Its funny. JWs actually teach you to read the bible more at bible studies. It is very easy to make the Bible say... whatever you want it to say. There is a gradual build of "facts" from scripture that work to "principles" we follow that lead to nonsense we believe. But if you reject the nonsense you have to reject the scriptural facts that it was built on. If you are willing to do that then you are dumped.
allelsefails
JoinedPosts by allelsefails
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How are Bible Studies Conducted?
by Band on the Run ini never found a victim and then i was out.
may i ask you how it felt to have the umbrage to go to someone's house, bring a bible, and witness lit, and teach another person about the bible.
the witness lit was always so dorky.
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on the subject of elders reading this message board
by cptkirk ini'm still laughing to myself thinking about elders/bethelites reading this messageboard.
yet another contradiction to throw in the basket.
didn't they always say how dangerous it is to read anything that contradicts the teachings of the wts?
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allelsefails
In my years I think there are 2 groups of witnesses. The "in" Bethelites, COs, DOs, Elders, MSs, Pioneers. And the "others" not quite right. Both groups believe or disbelieve at the same rate. I have found many a "other" that doesn't believe everything. I also have talked to elders and pioneers that don't believe everything. I heard of the "586 apostasy from a CO" he downplayed it, but it was interesting that he knew all about it and would discuss it.
I do believe that "others" would have no problem looking at a site like this. They don't believe everything anyway, but they will be the same people that might turn in someone they find out on this site. Sometimes people who don't believe the teachings will defend the "org". I've heard many repeat the "where else would we go?" misquote. Defending your religion for many has nothing to do with their teachings. Catholics will defend their Church without understanding half the teachings. Some people can't bear the thought of life without their precious religion. right or wrong makes no difference to them.
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Confirmation Bias
by allelsefails ini've read a lot of crap in my life (not just wts) and i have finally found the phrase to describe almost every religious wrting i've read.
"confirmation bias" affects how jws look at historical facts, how dems and repubs look at economic facts, or how all people look at information presented to them.
i still go to meetings every once in a while to make my wife and my boss feel better about me, but sometimes i can't believe how idiotic some things are.
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allelsefails
SBC - Thanks for Shermer that was great. It is certainly difficult to seperate TRUTH from what you are led to believe.
"Critical Thinking" is awesome, but you are the only one who can tell you what that standard is. Just watched a show where there are "rogue" scientists that deny Quantum theory for believing an electron is a wave and a particle all the time instead of sometimes a wave and sometimes a particle. I don't understand half of it, but the point is there is no absolute truth..... to find one is to close your mind to all facts, experiments, and research.
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allelsefails
Congrats. There is nothing cowardly about what you have done.
These unscriptural dogpile sessions are not worth missing a TV show for.
I was an elder for 6 years - I've been on both sides of the table - the only reason to go is if you want to stay in or you want to make a dramatic exit (for your your own benefit).
Peace to finally.....
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A Sincere Questions for Current/Former WTBTS Elders/Pioneers...
by AGuest inmay you all have peace!.
i would like to know something, if you will indulge me, please - thank you!
to what extent did you, as a jw... read/know the contents of the bible?
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allelsefails
I feel I was an honest eager student of the bible UNTIL I was appointed as a servant. Then I was too busy, I could barely keep up with studying the WT stuff, preparing talks, etc.. Then I became an elder - 5 years I never even finished studying the Flock book well.
It is understood that the Bible can only be understood thru the "Governing Body". If you have to choose between the WT and the Bible you NEED the WT. They will even state that congregations that are seperated from the "light" of the WTBS will revert to Christendoms teachings.
I still feel embarrassed of what I taught others - tho I do feel good about the emotional support I gave to many. I was known for being kind and not dogmatic, but I never was very good at obeying the "Rules".
I've studied the bible more in the last 2 years since I stepped down than I ever did before.
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How you know something is wrong with you...
by allelsefails init's midnight.
i'm posting here.
drinking cheap bourbon and diet coke and eating an activia peach parfait......... gotta be something wrong..
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allelsefails
It's midnight. I'm posting here. Drinking cheap Bourbon and diet coke and Eating an Activia peach parfait........
Gotta be something wrong.
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1874, 1914 and 1943
by TD ina persistent meme that floats around on jw related internet forums holds that christ's second coming was moved forward 40 years (i.e.
from 1874 to 1914) in the year 1943.
(this appears to be based primarily on a statment in the book god's kingdom of a thousand years has approached on page 209 and to a lesser degree, a footnote at the bottom of page 133 of the publication jehovah's witnesses - proclaimers of god's kingdom.).
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allelsefails
DJEEGGNOG - Are you suggesting that Russell and Rutherford did not teach that the last days and Jesus prophecies about the end of the Gentile times Pointed so clearly to 1799 AD that it was absolutely correct? That Jesus came to power in 1874?
The issue that you are NOT answering is simple - In 1914 - 1920 YOU teach that Jesus was judging and correcting Bible Students (JWs) and CHOSE them to represent him. But they TAUGHT the 1799 - 1874 for DECADES. Russell himself believed and taught that the Christianity or JWs we have today IS apostate. He rejected Christendom primarily because of their "Armageddon" He did not believe God would destroy BIllions of people. the systems of this world would go, but the People would be allowed to make real decisions with real knowledge.
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I'm out officially (to them)
by pubtruth intonight i'm officially no longer an unbaptized publisher after two months of no reports.
the zealous elder i have mentioned before got an earful of my thoughts and jumped on me with the guilting and about 2 hrs of studying 607 + blood.
i admitted researching and he had told me how you guys are no more than 100 resentful, lifeless, disfellowshipped people just hating on them.
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allelsefails
JWs will always attack where your info came from and never address the info itself. It is sad to see Elders you respect, friends, peers, whom you know are too smart for this nonsense. They look at you and say with their eyes "please don't push it, don't make us DF you". I was convicted of being an apostate, but privately reproved.... the stupidist thing ever. I was looking forward to an appeal committee, but you can't appeal "private reproof".
Keep posting.
Thanks
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Why Some Cannot "See" that the Bible is NOT the Word of God
by AGuest into the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you all have peace.
some of you may have recently observed some discussions regarding what... or rather, who... the word of god is, truly.
in those and other threads, some participants weren't able to grasp the difference between discussion vs. contention... and defending their own faith... and love of god and christ... vs. ramming their [mis]assumptions as to the "vengeance of god"... down others' throats.
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allelsefails
Aguest - Thanks for your exhaustive responses. It is obvious you put a lot of thought and feeling into your coments.
First - I do not think the law is the revealed God. Just an idea in science. The difference between a creator who started things and let us be and a god who "reveals" himself. Just that the law would be the "revelation" of God to Israel. Just the difference between "intelligent design" and God.
Second - "Adoption" of Christ is one of the early rejected "heresies". Basically Jesus was born a normal man but adopted to be the son of god. Either in utero or not. It suggests He did not have a pre-human existance. The first Gospel written - Mark - has no mention of a pre-homen existance. It seems to be a later development in scripture. Jesus as a human was "adopted" at his baptism to be the Christ or appointed one. There are scriptures that suggest otherwise, but I don't know what to think of scriptures since they conflict and have been changed.
Thanks
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More hypocrisy (surprised?) Oct 1 2011 Public Watchtower
by wannabefree inyou could also hold back from scrutinizing.
your beliefs out of fear that doing so would.
display a lack of faith.
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allelsefails
Thanks truman - good reminder - I'll use that scripture again.
I was always proud of being a witness. I actually knew the bible much better than people at school or people I met in the ministry. I thought I was being taught to study the bible, however when I ACTUALLY started studying for myself I was told I was an apostate.... Now it makes me sick to think of how stupid I was.....