Posts by Robert7

23

Zeitgeist, anyone seen it?

by Sammy Jenkis in

so i was watching this on netflix today and had only really heard about the comparisons between jc and horus in religulous.

it amazed me how incredibly credulous i was as a witness- i would never have watched a video so full of "lies" had i still been in.. or maybe i'm willing to believe anything now..... for those that have seen it- how convinced were you with the comparisons between jesus and the zodiac?.

Robert7

I saw it early in my fade. I quickly had red flags thrown with what seemed like pretty crazy claims, confirmed by some simple research.

However, this movie was huge with my awakening. It opened my mind to even consider what if Jesus was just another god. I haven't ever considered it before this movie. Not long after that I did more and more research where I have concluded that the bible is just another book, and Jesus and the Christian god are just other gods.

I don't like misinformation. Information presented like a documentary should be accurate. So do the ends justify the means? Probably not. But it was good entertainment.

153

The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

by slimboyfat in

one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

Robert7

In my last year or two as a JW, I would rarely go out in service, but I counted 4 hours every month. Why? We got 'free' 4 hours every month for studying with my kids. I never actually had a study, but figured taking them to meetings counted. I was happy because I got to skirt by, elders were happy because I turned in my time and it wasn't 0 (image is everything) and I was counted as an active publisher. JWs care about quantity (and image), not quality.

I suspect many in the org fall into this type of thing at some level, like counting that one time you said the word 'Jehovah' with a worldly person as service time, or people counting small increments of service time and rounding up big time (long breaks for example). We (including elders and MSs) did that all the time, especially with young kids. Go out for 1/2 hour, 1 hour break, a few RVs, and you got your 2 hours in! It was easy. Cooking the books with zero accountability.

13

Two To Five Year Faders, How Often Do Your JW Friends Who Promised To Die 4 U, Check Up on You?

by ÁrbolesdeArabia in

we all were told, even in these stupid songs we sang at the kingdom hall that our brothers would die for us because they loved us so much!

they had the love of jesus christ so deep, they would do anything to make sure we stayed aboard the patterson ark.. .

now i can't create a fancy time-line like the july 15, 2013 watchtower that shows all those cool pictures and charts.

Robert7

Absolutely zero, never. In addition my own mother won't talk to me or wants to be in the same room as me (even though I never talk religion), so there's Christian love for you.

43

Fading ... and Feeling Lost

by What Now? in

prior to that we had been in a new congregation for about 9 months, and we were just irregular.

my husband rarely went, and i would go occasionally with our toddler son just enough to show our faces and keep the elders off our backs, and for the sake of some friendships in our old hall.

all of the reasons i had for going were just no longer important.

Robert7

My wife and I went through the same process. it's tough because so much of your life will change, and it takes time, years, before you feel fully acclimated to the normal world. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Life outside is so much better, with your ability to use your freedoms any way you want. People will like you because you are you, and not what you believe.

People can suck, in and out of the organization. There are many people outside that you won't want to be friends with, or they won't want to be friends with you. What we've found out is most people have a 'friend capacity', and that is not a big number. Most people have their set of friends, and even if they like you, may not let you 'in' because they are 'full'. This was discouraging, but we've found there are other great people out there just like you looking for good friends. However, like us, you will make mistakes. You will make some bad decisions, but this is all in light with learning how to live in 'the world'. You may end up befriending the wrong friends just to have someone, and learn the lessons that quality is more valuable than quantity, and you may have to let some go, and that's a good thing, you just need to learn your lessons to improve your future.

Early on, we filled in the void with Ex-JW get togethers. Associating with others who went through the same challenges helps, but we've come to learn that many times we really don't want to be friends with them either. We've since stopped looking for Ex-JWs, and have found a good group of friends (some ex-JW some not) and our new associations are all non-JWs.

The toughest part is that you don't have a congregation of 'instant friends'. A good friend is a gem, and you don't find them very often.

Keep your marriage and family strong, and don't let this discourage you (I know, easier said than done), and in time it really does get better. You're finding your own way, and finding out your own life and personality, in a whole new world. This is exciting! You have your whole life ahead of you!

45

Unbelievable Experience in Yearbook

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

a number of years back i heard a story of a young girl in a congregation ( i have some good friends in this hall ) who had an amazing field service experience.

it was so amazing that it was retold in the 2007 yearbook!.

it is retold in the highlight of the past year section.

Robert7

"Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story". Remember for JWs the ends justify the means.

25

Looking up scriptures during meetings

by Stealth in

recently i attended a jw funeral after a 12 year fade.

i did not bring a bible to the talk.

i found it somewhat odd and distracting to the flow of the talk at how much time was spent by all the jws looking up scriptures in the bible that they have all have read 1,000s of times before.

Robert7

I think scripture lookup is all about perception/image, to look more 'Christian' and less cultish. JWs love to tout how they use their bible in meetings. They can all look so uber-spiritual by flipping to scriptures that have been read 1000 times, but it looks good because most churches in the world don't do this.

I attended a friend's church recently (just to support him, I'm an Atheist) and they had a screen displaying the scriptures as they were being quoted. Much more effective in my opinion, allowing people to focus on the talk, and not flipping pages. But the JWs think they have everything right.

16

Do you know of any criminals that became JW?

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

there was a convicted murderer that became jw in my old congregation.

actually he committed manslaughter, he killed another guy in a bar fight.

i think he served 15 years in prison.

Robert7

I met a guy at an airport bar once. He was recently out of prison (not sure for what, but was a few years), said he studied with JWs in prison. I mentioned I was out and didn't believe. He was witnessing to ME to go back to meetings even though he never himself has been to a meeting! Crazy cult brainwashing!

37

Prodigal Son DVD, Seen it? Totally Unrealistic to me. You?

by Wasanelder Once in

here's the basic rundown:.

ok so little jw (21 going on 15) decides to get a job with a computer firm.

leaves family construction company to do so.

Robert7

This is exactly the image they are trying to portray. If you leave the truth, you go crazy and your life falls apart. When you return to the truth, your life is great again. This message is nothing new, I've heard it in many talks, it's just portrayed more dramatically.

The mental conditioning and fear works. As a JW I remember not being able to fathom what it would be like leaving. It makes adjusting to the real world much more difficult, but eventually we all realize it's not such a scary place out there...

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-12-2013 WT Study (HEART)

by blondie in

jw
friends

i will give them a. heart to know me, that.

figs: i will give them a heart to know me, that i. am jehovah; and they must become my people.

give them a heart to know him.

Robert7

"Circumcision of the heart", now doesn't that strike anyone as odd? An article relating the heart to a piece of skin from a penis? Mentioning foreskin and circumcision over and over again in a public study with families? Just odd and inappropriate. Just another red flag that shows there's something wrong with the writers!

37

July KM - Jehovah's heart scanner in action

by respectful_observer in

excerpt from july 2013 km article "new initiatives for public witnessing".

4 how the witnessing is done: those.

involved in special metropolitan public.

Robert7

What a bunch of crap. I recently saw a table set up by JWs at an airport. The two "pioneers" just sat and talked among themselves. WE know that is a complete waste of time, with probably a very very low take rate. THEY think they are holier than thou, doing god's lifesaving work (by sitting and chatting).

I so badly wanted to approach them and call them on it. If this is your lifesaving work, and if MY life is on the line, then why are you just sitting there chatting? But I was too respectful and let them be.