Posts by allelsefails

44

New Here!! And finally I can post.

by Crisis of Conscience in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for quite a while but i finally gave in to my "apostate" heart and joined!

i'm so excited!.

allelsefails

Congrats Crisis for the freedom you found here. I feel your experience mirrors my own perfectly. I was an Elder for 6 years. Now .... Still "in" the org for the sake of my family. I have done tons of research on the origin of christian "religions" I would be happy to share if you PM me. [Just click on my name and select the "send message" button"] It really helps to talk to someone who has been thru the same type of experiences.

Some here have lost all faith in God, but I am holding on to a piece of it. Remember God does not equal religion.

Post your story (without too much personal info) when you can. I'd love to here it.

Allelsefails (when allelsefails try something that makes sense)

90

10 good reasons why celebrating birthdays should be allowed

by bluecanary in

i cannot take credit for any of the gems below but i did want to polish and organize them.

much of the information was borrowed from this thread.

if you can come up with any more, please post them.. the bible does not ban birthdays.

allelsefails

sweet - you indicated that Birthdays and other "holidays" were conscience matters fro JWs to celebrate or not. The "Shepherd the Flock" book (secret book for elders) says on page 94-95 under the heading "Apostasy" - "Celebrating a false religious holiday would be similar to performing any other act of false worship. (Jer. 7:16-19)" That person would be immediately subject to a judicial committee for "apostasy". Ask any JW and the will tell you birthdays are included in the "false religious holiday" definition. Sorry if it hurts, but it is true.....

90

10 good reasons why celebrating birthdays should be allowed

by bluecanary in

i cannot take credit for any of the gems below but i did want to polish and organize them.

much of the information was borrowed from this thread.

if you can come up with any more, please post them.. the bible does not ban birthdays.

allelsefails

Funny - my son (MS) told me that he doesn't really understand the whole "birthday" thing either. He also told somebody who was a real hardliner "What if Jehovah rejects the Governing Body sometime in the future like he did Israel?" The brother felt this was impossible, but I was proud that my son is still thinking. Maybe I rubbed off a little bit ;-)

Jaimiebowers - I don't know about bluecanary but I was not allowed to have "Lucky Charms" crazy Irish pagan cereal. Wind chimes are allowed now, but were not when I was a kid. Don't remember when that changed.

9

Do we have any rights to see corespondance from the branch?

by allelsefails in

i have a friend who is an elder from out of town and he told me i do have the right to see any letters the branch has sent to the congregation about my case.

i always thought they tied that stuff up tight and nobody could see it.

is he right or just deluding himself that this might be a fair and upfront system?.

allelsefails

Thanks for the responses. It didn't sound right to me, but I thought I would ask. When I was an elder I would say and do things that were "right" instead of WT policy. Probably what he was doing. I am probably facing DFing in the next 2 weeks because the BOE got a letter from the Branch pressuring them to do something about me. I have had 2 brothers "slip" and let me know that, but then backtrack a little to cover their A**.

I know the "truth" about the "truth", but I don't stop my wife from going to meetings or try to work against them in any way. For me I could not give a crap what they think of me or if they want me disfellowshipped. However I have 2 step-sons whom I love as much as my own blood who are MS. They come to my house every weekend we watch football, play board games, drink, etc.. They are the best people I know and my best friends other than my wife ... but I know they will comply with the shunning when they are ordered to. No one to blame but myself for that one, since I taught them that was right. Even tho I was misled I should have realized long ago the "truth" about the "truth". I am looking for ways to delay the decision or change the mind of the BOE. .... let me fade instead.

If things go down the way I think they will I'll post all the recordings of my meetings with the elders.

allelsefails

52

Will you sink or swim with Jehovah's Organization? June 15, 2010 study article

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

hence, many people feel.

of the psalmist?

there they will feel.

allelsefails

"Spiritually speaking, many
churchgoers have been left bewildered and
disoriented, questioning the value of the
guidance that they have received. That is especially
so in the light of the questionable
conduct and unscriptural teachings of their
religious leaders."

Interesting that this does not apply to them. Anyone who feels "bewildered and disoriented, questioning the value of the guidance they have received" from the GB is immediately sent to a Judicial Committee. God forbid you actually bring up the "unscriptural teachings of their religious leaders". Instant apostate! Therefore everyone "IN" the ORG is happy and content and submissive. Ridiculous circular reasoning, but nothing new for JWs. (The FDS was selected in 1918, and we know that because the FDS/GB tells us so.)

Allelsefails (when allelsefails try something that makes sense.)

32

my letter to the elders and governing body

by leftchica in

.

to the elders of the maitland congregation and governing body of the watchtower tract.

and bible society,.

allelsefails

Congrats on the freedom. If you want your letter to be read send it to each elder individually. Otherwise the PO will read it and tell everyone else that you wrote your D/A letter and they'll all be relieved to be rid of you. If you send it to there home there is a good chance it will get read and respected by some.

9

Do we have any rights to see corespondance from the branch?

by allelsefails in

i have a friend who is an elder from out of town and he told me i do have the right to see any letters the branch has sent to the congregation about my case.

i always thought they tied that stuff up tight and nobody could see it.

is he right or just deluding himself that this might be a fair and upfront system?.

allelsefails

I have a friend who is an elder from out of town and he told me I do have the right to see any letters the branch has sent to the congregation about my case. I always thought they tied that stuff up tight and nobody could see it. Is he right or just deluding himself that this might be a fair and upfront system?

7

How did you survive?

by highdose in

jw
friends

i've been asking myself recently, how did i survive growing up in a cult that activly works to destory your condifence, soul and personality.. i think it was only because deep down somewhere i knew it was wrong.

how about you?.

allelsefails

I had a "worldly" father who always gave me the blance needed. Even tho I went along with my mother (JW) I never forgot the basics my father taught me. He believed in questioning everything, trusting your own "perseptive powers". That no "man" is your teacher. Now I live with that reality instead of hiding behind the FDS.

allelsefails

11

Memorial: Where's the Proof?

by cameo-d in

the jws are correct in their opposition concerning the xmas holiday and that there is evidence both scriptural and ancedotal that jesus was not born in the dead of winter on dec. 25.. but what i don't get is why do they go along with a crucifixion memorial which coincides with the time of moses passover?

is there any real proof that jesus was crucified at this particular time period?.

yeah, i know about the legend that passover was "foreshadowing" the ultimate sacrifice of the lamb.....but this is contrived information.. where is the proof that jesus was crucified at passover?

allelsefails

I also think it is funny that you say JWs are correct about Xmas. They quote the Catholic encyclopedia to disprove Xmas as the date of Jesus birth because Catholics have always known it was an adopted date and has nothing to do with Jesus "birthday". It is just the date they picked, and that is OK with them.

11

Memorial: Where's the Proof?

by cameo-d in

the jws are correct in their opposition concerning the xmas holiday and that there is evidence both scriptural and ancedotal that jesus was not born in the dead of winter on dec. 25.. but what i don't get is why do they go along with a crucifixion memorial which coincides with the time of moses passover?

is there any real proof that jesus was crucified at this particular time period?.

yeah, i know about the legend that passover was "foreshadowing" the ultimate sacrifice of the lamb.....but this is contrived information.. where is the proof that jesus was crucified at passover?

allelsefails

I thought this was interesting. John's Gospel clearly shows that Jesus was killed the day BEFORE the passover, not on passover. This seems to contradict the synoptic gospels. The whole idea of Jesus' ministry being 3-1/2 years is based on the number of passovers mentioned in the Gospels - which never claim to be a complete record of his time on Earth. Jesus may have been much older when he died than most think (It was said this man is not even 50 - how can he teach us? by the Pharisees). He may have preached for 6-10 years or God only knows. There are no reliable dates in the scriptures. Even his birth year is contradicted between Matt. and Luke. Good question - lots of research out there.