Posts by miseryloveselders

48

Did you ever feel let down by the Bethel tour?

by maninthemiddle in

jw
friends

reading jeff's thread about dress made me think of my one and only trip to bethel.. i can't remember if i was babtised at the time, but i went with a bus load of jws.. like someone said in the last thread, printing presses and empty rooms.

i was very disapointed, however i don't think i had any pre-concieved notions of what it would be like.

what i was diapointed in was so much of the "tour" was walking hallways looking at exhibits behind glass.

miseryloveselders

I went as a child, but I don't remember much of anything. I only vaguely remember the concert hall/auditorium with the special effects ceiling in New Jersey. Since coming of age, when people ask if I had any interest in going there, or setting up a trip there, I tell them no and decline. I worked in manufacturing, and printing for a significant portion of my life, why would I want to spend almost three digit figures to tour facilities similar to where I was already at? My dad who's a hardcore old school Elder has said numerous times how ridiculous it is to take trips up there. He's also stated he could never work at Bethel, as they're more regimented and restrictive than the world.

20

Which gender is most likely to leave the JW's?

by highdose in

jw
friends

men or women?

which do you think is most likely to wake up and leave?.

miseryloveselders

Daniel-P, not to mention the article in a WT of last year requesting men who formerly served, to reach out again. Also the KM article from last year specifically tailored to preaching to males. Articles like those indicate the male shortage is deeper than they'd like to let on. Speaking from the perspective of a born in, all the guys I grew up with in my home congregation, all left at a young age, with the exception of myself and another fella. 90% of the young dudes I knew in other halls did the same, either left or got DF'd with no intention of coming back. The ones who have come back are on the fence and only come to appease family. Times I've given talks in other halls, I've noticed either a shortage of young people, or the young ones who attendance, particulary the males, look like they can't wait till the meeting is over.

49

SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NEWBIES AND LURKERS

by palmtree67 in

jw
friends

a quote from "crisis of conscience".

don't be afraid to read it.. .

whatever the initial distress - a distress that sometimes follows the demenaing experience of being interogated by men who, in effect strip one of dignity, make the weight of their authority felt, and presume to judge adversely one's standing with god - however torn one may feel inside, afterward there is a distinct feeling of relief, of peace.

miseryloveselders

Thats a heck of a quote.

31

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Disfellowshipped for Taking a Blood Transfusion?

by ThomasCovenant in

any 'proof' or quotes or experiences one way or other.

.

miseryloveselders

It used to be, "no blood, no way, no how". Now, it's "no blood, except for most fractions or if through a continuous loop through this machine or if used in this way or that way". In order to try to get out of a mess, they've created a bigger doctrinal mess.

When reading that line, it really impresses upon you how retarded the whole doctrine is. It would be laughable if not so tragic.

65

What Do You Like LEAST About This Here Board?

by snowbird in

jw
friends

for me, it's the pm system.. sylvia.

miseryloveselders

You, Snowbird. You.

14

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-16-10 WT Study (LIVE UP DEDICATION)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 05-16-10 wt study (march 15, 2010, pages 14-18)(live up dedication).

review comments will be in red or headed by comments.

wt material from today's wt will be in black.

miseryloveselders

Yeah, this lesson was a lesson in drudgery. Brother conducting today, who I think is an ok guy by the way, regardelss he went overtime by a good ten minutes. I imagine for some attending, it was like being paralyzed. St. George, when we went over that paragraph with the woman having a waiting list, I said to myself I've got a list of people who told me at the door to never come back. And I have a list comparable to the Great Crowd of people are apathetic, already Christian (so I'm preaching to the choir and disagreeing over minor interpretations), and the downright hostile.

Paragraph 7 truly annoyed me. They never, and I mean never miss an oppurtunity to remind you of who's runnin thangs huh? (Matt 24:45-47)

Paragraph 9 reminded me, well not that I needed a reminder, but it highlighted why I hate this cancer of a religion any more. I'm sick of going to meetings, assemblies, and conventions. Every meeting is exactly the same as the last meeting. I went over my Dad's house Friday night. We were in the back yard just relaxing. Every now and then when he gets tired, and half a wine glass of Sherry, he lets loose his true thoughts. I brought up the Elder School, he almost cussed. He goes, "it will be the same Elder School as several years ago, and the same as 20 years before before you were born! Its sickening." I started laughing, but what really cracked me up was when he said, "we had a special talk!! What was special about it?!?!? He just said the same thing I've heard for the past 40 years. (Cynically speaking), Its right around the corner!!! Then the fool doing the special talk, said to us that he has to read this part as thats what the outline dictates. Special talk, more like special fools!"

But he's right, its the same thing over, and over again. And instead of the clergy class in NY recognizing that and making significant changes, they point the finger at you and state you're the problem! You're not commenting enough, you're not paying enough attention, you're forgetting we're the Faithful & Discreet Slave.

I have a question for anybody that can answer me this. How is it that what we do can be considered worship? When I read the Old Testament, I get a picture of worship that is strikingly different from what we do today. They went to the Temple, they sang joyfully with instruments and dancing. What we do today at Kingdom Halls across the globe, is read from the script. Similar to a play. How is what we do worship? We sing songs composed by other people whom we've never met, and half the songs we think suck. (For the record, the general consenus is that the new songbook sucks, thats not opinion, thats fact) How is raising my hand to comment considered worship, when all I did was paraphrase what was written in the script paragraph that the brother read, and then the conductor asked the question containing a piece of the paraphrase I commented on? How is that worship? None of this stuff makes any sense to me anymore.

17

When does a Jehovah's Witness graduate?

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

i live in a city with a few major universities.

last thursday, i got off work, and as i hit the main avenue on my way home, i noticed people with their graduation robes and caps on.

i saw parents ecstatic that their children were now adults, and had accomplished something both they and their parents could be proud of.

miseryloveselders

I live in a city with a few major universities. Last Thursday, I got off work, and as I hit the main avenue on my way home, I noticed people with their graduation robes and caps on. I saw parents ecstatic that their children were now adults, and had accomplished something both they and their parents could be proud of. It got me to thinking, about the different phases of life we all go through, and questioning where I stand in life at this very moment.

Tuesday night, I sat in the meeting thankful I didnt have to do the Bible Highlights, or the Book Study, or anything on the Service Meeting. It's nice to sit back and just listen for a change. I commented twice. Personally, I'm sick of that platform. If I never deliver another outline again, it will be too soon. I sat there listening to the Bible Highlights, and thought to myself, "how many times have I heard this?" The brother doing the highlights picked the easiest subject to spend 4 minutes on. I know cuz I've been lazy at times and did the same thing. Later on, I listened to the #3 talk, and listened to a younger sister explain why JWs don't celebrate Mother's Day, or Valentines Day. On one hand, I'm proud of her because I remember when she was an unruly teenager, now she's a regular pioneer fudging her hours. She's come a long way. At the same time, I found myself disgusted because she only presented one side of the argument against holidays. My brain was screaming, " where was Romans 14?!?!?!" What she explained to the householder, was what the WTS had indoctrinated in her. She doesn't have her own educated, conscientious belief system regarding holidays. She believes what she was taught to believe, right or wrong. During the Service Meeting, a younger Ministerial Servant gave a part on practical assistance in the ministry. He used the typical catch phrases, "joy", "encouragement", "beneficial", etc.. He pretty much followed the Ministry School Book word from word, occasionally looking up at the audience to make it appear natural. Later the meeting ended with a prayer, and the brother who closed the meeting prayed "for the faithful and discreet slave", and for forgiveness, "when we fall short", and "for the pioneers", how much longs for when Jehovah replaces "this system of things", you get the point.

It hit me, that if I missed all the meetings for the next year, I could pick up where I left off of relatively quick. The WTS isn't producing spiritually mature Christians as much as they're programming robots, or zombies who can repeat whats been repetitiously ingrained in them several times a week for year after year. When presented with an argument that makes more sense than what the WTS has ingrained in them, their brains sound a warning, "does not compute! Does not compute! System Error!" At some point, some realize as many of you have, that they don't have any beliefs. They've been trained to repeat someone elses peculiar beliefts. Many, despite being adults, are incapable of reasoning, debating, and thinking. Going back to transitions in life, our parents raise us to one day become self sufficient, and responsible adults. People seek education to help them advance in life, whether it be financially, economically, or just to make them more well rounded in life. JWs on the other hand, don't have that possibility. There is no graduation from Mother. An "independent spirit" is strongly discouraged. So its a lifetime of the Theocratic Ministry School, The Service Meeting, the Watch Tower Study, etc.. A JW never makes decisions based off his individual conscience, but rather makes decisions based on whats been ingrained in him, and what the local herd congregation and his indoctrinated family pressures him into.

Am I crazy? Or does any of this make sense? I'll be honest, I typed this with some assistance, or lack thereof from Brother Jack Daniels.

10

Are you really drawn to a God who wants to kill you?

by hamsterbait in

the question a jw will ask at the doors is often.

"have you ever wondered why the world is in such turmoil?".

of course their "answer" is that a snake told a naked lady to eat some fruit 6 000 years ago, and as a result god views us all as unworthy of life.

miseryloveselders

This is a good question. This week's Congregation Bible Study touched on Jesus' courage in standing up for his Father's name and reputation. One of the paragraphs touches on how false religion teaches unnatural fear of God based on the hellfire doctrine. It doesnt specifically state that, but its alluded to. The ironic part to me is, the WTS loves to criticize this teaching as being unfairly attributed to a loving God. Yet, at the same time, they teach that anyone who doesn't become a JW, will be destroyed. So you can be a good person, you can volunteer, help the needy, the homeless, be a minister, be a Christian, do all sorts of things that contribute to a healthy society. However, all of that is moot if your not a JW, because God is going to destroy you for being associated with the WTS. It just doesnt make sense. When I sit down and try to reason from the WT's point of view on this, it gives me a headache.

5

Too Late For Religious Christendom!

by wannabe in

too late for religious christendom?.

that's a very odd statement to make isn't it?

anyone that really was a true christian would love the message of the bible, you would think, wouldn't you?