Posts by brotherdan

25

Married to the mob... er to a JW, want to talk about it?

by Libelle in

the mr is a jw-started back into studying 3 years ago, got baptized 2 years ago.

i've never been one, nor have an interested (was raised catholic, now am a pagan - uu).. i'm just starting this thread to see how you all deal with it.. thanks.

libelle.

brotherdan

I'm married to an active JW and haven't OFFICIALLY left yet. I want to, but I'm trying to figure out a way to get out and keep my family intact. My wife has given me the ultimatum (?sp) of being a "good" Jehovah's Witness or getting a divorce. So I'm still going to all the meetings. I refuse to go out in service and spread the lies anymore.

I think the key is to take it slow and plant seeds of truth about what the organization really is. Has he ever researched the history of the organization outside of what the Watchtower has to say about it? That is VERY eye opening. They cover up ALOT about their past.

Anyway, I think it is absolutely necessary to keep your relationship strong in all other areas and not let the religion be the main thing you discuss and talk about. If you can ever get him to read Crises of Conscience, that would change everything. I think 80% of JWs that would read that would end up leaving. However, the tricky part is getting them to actually take an honest look at it.

16

Do People in Cults Really Want Freedom?

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

the concept of freedom has always been important to me, and i cannot bear the thought of being like a trapped animal.... hurt, abused , mocked and then killed.. deep down inside there is as strong primal instinct in me that says, survive at all costs.

when it comes down to the line, i will do whatever it takes to protect myself.

i learned that at an early age.. as a teenager i grew up with a wide variety and culture of kids, and learned that i liked to hang with those who felt the same way.

brotherdan

I think that there are certain people that LOVE the lack of freedom. When I was at bethel during 2000-2002 I had a hard time with the HUNDREDS of rules and regulations that the RAF witnesses don't know about. I felt trapped and had a strong feeling almost like claustrophobia. But there were some guys there (inlcuding some of my friends) that seemed to THRIVE on the rules. I think it made them feel like their life was in order and there was little to no chaos in it. That's not real life. That's why people that spend a long amount of time at bethel have a hard time adjusting to the "real world" when they come back. My table head was in his 60's and he had been at bethel since he was 18. If you used the butter knife to put butter directly on your toast, you would get a stink eye from him and then STERN talking to when breakfast was over.

I think that the same tendency continues back in the congregations. Some people like to be told what to do and how to do things. It gives them that sense of security. They don't have to think for themselves. They don't have to feel that they are ever wrong. All blame and accountability goes to the leadership or the organization. If they believe what is written in the WT and the end comes and it was not true, accountability for this wrong idea can be shifted to "God's organization" and they were just following the Holy Spirits direction.

So do people in cults really want freedom? I would have to say for the most part (in my experience): No.

94

WT Spending

by brotherdan in

i know this topic has been discussed here before, but i still cease to be amazed at the spending that the wt does to build it's facilities.

this is an issue that jws like to brag about.

today i received an email regarding the open house of the new casa grande az assembly hall.

brotherdan

Alice....wow....you still lurk here? Are you really ignorant of the lavish lifestyle that the leaders at brooklyn lead? I lived there. I saw their benefits. The lowly bethelites may only get $100 per month (at least that's what I got when I was there) but the leaders have corporate credit cards and charge everything to the society. When a GB member comes and gives talks they don't only stay with other witnesses. They stay at 5 star resorts and charge everything back to the WT. They have the NEWEST cars, they travel the world, they have the power over millions of people. So don't give me this 'they live a simple life' stuff. They don't. Teaching people about the kingdom is a noble effort. But the fact remains that you cannot learn about the kingdom if you are sick or starving. You take the scritpure in Mat 6 completely out of context.

If you think that giving to those in need is not necessary when you are preaching, then you do not know the NT. Read scriptures like Romans 15:26 or Ga 2:10.

Alice, I'd like for you to try and think of this from Jesus perspective. Please read Mt 25:35-40. People are saved, at least in part, due to the way they help the poor. Jesus viewed our treatment of the poor and those in need as if we were treating HIM that way. So you cannot say that preaching nulifies the need to help the poor. That is pure ignorance of the scriptures.

You call it a personal choice to give to the needy?!?!? Are you the sort that won't help the poor because you think they should "get a job" or "they are just going to use the money for booze"?

38

Reinstatement-Curent elders please reply

by truthlover in

while being reinstated several months ago -- no restriction were given other than no commenting - service was allowed - getting over the average for the cong, not missing meetings - its been months now and the brother met recently with someof the jc members - they praised his hours and meeting attendance but because his lessons are not completely underlined, and he does make notes during the meeting, he has not been allowed to still make comments and become a fully active member of the congregation as they say this note taking is causing a problem with other members of the congregation.. have you even heard of anything so off the wall?

is this the way its done in most cong??

he thought if someone was interested enough to listen and make notes of a good point in their mags, it would be something to be referred to in the future... i know i have seen folks doing this while the lesson is being read.... .

brotherdan

Didn't Paul say that because we are jusified by faith and not works there was no room for boasting? (Romans 3:27) This is all a works based religion. It has NOTHING to do with faith. Everything that the elders look for is based on works. They don't look to see if you are a good teacher, the look to see if you are GOING in service and for how long. They don't care about the QUALITY of your answers, only that you raise your hand. How were we ever blinded by them? I have some satisfaction in having been raised in this. But still, I was THOROUGHLY fooled. Never again.

Miseryloveselders, I don't know how you can stand being in the position that you are in.

8

avatar

by brotherdan in

jw
friends

is there any way to change your avatar on this site?.

brotherdan

gravatar.com

8

avatar

by brotherdan in

jw
friends

is there any way to change your avatar on this site?.

brotherdan

I'm sure it's an old and not funny joke. But I wanted an avatar from avatar.

8

avatar

by brotherdan in

jw
friends

is there any way to change your avatar on this site?.

brotherdan

Great. Did it. Thanks

8

avatar

by brotherdan in

jw
friends

is there any way to change your avatar on this site?.

brotherdan

Is there any way to change your avatar on this site?

94

WT Spending

by brotherdan in

i know this topic has been discussed here before, but i still cease to be amazed at the spending that the wt does to build it's facilities.

this is an issue that jws like to brag about.

today i received an email regarding the open house of the new casa grande az assembly hall.

brotherdan

I live in AZ and this has been THE big project for the last few years. I believe it cost upwards of 9 million dollars to complete. My wife knows alot of witnesses in the area. Her dad has been a large part of the construction process. She sent them to me because she thought it was a beautiful provision by Jehovah too. The open house was yesterday, so these are brand new pictures.

86

What is the most secularly acclaimed Bible translation?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

i want to start reading the bible more but i do not want to use the nwt.

the fact that the nwt took so many liberties makes me a little gunshy about other translations, which one would you recommend?.

-sab.

brotherdan

I think the most universally recognized bible translation that holds the highest critical acclaim is the NASB. I've got a GREAT John Macarthur NASB study bible. The NKJ is also great. However, remember to always refer to different translations when searching for the meaning of specific scripture. We all know that bible translations are not inspired. But we CAN get the correct sense of many scriptures by comparing the different translations.