So they're sending Tony Morris over to bolster the spirituality of the Italian "friends"? They better have a terrific "translator" who ignores all the stupid stuff he likely to say in a talk. How would it go over in Italy when he talks about his Vietnam experiences and his meteoric rise from military vet to new publisher to pioneer to "anointed" CO to one of "God's hand selected GB" in Brooklyn?
Billy the Ex-Bethelite
JoinedPosts by Billy the Ex-Bethelite
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81
Does anyone know what is happening with Italy's (Rome) Bethel???
by LoisLane looking for Superman inthere are rumors out, that the italy (rome) bethel is being shut down and putting out to pasture a large portion of the bethel staff.. has anyone heard anything... ?.
the word is that everyone but the most senior members will be let go.
the senior bethel family members will be reassigned.
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More WT Propaganda: Low Paying Jobs are OK for Family Heads. Just "Don't Miss the Meetings!"
by Oubliette ingod, evidently, wants you to be poor: .
a newly baptized brother is married, and he and his wife have three small children.
one day, a workmate suggested that he and the brother move to another company that paid a higher wage and provided more benefits.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
LongHairGal,
So, you're saying that Jesus didn't post on the Internet?
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How Jehovah's Witnesses benefit those humble enough to study the Bible with them.
by Stand for Pure Worship inexcellent material can be found within the reasoning book, page 328, para.2, 3. occasionally, i see posters make presumptuous comments like, "all you need is the bible", or, "i'm born-again, so there's no need for spiritual assistance from another christian", or,"i'm saved", or my favorite, "jesus talks to me directly.
" on one hand, i can't be overly critical of such ones because they do attempt to read and understand the bible on their own.
(acts 17:11) not to mention they're generally peaceable folks, just self-misguided when erroneously believing that they can go it alone.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
As long as you're looking in the Reasoning book, turn to page 239 where it explains, "The "generation" that was alive at the beginning of fulfillment of the sign in 1914 is now well along in years. The time remaining must be very short. World conditions give every indication that this is the case." Intelligent persons who read quotes like this will note that the publication was written in 1985, over 28 years ago. Since their teaching at that time was completely wrong and the world didn't end by 1995, they rewrote the meaning of "generation" many times to make it last much longer.
Further reasearch will reveal to right-hearted individuals that WT is a scam run by 100% false prophets.
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A real difficult congregation???
by quellycatface inmyself and my family have had some odd experiences in our current congregation.
i have'nt been to meetings since september because of this.. 1. the co told the elder who was studying with my husband that he was doing it as an "academic exercise.
" my husband is very intelligent, been in the military, has a degree and a masters and a good job.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
To answer the question of your title, "A real difficult congregation???", I'd say that you're in a typical congregation. You could probably shop around and might find a congregation that comes across as more understanding, patient, or loving, but in the end they are all part of the same organization, studying the same publications, making the same demands.
I agree that your experiences seem "odd", but they're not really that unusual for a KH congregation. You're getting pushed to do things you don't really want to do and are uncomfortable doing, then you're given the "cold shoulder" for not being spiritual enough? That's typical in the JW organization. The CO and elders are insulting big-mouths? That's normal. It's just that most of them are able to control their tongues better than these guys you've experienced. When it comes to COs and elders behind the closed doors of an elders meeting, that's when most of them speak openly about their contempt for others in the congregation.
"I did want to go on the Ministry but as I am depressed/anxious felt the Min School was too much. I am told I had to be on the school first!!! Not come across this before???"
Sounds almost like they've come up with a "special new rule" just for you. The congregations I used to go to would be thrilled if you wanted to do anything and would let you take your pick what you'd rather do first. Either the congregation or CO are going the extra distance to discourage you.
"What shall I do?"
First of all, learn the truth about Jehovah's Witnesses by reading jwfacts. If you aren't comfortable reading "apostate" truths, then read some of the older WT publications by Russell, Rutherford, or even the old "Truth" book, which JWs would shun for being "old light." Watchtower is a 19th century religion that prophecied the end of the world in 1914. They've constantly rewritten their history and beliefs in order to survive to today. They blind their membership with promises of a paradise that never arrives. They don't want their membership to think, so they discourage "higher education" and tell their "publishers" exactly what they are supposed to think. They don't allow their members time to think by making constant demands on their time and energy. If this isn't what you want out of life, do not have anything more to do with JWs.
If you feel the need for religion in your life, find an organization that makes you feel encouraged rather than discouraged.
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Generation continuing
by molybdenum inthis is what is written in the jan 2014 wt article .
let your kingdom comebut when?in his detailed prophecy about the conclusion of this system of things, jesus said: this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.
(read matthew 24:33-35.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
"in mentioning “this generation,” Jesus was referring to two groups of anointed Christians."
If that's what Jesus "was referring to," why didn't he just say "two overlapping groups of anointed Christians"? Why did he use the word "generation" which would clearly be understood to be about 40 years if he "was referring to" a time period of over 100 years?
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More WT Propaganda: Low Paying Jobs are OK for Family Heads. Just "Don't Miss the Meetings!"
by Oubliette ingod, evidently, wants you to be poor: .
a newly baptized brother is married, and he and his wife have three small children.
one day, a workmate suggested that he and the brother move to another company that paid a higher wage and provided more benefits.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
"Jesus didnt have a place to lay his own head"
Jesus was dead at 33 years old. Is this the example that every Christian ought to copy?
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exJW Psychology 104--One Way to Play the Depression Card
by Billy the Ex-Bethelite ini had an interesting conversation with bobby (*some names have been changed) last weekend.
he's also a successful fader going back several years before me.
but i found we had something in common that i hadn't realized.. bobby had never been particularly happy growing up.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
ohnightdivine: "Now, after learning TTATT, I became severely depressed for almost a month. Not doing anything, not taking good care of my house, myself, I was literally stuck feeling all alone and empty. And I gained a lot of weight."
There is a very real grieving process that many of us experience when we learn TTATT. It's as if your pet lion and panda died, your dream house just burnt down, and you were informed that you have a fatal disease. That's how I felt. It took time. I was on medication. I got counselling. Then I realized that I wasn't suffering because of learning TTATT, it was because I was recovering from a delusion. Lions and pandas are better off in the zoo, and I wouldn't want to have to feed and clean up after them anyway. The WT dream house was part kingdom hall, part sweatshop filled with spycams, no entertainment except for the continuous drone of Kingdumb Maladies. And the fatal disease probably won't affect me for another 30 years. Why waste all that time in misery?
Hang in there OND!
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First time poster
by kneehighmiah ini finally decided to post.
i'm so scared of being caught, so i'll be vague.
i'm an appointed brother.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
Welcome!
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First Post - Introduction
by Syme inthis is my first post on jwn, and i would like to take a few lines to introduce myself.. i currently am still in the organization, though my conviction in the last 1-2 years is more or less agnostic/atheist (closer to atheist).
i am an ex-elder and mts graduate, having served in another 3 congregations, apart from my home one.. the reason for the above-mentioned conviction shift has to do with science and rational, logical thinking generally, and with the grand theory of evolution, specifically.
it took me long, endless sessions of hard reading and study of serious scientific literature (plus cross-matching all the quotes and claims in jw evolution-related literature), to finally make the shift from utterly firm religious belief to doubt, and then to lack of religious faith.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
Welcome!
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Large ancient Canaanite Wine cellar discovered
by fulltimestudent inand they laced the plonk with psychotropic substances for an extra kick.. do you think that yahweh liked it too, and that's why he sent his thugs in to take over the vineyards?.
the smithsonian reports:.
november 22, 2013 9:20 amarcheologists discovered a stash of 3,700-year-old psychotropic wine photo: brandeis university.
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
"psychotropic substances", eh? How much of this stuff did the Bible writers drink?