Posts by nugget

23

Why is there a need for Ministry School presentations?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

we were told that the preaching work was lead and guided by ''angels'' and the holy spirit.. if that is so,why the need for magazine presentations week after week?

why is a half hour spent showing each member what to say and how to respond to certain questions?

why practice presentations when the angels and holy spirit are there to help?.

nugget

It's indoctrination. Householder says A I respond with B. B is the truth A is not. It means that you don't really have to listen to the householder because you are just waiting for the break in the conversation to say your bit. As the field ministry is unpredictable it means that R&F are protected from what they may hear and are in control of the conversation.

However in my experience most witnesses fall back on "here are the latest copies of the magazines do you want them?" Few read them from cover to cover.

32

"Do not become unevenly yoked"--weird comment at meeting

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

i heard a really bizarre comment at one of the recent meetings.

someone, in quoting this scripture, of course went with the usual doctrine of not marrying/dating someone who is not a jw.

but one woman took it even further, by saying that this applied even to people inside the congregation who 'weren't spiritual enough' or didn't have some magnificent spiritual goals in life.

nugget

The purpose of the organisation is control so this is another example of people within doing self examination to see if they measure up to ideals. According to teachings of the WTBTS the sister is not completely off base. We were often taught to judge others on the basis of their spirituality and make judgements as a result. That is why people who start to fade are treated warily by the rest of the congregation and there is a judgemental tone when talking to you. Potential partners can be rejected on the basis that they do not exhibit the right level of spirituality. After all spititual weakness is one step away from apostasy.

6

This is why its worse for JW's to die!!!

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

this is a dialogue from jw message board.. .

is there any news from your brothers on chile ?.

why do people focus on 'the brothers' in an area with natural disaster?.

nugget

It always sounds so callous when people only express concern for fellow JWs. Thousands can die but if no JWs die then it's almost as if the earthquake or fire or whatever never happened. It is a narrow faith with narrow hearts very sad.

10

Having a tough day? Need a chuckle?

by AwSnap in

jw
friends

well, follow this mouse.

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psupz7wn_5q.

nugget

Ahh, very good.

23

Do you hold any ''responsibility'' for the believing the WTS?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

jehovah's witnesses are the only people that will inherit life on paradise earth.

only jehovah's witnesses have the ''truth''.

the wts is the only ''channel' 'to jehovah.

nugget

Whilst I could kick myself for not doing research myself and breaking free sooner I do feel there are certain things in my defence.

1 JWs are a high control group so members are told not to think for themselves and be accepting.

2 Any problems you have with the teaching are because you are wrong, you need to study, pray,attend meetings and field service more.

3 You are given a high load of preparation and religious duties to fulfill so that you are a busy fool with little time for private research.

4 As a sister you have no idea about policy files you only see the public face of the org at meetings.

5 You are taught that old men in Brooklyn pretty much have a direct phone line to god so you should take what they say at face value.

6 Anyone who dissents is corrupt, anyone who has left and speaks out is proud and wants to celebrate holidays so is also selfish.

7 Doubting is a sin and guilt is everywhere.

8 A DFing is to be feared so avoid anything that may lead to that end.

Yes we all are responsible to a certain extent but it is a shared responsibility. JWs keep their followers as perpetual children under the thumb of the elders. If they hadn't used control to keep us many would have been free before this.

26

"You were a much nicer person when you were in the truth!"

by highdose in

jw
friends

"you were a much nicer person when you were in the truth!

since you havn't been to the meetings your starting to change.

your so into standing up for yourself like you think its a good thing!!?!

nugget

No one has to conform to some one elses ideal. If nice means submissive and quiet and a total doormat whilst inside feeling hurt and resentful and in pain, that is not nice it's disfunctional.

Being truly nice is being able to say what you feel and stand up for yourself whlist accepting that other people have the right to dignity and respect.

16

Scary stuff.... I've just realized that I could be disfellowshipped at any time

by Quillsky in

i like to think that i have escaped the cult completely, since i, and members of my close family, faded away years ago.

however, i have recently realized that my "elder" uncle, my father's older brother, could technically have me disfellowshipped, such as if he figures out that i post on an "apostate" message board (i've tried to direct my cousin here), or sees me smoking in a restaurant in the small town we all live in, or hears from my father that my boyfriend and i have been away for a weekend together.. so i've recently discovered this fear.

although i believe i'm "out" i'm still trapped in a way.

nugget

If you have a life outside the org, and minimal association within then realistically what difference would Dfing make to your life. It seems from your post that your life does not follow the JW ideal since you have a boyfriend and smoke and your Dad seems to know about and accept it. DAing and Dfing is something that happens in their narrow world and affects how they behave. It doesn't change how you behave you have already made your choice in life.

41

This video scared me so so much... it can't be true!!!

by Butterflyleia85 in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-3rphfrwi8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdmc367zors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt8f8dydmou.

nugget

Some of the information in the video is true and can easily be verified by looking at the older publications and the CD rom. That alone is damning of the origins of the JW religion.

Whether some of the more outlandish claims are true I don't know. I know there is enough evidence without it to condemn the organisation.

46

Apparently I've out-ed an old friend THE SH**T HIT THE FAN!!

by Terry in

jw
friends

about three or four years ago my former "best friend" who is an active jw started coming by my work to eat lunch with me and chat.. in the course of our conversations we had religious discussions.. i posted on the former jwd about these discussions.

i never mentioned his last name, but, i did use his first name.. i honestly never expected anybody to read those posts because of the curse on apostate websites.

but, that was a bit naive, i suppose.. here is what has happened.. .

nugget

The thing is you don't know the full impact your post may have had or the deapth of the trouble he has got into as a result. You don't know who discovered it and the impact on his family. It may have been that he thought your conversations were confidential and expected you to be respectful of his position and maintain the level of confidentialiity. He may have had to lie about the posts to defend his standing in the congregation.

It is hard because the forum is a useful sounding board and support network. Sometimes we reveal things that we wouldn't otherwise. But all posts are visible. I remember reading all my husbands old posts once I joined the board. I felt guilty because it was a bit like reading someones diary but as anybody on the board could see them I did feel it was permissable and he was in the room when I read them. No one likes people talking about them behind their back.

I would send a sympathy card and acknowledge that you have hurt him by posting information that he may have believed was private. Say you would like the opportunity to make amends and hope he can find it in his heart to forgive you. Depending on the fall out from your previous posts it may take him awhile espeacially if he lost credibility with his own children.

38

Borg court: 3rd session & verdict

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

so...the third and final session was pretty straightforward.

they basically asked some more questions about the first woman, before i got back with the woman who became my wife.

then they asked what seemed like nothing more than a customer survey of "how are we doin'?

nugget

You have stood up for your principles and shown dignity in the face of provocation not just from the JC but from your wife also. It is good that you have a therapist who can help you work through things over the next few months as you will need an unbiased ear to help make sense of this nonsense.

If you previously agreed a 60 40 split on the rebate then stick with it. Ask her why she wants to change the arrangement now?

It is hard to know what will happen with your wife, I do hope she comes to her senses. You have done alot to show your consideration for her and her feelings and hopefully that will count for something. Just one observation don't you ever talk to each other about your feelings and relationship? It could be in the scope of the narrative there is no room or you wish to keep it private but you seem to be concerned about what she is thinking and feeling and the quickest way to know is to ask her.