Family ties keep many from leaving completely. If the organization would ever let people leave without forcing the family to cut off association (disfellowship), many more would leave. I think everyone would be better off in that case. Makes no sense to force people to stay in. "God doesn't force people to serve him", right?
Here is an attempt to sell this "new light" to the organization - so I've tried to put it in their point of view... It would help the org if they got rid of dead weight. Less time wasted trying to make people do things they will never do (more meetings and service) because they really don't want to be JWs anyway. Let those who leave serve as an example, since surely they will suffer. Many will learn their lesson and come back with more zeal than ever before. It would remove a major "apostate" weapon - because "apostates" are rather effective with exposing the pain and ruthlessness of breaking up families. It would let people be in the organization for the right reasons, not simply for maintaining family ties. It would be in harmony with the shift from the way of worship in ancient Israel, toward the Christian way. (well, that idea wouldn't help sell the idea, but anyway)
nondescriptex
JoinedPosts by nondescriptex
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The contagion is spreading - lots of people quietly leaving JWs
by truthseeker infrom reading reports on jwd it seems that many are in the process of quietly leaving the watchtower organization.. it's almost become disease like - and spreading rapidly, even acutely in lands where access to information is greater.. people who i've known for years have suddenly disappeared - it reads like a stephen king novel.. what have you noticed?.
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nondescriptex
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Tossed out of the District Convention! What did I do wrong? I exist!!
by Terry inthis is a stupid story if it is a story at all..... quentin and i decided we'd go to the district convention since it is right here in our home town.. why?.
oh, curiousity.
a desire to find my old prison buddies.
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nondescriptex
You were curious about stopping by for a while, that's normal. Thought maybe you could catch up with some people you hadn't seen in a long time, that's normal. Quietly left the scene when confronted with two religious fanatics with chips on their shoulders who imagined you were a threat, that's normal too, a reasonable response. You were the man, they were the wimps. You were normal, they were screwballs.
To lurkers... see how silly it is? Attendants pushing people around, acting tough, hurting feelings. You have to admit, it's not right. Is it more like Jesus, or more like Pharisees? -
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Elder calling around
by Am ha·a'ret ini'm a new member as i've not completely left the org yet and being a "good lil jw" would never have looked at a site like this previously!
there is one elder in the cong who calls around every so often to "chat" as i only stopped attending meeting a couple of months ago.
i've spoken to him about certain subjects - eg the un thing and the misuse of quotes - but he has no useful answers for me.
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nondescriptex
Extended family still in, yes, that makes it annoyingly difficult to just up and walk away. As for speaking to elders about things, I find it best to say little. Miss the phone calls, be a "not at home", etc. They eventually get the hint or give up or get distracted by something else. Elders see a lot of people fade and know there is little they can do about it.
Welcome to the forum. Take your time and enjoy the open communication. As you've already noticed there are many different opinions and viewpoints. It's great. -
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Disfellowshipped for Beavis and Butthead
by donny ina friend (who no longer attends meetings) told me about an incident about seven years ago in north carline involving one of her male friends.
this friend has ceased believing the society's diatribe for some time and was only staying in it in order to associate with friends and family.
he had visited a friend in a town about 30 miles away and heard a sunday talk from one of that congregations elders.
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nondescriptex
Some years ago, I heard that happened in the Chicago area. The convention cancelled the FM radio broadcast because "apostates" had their own talks going on the same station. Might have been in the late 70's or early 80's. I remember thinking it was interesting that alot of people hadn't noticed they were listening to the "wrong" talks. Lots of folks were listening to the radio because it was fun, or to tape record the program without distracting noises, or because the sound quality was better.
Beavis and Butthead - awesome. Even when I was a good strong JW I enjoyed that wicked corrupting TV show. Probably what ruined me. LOL -
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2008 Drama on YouTube. Oh boy!
by Open mind infellow jwders,.
let us join in giving heart-felt thanks to the loyal worshiper of jehovah who took the time to post this year's dc drama on youtube.. i'm sure the wt is cool with this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6vfmgkwfp4&feature=related.
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nondescriptex
It seems to me, over the years, dramas have drifted further and further from the actual Bible accounts they are supposedly based on, adding more and more made up fluff. They exaggerate, are intellectually dishonest, and manipulative. This really started to annoy and WORRY me. Why do they think they have to make up their own "Bible stories", and isn't that a little dangerous (going beyond the things that are written, etc)? I know for a fact that many JWs go home thinking that what they saw in the drama is really what happened in the Bible. Bizarre.
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2008 District Convention badge?
by nondescriptex inanyone know where i can find a scanned image of a 2008 dc badge?
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nondescriptex
Anyone know where I can find a scanned image of a 2008 DC badge?
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Can we get a Newbie head count?
by kzjw ini haven't been here long...so is it just me or are the long standing jwd members noticing an influx of newbies?
to me it seems they are on the rise!
newbies stand up on this thread, be counted -- and welcomed!
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nondescriptex
Here. Lurker for a long time before signing up.
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peace and quiet on a Sunday
by nondescriptex init's sunday.
i'm just sitting here.
i won't be forcing myself to sit through an enormously boring and depressing meeting.
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nondescriptex
It's Sunday. I'm just sitting here. I won't be forcing myself to sit through an enormously boring and depressing meeting. I won't be struggling to make superficial conversations with self righteous nervous people. I won't be parading in to McDonald's in a suit to choke down fast food between the meeting and field service. I won't be pounding on doors annoying people at their homes. Just being home on the weekend and not feeling guilty about it is a big treat after years of running in circles.
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Interview on the JWs on Catholic Radio
by jschwehm ini will be interviewed on june 6th at 8am central time on relevant radio.
you can listen on-line at www.relevantradio.com
jeff s.
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nondescriptex
Good interview, thanks for posting.
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Are we hyper-sensitised to JW changes? Do we exaggerate their importance?
by yadda yadda 2 insometimes i think we lose all perspective at times on here.
that we are just as prone to over-magnifying any meaning behind relatively minor changes like this in the organisation in the same way jw's are prone to over exaggerate every bit of bad news in the world to mean armageddon is near.. when you sit down in the cold light of day, this change to the bookstudy arrangement for example, is it really that much a big deal?
i strongly doubt it really, despite initial reactions (including my own).
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nondescriptex
Yes and No. It depends on the individual perspective, experience, and situation in life. One thing's for sure, it makes for interesting reading. Claim to be the only true religion, claim to be the only way to survive when the world ends any minute now, claim excessive control over people's lives, and yeah, someone's going to watch and comment on what you do, especially if they or their friends and family are stuck in it.