JW_Rogue

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Posts by JW_Rogue

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  475

  What is the alternative to JW?

  by Formerbrother in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i mean this with all due respect, i would like to hear from genuine people who think jw have it wrong and then what is the truth?.

  im not talking about silly little quibbles here and there.. is jehovah real?

  the the bible is word?

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  JW_Rogue

  No one can believe the entire bible because it clearly contradicts itself in many cases. The God from the Old Testament doesn't resemble the God that Jesus portrayed in the gospels at all. Even though JWs say that they believe the entire bible they use clever mental acrobatics and speculation to gloss over the contradictions.
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  38

  Most Poorly Written JW Book

  by JW_Rogue in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so i was thinking the other day that the wt corp has produced thousands of books over the years.

  although the writers have changed the style is almost always the same.

  however, some books are just worse than others.

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  JW_Rogue

  So I was thinking the other day that the WT corp has produced thousands of books over the years. Although the writers have changed the style is almost always the same. However, some books are just worse than others. Now I'm not really talking about dubious claims or false prophecies because it would be easy to identify those. I'm talking about books that are really just poorly written from a style viewpoint.

  My nominee is "Draw Close To Jehovah", my wife has been listening to the audio reading of this book and it's really bad. Every paragraph is stretched out with multiple unneeded adjectives and adverbs. Over the top flowery language is used to describe everything about God and Jesus. Each example from the bible is gone over in excruciating detail as they try to inject emotion into the biblical accounts. Never before has a book had so many words and said so little.

  So that's my choice what's yours?
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  29

  The WT in 10 years time

  by Coded Logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a. in 2026 in what state do you think the organization will be?.

  ) 9million + members.

  ) roughly the same amount of members as today (7-9 million)..

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  JW_Rogue

  A. 3

  B. 3

  C. 3

  D. 2

  
  

  I know some people won't be happy with this answer but I think it is the more realistic one. The org will always have new young ones to baptize and they are pushing for that more and more. I have personally seen a few young ones that I thought weren't interested give in and get baptized. I think because of this you'll have big divide between the "true believers" and the ones who treat it like a social club, family tradition or Sunday service. Many will leave but they'll be replaced so overall the numbers won't change much. The lack of growth will be blamed on "the love of the greater number cooling off" which will be a way to blame the lack of growth on lack of zeal.

  The printing will continue to decline while they increase the translation work to try to show that they are trying to reach every language. I have theory that they will try to discourage witnesses from just leaving WTs during D2D and they may come up with a series of publications or videos that will slowly get someone into a study. They must know that many JWs don't even want to do a study so they'll try to make it expected of everyone.
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  40

  WT Study 1/10/16 Encouraging Child Baptism And More Nonsense

  by JW_Rogue in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've noticed that each wt lesson really only has one or two points they want remembered.

  normally they build up to these by about the third subheading.

  this week's lesson though was different, the main point was insidiously made through an experience in the first paragraph:.

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  JW_Rogue

  Mandrake I was 12 when I was baptized I would not say that it ruined my life although in some ways I think I'm "not normal". LOL I never fell in love with a "worldly girl" by the time I really got to know any I was already in college and they could tell that I was different from other guys. So even though at that time I was already doubting whether I wanted to be a JW, I didn't quite fit in with the other kids either. After college I thought I just needed to be married and I would live happily ever after whether it was the truth or not. That didn't happen though my true thoughts and feeling are still there. Now that I'm in my thirties I just don't think I can waste time on things I don't believe in.
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  36

  Ridiculous statements in this weeks study article

  by the truth is mine in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  maybe it is just me but when i read this paragraph all i could do is shake my head and wonder how i used to buy into this crap and how people don't wonder what the hell the writers are thinking'.

  "imagine what life would be like if god did not have love for mankind.

  we merely have to look at the awful history of this world with its human rulerships under its unloving and wrathful god, satan the devil.

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  JW_Rogue

  So basically we don't have to imagine because it is already here and mankind has never known anything different. Yet, we are still to believe that God is loving because he has given us a bunch of promises which we just know will be fulfilled...soon. LOL
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  40

  WT Study 1/10/16 Encouraging Child Baptism And More Nonsense

  by JW_Rogue in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've noticed that each wt lesson really only has one or two points they want remembered.

  normally they build up to these by about the third subheading.

  this week's lesson though was different, the main point was insidiously made through an experience in the first paragraph:.

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  JW_Rogue

  I've noticed that each WT lesson really only has one or two points they want remembered. Normally they build up to these by about the third subheading. This week's lesson though was different, the main point was insidiously made through an experience in the first paragraph:

  CHRISTIAN parents have few joys like that of watching their child get baptized. “It was a highly emotional experience for us. We were, of course, grateful that our children wanted to serve Jehovah,” says Berenice, whose four children were baptized before they turned 14. “But,” she adds, “we also knew that as teenagers our children would face many challenges.”

  Did you catch it? Yes, WT is subtly saying that to be a good example a parent should have their children baptized at a young age. 14 is not old enough to drive a car, get married or drink a beer but it's a great age to get baptized. I like how they purposefully state that it was the children who "wanted to serve Jehovah". It may be true but children want to do a lot things at that age. They have not developed fully and can't really understand what the decision will mean. And are we to believe that the guidance and instruction from their parents had nothing to do with it?

  The WT follows up that paragraph with this quote in paragraph 2:

  one expert on child development states: “Adolescence is not a period of being ‘crazy’ or ‘immature.’ It is an essential time of emotional intensity, social engagement, and creativity.”

  I found it quite odd that WT would use this quote when none of this things mentioned are encouraged by JWs. Reacting emotionally has always been looked down upon in the org. Social engagement isn't really encouraged either, the prevailing attitude is to push teens away from social activities and towards "spiritual goals". How creative can you be when all your beliefs are already chosen out for you?

  WT then replaces those three things with their own:

  While they are teenagers, your children can develop a more meaningful friendship with Jehovah, set and pursue goals in the ministry, and use more initiative as they make their dedication and live up to it.

  Emotional intensity = friendship with Jehovah

  Social engagement = field service

  Creativity = Dedication

  And parents in the hall just nod along as if the whole thing made perfect sense.

  
  
  
  

  
  
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  475

  What is the alternative to JW?

  by Formerbrother in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i mean this with all due respect, i would like to hear from genuine people who think jw have it wrong and then what is the truth?.

  im not talking about silly little quibbles here and there.. is jehovah real?

  the the bible is word?

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  2. 
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  JW_Rogue

  I think the alternative is whatever you think is the right way to live. I can't tell you what your alternative should be. I know that mine will likely be thinking on my own and being free from any religious organization. Once you take off the WT glasses it becomes way too easy to see the bible for what it is, a collection of man made books. To be sure there are some good principles to be found in the bible but also a lot of useless history and backwards thinking. The reality is you can take what you like and dismiss the rest of it, you can explore other ideas and religions and learn and grow. You are your own authority and must take your own position. This transfer of power from an ancient book to a man made organization was and is wrong. Isn't the Bible supposed to be God's gift to mankind? Then why is it that only a select few (in most Christian churches) are allowed to interpret it and apply it to modern times? If God inspired these writings for us then they should be clear and understandable. It should be obvious what the message is but it is not and humans have taken advantage of that. Just look at the mountains of books that the WT has produced, it should not be needed if we already have God's inspired word.
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  39

  To all JDub lurkers: How can you continue to preach knowing that you are telling lies?

  by macys in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this is a damn serious question.

  you must know by now that jerusalem was not destroyed in 607 bce and that 607 was initially picked by ct russell by using his "pyramid scheme" measurements.

  there is no hiding these facts yet you continue to preach this nonsense.

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  JW_Rogue

  I mean seriously. This is a damn serious question. You must know by now that Jerusalem was NOT destroyed in 607 BCE and that 607 was initially picked by CT Russell by using his "pyramid scheme" measurements. There is no hiding these facts yet you continue to preach this nonsense.
  How about the teaching of the "overlapping generations?" You can not be serious!
  On those two fundamental doctrines alone your whole belief is in the trash.The list I was thinking about is actually quite extensive but for the sake of time I just mentioned these two huge problems.
  And you claim to worship the "God of Spirit and Truth?" Are you f*cking kidding me?

  If you just go in door to door and quickly offer magazines but never go on return visits or bible studies then it's not an issue. Most householders won't bring up those topics because they don't know or care about them. They'll take the magazines and more than likely toss them. In fact I did this even before waking up, field service was always about showing up and being seen by others. I knew the chances of me converting someone were slim to none.
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  12

  JWs and New Year's Resolutions

  by JW_Rogue in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  anyone else find it odd that jws don't do new year's resolutions?

  i have never read anything about it in any wt publication.

  yet, it is like some unwritten rule.

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  JW_Rogue

  The religion likes to lay out how a person should live their life and they go WAAY overboard with their intrusiveness into people's lives in every area. They might see the idea of people's personal decisions as "vanity" and something they have no control over (which they have no business concerning themselves about - but they do)... It may start dangerous habits, such as Witnesses thinking. And they can't have people in the religion doing that now can they?

  I think it is about making JWs different, not for any real reason but just so they'll stand out. No matter what the Holiday is when asked about their plans JWs will end up talking about their religion. What they are after is more attention for the religion.
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  37

  Infighting at the top?

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we've all been trying to decipher what is going on at the top of the watchtower organization.

  clearly, the game's afoot, we just don't know what game we're playing.

  item: the constant harping about money and donations.

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  JW_Rogue

  Could a power struggle be going on? Yes, but it could be simpler than that. It could be that they want to make changes that will externally make them look more progressive and liberal. At the same time they want to tighten control over members who are already in and centralize the finances. Or it could be that they feel they need to rebrand because they aren't growing and are in a financial hole. They may realize that they will lose some members but feel that in the long run they will grow.