

civicsi00

Wow, thanks!

I had heard of this book before but had forgotten to look it up. I believe Len Chretien mentioned this book (and that it helped him) in his testimony at the Witnesses for Jesus convention back in the 80's.

Give my supreme thanks to the author! I have already started going through it and it looks very well written!

28

"But there are always new ones coming in"

by Farkel in

if you've read, seen and heard as many sickening statements uttered by watchtower leaders as i have, you'll probably agree you tend to get jaded by them after a while:.

russell claiming his books were more important than the bible.

rutherford boasting that armageddon coming in 1925 was as certain as the flood of noah and virtually "indisputable.".

civicsi00

This evil, the "dehumanizing", has been around for decades, and I really wish I knew how/when it originated (if I had to guess, I would say Rutherford/Freddie Franz started this). I believe the real evil is as Ray stated: it's this "concept of the organization", that everything revolves around "the organization". I can remember growing up that that's mostly what I ever heard from my parents ("The Society said this" and "The Society doesn't approve of this"). It seemed so strange to me, but I had to accept it or face discipline growing up.

Look at this quote from 1950:

"Jehovah's visible organization can use you, but can get along without you too. But you cannot get along without it. Fruitless ones are eventually pruned off and never missed as new ones are grafted in." 1/15/50 WT, pg 26

When Karl [brain-dead from birth] Klein stated what he did, he did so because of the indoctrination that stemmed from the publications and was just "parroting" what he had been hypnotized to say.

It's this attitude that has destroyed countless families and relationships, and all because "the end is near" and "one shouldn't focus on this life, let's wait until the Paradise gets here to really enjoy life". All because one man said "Christ's presence did indeed start in 1874... invisibly!"

-CivicSi00

29

My sister called! I've written her a letter...

by Confession in

i was working in corpus christi this past weekend, when my sister called out of the blue on sunday.

she, like the rest of my family, is a very zealous jw, and since i am recognized as an apostate, i haven't seen nor spoken to her in about four years.

i was completely shocked that she called.

civicsi00

Damn, that was an awesome letter! Mind if I borrow a few words here and there..?

Most of my family members feel that I've just "lost my way" but never actually ask why I stopped going. It's funny. It's easier for them to "assume" things about you than to actually come up and ask you.

23

Mormon Might try to converte me! Help!

by FiveShadows in

jw
friends

okay here's the deal.

i work right now in homehealth.

the family is mormon.

civicsi00

If you want to engage them, then you have to be ready to point out the errors/contradictions.

If you don't, then be polite and tell them that you're not interested in any religion at the moment.

They really are nice people. I had a talk with two of them (an older guy and a kid in his 20's), and after my discussion with them (asking them about proof that the Native Americans are related to the peoples mentioned in the book of Mormon, etc.) they never came back. I don't have much experience dealing with them, but it seems they're not too fond of critical thinking when they can't prove stuff.