Posts by sd-7

35

How are you faders doing?

by pat1060 in

jw
friends

just wondering how all you slow faders are doing.i know this subject is discussed many times,but personally i wish it was more.we should post every once in a while just to say how we are doing,we need to encourage each other.as for me,it is still going very slow.right now i'm looking into the history that is being covered up.i have learned so much just by reading the older threads.it is very painful for me because this was the truth.and to be finding out so much crap that 99% of jw don't even know,it just is unbelievable.i have cut my field service down,and miss more meetings then i ever did.i'm hoping the sister that is in my face all the time,trying to help me,will forget about me soon......so how are you doing?.

sd-7

Me? I'm crazy--I'm going back in! Haven't been to any meetings since like, I don't know, maybe October, but the wife is still into it, so I'm going back in for her sake, and if I can, I'll bring her out of it. The elders wanted to 'meet' with me. I even gave them my number, but in my several months--probably even a year--of being irregular at the meetings and shoddy in FS, not one phone call or visit from one elder. My moving to a new congregation may shake them for a time, but the mrs. will want me to get my 'publisher's card' from the old congregation, which will surely lead to some kind of meeting in which I compromise myself and get DF'd simply 'cause I can't stand the absurdity anymore. But that's just one possible future.

On the plus side, wifey doesn't strike me as one who will get too far in, as she was DF'd years ago and just go back in last year. Given her willingness to break Borg rules in the first place, it doesn't seem like that big of a leap to wake her up. Even so, it may not necessarily happen. I chose this because I couldn't leave without her. I tried. But I couldn't.

It's hard to live with, every day. Yeah, I know I brought it on myself, over one woman, but for me, it's the one woman I'd be willing to do that for. It hurts me to know that I must submit to this religion and its tyranny, but I'm trying to use the family study to inject the real truth whenever I see an opportunity to do so. Although I was well into a pretty good fade, I'm going to 'un-fade' and carry on. Mom, big brother, one aunt, two cousins and their 5 kids are all in. I wouldn't miss most of them that much, to be honest, but I find it saddest to be at risk of hurting or losing Mom. She got taken advantage of by this religion, taught us everything we know, but she didn't know what we were getting into. And she may never know. That, for me, is the most tragic thing of all.

It breaks my heart every second. I accept it, though, because that's what needs to happen. I need this moment in my life to bring forth whoever it is I'm supposed to become. Love for my wife is what led me to discover the truth about the Society in the first place. I hope that love, 5 years old and bruised and slashed by elders and the like, will carry me through to its destination. I don't care which way it ends. I just know that I needed a direction. So now I fight the Society's forces from the inside. I won't win. But I will fight.

Tired as heck, living two lives, but so far, at least the marriage, 3 weeks old now, is doing alright. Not saying much, since any celebrity can last that long. But hopefully it'll remain in good shape. If I must, I'll give up fighting for mental freedom to keep her. But really, I don't have to. I just have to exercise "theocratic warfare" in the opposite direction, and I'll be fine.

Feeling a little depressed today, but as stable as can be expected from someone who just found out this year that he's spent 24 years of his life in a cult. Sucks to be me. But hey, what's new? I hated myself even before I found out the real deal. But that's another story. Whatever the case, I hope those of you who were brave enough to stand and walk/fade away are doing well. I wish all of you the best.

SD-7

7

Dress and Grooming in This Time of the End

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

here's a great scenario for the stubborn, opinionated, challenger-of-the-channel-jehovah-is-using-today types.

brother challenger: "okay.

brother challenger: "by doing what, exactly?

sd-7

Here's a great scenario for the stubborn, opinionated, challenger-of-the-channel-Jehovah-is-using-today types.

Brother attends meeting with full beard and tennis shoes. Elder approaches, puts arm around shoulder to feign interest while simultaneously exerting subtle control by tactile adhesion of fingers to shoulder.

Elder: "We wanted to talk to you about your appearance. We can't let you handle the announcements tonight."

Brother Challenger: "Okay. Well, Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount with a full beard and sandals. I'm just doing my best to 'follow his pattern closely'."

Elder: "Those were different times. Jesus dressed according to the cultural norm of his day, and we need to dress modestly according to the appropriate norms of our day."

Brother Challenger: "Well, the Bible says that 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.' He doesn't conform to the cultural norms of the world. Why should we imitate them?"

Elder: "We want to avoid stumbling people. Why are you ignoring the counsel that Jehovah's organization gives us?"

Brother Challenger: "You still haven't answered my question. Just imagine how stumbled I was during the prayer, when I saw Brother and Sister Pioneer HOLDING HANDS!! I thought they were SPIRITUAL, focused on their relationship with Jehovah. Maybe they need to be chaperoned during field service, too, so that their sentimentality doesn't interfere with the ministry that we do in support of the slave class. Now THERE'S a stumbling block."

Elder: "That still doesn't tell us why you choose to neglect your relationship with Jehovah."

Brother Challenger: "By doing what, exactly? Charles Taze Russell can have a beard, but I can't? Wow, the organizational apple has fallen far from the tree, hasn't it?"

Elder: "Um, we're going to set up a 'meeting' with you." [Goes to look for another elder.]

[Brother Challenger uses the crowds as a distraction and disappears without a trace.]

... Okay...I just wanted to try it. Could this happen? I'd love to hear your possible responses to this scenario. Fire at will.

SD-7

1

Read up on similar groups--Unification & 7th Day Adv....

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

i gathered the courage to attempt reading information from other groups that i understand are classified as possibly using mind control.

i started with the one people always associate with jws--the 7th day adventists.. in reading their official site, i was pleased at first to hear some noble statements about freedom and about respect for the bible.

then, i read something that sounded like an echo of whichever watchtower article you want to pull from, to paraphrase, 'you can't understand the bible without [jehovah's organization, the 7th day adventist church, fill in the blank] in mind.

sd-7

I gathered the courage to attempt reading information from other groups that I understand are classified as possibly using mind control. I started with the one people always associate with JWs--the 7th Day Adventists.

In reading their official site, I was pleased at first to hear some noble statements about freedom and about respect for the Bible. Then, I read something that sounded like an echo of whichever Watchtower article you want to pull from, to paraphrase, 'you can't understand the Bible without [Jehovah's organization, the 7th Day Adventist Church, fill in the blank] in mind.' "Ah," I said to myself.

Then there was that little mention of 1844 as Jesus' second advent, something to that effect? I'm probably a little off there. But I remembered that the Second Adventists, from whom C.T. Russell got his wacky ideas about chronology, also bought into that 1844 thing, based on 2,300 prophetic days. And the specific mention of the writings of Ellen G. White, I believe, mentioned almost as if they were part of the Bible. Hmm..."they are practically the Bible itself in rearranged form." Sound familiar? So, I get it.

The Unification Church's Divine Principle was much more subtle. The True Parents and the marriage thing were clearly set up, along with subtle prodding towards obedience to God which would no doubt be shifted to obedience to Moon, and somewhere in there they quoted a scripture, was it a Hindu scripture or...I don't know, I'm not familiar with anything apart from the Bible, but it mentioned "moon" in there. Nice subtlety, on their part. The particularly creepy thing? The introduction to the Divine Principle was IDENTICAL to the introduction that could easily be found in any public edition Watchtower or Awake! magazine. That was very, very creepy to me.

It was scary, this moment, sort of like Yoda probing the dark side of the Force in the Attack of the Clones novelization. Another story altogether. But so far, I'm still in reality, I think. It was scary, though. I call on the combined mental powers of All Time Jeff, Wobble, Outlaw, Jamiebowers, Isaacaustin, PSacramento, Blondie, BabaYaga, and the person who signs her name Sylvia but whose username I forget! MIND POWERS ASSEMBLLLLLLLE!!!! Okay, that was crazy. Apologies...fire away.

SD-7

4

"In the synagogues every sabbath"

by sd-7 in

this is one peculiarity that i never found an explanation for, as far as jw policies towards those who do not share their beliefs.

in acts, the apostle paul repeatedly preaches the good news in synagogues.

by jw logic, synagogues are for the jewish religion, which by this time, is a false religion, is it not?

sd-7

In fact, we can add to this, why weren't people DF'ed from early Christian congregations for observing Jewish holidays? Weren't those 'false religious holidays'? Paul made clear in his letters that no one was to pass judgment on anyone on the basis of making one day more important than another. (Rom. 14:5, 6) Wouldn't a JW who observed Hanukkah or any other Jewish holiday be promptly DF'ed? Or maybe the point is that what was allowed then was different. Jehovah was using a, uh, different channel of communication at the time.

SD-7

4

"In the synagogues every sabbath"

by sd-7 in

this is one peculiarity that i never found an explanation for, as far as jw policies towards those who do not share their beliefs.

in acts, the apostle paul repeatedly preaches the good news in synagogues.

by jw logic, synagogues are for the jewish religion, which by this time, is a false religion, is it not?

sd-7

This is one peculiarity that I never found an explanation for, as far as JW policies towards those who do not share their beliefs. In Acts, the apostle Paul repeatedly preaches the good news in synagogues. By JW logic, synagogues are for the Jewish religion, which by this time, is a FALSE religion, is it not? Christianity has been established as the true religion, therefore, by JW logic, all other forms of worship must be false.

So then, why does Paul enter a false religious building to preach to people? Shouldn't this justify going to other religions' services and using such opportunities to preach to people?

Perhaps I'm wrong. But Acts was a book that, as I remember, first got me to thinking in the back of my mind that Christianity was probably quite different from what Jehovah's Witnesses practice now. I'm sure this is an easy question, but I'm just throwing it out there out of curiosity. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

SD-7

9

JWs "Directed by" Governing Body, but GB members "not leaders" of Jehovah's people

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

bearing thorough witness, page 110, pars.

"like the first century christians, jehovah's witnesses today are directed by a governing body of dedicated, spirit-anointed men representing "the faithful and discreet slave.

"" [ever since younger members miraculously received a heavenly calling that was supposed to have been closed before they were born, that is...but it's easy to adjust that 'understanding' when you're on the governing body, now isn't it?].

sd-7

Bearing Thorough Witness, page 110, pars. 1 & 8:

"Like the first century Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses today are directed by a Governing Body of dedicated, spirit-anointed men representing "the faithful and discreet slave."" [Ever since younger members miraculously received a heavenly calling that was supposed to have been closed before they were born, that is...But it's easy to adjust that 'understanding' when you're ON the Governing Body, now isn't it?]

"The Governing Body relies on God's holy spirit for direction. Its members do not regard themselves as the leaders of Jehovah's people."

Note some dictionary defintions of "direct" and "lead", care of dictionary.com:

DIRECT

	to regulate the course of; control :
	to manage or guide by advice, helpful information, instruction

to administer; manage; supervise

to give authoritative instructions to; command; order or ordain: I directed him to leave the room.

to guide, tell, or show (a person) the way to a place: I directed him to the post office.

to act as a guide.

to give commands or orders.

LEAD

to go before or with to show the way

to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.

to command or direct (an army or other large organization):

to have the directing or principal part in

'Nuff said.

SD-7

20

Family Worship -- a page at the end of 10/15/09 WT

by sd-7 in

in reading this short article, oooooh, let's just post some quotes:.

page 32, paragraph 1:.

"last year, the governing body announced an adjustment to the congregation meeting schedule that allows more time for bible study and discussion as a family.

sd-7

our CO indicated in our Elders meeting, that a family could quite easily spend 4 hours on a Thursday night on spiritual activities.

No this is NOT just family study, it is a full evening of theocraptic activity.

They call that refreshing? They clearly ADDED to our load, then! They really are insane.

SD-7

49

How Jehovah's Witnesses Differ From Cults

by Bangalore in

found this article by some guy named john w scott that says jw's are not a cult.. .

http://ezinearticles.com/?how-jehovahs-witnesses-differ-from-cults&id=3237332.

bangalore.

sd-7

Unbelievable. He's been reading JW Media. Dude...grossly, grossly misinformed. I can't even begin to spell it out. At least half of these points are untrue or incorrect, probably more. Good grief...

SD-7

20

Family Worship -- a page at the end of 10/15/09 WT

by sd-7 in

in reading this short article, oooooh, let's just post some quotes:.

page 32, paragraph 1:.

"last year, the governing body announced an adjustment to the congregation meeting schedule that allows more time for bible study and discussion as a family.

sd-7

Typo's! Throw "Kevin" and "appreciation" in there, and you're good to go...

SD-7

20

Family Worship -- a page at the end of 10/15/09 WT

by sd-7 in

in reading this short article, oooooh, let's just post some quotes:.

page 32, paragraph 1:.

"last year, the governing body announced an adjustment to the congregation meeting schedule that allows more time for bible study and discussion as a family.

sd-7

In reading this short article, oooooh, let's just post some quotes:

Page 32, paragraph 1:

"Last year, the Governing Body announced an adjustment to the congregation meeting schedule that allows more time for Bible study and discussion as a family."

The Governing Body, as we see here, is the one who decides what we are ALLOWED to use our time for. Maybe I'm leaning too hard on 'em. They have been so faithful in discharging their duties in fulfillment of a parable that is not at all a prophecy.

Paragraph 2:

"Many have expressed appreciated for the arrangement of having a Family Worship evening. For example, Keven, an elder, wrote: "The words 'thank you' are not strong enough to express how we in the congregation feel. As elders, we have discussed how we use the free night to do exactly as the Governing Body has asked--to study with our families.""

The frank use of that phrase, "do exactly as the Governing Body has asked", to me seems troubling. As if it should be done simply because they asked for it to be done. If the Governing Body asked families to go out and kill apostates one night a week, I guess they'd do exactly as the Governing Body asked then, too.

The particularly odd thing about this is, I remember having family worship long before this near-mandate was issued--decades ago, in fact. We didn't need anyone to tell us in capital letters (Family Worship) that we ought to worship God as a family, at home. Jesus made clear that worship was not to be bound to some religious structure anyway--all we'd need was two people, and there he is in our midst.

How much time, exactly, did the Governing Body actually provide for this purpose? They sucked half an hour off the Book Study, half an hour off the TMS/SM altogether, and 15 minutes from the PT. Because they smashed the Book Study onto the same night as everything else, they're to be applauded, we're to come with gratitude? The load hasn't really lightened very much, save that we don't have to leave the house but twice a week, but we still have to study just as hard for all the meetings and do at least 10 hours of field service. So why do they act like they parted the Red Sea or something?

Paragraph 4:

"This new arrangement is a gift from Jehovah that spiritually refreshes us--if we use the time in the way we are supposed to."

I've heard these experiences are contrived, but this one really does sound like it. Almost as if this random pioneer couple is threatening us worldwide--yeah, we BETTER have that Family Worship night. Refreshment comes from a noticeable lightening of one's yoke, doesn't it? I didn't notice it being any lighter.

Of particular note is that it took until paragraph 4 to mention Jehovah, whereas the Governing Body had already been mentioned twice and praised and thanked. At a certain point, we can expect that Jehovah may be ousted from the picture altogether. Jesus has already been marginalized and his words revised as needed. Okay, maybe not. That's a little extreme.

Well...I've said enough. Fire away.

SD-7