Posts by Gordy

27

How many JWs are still waiting to have children in the "new system"?

by truthsearcher in

*** g74 11/8 11 is this the time to have children?

significantly, in the first century jesus christ himself gave an ominous forecast regarding a calamity coming upon judea.

that the armies of roman general cestius gallus encamped around jerusalem, but then withdrew, apparently without any reason for doing so.

Gordy

*** g74 11/8 11 Is This the Time to Have Children? ***

Well I got married to a JW girl in July of that year. Also about 4 other weddings took place that year as well.

My wife and I had our first child in October 1975. Just in time for Armageddon

After 1975 had gone others also started to have children.

Also there was an article in March 1st 1988 Watchtower... Responsible Childbearing in this Time of the End"

*** w88 3/1 26 Responsible Childbearing in This Time of the End ***"So the matter of childbearing in this time of the end is a personal one that each couple must decide for itself. However, since “the time left is reduced,” married couples would do well to weigh carefully and prayerfully the pros and cons of childbearing in these times. (1 Corinthians 7:29) Those who do choose to have children should be fully aware not only of the joys childbearing can bring but also of the responsibilities involved and the problems that can arise for them and the children they bring into the world."

We had our seventh child the following year.

Only my wife and two daughters are still JW's.

57

"Follow the Christ " conventions...is it me?

by Gordy in

jw
friends

looking at the convention invitation,.

does anyone get the feeling this is a ploy by the wt to project themselves as "christian".

the way it is worded gives the image that they are "christ centred".

Gordy

Looking at the convention invitation,.

Does anyone get the feeling this is a ploy by the WT to project themselves as "Christian".

The way it is worded gives the image that they are "Christ centred".

"FOLLOW THE CHRIST!"
"How can following the Christ help you to" .........

No sign of "Come to Jehovahs organisation for Salvation."

Will there be a talk on staying with "Jehovahs organisation"
The talk for Sunday "Who are the RealFollowers of Christ?" we can be sure who they will project who they are.

How do they get round the "Jesus is Michael the archangel" teaching?

My son pointed out how strange they have a picture of Jesus on the invite. With a beard, yet if any JW brother dared grow one they would have a few words with him.

21

What % of JW's think they will make it to the New System without dying?

by JH in

jw
friends

when i joined some 20 years ago, i was 99% sure i'd make it alive and see the new system without dying, because they way they put it, the end was so close, and i was so young.. today, if i was still going to meetings, i would say that i would be 20% sure of seeing the new sytem without dying first.. if you were still a jw, or if you still are going to meetings, what % would you say is your odds of making it to the new system without dying?.

Gordy

Over the years the number must change. The longer that Armageddon doesn't occur the less that think they will be alive when it happens.

We are getting on for 100 years since 1914, once a date for Armageddon. JW's must look back and think, the WT keeps saying the end will se here soon, the time is short etc etc. But still nothing.

My Eldest son, 32 this year, was born in October 1975. Yes, 1975! one of "those" years.

I remember a JW saying, after his birth,he would never go to school on "this system". Strange, I thought that the "system" was supposed to have ended this year, even by now.

Then when he did go to school, it became, the "system" would be ended by time he left school. (not to worry about his education them).

Today the older JW's those in there 60's to 80's or older, must be wondering what happened. Why no end?

Now the younger generation are planning for a future. Getting an education, jobs, careers, buying houses on 25 yr mortgages.

Or dare I say it even leaving the Watchtower.

17

Are people REALLY leaving???

by lavendar in

wingcommander said in a previous post:.

the bad news is this: the older generation of jw's is dying off, while the younger generation thanks to the internet and research, is able to see through the history of false prophecy and absolute control, and is now leaving in droves!

(he meant "bad news" for the wts).

Gordy

Statistics on Jehovah's Witnesses

http://www.sektes.info/stats-e.htm

13

I heard a term describes disfellowshipping to a "T"

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i can't find the exact quote (i'll keep looking) but charles swindoll said of church discipline "we're the only outfit i know of that shoots its own wounded.

i think that is a very apt way to say what jw's do.

about twenty years ago a relative was diagnosed as bipolar.

Gordy

"we're the only outfit I know of that shoots its own wounded."

Boy! How I can relate to that, so true.

Must remember that best description I've heard. Simple but true.

53

Taking predictions for the 2007 memorial partakers!!

by cultswatter in

i'm doing this well in advance so that all the wonderful people on jwd can look back later and see just how close they were to the actual number!

(it is possible the wts might stop publishing the partaker numbers) in a few days, i will duly record the link to this thread for future reference.. remember that there were 8524 partakers in 2005 and 8758 partakers in 2006, an increase of 234 partakers.

so how many remnant will partake in 2007??.

Gordy

I wonder if thats why they didn't announce the change on teaching on the "heavenly calling" until after the Memorial.

The change as announced in the May 1st "Question from Readers" could have an effect on nextyears Memorial.

42

It amazes me, that no violent acts have been perpertrated against the JW's

by JH in

jw
friends

when i listen to the news about the school shootings in virginia, and the previous school shootings elsewhere, it amazes me that nothing similar has ever happened in a kingdom hall.. i'm totally against violence but i know that it just takes a nut, to do something like this, and there are plenty of nuts and angry people running around.... so many lives have been broken because of the watchtower, and so many jw's and xjw's are unhappy because of this sect.. are you also amazed that there has hardly been any violent crimes agaist jw's or the watchtower?.

Gordy

I think if I remember rightly they did face attacks in the early days especially 1920's to 1940's.

When I became a JW in 1971 my employer who was in his 80's said he remembered the JW's in 1930's holding an assembly in local hall. That they had brothers standing outside with batons and there was a couple of running battles with others.

44

Suicide

by Regrets in

hello all.. i post here under a different name but feel the need to unburden myself anonymously.

i hope you can understand.. several years ago, while married and an active dub, i had a one night stand.

i was mortified at what i had done because this had happened before and i had told my wife.

Gordy

To all those who have posted on their feelings for others. You don't know how good it is to hear your comments not only to "Regrets" but to many of us who have been through similar things.

I attempted suicide in April 1996. Not over infidelity. Firstly through the pressure of being a JW, wanting out of it, the doubts having mounted over the years. Secondly because of debts, had a large family to keep, and a low wage coming in. You know the kind of thing.

If it had been one or the other I probably would have coped. But the worry of the debts and keeping up the appearance of being a "good little JW" also I was a Min Servant. I saw no way out but to end it all. Its hard to describe in words the feeling of intense depression. I was later diagnosed as having "acute clinical depression" and probably had it for years beforehand.

I won't go in to how and where but the suicide attempt failed ..... obviously.

But it was the aftermath that got to me...a wonder that I didn't try again.

I spent time in psychiatric hospital .... wonderful staff ...their concern and care was first rate.

But what I got from the JW's was total lack of love and support. Judicial commttee...reproved.

Wife eventually told me to leave home ...Elders had decided that I was a "spiritual danger" to the family. That was ten years ago.

It led eventually to me looking into the Watchtower. Finding this forum and Freeminds ...and others.

I DA'd in 2001 which since then my JW wife and two JW daughters have not spoken to me.

Though two of my other children also DA'd, 3 did not become JW's, two of who live me.

Things are OK at the moment.

But I tell you all this forum has been one of the best things through the years. Even though I have not met most of you, though I met a few in Manchester last October, the support given to me and others as we have come out of the Watchtower has been marvellous. Realising that there are other all over the world who have gone through similar or even worse at the hands of the WT . You find are not alone.

28

Percentage of JW's that are undercover?

by flipper in

jw
friends

what do you think?

it seems like a lot are there so they won't lose family and friends - are in good standing but don't actually believe.

Gordy

I know a few JW's who are "undercover" from young ones to even Elders.

Why don't they leave, is often asked. Because many of them have their whole families who are JW's and rather than hurt and lose them they stay on.

I knew two Elders, both in their 70's, who doubted much of the WT teachings, one even showed me from Bible that Jesus was God. But as one said if he were to leave it would kill his wife, to her going to the KH was everything.

But as has been said above I think the ones under 30 are more likely in the end to decide that they have had enough and leave.

I know talking to mt teenage children that those JW's they know of their age, are just waiting for the chance to leave. Just keeping the parents happy by being baptised etc

18

the lenths jws go to to avoid you

by winnie in

went to the chemist the other day parked near my brother in laws car in car park.he saw me and turned away.my wife went into chemist had to wait 10 minutes all the time my elder brother in law sat in car.we moved closer to supermarket as soon as we had moved i watch him go into chemist he was waiting for us to leave so he could go in.. i then went into supermarket i watched him do a whole lap of the car park walking so he wouldn,t have to walk past my car with wife and kids in.

he thought the coast was clear didn,t know i was in there so i ambushed him in an isle smiled said hello he smiled said hello then the jw shunning part of his brain kicked in head down walk straight and frown.. saw my mother in car latter and she covered her face .

i think they feel uncomportable.

Gordy

Well apart from the fact my JW wife and two JW daughters have not spoken to me since 2001.

Other JW's have either crossed the road to avoid me. Or as they have been walking towards me suddenly get a call on their mobile phone, amazing how they alway seem to get calls just at that moment..

Have had them get up and leave a cafe and half finished meals when Ihave walked in.

Good one is when I'm having a drink in pub and couple JW's walk in from my old congregation, get their drinks, turn round and see me. They get that "rabbit in a headlight" look. Then scurry to farthest part of pub. I know why they are there, its because the pub is miles away from their territory and no one knows them.

But saying this my DA'd son and I were in pub last week. At next table was four young girls about 20ish. One turns round to us and asks in we JW's. "We were" we said. She them says she recognised us, said she was from Eastham congregation, which we knew. We got chatting and telling her about why we left etc. She went about how though a JW, she doesn't accept it all. But when we started about JW teachings etc. She became very defensive about them. She even asked if we were frightened about Armageddon coming. But then here friends wanted to move on to the nightclubs in town. It was so odd she was defending the WT, yet at same time in a pub drinking, in short dress, low cut top, with 3 "worldly" friends going clubbing.

IF other people have been around I have explained why the JW has ignored me. They then become fascinated about why and it leads into conversation about JW's.

But if I do see a JW out and about I always give a wave and say Hello. I just love annoying them.