This story of the cat may seem far fetched and strange but about 20 years ago in the congregation I was attending the elders thought that a teenage boy was demon possessed because he was hearing voices. We now know that the voices he was hearing were due to the strong medication he was taking for headaches. The elders were so convinced of this demon possession that they all met with him and tried to get rid of it using scriptures and prayers over him. I know this because I was there in the house at the time. It was a frightening experience, everyone was very confused. Nobody took him to the hospital although he was in a very bad way, after a few days of this 'treatment' he ran away but collapsed in the street. Upon hospitalisation they found out that he had suffered a stroke, he became paralysed down one side and lost most of his memory, he couldn't even remember who his father was. As far as I know today he has recovered and is still going to meetings, but this could have so easily cost him his life. It just shows that when you think that everything bad is caused by demons just how dangerous this fanatasism can be.
individual
JoinedPosts by individual
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20
Elders killed my cat
by spike inin the late 70's, i began experiencing health problems.
the elders wanted to know if i purchased anything new, thinking i was under demon attack.
the only thing new in our household was a kitten.
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You're Doomed!
by individual inabout 3 years ago we had one of those 'lovely' visits from the co. for his main talk he decided to encourage us out into the field, to do more on the ministry.
i don't know who his motivational instructor was but he might as well of stood in front of us at the hall with a machine gun.
the main point of his talk was "you only do one hour a month?
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individual
The same CO as I mentioned above suggested that if we could not do enough hours on the ministry that we could consider telephone witnessing. He then said "I know what you are thinking - what about the bill?!" Well, he had the answer -"Jehovah will pay it for you, don't worry!"
I was very tempted to present him with a phone bill on his next visit saying "Well, I've managed to do 150 hours per month for the last quarter, but what do I do with THIS?!"
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You're Doomed!
by individual inabout 3 years ago we had one of those 'lovely' visits from the co. for his main talk he decided to encourage us out into the field, to do more on the ministry.
i don't know who his motivational instructor was but he might as well of stood in front of us at the hall with a machine gun.
the main point of his talk was "you only do one hour a month?
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individual
About 3 years ago we had one of those 'lovely' visits from the CO. For his main talk he decided to encourage us out into the field, to do more on the ministry. I don't know who his motivational instructor was but he might as well of stood in front of us at the hall with a machine gun. The main point of his talk was "You only do one hour a month? Think you are good? You only do two hours a month? Do you think that is enough? I tell you now - you will absolutely NOT survive Armageddon." He repeated this several times during his talk, speaking extremely sternly. A number of people around my wife and I nearly walked out, I stopped going to the meetings for a while because of it. It was just the arrogance and the judgemental nature of the talk. It made you feel that nothing you did was good enough and that you might as well not bother - you are going to die anyway.
Anybody had a similar experience with a severe talk? How did you feel?
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Which meeting was the hardest to attend for you ?
by NoLongerAjw infor me i think it was the sunday meeting.. just wanting to stay home and sleep in.. but i think the watchtower study was the hardest to sit threw... you had to have it studied before hand.. and highlighted.. then sit there and listen to it all over again..
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individual
For me what I used to hate most was the service meeting because afterwards I would sometimes have the dubious privilege of dishing out the magazines which meant having to stay really late whilst the elders and others would chat downstairs not in any hurry. There I was with 3 small kiddies, all tired and wanting to go home. This is one of the things that really got to me.
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Governing Body & The Borg rejected?
by TheApostleAK injust watching a show with gerald flurry on it and i thought his talk was appropriate.
it was regarding the prophecies of jeremiah re: rejection of ancient israel.. question i asked myself "could jehovah ever reject modern day spiritual israel?".
jeremiah 31:37. hosea 9:15-17 (all their badness was in bethel...)(princes = elders)(ephraim = governing body, fds, the borg).. from theapostleak
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individual
I think he already has.I was always deeply concerned of this possability when I was regularly attending the meetings. I was concerned about the words in Matt 24:48,49. Esp vs 49.
In the last 10 years I was noticing how the society was placing a greater emphasis on money and on ways to donate, to me it showed that they were not relying on Jehovah. The constant reminders sure felt like bullying. -
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GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS
by You Know ingood news/bad news.
first, the good news: the good news, at least as far as the watchtower's multitudinous enemies are concerned, is that the watchtower's days are definitely numbered.
the bad news, as far as apostates should be concerned, is that the days for this present system, as we know it, are also of equally short duration.
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individual
When the argument is lost have you noticed how people resort to name calling?
The question is - why is one of the 'self confessed anointed' talking to people whom he considers to be apostate. Simple question - needs a simple answer. I believe that even READING apostate material is a disfellowshipping offence is it not??
If you read my comments on this thread I believe that the witnesses are self-delusional.
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GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS
by You Know ingood news/bad news.
first, the good news: the good news, at least as far as the watchtower's multitudinous enemies are concerned, is that the watchtower's days are definitely numbered.
the bad news, as far as apostates should be concerned, is that the days for this present system, as we know it, are also of equally short duration.
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individual
You Know - You say that for those who hold Jehovah in contempt He views them with derision. The problem is people do not hold Him in contempt - they just see what is around them, they do not exist in this self-delusional world of the witnesses. They hold no view of him whatsoever.
Here is a question for you - from your post I get the feeling you believe you are one of the anointed - should you really be on a board like this - when I was attending meetings we were told to avoid discussions sites like the proverbial plague so I am surprised to find one who believes he is one of the anointed discussing things here.
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GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS
by You Know ingood news/bad news.
first, the good news: the good news, at least as far as the watchtower's multitudinous enemies are concerned, is that the watchtower's days are definitely numbered.
the bad news, as far as apostates should be concerned, is that the days for this present system, as we know it, are also of equally short duration.
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individual
To YouKnow -
I agree that your motive will not alter any outcome but you really do have to question yourself on how strong your desire is to see this all come to fruition. My argument is that the strength of your desire is more a reflection of you and other witnesses who only see the gain and not the cost. To have humanity means that your overriding concern is for the peoples of the earth.
Do you really believe that Jehovah, as presented in the Bible, holds all humanity in such derision? In my experience witnesses are far more selfish and lack humanity to a greater degree than the norm as a result of this very strong desire. To me the desire has created self-delusion, witnesses believe that they are special, occupying a place above all humanity.
The problem is - the world is not wholly evil - good people DO exist, yet you are blind to this. It was when I opened my eyes knowing the system to be imperfect but seeing good sincere people existing within it that I could not believe that God, who gave His Son as He loved the world so much, could show the same disregard for them as does the organisation.
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The Cost of 'The Truth'
by individual injust thinking ..... having read posts from youknow concerning the impending financial destruction of the system it strikes me that he and other witnesses have a very strong desire for the system to end even looking for ways in which it could happen.
they will clutch at any straw, salivating at the prospect of their imagined reward.. at the meetings last year at the time of the petrol crisis in the uk witnesses were eager to discuss the possibility that this was the start of the tribulation, there was a real buzz of excitement that this could be it!
now ... the question is this, does the 'truth' cost you your humanity because not one of them gave a stuff for their neighbours, worldly friends, relatives or even any of the people in the street.
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individual
Just thinking ..... having read posts from YouKnow concerning the impending financial destruction of the system it strikes me that he and other witnesses have a very strong desire for the system to end even looking for ways in which it could happen. They will clutch at any straw, salivating at the prospect of their imagined reward.
At the meetings last year at the time of the petrol crisis in the UK witnesses were eager to discuss the possibility that this was the start of the tribulation, there was a real buzz of excitement that this COULD BE IT!
Now ... the question is this, does the 'truth' cost you your humanity because not one of them gave a stuff for their neighbours, worldly friends, relatives or even any of the people in the street. All they could see was that nice new house they were going to build for themselves or the big waterside property with pool and sauna they had spotted on the ministry. This struck me at the time as being a tad selfish. They showed such a lack of concern for everyone else in society, their own desire was for what they could gain and it was SO obvious.
So does the 'truth' cost you your humanity? With a reward that high I guess it could come at any cost.
Upon leaving I have bought back my humanity.
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GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS
by You Know ingood news/bad news.
first, the good news: the good news, at least as far as the watchtower's multitudinous enemies are concerned, is that the watchtower's days are definitely numbered.
the bad news, as far as apostates should be concerned, is that the days for this present system, as we know it, are also of equally short duration.
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individual
So the financial storm is coming is it? It might just be a breeze but I do agree with you on one thing - the financial system is like a pack of cards but it is glued together with something very strong - it's called faith. Money exists because people believe in it - it is the biggest faith in the world. Mankind has got himself out of holes before and he will do so again because all it takes is for countries and their peoples to believe in their ability to do so. Look at 1929 and the 1973-4 banking crisis.
Your motive for wanting this financial crisis and for this financial system to end is so that it may start the Great Tribulation. Have you no empathy for the people of the world, do you not feel desperate for them - for if what you wish for came true it would mean the end for them. There are a lot of good people in the world, sincere little old ladies who go to church every Sunday because they really believe it is right, they read the same bible you do (maybe not the NWT). What comes across from your posts - and I have always read them with interest, is that your desire for the system to end overshadows any feelings for your fellow man. This I think is the biggest problem with the 'truth' - it destroys your humanity.