Posts by Podobear

72

Jehovah's Witnesses---A Religion That Does Nothing For Anyone

by minimus in

jw
friends

the reality is: jehovah's witnesses benefit no one but themselves!.

they don't contribute to society.

they refuse to get involved in local interests because that would constitute violating their neutrality.. if sexual abuse allegations are made amongst their members, unless two witnesses can attest to the molestation, they refuse to get the "superior authorities" involved.. they claim to be doing their neighbors a "life saving" work but the reality is that they simply are pests to their "householders".. they are a tax free "religion" and they do not pay taxes.. they are judgmental people and regard the "world" as "worldly" and in the "power of the wicked one".. and if the individual members do not conform to the organization's dictates, they might very well be "shunned" and regarded as "dead".. why anyone would want to be a jehovah's witness is beyond me..

Podobear

Keep it up Truthlover.. I am 54 y.o.... a medic, ... and one of the committee of 12 for my local committee for diabetes.. I am struggling against my own mortality as I write, against the same disease. You are a wonderful lady, and a beautiful example of common humanity. When will these dudes wake up to the fact that good hearted human being exist whether they are ACTIVE JW's, ex'JW's or attached or otherwise to any other branch of humanity. Wake up people..... the great crowd is drawn from EVERY tribe and people and nationality and tongue. God chooses NOT YOU moshe....

Truthseeker..... God bless you, lady. xxx

72

Jehovah's Witnesses---A Religion That Does Nothing For Anyone

by minimus in

jw
friends

the reality is: jehovah's witnesses benefit no one but themselves!.

they don't contribute to society.

they refuse to get involved in local interests because that would constitute violating their neutrality.. if sexual abuse allegations are made amongst their members, unless two witnesses can attest to the molestation, they refuse to get the "superior authorities" involved.. they claim to be doing their neighbors a "life saving" work but the reality is that they simply are pests to their "householders".. they are a tax free "religion" and they do not pay taxes.. they are judgmental people and regard the "world" as "worldly" and in the "power of the wicked one".. and if the individual members do not conform to the organization's dictates, they might very well be "shunned" and regarded as "dead".. why anyone would want to be a jehovah's witness is beyond me..

Podobear

Go for it Truthlover... good lady! You are sweet. At the age of 16 I stood with WT's on the forecourt of Hamburg Metropolitan station with many other JW's of many nationalities. German is not one of my languages. I got talking to a Californian who had moved to the city where his wife's family resided. I asked him why he had moved from the beautiful sunny west coast, opulent USA, in exchange for re-emerging bombed out Hamburg (this was 1972)... He replied.

He was unjustly side-lined and dismissed from his job... in accordance with U.S. benefit law at that time he was not entitled to benefits, due to dismissal from his work for a mimimum of 6 months.. he it financial hard times. NOT ONE in his very wealthy congregation acknowledged him, not a glimmer of help.. not that he asked for it.

One day there was a ring at the door bell. He anwered the door to find a cardboard box filled with supplies and a car heading off down the road. He was able to note the registration number.

He tracked it.. The plate belonged to a recently baptised, unmarried black mother of one from his congregation.

Go figure Moshe... there are hearts of gold within the WT movement. RE-evaluate... and thank you Truthlover.. this one is close to my heart.

I LOVED my brothers and sisters... why has the WT turned the congregations at large into cold, marketing, fund-raising sales units?????????? All the best Truthlover.. {boughs with respect}

72

Jehovah's Witnesses---A Religion That Does Nothing For Anyone

by minimus in

jw
friends

the reality is: jehovah's witnesses benefit no one but themselves!.

they don't contribute to society.

they refuse to get involved in local interests because that would constitute violating their neutrality.. if sexual abuse allegations are made amongst their members, unless two witnesses can attest to the molestation, they refuse to get the "superior authorities" involved.. they claim to be doing their neighbors a "life saving" work but the reality is that they simply are pests to their "householders".. they are a tax free "religion" and they do not pay taxes.. they are judgmental people and regard the "world" as "worldly" and in the "power of the wicked one".. and if the individual members do not conform to the organization's dictates, they might very well be "shunned" and regarded as "dead".. why anyone would want to be a jehovah's witness is beyond me..

Podobear

Hold on a minute Moshe.. my Dad is still a JW Elder, has been since 1972. I have seen him and others from the Kingdom Hall delivering supplies to the needy in the community and do many things to help out. He is the First Aid co-ordinator at the circuit assemblies and uses his skills broadly, not just in the congregation.

The Witnesses in my City have furnished all the hospitals with machinery in an attempt to overcome issues related to the refusal of blood.. and that machinery is being well used for Witnesses and non witnesses alike.

When I was pioneering (10 years in full time service) I was once verbally attacked by the chairlady of the local Methodist church for not having a full time job and contributing to the tax system, leeching off Society. She backed off when I stood up for myself (unusual for a cowering JW normally) and said that the Elders in my congregation would not allow me to Pioneer if I was unable to support myself and pay my way.. and besides, I said, we are in the middle of a bad recession... if everyone had job-share like me, that would bring the unemployment statistics down, get shed loads off benefits and there would be a reduced fiscal deficit. She was astonished and apologetic, I bid her farewell and FOR ONCE I felt good for standing up to people who judge before they know the facts!

Moshe, please, a lot of our former brothers and sisters wear their hearts on their sleeves and their faith prompts them to act individually and spontaneously for the good of others. At the risk of sharing tight-fisted jokes directed at Scotsmen, Yorkshiremen and Jews.. don't overlook the widow's mite in favour of the huge handouts - often given boastfully by those who can well afford it anyway - and often as a tax avoidance!

Get some perspective here, please. Well, said Truthlover.... good on 'yer

72

Jehovah's Witnesses---A Religion That Does Nothing For Anyone

by minimus in

jw
friends

the reality is: jehovah's witnesses benefit no one but themselves!.

they don't contribute to society.

they refuse to get involved in local interests because that would constitute violating their neutrality.. if sexual abuse allegations are made amongst their members, unless two witnesses can attest to the molestation, they refuse to get the "superior authorities" involved.. they claim to be doing their neighbors a "life saving" work but the reality is that they simply are pests to their "householders".. they are a tax free "religion" and they do not pay taxes.. they are judgmental people and regard the "world" as "worldly" and in the "power of the wicked one".. and if the individual members do not conform to the organization's dictates, they might very well be "shunned" and regarded as "dead".. why anyone would want to be a jehovah's witness is beyond me..

Podobear

America has a lot to answer for...

the IBSA (the UK ) was full of true Bible Students.. would seem to me that an awful lot of good people, who are not in a cult are mixed in with quite a few that are, because they have made it that way. Nah.. don't agree being one of Jehovah's Witnesses is not being in a cult... being a Jehovah's Witness (accepting a label), probably is. Mine was a way of life, not the following of a group of men and a Printing & Publishing Corporation.

I was never a Russellite or the follower of any man other than the great man himself... by the definition you follow minimus.. that is a cult too???

72

Jehovah's Witnesses---A Religion That Does Nothing For Anyone

by minimus in

jw
friends

the reality is: jehovah's witnesses benefit no one but themselves!.

they don't contribute to society.

they refuse to get involved in local interests because that would constitute violating their neutrality.. if sexual abuse allegations are made amongst their members, unless two witnesses can attest to the molestation, they refuse to get the "superior authorities" involved.. they claim to be doing their neighbors a "life saving" work but the reality is that they simply are pests to their "householders".. they are a tax free "religion" and they do not pay taxes.. they are judgmental people and regard the "world" as "worldly" and in the "power of the wicked one".. and if the individual members do not conform to the organization's dictates, they might very well be "shunned" and regarded as "dead".. why anyone would want to be a jehovah's witness is beyond me..

Podobear

Organised religion made Christianity a cult, minimus. Whe I became a JW... It was not a cult... and it is not a cult to those who truly believe. Until, of course, their freedom of speech and thought are stiffled.. and they leave. EARNEST BIBLE STUDENTS.. that is what they were called and in this (UK) country they were known as the INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION. All was well until the Almighty Watchtower and our $$ hungry cousins across the Atlantic, turned into a fierce printing & publishing/marketing machine. {SIGH}

72

Jehovah's Witnesses---A Religion That Does Nothing For Anyone

by minimus in

jw
friends

the reality is: jehovah's witnesses benefit no one but themselves!.

they don't contribute to society.

they refuse to get involved in local interests because that would constitute violating their neutrality.. if sexual abuse allegations are made amongst their members, unless two witnesses can attest to the molestation, they refuse to get the "superior authorities" involved.. they claim to be doing their neighbors a "life saving" work but the reality is that they simply are pests to their "householders".. they are a tax free "religion" and they do not pay taxes.. they are judgmental people and regard the "world" as "worldly" and in the "power of the wicked one".. and if the individual members do not conform to the organization's dictates, they might very well be "shunned" and regarded as "dead".. why anyone would want to be a jehovah's witness is beyond me..

Podobear

Sorry... don't agree the "Org." does it for millions... substitute for Rome for those who have defected from the R.C church.. they just love being told what to do. You don't need to think.. just trust you are being shepherded into the right fold. Solution? Don't think... and you will be just fine. [I.M.H.O]

138

What year Did you Stop Attending Meetings - How Long were you a JW ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

i'm trying to compare some statistics and figures on this to share later in the thread to see if more long-time witnesses are exiting- or are newer witnesses exiting after a shorter period of time.

and - are more people exiting in the last 10 to 15 years than before.

so your answers would be helpful in looking into this .

Podobear

Baptised April '71

Mind left as I walked out of Bethel in April '82

Feet Left January '84

Heart left April 2010...

Tough love is hard to break... I guess. Pioneered 6yrs Bethel almost 4 years.. very active publisher up to the last. Had 1hr personal counselling in 20 years... guess the contribution I made wasn't good enough.

136

Memorial 2010 Your Experiences

by scotinsw in

just got back from memorial.

only went so that i could say to my parents that i had gone and to remind myself why i left.. oh my word!!!

it was sooooo painful.. got there a bit late - it was a couple of minutes into the talk.

Podobear

Must admit I was on a flight back from Poland from having private surgery, and had completely forgotten about this years celebration.

It was not until I telephoned to my parents at 5.30pm that mother told me Dad was on a mad dash to get to "his meeting" as he had the first shift starting at 6.10pm. From past experience it wasn't worth trying to get him to the 'phone.

Must admit it has been wonderful discussing this subject here and expressing views free from "the fear of" censorship. Thanks to those who have taken the time to post to me on this related subject.

I am going to put a spoke in here in favour of JW interpretation of events: Quartodeciminism was a feature of early Christianity.. the Roman soldiers knew the best occasion to round up those confounded Christians. There is only ONE hope it is true... but there are two DESTINIES, an earthly one and through the death of Jesus a heavenly one two.

Die hard promoters of Christendom and, I am afraid, exjw newbies to their ranks, generally fall silent on that fact. Jesus did not throw out all the Messianic promises of the Hebrew Scriptures (OT, if you will).. he was the start of a Kingdom government.

Much very interesting material has been provided for me on this matter, and I feel I can now fall in agreement, that ALL those born into Christ should honour the Lord's Evening Meal by participating. The "calling" or "anointing" of the individual is between him/her and Jesus himself. The Destiny we aspire to is between Christ as the Head of the Christian Congregation and we alone.

I feel it is entirely disrespectful of any conviction to show disdain by showing videos of people chewing gum and quaffing the Emblematic wine.. and do not agree with such puerile and god dishonouring actions. I showed respect to the faith of others as a JW and continue to acknowledge the deep conviction of most JW's at this sacred occasion.

Since none of us was alive to interpret the periodicity, format or even the entirety of the meaning of Jesus' instruction... we ought defer to honouring the committment of others.

For those who have completely abandoned faith for secularism... it should matter a t*****s c**s anyway!

310

Mill Hill Disfellowshippings

by BorgHater in

jw
friends

a few months ago there was a thread about a couple of elders at the mill hill bethel being disfellowshipped because they disagreed with some wt doctrine (i can't recall exactly what it was) and that several other betheliteswere under 'investigation'.

i haven't heard anything since, does anyone know anything more about this?.

borghater xx.

Podobear

Welcome to a fellow Newbie...HappyOutsideThebox: I am in the process of hopefully solving a mystery that has both haunted and plagued me for 25 years. PaulandApollos has started a very interesting thread- a major doctrinal issue- which I have always believed needs refinement and greater understanding amongst Jehovah's Witnesses. It would be interesting to develop a fuller, entire understanding of the joint Christian hope.. its significance to all Christians regardless of their destiny and decision as to whether each one (regardless of destiny) should honour the sacred to command to "Eat and Drink" the blood and flesh of Christ in rememberence of him. It is central and core to what happened in Brooklyn in 1981/82.

Thank you for the PM's from fellow posters on the subject... this has the hallmark of clearer understanding... may you not be considered as the Sons/Daughters of Korah.. but more akin to the enquirers of Beroean, checking daily "as to whether these things are so."

Agape, Podo

310

Mill Hill Disfellowshippings

by BorgHater in

jw
friends

a few months ago there was a thread about a couple of elders at the mill hill bethel being disfellowshipped because they disagreed with some wt doctrine (i can't recall exactly what it was) and that several other betheliteswere under 'investigation'.

i haven't heard anything since, does anyone know anything more about this?.

borghater xx.

Podobear

Thanks Paulapollos.. I had a feeling that the issues of 1981/82 at Brooklyn Bethel had emerged again. This board has been the first time I have been able to explore thoughts on the matter. A couple of posters have been very enlightening and I am continuing dialogue on the subject... Any further thoughts on the matter please.. scripturally. Our never was a JW fellow posters seem to have fallen silent.

The BIG difference in the JW doctrine v. Mainstream Christendom is the belief that the Bible must be read as a whole and not the Greek Scriptures (not the New Testament I hasten to add!!) in isolation. The Kingdom has both Heavenly and Earthly expression.. so the HOPE is the same, just One Hope but our destiny is for Christ to choose as Head of the Christian Congregation... it is not for us to say we want to be part of the Government of us.

More thoughts on this intriguing subject for those of us that are not yet spiritually disenfranchised... Thank you Paulapollos