to anybody who cares, i have an announcement to make.
after reviewing all the great information on the internet and on this board, and with much praying and bible reading, i have made up my mind to stop studying.
i have written a letter to the sister i have been studying with explaining why (cowardly, i know but that's kinda the way i am)i have packed up all the books i've been given (what to do with them?
LOL @ TDogg--- a good tongue-in-cheek post!! Bchapp -- he was writing it, and forged the name of "Jehovah's loving people" at the end. Very funny stuff! Damned internet!
-J.R.
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i recently got hold of the book the catholic answer to the jehovah's witnesses (louise d'angelo, maryheart catholic information center, meriden, connecticut, 1981).
it's a pretty critique of the jws in many parts, especially on the topic of "jws and false predictions".
with regard to "the generation of 1914" it said:.
Interestingly, a TIME magazine article written back in about the same year (the one that covered Ray Franz's exit from the WT Society) had an interesting prediction about JW doctrine. As I recall, it said that the JW's were painting themselves into the corner with their "1914 generation" doctrine, and if Armageddon didn't come relatively soon, the WT Society would probably invent a new teaching.... It would be the idea that Armageddon invisibly occurred in heaven unseen to human eyes, with the implication being that the interpretation was still true, and some new "spiritual era" would have begun (that last part was my own logical extension).
Seems like the writer understood the "reworking of prophecy" that JW's consistently perform (in hindsight) once their predictions fail.
-J.R.
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hi everyone,.
i am a new poster who is putting off their own personal story of finding this site for a while..... i find alot of people here utterly fascinating, and would like to know..... exactly what is everyones professional field of work?.
i would like to be a full time poster on this forum, but alas, the $$$$ are quite light in that field of work.. apologies if this has been asked before.. just curious.
Computer programmer (or is that, software developer?) for a medium size North American insurance firm. We are in the midst of switching processing from a WANG mid-range to an IBM AS-400.
COBOL still rocks.
-J.R.
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ok, feel free to comment.
what verbal gymnastics will the org.
use to offset the pedohilia story that will air on dateline?
The posturing has already begun, as you may well know. At the Silentlambs web site, Bill noted a few things that were stated by J.R. Brown, a smooth-talking representative of the WT Society. Some of those things were:
Protection of children [is a] priority in [the] Watchtower organization.
We were very surprised to see that these statements were made, and we noted how inaccurate they are.
: "If child abuse becomes known to our church elders, they strictly comply with applicable child abuse reporting laws."
Depending on the law of the land where he lives, the molester may well have to serve a prison term or face other sanctions from the state. The congregation will not protect him from this.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not shy away from informing people about pedophilia. We abhor the practice and actively work to keep our congregations free from such harmful influences.THE DAMAGE CONTROL is already underway! The WT Society is smoothly trying keep the status quo going, and trying to wash this situation away with a deluge of words.
-J.R.
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i just found this to be a bit amusing.
i was scrolling through the elders handbook.
hehe well it was there!.
RF hit on the answer.... The whole organization is based on pride, starting at the very top! When was the last time the leaders of the WT Society displayed even a "modicum" of humility? When did they ever apologize for any of their mistakes? When did they renounce their "special" favored lifestyle in favor of living more like the common people who they lead?
And the elders themselves... do they really acquire their position by being the kindest, gentlest one, or by being able to instill the most fear and guilt into others? Anytime there is a conflict in the elder body between being kind and gentle, versus "cracking the whip" like Rehoboam (see the Rehoboam thread), the elders who are harsh prevail by force of will.
Only if the organization gives up the harshness of its disfellowshipping arrangement and associated enforced shunning, will we begin to see the leaders even begin to treat others with the kindness and respect they deserve simply for being human.
-J.R.
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i personally recommend listerine essential care tartar control formula, it is clinically proven to prevent and reduced plaque, gingivitis, and bad breathe.
and the minty taste is very nice.
Colgate Total. Very refreshing. My dentist wonders what I'm doing right. Must be the toothpaste.
-J.R.
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a life worth living is a life with meaning.
as former or inactive jws most of us struggle with this at various points in our lives.
this is especially true if we become "non-theists".
Very excellent advice, all of it! Live life to the fullest, and let the chips fall where they may....At least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you gave your best!!
Thanks for posting this, Lee.
-J.R.
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ok, you're out of the cult, that's great, it's the best thing you ever did.
but i have a question for all the ex-jw's......now that you're out, do you still believe in god?
do you practice a different religion?
Butalbee,
This is an interesting subject, and not one with sure answers. After leaving JW's, my first inclination was to "find a Christian faith" of some sort that would work for me. But that hasn't happened yet.
Then after doing some more thinking and reading, it seems plain that a lot of the Bible has to be taken on faith.
It still seems reasonable to believe that a Creator exists, looking at the sophisticated universe around us. However, it is hard to find evidence that he really gets involved in the day-to-day lives of individuals. If an argument is made that he does benefit some people (of faith) directly, then one could (as a counterpoint) say that God is equally cold-hearted toward all those who have been suffering needlessly for thousands of years.
So where does this leave one? I am neither an atheist nor a worshipper. Someone said this may make me agnostic. I'm not even sure about that. I think we need to live our best, reflecting any good qualities that God has made it possible for us to express, and leave the world a better place than we found it. And we should live each day to the fullest, knowing tomorrow is not promised to us.
The things about the after-life and eternal destiny, I believe those answers will come when we need to know them.
-J.R.
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after being disfellowshipped 2 years ago, i finally got up the courage to join this discussion board.
my story is short and sweet.
well not sweet but short.
Hi Cici --
You are not alone. Welcome to a place where people understand!!
I was immediately brought in front of a Judicial Committee and they didn't believe me. I was disfellowshipped.I can relate! My committee didn't believe me, either (in the face of some false accusations). I didn't want to be DF'd, but I was. But now I realize it was exactly what was needed to set me free!
Yes, if you're not in the right crowd, if they have no use for you, the JW's will be quick to dismiss you! How loving and Christian --- not!! Holy spirit and truth has little or nothing to do with JW judicial proceedings. It's about a rush to judgment, combined with a love of power.
Glad you're philosophical about it all! Again, welcome to this board.
-J.R.
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hi everyone, i too have been lurking for a few weeks and thought it was time i made myself known.
i am not a jw but i am married to a man who is from a multi-generational family of jw's (although he has not been to meetings since he was old enough to object).
although i have never had any direct involvement with the organisation itself, i find my life is constantly infulenced by these people who judge, shun and avoid my husband and i (i guess they don't want to mix with "worldy people" such as us).
Judith,
Welcome to the discussion board!! We look forward to your future contributions. It's interesting to see how the "tentacles" of the organization can sting, even when not a member....
-J.R.
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