Posts by SuspiciousMinds

Excellent synopsis of the KM article and its ramifications. You are a gifted writer. I would be very interested to read any further portions of your research project that you make available.

I'm ashamed to admit that at the time this article came out I was still a true believer and it didn't disturb me in the least. In fact, I remember feeling upset that this article had to be published, because we clearly know all we need is WTS literature!

55

When did a lightbulb first go off in your head that something didn't seem right???

by cognac in

jw
friends

i was about 4 or 5 years old.

they must of been talking about prejudice in the meeting or something.

that's when i first learned about it.

SuspiciousMinds

My first major doubt happened years ago at Pioneer School when I realized that WTS teaches that all non-JWs will be destroyed at Armageddon. I was still a true believer, but I refused to believe this was true. More recently, finding out about the 1995 "Generation" teaching change, and reading up on 1975 has made me realize this organization makes too many mistakes to be able to claim God's direction.

48

Poll: Who Left Whilst Still Believing?

by brinjen in

this is for an upcoming youtube project.

i would love to do this on a mass scale... think there might be something "big" in the results.. 1. were you a born-in (including those who's parents converted while they were still children) or did you convert as an adult?.

2. when you left, did you still (a) fully believe in the truthtm, (b) partially believe or (c) realise it was all a load of crap?.

SuspiciousMinds

EDIT: I see another question was added, so I'll edit my answers:

1. Were you a born-in (including those who's parents converted while they were still children) or did you convert as an adult?

Born-in

2. When you left, did you still (a) fully believe in the truth TM , (b) partially believe or (c) realise it was all a load of crap?

c) realized it was all a load of crap

3. Now, do you still (a) fully believe in the truth TM , (b) partially believe or (c) realise it is all a load of crap?

c) still realize it is all a load of crap

4. When you left, how afraid where you of armageddon TM ?

Not afraid

5. Do you class yourself now as (a) christian (b) agnostic (c) atheist or (d) other (please state).

Unsure, as our exit is still fairly fresh. I would have to say agnostic at this point.

73

What will the JW religion be like in 2015?

by JimmyPage in

jw
friends

over 100 years into the reign of christ and six more years of damage from the internet.

.

what do you envision?.

SuspiciousMinds

Hmmm, the 2034 end date sounds familiar:

*** w03 12/15 p. 15 pars. 6-7 Our Watchfulness Takes On Greater Urgency ***

6 In Noah’s day, Jehovah declared: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3) The issuance of this divine decree in 2490 B.C.E. marked the beginning of the end for that ungodly world. Just think what that meant for those then living! Only 120 years more and Jehovah would bring “the deluge of waters upon the earth to bring to ruin all flesh in which the force of life is active from under the heavens.”—Genesis 6:17.

7 Noah received the warning of the upcoming catastrophe decades in advance, and he wisely used the time to prepare for survival. “After being given divine warning of things not yet beheld,” says the apostle Paul, “[Noah] showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” (Hebrews 11:7) What about us? Some 90 years have passed since the last days of this system of things began in 1914. We are certainly in “the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4) How should we respond to warnings we have been given? “He that does the will of God remains forever,” states the Bible. (1 John 2:17) Now is therefore the time to do Jehovah’s will with a keen sense of urgency.

Does anyone know if they've alluded to 2034 since this '03 Watchtower?

I can't wait until this fails.

26

Halloween- When you were a JW did you answer the door?

by IWillBeDubbedNoMore in

jw
friends

i am watching the movie "the perfect world", and they have a scene of a jw family eating dinner and then the doorbell rings and the mother answers the door with her kids following behind.

she opens the door and there are several costumed children saying "trick of treat".

the jw mother says that they don't participate in such activities.

SuspiciousMinds

I'm looking forward to Halloween this year! This will be our (pmgirl and myself) first Halloween. We haven't decided if we're going to stay home and pass out candy or not. Friends of ours have invited me to take their son out trick-or-treating this year. I think that will be a blast, and practice for my own kids some day. A lot of firsts coming up over the next year...

32

I was told I'd never graduate high school....

by lisavegas420 in

and now...look at my grandchildren.

the youngest started kindergarten this year.

the best part, is he had no fear.

SuspiciousMinds

Awesome! I'd be bragging too if I were you. I wish I had experienced a normal childhood.

I was speaking with my mom recently about Memorial attendance and the 1935 date (nothing openly apostate because she doesn't know yet), but she mentioned that exact thing - that she was told she wouldn't graduate high school. Now she has 4 grown children and 3 grand children. But, of course, she still believes the end will be here any moment...

39

Besty Unplugged - My Life Story Part VI

by besty in

<< part v. .

part vi the great apostasy sets in.

if you ever leave the truth or get disfellowshipped thatll be that well be finished.

SuspiciousMinds

besty,

Great story! My wife and I have really enjoyed each part of your life story so far and we are looking forward to Part VII. Your story has some similarities to ours except we don't have any kids yet. Our DF/DA announcement will come any day now I'm sure, as we've sent our letter that lists all the Watchtower doctrine we disagree with.

Andrew seems like a real prize. Actually, the brother of the prodigal son at this year's drama (our last WT meeting) acted in a very similar manner.

71

My Boyfriend's not a Witness...

by Hikaru in

alright, with my last post it should be obvious i'm in conflict...if it's not, then yeah.. my boyfriend is not a witness.

he understands that witnesses can't marry or date non witnesses.

but i guess could say we've been stalling...looking for a solution a gray area to that black and white situation...but with time getting as it is...stalling doesn't work anymore.

SuspiciousMinds

You said:

If he doesn't convert, he dies? I can't live with knowing that....

I'd like to know if you really believe that? Do you really believe that our loving Creator will destroy all people who are not JWs, even their children, as the Watchtower states? Do you really want to worship a God (the Watchtower version) that will murder your boyfriend simply for not belonging to a religious organization that most do not even take seriously? I think you need to make that decision first.

31

Hey...no more lurking...

by pmgirl in

jw
friends

hey,.

this is my first post on this forum after months of reading and lurking on here.

i'm glad to be able to say that my husband and i finally sent our letter saying we want out and are wait to hear back for a potential jc meeting--that we won't be attending.. we had so many doubts it was impossible for us to continue living the lie.

SuspiciousMinds

Welcome to the forum wifey!

I didn't realize my wife posted this but when I was doing my daily JWD reading I came across this thread and was astounded at the similarity to our situation. I started reading the initial post to my wife, and she burst out laughing saying it was her.

She's right - we did send a letter to an elder in our congo yesterday. It was not a DA letter per se, but we think there is a possibility they will view it as such since we made it clear we no longer believe the Governing Body / WTS is God's channel of communication, or the "foretold" faithful and discreet slave.

We were very clear on our views of the following topics:

Blood transfusions / blood fractions / dontating blood

1995 "Generation" change

1975

Increasing number of Memorial partakers / 1935 / new "Generation" change

144,00 - literal or symbolic?

Armageddon - only JWs and minor children survive?

Jerusalem's destruction - 607 BCE or 586/7 BCE?

1919 selection

Anyway, I've said enough. We've decided to decline a JC invitation. We will likely join the ranks of former JWs soon. We are heartbroken that we might lose our families, but it is worth our freedom.

We can't wait to celebrate our first Christmas together!