Posts by hybridous

42

What Are Proofs That JWs REALLY Don't Believe Their Own Rhetoric?

by minimus in

jw
friends

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.

hybridous

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.

36

Imagine - power to control dreams

by KW13 in

jw
friends

imagine, you go to bed and start dreaming.

once your in your dream however, you have control and choice over what happens... .

sound cool?

hybridous

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.

18

What leaving really means

by under_believer in

jw
friends

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.

hybridous

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.

51

At This Point, Would You Care If You Are or Were Disfellowshipped???

by minimus in

jw
friends

at this stage of "coming out" of the "truth", would it faze you if you were disfellowshipped?

hybridous

Actually, yes, it would matter to me...

You see, I'm trying to keep hold of the best possible relationship between me and my devout JW family. A very long time ago, as a child, I figured out that I wouldn't live happily as a Witness. That being the case, I never got baptised, but maybe I was being disingenuous...I always gave, and still give, the distinct impression that I am somewhat interested in the JW faith, but am holding back for some reason.

This act, this...falsity...is what keeps me within a semi-normal relationship with the people I love very much. So, I've been able to keep any JW 'label' from applying to me, and therefore giving any reason for my JW family to shun me. I aimed for the 'cracks' in this sick JW belief system, and somehow, I seemed to have hit the bullseye. I have seemingly locked onto the only 'semi-honorable' exit from this miserable cult.

So, YES, I would care if any label were to be slapped on me. It would mean strain on the relationship between me and the JW family. I'm not sure exactly what power the local Elders wield, given that I was never baptised, but that seems to be a crucial point, for some reason...

25

How secure are the GB?

by vitty in

jw
friends

i was thinking today, how secure are the governing body?

with all the hatred they have created over the years it wouldnt take much to send someone over the top and try to "exterminate" the ones who they feel are responsible for maybe a ruined marriage or life.. i cetainly wouldnt want to be in their shoes.

but i wounder how they feel, do you think they feel secure and safe.

hybridous

On a different note...

I believe that these men (GB) retain their positions based on nothing more than reputation alone. What I mean by that is, haven't they been removed from positions from actual corporate leadership? So what happens if they start making decisions that are deleterious to the financial health of the WT society?

What happens then? Could they actually be removed from their positions?

12

Why the GB are never self critical?

by greendawn in

those pussyfooting with the devious nature of the gb of the jws should notice some strange things in their behaviour.

they are not known to (1)have ever carried out an act of self evaluation and self criticism and accept that they were wrong in some of their actions, or (2) to accept any criticisms from jw members let alone reply to them with rational arguments.

that is a most unchristian attitude.

hybridous

After years of ridiculing the Catholics for the same thing, these old codgers have realised the benefits of their own Middle Age type papacy.

The old battle-cry is the same, 'Submit to our rule, or die' except this time around they don't have the political clout to make that happen. I bet they rue the day they turned their backs on that power.

Why aren't they self-critical? Well, any amount of introspection (where is he, anyways?) requires the acceptance of the possibility that the self may be found in error and in need of correction. In other words, where the rubber meets the road, some degree of humility is required. Since that is anathema to these dictators, there is no real prospect of self-examination or subsequent improvement. And that simple fact alone should indicate to any believer in Jesus, that these men are not led by Him.

42

Do JWs Consider You To Be An "Apostate"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

we all know that our simply being here is considered an act of apostasy by witnesses.

whether they know you frequent such boards or not, are you considered an "apostate" by the witnesses?

hybridous

Everything I think and feel about the WT religion/cult would put me in that category. However, I was not baptized, so I was never officially a JW. I cannot be DFd (or unwillingly DAd).

So I could unload what I know on the family, and they would say that say that I have 'apostate leanings', but I think the official term is reserved for one who has been disfellowshipped under such charges.

My goal is actually to have the best possible relationship with the family, so I need to avoid that label and any association with it. Consequently, I bit my tongue a lot.

14

Magic moment

by Phil in

jw
friends

for all the persons that have been lured into the jw organization i was wondering if there is a magic age level or maximum exposure time where such a person comes to the realization that what he /she has been filled with information and doctrine that only hurts families and is the major cause of their breakup with their families.

i have seen some people that have come to the realizationaround the age of 40. would this be the age of realization?

is it something else?

hybridous

It was probably at the age of 10 or 11 for me. I had lived long enough to know the extent of the JW routine, and how nothing meaningful would ever change to allow some level of comfort or normality.

Having all the experience of my 10 or 11 years behind me, I would repeatedly try to extrapolate my future. What would my life be like? What would I make of myself? Would I ever be able to convince myself to buy into this crazy religion enough to believe that I was doing the right thing? Would I ever have ONE GODDAMNED MORSEL of FUN before I DIE?!

So, you can see my line of thinking, and how at such an early age, I just knew I would leave. Everything I saw around me led me to conclude that staying in would just result in a lifetime of bitter misery and regret. Fortunately, I never got baptised, and this allowed me to have the best possible relationship with family, given my non-participation in the religion.

32

Is There Truly Any "Underground Reform" Going On?

by minimus in

jw
friends

not an organized type, at least.

as an elder, i would try to bend the organization's rules so as to be more moderate and give the "sheep" a little more comfort.

but no elder or group of people could organize such a group and stay within the watchtower's (kingdom hall's) walls.

hybridous

I think that the orgainzation will continue to suffer, but...

If the WT is going to play the 'cooling off' card, then that implies that they have given up expectations of growing the organization. Growing the organization is what the leadership is about. Like any business, the religions goal is to protect what it has and improve its share of whatever market there is.

I think there remains a strong sentiment from the 1950s to the 1980, when the service reports would come in and all you'd hear was growth all over, and how that proved the Jah was blessing this organization. People got very used to the idea that this organization would grow indefinately. I think in the minds of many, many JWs, this organization cannot and will not falter. The WT playing that 'cooling off' card will be like pulling the rug out from under those people.

The WT can fall back on that explanation any time it wants, but there is a flipside to it. The flipside to cooling off is: negative growth, negative dollars, and you're on board a sinking ship. You think JWs fake their ministry hours now?! Wait until the WT acknowledges that no one is coming in - go ahead and fake, what's the point?

And as for reform, metatron is correct. There is no reform, there is only fracture. So be it.

23

Part 1: How Would You Answer This Issue?

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

part 1:

when we were faced with tough issues as jws, we used one or more of a few ways to find answers.

we either searched the publications, consulted with an elder, or in some cases, wrote to the society.

hybridous

Interesting that as a Hindu, he had his own belief system, yet he sought to be validated by yours.

I would have told him that he had to answer to his own God(s) for whatever his decision was made, so make your decision in light of your own religion and beliefs - not mine.

That said, Elsewhere's story about a broken family hits hard. My wife had something like that happen in her family, a while back. Nobody survives that well, they just survive...and are forever altered, if not altogether ruined. An entire family, for the sake of one? Not if it was my choice.