BonaFide

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Posts by BonaFide

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  53

  Did anyone in your congregation have "perfume allergies"?

  by BonaFide in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  over the years, in the congregations i have been in, there have been 4 different people with "perfume or cologne allergies.

  anyway, they would always sit in the library, and at the bookstudy some years ago one sister would sit outside and comment through the window!

  another sister would sometimes wear a white "surgical" mask in the hall.. the congregation i am attending now has a sister like that.

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  BonaFide

  Seems like some have a legit allergy, and some just want attention. That's sad because some really do have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but others pretend to have it and that makes it seem fake.

  BF
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  2

  The JW's in some other countries have no real understanding of the GB

  by BonaFide in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i don't know if many of you know this, but in the "developing" countries, such as south america, the watchtower bible and tract society and the governing body is hardly ever mentioned on a bible study, or at the meetings.

  i know this because i served there, and in spanish congregations here in the u.s. where there are a lot of immigrants from those countries.. the friends do talk about the faithful slave at the meetings.

  sometimes they say governing body.

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  BonaFide

  Good points, neverendingjourney. I remember my buddies in Bethel telling me about the NFL. Not For Losch. But they watched it anyway, but with the sound turned down in their Bethel rooms.

  I think since the Live Forever book the Knowledge book, and the Bible Teach book don't emphasize the WT society, the student doesnt realize what he is getting into.

  Until its too late.

  BF
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  23

  Worldly Mannerisms That Dubs Avoids

  by Yizuman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know some mannerisms to avoid such as when someone sneezes, dubs don't say, "bless you" or "god bless you" for sacrilious reasons.. so the question is, what worldly mannerisms do dubs avoid?.

  yiz.

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  BonaFide

  Euphemisms such as SHOOT and FREAKIN' are ones that the bro's in my Hall warn against.
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  2

  The JW's in some other countries have no real understanding of the GB

  by BonaFide in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i don't know if many of you know this, but in the "developing" countries, such as south america, the watchtower bible and tract society and the governing body is hardly ever mentioned on a bible study, or at the meetings.

  i know this because i served there, and in spanish congregations here in the u.s. where there are a lot of immigrants from those countries.. the friends do talk about the faithful slave at the meetings.

  sometimes they say governing body.

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  BonaFide

  I don't know if many of you know this, but in the "developing" countries, such as South America, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and the Governing Body is hardly ever mentioned on a Bible study, or at the meetings. I know this because I served there, and in Spanish congregations here in the U.S. where there are a lot of immigrants from those countries.

  The friends do talk about the faithful slave at the meetings. Sometimes they say Governing Body. But exactly what is the faithful slave? The friends comment vaguely about the anointed, and how the "slave" or the "anointed" provide spiritual food. And that's it.

  But no one, and I mean, NO ONE thought that the teachings originated from a group of men in New York. Some knew the magazines were printed there, but when the printing started to come from Mexico, that made the origin of the magazines even more vague.

  They all think the Watchtower comes from Jehovah God through his "earthly organization" and that's it.

  A Bible study will learn the teachings about hellfire and trinity, and then they accept everything else as being the truth.

  How in the world can they be shown what the origin of the Watchtower really is?

  What do you think?

  BF
• 
  53

  Did anyone in your congregation have "perfume allergies"?

  by BonaFide in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  over the years, in the congregations i have been in, there have been 4 different people with "perfume or cologne allergies.

  anyway, they would always sit in the library, and at the bookstudy some years ago one sister would sit outside and comment through the window!

  another sister would sometimes wear a white "surgical" mask in the hall.. the congregation i am attending now has a sister like that.

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  2. 
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• 

  BonaFide

  Over the years, in the congregations I have been in, there have been 4 different people with "perfume or cologne allergies." I think thats the way they described it. Anyway, they would always sit in the library, and at the bookstudy some years ago one sister would sit outside and comment through the window! Another sister would sometimes wear a white "surgical" mask in the Hall.

  The congregation I am attending now has a sister like that. She sits in the library or in the elders' room. Sometimes the brothers give talks about being sensitive to others needs and allergies.

  I am not criticizing those that have that allergies, I am allergic to a couple of things. Its just that I have never heard of this particular allergy or seen it in anyone other than a Witness. And also, it seemed to me that those that had it had unusual personalities as well.

  So, what you say?

  BF
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  42

  JW's unwritten dress code and personal appearance standards-FROM WHERE?

  by Thechickennest in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one thing that always use to puzzle me was the personal appearance standards, espessially for meetings and service.

  the men always were expected to where a tie, suit, jacket, etc.

  no beards were allowed-mustaches were ok!

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  BonaFide

  Sorry to say I was an enforcer of some of those rules. Where I was a C.O., in South America, the brothers were mostly poor, and could barely afford one jacket they wore for years. I used bring clothes down to give away, but I would also counsel the brothers to wear the same color pants and jacket if they coud find it.

  I really felt that was "unity." I also asked brothers to button up their coats on the platform. Another missionary found a photo of a GB member with his coat unbuttoned on the platform, so I had to give in.

  Its sad to think about it now, but I spent many hours making sure the friends were dressed "appropriately" for the assembly.

  BF
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  27

  Did people with those signs outside the assemblies and meetings strengthen or weaken your beliefs?

  by BonaFide in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  whenever i saw people with signs against the witnesses outside the assemblies, it always strengthened my belief that the witnesses were right.. what about you?.

  bf.

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  BonaFide

  I do actually remember one, it said, 1-800-WHY-1914
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  15

  So my undercover "exposing the lies" is still working

  by BonaFide in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  yesterday in the car group in service, 5 of us in one suv.

  so someone says that on friday, a worldly family member of their bible study had died of a drug overdose.

  then he said, "well, that the protection that we have being in jehovah's organization.".

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  BonaFide

  Yesterday in the car group in service, 5 of us in one SUV. So someone says that on Friday, a worldly family member of their Bible study had died of a drug overdose. Then he said, "Well, that the protection that we have being in Jehovah's Organization."

  Everyone agreed, including me. So then I said,"Hey, here's a question for you all. Why is it that a higher percentage of Witnesses die young than worldly people?" So the car group said, "I don't think that's true." So I said, "I think it really may be true. Witnesses don't die from drug overdoses or AIDS usually, but I heard that more Witnesses die young than worldly people. I heard it from a worldly surgeon and also from a Circuit Overseer. First of all, because of all the suicides. I know several Witnesses that committed suicide. And also diseases. The C.O. says maybe its because of stress. So many Witnesses get stressed and their immune systems break down. (I know, I was exaggerating)

  So one of the brothers says, "I know that years ago we werent supposed to get psychiatric help if we were depressed, it was viewed as weak spirituality. And some committed suicide. But lately the Society has encouraged psychiatry."

  And another bro says, "I dont think that's true. More Witnesses die young that worldly people? No way." I told him, "Yes its true. First, suicides. Also some die faithful because of not accepting blood. And others are stressed and tired and get sick a lot. Look how many are sick in our congregation."

  So then the first bro says, "Yes, a lot of the bros and sis's in the congregation are sick. But maybe its because they were sick before they were Witnesses."

  I said, "Yes, maybe. But its weird that so many Witnesses die. It seems like every month I hear of another Witness dying relatively young from something. But anyway, Jehovah will resurrect them. And I would never say that to a Bible study. I learned a long time ago to be discreet."

  Little by little, in my congregation anyway, I am having fun trying to open minds, but undercover, on the outside I am always supporting the Slave.

  BF
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  27

  Did people with those signs outside the assemblies and meetings strengthen or weaken your beliefs?

  by BonaFide in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  whenever i saw people with signs against the witnesses outside the assemblies, it always strengthened my belief that the witnesses were right.. what about you?.

  bf.

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  BonaFide

  Very true, MostlyDead, I remember the elders telling us as children not to look at the signs. We thought that if we looked at the signs, we would be instantly apostates ourselves.

  Even when I was older I wouldn't read the signs and placards. And in my talks I would say how ridiculous the apostates were, standing outside, "beating their fellow slaves."

  BF
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  14

  Hi Everyone I'm Still in but trying to leave.

  by former2free in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been raised as a jw and now i recently found out how full of crap it all is.

  the lies are just unbelievable at this point.

  on a side note my parents and my brother all want to leave too my dad is still in as an elder.

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  BonaFide

  Hi Former2Free. I am also a long time Witness. I would say be very careful, and do not under any circumstances say that you do not believe the Witnesses or the Faithful Slave. I did that a few months ago, and my family and friends started to shun me. They did not care nor reason about anything, it was all about "Do you support the Faithful Slave." Some on this forum will tell you to leave the Witnesses, leave whatever friends are still in, start a new life.

  I disagree for those of us that want to keep family and friends. For those of us that want to help our families, its better to try the undercover approach. What has been working really well for me is to support the Organization. I go in service, I give talks, I comment. I talk about how great the Faithful Slave is. And then I introduce a topic, like Blood Transfusions. For example:

  "I am so glad the Society now allows blood fractions. I was talking to a Hospital Liasion Committee brother, and he told me that blood is almost all water, and the other 7% is fractions. So basically we are taking blood, but only after it is broken down. I am glad the faithful slave made this change. And those that died will be resurrected anyway."

  Or

  "I don't understand why some people leave the Organization over the pedophile issue. Jehovah loves children, and for those kids that are molested, he will erase their memories at Armageddon. We should just trust Jehovah. If there is a pedophile in the congregation, we shouldnt worry, just have faith in Jehovah. And trust the elders. We have to respect the principle in the Bible of having two witnesses. Jehovah will not bless us unless we respect those principles and try to go ahead of the Organization. That is the most important thing, the Organization, not our children."

  I have been having good results doing this. Just remember, no matter what, always say you support the Faithful Slave and the Governing Body. Then you can say whatever you want. Its funny because now my friends are saying, "Yes, I support the slave but this point that we learned seems wrong." Then I counsel them and say it doesnt matter what the Faithful Slave teaches, we should believe it. I tell them that if the Faithful Slave says to jump off a bridge, we should do it.

  So make you decision how you want to go about this. When I was honest, everyone shunned me. When I pretend I believe, I can say practically anything, AND GET PEOPLE TO THINK.

  BF