Even though the WTS has no problem finding new believers to replace the old, there are real victims of this sort of eschatological indoctrination. My parents have decided to make an unwise decision regarding the house they own - I believe it's called a reverse mortgage, anywho, this really points to their deep rooted conviction that they don't have to plan for old age or retirement. They never even talk about it.
independent_tre
JoinedPosts by independent_tre
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26
Time is running out for the Society
by truthseeker in2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. january 1, 2015. .
less than seven years remain before we see january 1, 2015. what will the watchtower's message be then?.
how can they explain to the flock that jesus christ is now ruling in his 101st year?.
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Is it true that 95% of JWs still believe the door was closed in 1935?
by 1914BS ini get that kind of feedback when i talk to dubs that i know .
how about your experiences.
do the jws you talk to really keep up with the tidal wave of wt doctrine changes?
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independent_tre
This may be slightly related to this topic ( how JW's treat 1935), but I really don't understand what this daily text was getting at. I even asked an elderette what were they were trying to say with this teaching, and her reply was.."I don't know, but whatever the slave feeds us, I'll accept it even if I don't understand it". Here's the text, taken from the Friday, January 4, 2008 daily text [ Examining the Scriptures Daily]:
"Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection." - Rev. 20:6. When did the first resurrection begin? In a vision, the identity of the "great crowd" was revealed to John by one of the 24 elders, and these elders represent the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ in their heavenly glory. (Rev. 4:4;7:9 -15; Luke 22:28-30) Since John was still a man on earth when the elder spoke to him, John must represent anointed ones on earth. Thus, it seems that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today. The correct identity of the great crowd was revealed to God's anointed servants on earth in 1935. If one of the 24 elders was used to convey that important truth, he would have had to be resurrected to heaven by 1935 at the latest. That would indicate that the first resurrection began sometime between 1914 and 1935. w07 1/1 2:5, 10, 11
- I'm sure folks read this shrugged their shoulders and read the next daily text the next day. That seems to be the jw norm when you come across some doctrine that really seems new or foreign....FYI - Just when you thought the WTS was trying to become more mainstream and move away from numerology and dates
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thinking vs. feeling.. must we choose just one ?
by caliber inthinkingthinkers decide based primarily on logic, and when they do so, they consider a decision to be made.
they tend to see the world in black and white and dislike fuzziness.
feelingfeelers decide based primarily through social considerations, listening to their heart and considering the feelings of others.
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independent_tre
Why are the two mutually exclusive, when in fact both phenomena that can be found in any one person at the same time? The very fact that one is cognizant of his/her feelings means they are capable of thinking and feeling at the same time, probably in varying degrees depending on the situation.
Personality theorists believe that these go along a continuum and use tests like the Myers Briggs to determine personality types.
I remember taking one for career counseling and I was an ISFJ ( Introverted, ???, Feeling, ??and something else, I think judging)
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independent_tre
No. Just ain't natural....
I'm amazed at how many are convinced it's okay because of the lack of evidence of harm, when in fact there has been no long term research studying the effects of consuming cloned or genetically altered meat. Funny, I'm taking a graduate level public health course right now and while we haven't touched on the subject of clones - historically, people always got sick and died from seemingly harmless things and activities. They were exposed to many harmful microbes and bacteria without their knowledge. It wasn't until later that scientific evidence showed just how harmful certain things in our enviroment can be.
And while I'm at it, I don't trust the FDA either. That government agencies is in shambles and things deemed okay today are recalled tomorrow. Too little, too late in many cases.
Plus it's just ICKY!!!
just say no to dolly....
( and microwaves and splenda... but I'll save that conspiracy theory rant for another thread)
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What Is Your Present Status In The Organization?
by minimus inare you disfellowshipped?
disassociated?
a fader?
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independent_tre
I like the term 'newbie fader' so I'll borrow that. I haven't been to any meetings in 2 to 3 months, but immediately prior my attendance was sporadic due to some health issues, so I don't think anyone misses/missed me.
Sammie - l love the strong conviction in your post and your powerful stance against the WT, one day I hope to grow up and be just like you!
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Can i just ask about the public and non public watchtowers..
by dobbie infor those of you that know, is there any difference between the two?i haven't been here for a few months and wondered if the public wt is tolerant and friendly than the witnesses one,and if the witnesses one was more hardline, covering the more controversial things?would just be really interested to find out if the public one has articles more designed to catch householders out, without putting anything in them that could put them off ie discipline (shunning) or blood etc.
thanks!
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independent_tre
They are keeping a rather tight grip on the Study edition WT's, even making access to copies very limited. I was once given an extra study ed. WT, by accident, and one elder literally hunted me down to get that 1 extra copy back, telling me that I didn't need more than one. But I also know of some congo's that arent so strict.
Makes me think they are trying to hide the more crazy, less appealing dogma, and I don't think it has anything to do with printing costs, because you can still get as many public ed. as you like. My question is, if it's all from the Bible and all supposedly 'truth', why hide anything???
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"Accept Jehovah's Authority" - Study Article 24th Aug
by passwordprotected inwhat space does that leave for jehovah?
the theme text is 1 john 5:3 which refers to the un-burdensome commandments of god.
quite what that scripture has to do with authority is puzzling, as it talks about the love of god not jehovah's authority.
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independent_tre
No claim of infallibilty(sp); yet they want everyone to OBEY, OBEY, OBEY...
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independent_tre
ALWAYS & EVERY DAY
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How many of you would still be "Blinded" by the JW's had it not been forJWD
by superman injust conducting a little survey for all of you active members and lurkers of jwd.
just simply proving the importance and support of this website.
for me personally, while i was still in jw land i had always ahd doubts but still generally believed it.
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independent_tre
<raises hand> ME!!! I know that I would still be going to meetings or at least feeling somewhat guilty if I had stopped on my own accord.
Similar to YM, I never really accepted other apostate sites, at first I just simply attributed those sites to disfellowshipped people with a grudge or cyber loonies that has an axe to grind against the WTS; This site was different because it was filled with thousands of users, many of whom had insightful opinions and knowledge, and provided access to information that I would not have known existed.
I think the number one thing that helped me "see the light" was reading all of the experiences of folks on here, some of which made me very teary to say the least. It was reading these experiences and seeing how many people were treated in the org, that helped me realize that something was wrong. Also being encouraged to read CoC by so many people - I never, ever would have picked up that book on my own. So in comparison, numbers speak volumes, and the many many many people posting here really helped me understand what I was really involved in and helped to to stop going -guilt free.Also,
What is crazy is how much information I would not have known about my own religion, such as who Russell & Rutherford were, Beth Sarim, 1975, etc.. etc..., that was just swept under the rug and never mentioned again. Even though I am a 3rd generation witness, these things WERE never mentioned to me, even in passing, before I got baptized. -
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What teaching did you find unacceptable that made you question the WTS?
by RULES & REGULATIONS inthe selection of the society in 1919 as the faithful and discreet slave after jesus spent nearly 5 years observing them.
jesus must have had some good lsd.
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independent_tre
I wondered who or what gave the WTBTS their authority to be God's channel on earth and therefore the sole 'owner' of the truth, with so many differing religions, not to mention Christian faiths; so I initially questioned the interpretation of the 'faithful and discreet' slave. It felt like they were applying circular logic/reasoning in explaining how they are in fact represented in the bible as the FDS. Basically it boils down to "we are because we say we are".