this is from saturday afternoon program.
the speaker first starts with what he called the "alphabet soup" of degrees....a.a., b.a., m.a., ph.d., etc.
; he said they were nothing more than "sheepskins on the wall.
Whatever. This crap is becoming largely ignored by more and more JWs. They nod in agreement with the speaked at the assembly, but where the rubber meets the road of life, Junior's ass is going to be in college, studying something, by God...
Because at the end of the day, some JWs aren't going to see their children suffer thru the same mistakes. And until the WT makes getting a Bachelor's degree a DFing offense...Junior's going to college. It is happening as we speak.
in a critique of 'captives of a concept', robert king accuses anyone who can't get past all of the watchtower society's 'obstacles' as animalistic and lacking spirituality, including don cameron and ray franz.
it's mindblowing how this bloke can consistently call the watchtower leaders liars, blind, false prophets, dishing up vomitous things, etc, yet continue to preach that they are still a 'faithful steward' uniquely appointed by christ.
so, while it is true that jehovahs witnesses have not come to know the judgment of jehovah, cameron is similarly captive to a concept; and hence, ignorant of jehovahs judgment.
I've always felt the E-Watchman is invaluable as a stepping stone for helping people leave the WT religion, who can't do otherwise in one decisive move.
i have lurked around here for a little while and i've finally seen the need to post.
i'm 22 years old and a ministerial servant and pioneer in my congregation.
i'm not really here to knock the organization, but i must admit that there are some things(ex.
'
No, the organization is far from perfect. But it used to be better. And will be again.
Pardon me, but exactly who authorized you to make such a prediction, and can I hold your feet to the fire, should it prove to be false?
You dismiss all these seeming peripheral points of WT life and doctrine, as if they don't matter. Problem is, the propagaters of this 'religion' claim these things DO matter, as certification of who exactly they ARE.
By your own admission, Jesus draws the line in the sand concerning who is a follower, and who is not. What do you say to those of us who experience the lack of love? Are we all liars....every one of us? Do the words of Jesus stop mattering, because they convict the WT religion, instead of validate it?
What you will find, eventually, is that if you are to serve Jesus and his Father, you will be forced to do so as an enemy of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. You will be forced to choose, as so may of us were. DO not discount us, because we happened upon the fork in the road sooner than you.
i have a hard time accepting and believing that this whole wt 'phenonemon' is, and has always been, an end unto itself.. i can't help but suspect that this publishing company, masquerading as a religion, is still a front for something - or someone else.. i don't have any substantial empirical evidence, just a whole lot of anecdotal evidence that just happens to fit the hypothesis that there are deeper levels to this whole ridiculousness.
fundamentalist islam seems to be able to control and exert influence in it's followers to the point of suicide attacks.
i submit that the influence of the jw religion upon it's followers is analogous, if not completely identical (at this time).
I have a hard time accepting and believing that this whole WT 'Phenonemon' is, and has always been, an end unto itself.
I can't help but suspect that this publishing company, masquerading as a religion, is still a front for something - or someone else.
I don't have any substantial empirical evidence, just a whole lot of anecdotal evidence that just happens to fit the hypothesis that there are deeper levels to this whole ridiculousness.
Fundamentalist Islam seems to be able to control and exert influence in it's followers to the point of suicide attacks. I submit that the influence of the JW religion upon it's followers is analogous, if not completely identical (at this time). Does this develop without intent?
Are 6 million people brought to basically worship an idea and a select group, for no reason? 6 million people brought to heel under anothers, for what reason?? That's as far as it goes??
Tell me I'm crazy. I already know it....
with all of the changes regarding the 1935 closing of the heavenly calling that jw's taught for over 70 years what will be the next thing to go in their doctrinal system.
will they one day say"we were wrong the earth is going to burn up and all christians will go to heaven".
russell was right after all and yes the "great crowd" will indeed go to heaven.nothing suprises me anymore with the jw's.
I agree with u_b. Paradise Earth is what help give this particular 'religion' it's own unique flavor.
any of you ever get to thinking about old friends (and the possibilty there posting or lurking here) and just want to give them a shout out?
just be like hey i was your star trek buddy we saw all the movies together.
or remember we used to hang out at the comic book store?.
Darth Frosty,
Any of you ever get to thinking about old friends (and the possibilty there posting or lurking here) and just want to give them a shout out? Just be like hey I was your star trek buddy we saw all the movies together. Or remember we used to hang out at the comic book store?
If those are your subtle hints, then I am wondering if we know/knew each other.
Forgive me for not knowing how to stick my neck out without getting it chopped off.
Edited for spelling
i think it's an atempt to catch faders or atleast make active dubs feel special.
it also could be a cost cutting measure to though.
getting rid of the km's and even up awakes and watchtowers would save some trees.
Already been covered by previous posts, but I'll give the nod to...
#1. MONEY. Every organization looks for costs that can be cut.
#2. Content: Seeing that every other WT article is basically a demand for blind obedience to the Tower, these articles have a deleterious effect on a magazine that is supposed to have an appeal for public consumption. The WT can't/won't stop demanding obedience, but those articles make the magazine a bit..shall we say..unwieldy? Now they can consolidate the heavy cultish reinforcement pieces into the 'special' WT, and the benign remainder can go in the other.
jehovah's witnesses talk a big game but in reality they are filled with hot air.
they say a lot of things but don't always back it up.
for example, jws are told that meeting attendance is of paramount importance but the truth is anytime a meeting might be called off due to inclement weather, jws would anxiously wait by the phone from their elders saying the meetings were being canceled.. jws tell everyone that their preaching work is a "life-saving" work but the truth is they don't utilize the most effective modern ways of getting this "life-saving" message out.
My casual observations tell me that a higher percentage of JW teens are preparing for, and going to, college. And, this is happening with full support from witness parents.
If these parents and kids really believed that a college eduaction was as valueless as the WT tells them, why would they be doing this?
I think it's because they know better. No one will stand up and say it, but I'm sure it rattles 'round in their heads...'Those 'brothers' writing the WT don't know what they're taking about, and I'm not flushing my son's/daughter's future like my parents did to me....'
At an almost glacial pace, regular witnesses are learning that survival means discarding or ignoring certain WT platitiudes at certain times. The absolute adherence of yesteryear's witnesses to every damn word is now an exception, not a rule, like the title of this thread implies.
Any change, no matter how small, which damages the WT gets my applause. Call them hypocrytes, maybe they are, but a first step to getting out is realizing that you don't believe it.
imagine, you go to bed and start dreaming.
once your in your dream however, you have control and choice over what happens... .
sound cool?
I'm quite sure it's real - I do this all the time. I've experienced this since childhood; just assumed that everyone did this to some extent.
recently my family had occasion to attend a function held in our honor, an event commemorating a certain achievement.
it was thrown by close relatives, witnesses all.
it included parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings, auties and uncles.
My compliments to everyone on this thread. This is why I keep on visiting and reading. There's always someone out there who knows how to spell things out with that undeniable flavor of truth, in a way I have not yet heard or read.
Specifically, the posts by Steve and Trevor really make sense, even if they don't exactly say the same thing. Once I figured out that things in the JW world are as Steve says, then I couldn't fake it and go on.
U_B, you may be different. You may find a way to continue on without throwing your life into upheaval.
Trevor really hits home when he says: 'If the illusion we choose to live involves compromise to keep those you love then, it is as good as any. It all depends on whether you can continue to live the way you do and whether leaving would improve your life.'
That's the way it is for me. Sometimes, keeping my family means that I have to be less than honest with them about what I really believe. Sounds horrible, but do you think that all JWs believe their whole doctrine, all of the time? It seems that all of life is the constant perpetuation of falsity. If I ever do have to face God, or whoever, and answer for lying, then at least I did what I did out of LOVE, and I'll take my punishment based on that.
Do what you feel you must do, but remember: you are automatically USELESS to your family once the 'A'-word applies to you. Metatron gives you the most practical advice.
It all comes down to what you can live with. I hope you find peace one way or another. I wish the best for you and your family.
