chron82

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Posts by chron82

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  7

  Need to Get Away - Roadtrip Suggestions

  by chron82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so it's really happened... all of my friends have been shunning me for a few months now and while it has saddened me deeply, i've been able to endure it.

  but just this weekend my own mother told me that she messed up with me and that i am going to die because i am speaking against the organization... that's a tough pill to swallow.. i was naive like many others in the beginning.

  i thought if i came out the right way, for moral and conscientious reasons, that maybe.... just maybe they would respect my decision.

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  chron82

  So it's really happened... All of my friends have been shunning me for a few months now and while it has saddened me deeply, I've been able to endure it. But just this weekend my own mother told me that she messed up with me and that I am going to die because I am speaking against the organization... That's a tough pill to swallow.

  I was naive like many others in the beginning. I thought if I came out the right way, for moral and conscientious reasons, that maybe.... just maybe they would respect my decision. But as I just mentioned, I've now officially lost my entire family and all of my friends.

  Anyway, needless to say... I'd like to get away from it all for a few days. I live near Philadelphia and am thinking about taking a short (3 or 4 day roadtrip). I don't feel like flying right now... and I'm thinking about taking the trip this weekend.

  Any suggestions??
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  41

  Is the Bible Authentic?

  by chron82 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  my wife is searching for facts that will prove to her why the bible is or is not the authentic word of god.

  she knows the direction i am leaning and i have shown her a few examples of why i feel as i do.

  however, it is always good to hear the opinions of others.this is where you come in.... how would you answer the following questions:.

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  chron82

  Thank you all so much for your opinions! I share many of the same thoughts as you, but hearing others always helps to validate my own feelings.

  I have done much research in the past to come to my own opinion and I believe the only way you can ever feel reasonably confident of your own feelings is to search out your own answer.

  Also, thank you for the Book references. My wife isn't much of a researcher and has been searching for a good book detailing this topic. I'm now looking into "Who Wrote the Bible" and "The Bible Unearthed" thanks to this group. If anyone else has enjoyed other titles, I'd be interested to hear about them.

  Thanks again!
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  41

  Is the Bible Authentic?

  by chron82 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  my wife is searching for facts that will prove to her why the bible is or is not the authentic word of god.

  she knows the direction i am leaning and i have shown her a few examples of why i feel as i do.

  however, it is always good to hear the opinions of others.this is where you come in.... how would you answer the following questions:.

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  chron82

  My wife is searching for facts that will prove to her why the Bible is or is not the authentic word of God. She knows the direction I am leaning and I have shown her a few examples of why I feel as I do. However, it is always good to hear the opinions of others.This is where you come in...

  How would you answer the following questions:

  1. Do you believe the bible is the authentic word of God or do you believe it is a hoax?

  2. Why do you feel one way or the other?

  3. How sure are you of your belief on a scale of 1 - 10?

  4. How would you reply to the Watchtower's list of evidence that they claim proves that the Bible is authentic. In particular:

  - Scientific Accurarcy

  - Historical and Archeological Accuracy

  - Fulfillment of Prophecies

  - Candor of Bible Writers

  Thank you in advance for sharing your personal opinions. It is often difficult to get people to answer questions like these in person. I really appreciate your help!
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  10

  Current Elder's Book

  by chron82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone have or know where i can get a scanned in version of the current elder's book?.

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  chron82

  I was just browsing through and this sentence stood out to me as being completely halarious!!

  "A brother would be disqualified as an elder, a ministerial servant, or a pioneer if he took up the study of such martial arts and practiced them."

  Why did I go through the hassle of coming up for a reason to step aside when I could have just said that I was opening a karate dojo and I would have been removed immediately.. lol.
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  10

  Current Elder's Book

  by chron82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone have or know where i can get a scanned in version of the current elder's book?.

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  chron82

  Thanks... That is the one I've seen as well. I thought there was newer one than that, but I guess I was wrong.

  I recently "stepped aside" (or whatever they call it) from bein g a MS and am wondering what the official announcement from the stage will sound like. I think they only say "deleted" for elders stepping down... If I recall, they made the announcement once that "So and So is no longer a Ministerial Servant." I just wanted to see if they have info on that in the elders book.
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  10

  Current Elder's Book

  by chron82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone have or know where i can get a scanned in version of the current elder's book?.

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  chron82

  I'm not talking about the one coming out this year... I'm talking about the one they currently use...
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  10

  Current Elder's Book

  by chron82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone have or know where i can get a scanned in version of the current elder's book?.

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  chron82

  Does anyone have or know where I can get a scanned in version of the current elder's book?
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  49

  SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NEWBIES AND LURKERS

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. 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.

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  chron82

  Wow. That was just what I needed to hear. Thanks...
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  29

  Is It Wrong To Pretend??

  by chron82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  at the current time, my wife and i are just trying to fade away in order to keep family ties on my side.

  last night my wife said that she feels bad about being affiliated with the witnesses at all.

  i too feel bad about it.... i don't want to be responsible for misleading people.. i told her that in order to keep communication between myself and my family open, i can justify going to meetings.

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  chron82

  yknot – I am not in the same congregation as my family. They live about 1.5 hours away… However, as we all know, there are enough connections between here and there that they can find out what’s going on in my congregation.

  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am currently in the process of “stepping aside” from being a ministerial servant. I have already had to meet with the elders three times about my decision. While I’ve gone into the meetings mentally prepared to stand my ground, it is still emotionally draining to sit through the guilt ridden lectures. This week we have the circuit overseer and the elders have informed me that he will want to meet with me as well. The hardest part about these meetings to me is listening to the brothers twist the scriptures to try to make me feel bad about myself. Meanwhile these are the same scriptures I’ve loyally defended my entire life.

  I feel like it’s a form of mental torture. You sit there and listen to what you know full well to be garbage, and have a completely logical and factual reason for doing what you’re doing… If these men were really there to care for me, then why should I not be able to state that “I know this isn’t the truth and do not wish to represent or coerce others to be part of something that I no longer believe in.” The reason I can’t say that is because I would be marked as evil and if my opinion couldn’t be changed, they would strip me of communication from my family. The system itself is what is sick and evil. So instead of speaking the truth, I continue to claim private “personal issues” as the reason for stepping aside and because of this I am viewed and treated as someone holding back good from others and someone who has tired out quickly and given into Satan.

  Why do I allow myself to endure such torture? I have done so in order that my family will not cut me off immediately. I just want a little more time to gently convey my feelings to them. The funny part is… in the end my family will probably side with my torturers. It’s almost a comedy.

  I will stand up for what is truth and what is right. That is the type of person I have always claimed to be. But right now, for the sake of my sanity and emotional well-being, I will fight one battle at a time. I will start with the elder body and circuit overseer and once I’ve recovered from this torture, I’ll move on to the next battle… my family.
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  29

  Is It Wrong To Pretend??

  by chron82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  at the current time, my wife and i are just trying to fade away in order to keep family ties on my side.

  last night my wife said that she feels bad about being affiliated with the witnesses at all.

  i too feel bad about it.... i don't want to be responsible for misleading people.. i told her that in order to keep communication between myself and my family open, i can justify going to meetings.

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  chron82

  snowbird - thank you for that scripture. I will deff keep that in mind. You put it perfectly.

  undercover - thank you for your response. I feel much the same. I didn't mean to limit responses.. thats why I added "or who can reason against the society using the scriptures." The scriptures will be useful when reasoning with my JW family.

  awildflower - I do feel unstable emotionally and twisted internally... and I know I can't live like this forever. But my hope is to last long enough to at least persuade my family to not cut me off completely. My brother is an elder, so most likely he will be through with me once I let the truth be known. While he has always been my best friend and losing his friendship will be horrible, I am more concerned for my mother. My father wasn't a JW and died when he was only 38 and I was only 13. My mother has always leaned on my brother and I for love and support. She is a shy and quiet person, so she doesn't have many friends. I know that she would probably cut me off as well.... because she would want to do what is best for me and she will think that is what would be best for me. I just feel horrible putting her through even more turmoil when she has already gone through so much. While I believe it would be much easier on me to just end it now... I'm hoping giving it time will persuade her... even if just a little.