Yep...Mary and Joseph found Jesus as a young boy preaching in the Synagogue but even he waited until he was 30 years old before was baptized even though he had a full grasp on what his purpose here was. How can an ordinary child with limited perspective on life know what it means to dedicate oneself to something and understand the future repercussions of his having done so ? JW's gladly site Jesus example when they argue against infant baptisim don't they? But they'll tell you age isn't important when a 10 year old gets baptized? If age doesn't matter, why not just baptize them when they are babies like the Churches do?
exwhyzee
JoinedPosts by exwhyzee
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23
Baptism of a chid and an elder's response to my objection
by never a jw ini just learned that an 11 year old kid is taking the questions for baptism.
as soon as his father finished tellig me this, i told him that he should make his son wait, but he responded that he couldn't go against jehovah' spirit.
i gave the guy a break because he is the uneducated and naive immigrant who puts his heart, not his mind, into the religion.
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are the elders waking up too?
by nowwhat? inwe have an older very faithfull elder body and whenever they talk about armegeddon or the end of this system of thiings, they always use "very near, close, soon, etc".
well on the stage one elder when talking about the great tribuation this week , he said "possibly in our lifetime" !!!
that really caught my attention and even my wife's too!
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exwhyzee
Post 5628 of 5631
Since 4/16/2009"If you are a young one looking to study in college and plan your retirement, well, don't expect this old system to last that long." I immediately said OUT LOUD to where the people around us could here, "They said that back in 1969!"
After I faded and quit going to meetings or assemblies, my wife still attended by herself....it was sad to see her going out the door on her own, I knew she'd feel like a widow sitting there without me next to her but I physically couldn't handle it anymore. I was acutally having anxiety and nausea by just hearing the music and the sound of the speakers voice and the sound of the crowds. The last assembly she attended was in 2009. She headed out the door on her own and I felt so guilty. About two hours later, to my surprise, she showed up back at home. I could tell she was upset, she sort of flung her purse on the floor and threw her coat on a hanger. I asked her what happened....why she came home so early. She said "Oh....there was a talk and the speaker was saying that most jobs don't require a College education and Witnesses don't need to pursue a higher education to support themselves. I can't beleive they are still saying this stuff after all the times they've been wrong. How can they still be saying this??? Where are they getting this information??? What Jobs are they talking about.....Mc Donalds ?? This even less true now than it was when we were kids !"
She is a very smart lady and because she doesn't have a degree, she must subject herself to idiot supervisors who can barely speak english and who were recently part of the unwashed masses in a foreign country. She half does their jobs because they are often clueless as to how to perform in this country. Thanks to listening to the Watchtower's advice as a young person, she isn't able to move up in her position without a degree even though she can do the job backwards and forwards and run rings around the ones who do.
She hasn't been to a meeting or set foot in a KH since. She won't even look at this website. Being a JW is a thing of the past for her and she has no need to think about it anymore. If you knew her, and how faithful a Witness she was, you'd be suprised at how big a change this is and how quickly she adjusted to it.
One of her relatives is a married Bethelite and I really suspect they are waking up....they have made some surprising comments about life at Bethel and the struggles some are having with certain recent changes.
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My act of REBELLION
by Gojira_101 inwell a picture says a thousand words!
i had a tattoo done today.. it was actually interesting because as i was chit chatting with the tattoo artist, she asked me if this tattoo symbolized anything....well actually it does i told her.. me: i was a jw and they are strongly against tattoos or anything that is really "normal" for people.. tattoo artist: i know all about jw, my ex-girlfriend's family was all jw, and i remember one time going over to her parents house and her grandma sat us both down and made us read some scriptures from her bible as to why we were going to hell.. me: actually you will due at armageddon, that is the jw thing.. tatt artist: oh right that is what her grandma said.
i forgot about that, you're right.. so then the rest of the conversation was just me telling her it's a cult and i told her never listen to any jw who comes knocking.. something else interesting that happened just before i came on here.
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exwhyzee
Hi Gogira,
I was basing my comment on the short amount of information I read in the opening post . (Didn't realize Dad was a member here) You're right, I don't know you and shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Then again, this is a discussion board and I was only sharing my thoughts on the topic and that's all they were...my thoughts. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was condemning you or judging you for having gotten a tattoo.
Based on the limited amount of information in the opening post, and based on what I've seen some people do when they first leave the Org. when I read the words" Rebellion" and "Tattoo" and "Crying" and "Almost had a heart attack when Dad said he was getting a Tattoo", my first inclination was to stick my neck out and voice my concerns. I saw all the "good for you" comments and wondered if I was the only one who was concerned that you might heading in a direction you might regret. I thought I'd take the chance and give an opposing opinion even if it meant I'd get people mad at me . I thought it might be improtant that you to hear another point of view in case it got you to think about things from another angle (in case you hadn't already) before you got more tattoos or made any big decisions.
No judging, no preaching...just voicing my opinion. (half baked as it might be)
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My act of REBELLION
by Gojira_101 inwell a picture says a thousand words!
i had a tattoo done today.. it was actually interesting because as i was chit chatting with the tattoo artist, she asked me if this tattoo symbolized anything....well actually it does i told her.. me: i was a jw and they are strongly against tattoos or anything that is really "normal" for people.. tattoo artist: i know all about jw, my ex-girlfriend's family was all jw, and i remember one time going over to her parents house and her grandma sat us both down and made us read some scriptures from her bible as to why we were going to hell.. me: actually you will due at armageddon, that is the jw thing.. tatt artist: oh right that is what her grandma said.
i forgot about that, you're right.. so then the rest of the conversation was just me telling her it's a cult and i told her never listen to any jw who comes knocking.. something else interesting that happened just before i came on here.
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exwhyzee
Well you certainly showed them didn't you? (Whomever "they" are) LOL!
Seriously though, you've only been out for 4 months...did I get that right? If so, I'd really wait before making any more permanent or big decisions...more tattoos,marriage,moving, job change etc. You probably don't think so, and won't realize it for some time yet, but you could be in one of the stages of mourning one is said to go through when a great change or upheaval (wanted or unwanted) happens in ones life. This could also explain the unexpected tears you experienced the other day. Something big is probably going on with your Dad too to have made such a turnabout in his thinking on this matter so quickly ..keep an eye on him, I'm seeing red flags. I'd hate to think of your lifes being permanently effected, yet again, because of your bad experience with the Watchtower. This act of rebellion sounds awfully like what a teenage girl might do to get back at her overly strict parents only to realize later they were only trying to protect her. Or the newly divorced woman who chops off her hair and takes up smoking just to get back at her ex only to realize she is the one being punished...again.You can get another tattoo any old time so why not wait a bit just in case? I know I won't be popular for saying so but I really really feel sure that there will be a wave of folks in the next decade who deeply regret having been caught up in the tail end of the current tattoo phase we've been seeing. Maybe I'm wrong(hope so) but in your case If getting a tattoo is an act of rebellion as you said, I'm guessing you might have regrets once you've come to grips with the life change you've recently been through. It doesn't seem like rebellion is a healthy motive for getting a tattoo.
Just my two cents...don't mean to be harsh,I just am a little concerned for you. Hopefully It's just the Dad in me,over reacting (again)
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Here's To Fanatics And Raising The Bar
by exwhyzee ina fanatic is a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal for something.
they take an activity,interest or belief and go beyond what would be considered normal or necessary by the majority of people.. .
having grown up as a jw and now having been away from it a few years, i better see how accustomed i had become to being involved with an organization run by fanatics of the religious variety.
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exwhyzee
A fanatic is a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal for something. They take an activity,interest or belief and go beyond what would be considered normal or necessary by the majority of people.
Having grown up as a JW and now having been away from it a few years, I better see how accustomed I had become to being involved with an organization run by fanatics of the religious variety. They took ones simple desire to do good and to live a Godly life or even just to keep God from killing you and then raised the bar so high that one never felt one was quite good enough to benefit from Jesus ransom sacrifice. The only way to do so, it seemed was to force oneself into the role of a fanatic,no matter how unnatural it was to do. In the JW world... if you're a worldly Ax murderer...you're D @ A..... (D@A = D oomed at Armegeddon.) If you were given an opportunity to hear the message but didn't become a JW...you are (D@A ) If you did become a JW but didn't participate in enough theocratic activities ....you are weak and disapproved of and not likely to have the spiritual fortitude to make it into the new system....in other words, (D@A ) If you are regular in service but don't Pioneer, even though your circumstances would allow it, that makes you a "Token Witness" and you may be held responsible for the lives of all those you could have reached.... (D@A ) If you are a male, attending all the meetings and are raising you family in the truth, are capable but aren't reaching out for a position in the congregation....you're not being "whole souled" but are "lukewarm" and we all know what happens to those who are lukewarm... (D@A ) If you attend the assembly but don't take notes...you are not paying "more than the usual attention." and likely wouldn't have the recall abilities to survive under test during the tribulation .... (D@A ) If you show up on Sunday without having studied the Watchtower lesson...you are not showing appreciation for God's spiritual provisions and following the Societies recommendations. Why shoud God allow someone like you into the New System ... (D@A ) If you secretly think Christmas lights are pretty...you are loving something detestable to Jehovah.... (D@A ) If you buy a two door car not practical for service, you aren't putting the kingdom interests first.... (D@A ) Anyway, you get the idea. No one ever tells you this stuff out loud , in fact they'd flatly deny it but everyone knows what is implied and they're all trying to prove to eachother and themselves that they are good enough. It's one thing after another...constant opportunities to go wrong. Looking back I realize how exhausted I was from always having to second guess every move I made to keep myself in harmony with their version of God's requirements. I realize that as a Witness, I was only as good as my last act of obedience. Nowadays I feel that if there is a God and if there is to be a New System or some other plan for mankind, there is no reason why I shouldn't be included in it. I'm not perfect but I love goodness and I'm doing the best I can and that's got to count for something.
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I heard Jehovah's Witnesses were the first ones on the scene in Boston providing assistance.
by Theocratic Sedition inyou know those articles from the wt are coming, along with emails from jw friends and family.
all the shameless self-attaboys, and fictitious observations by non-jws remarking on how jws provided the most and best assistance to the victims..
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exwhyzee
Again, no JW I've known would not personally help someone in an emergency situation such as the one in Boston. As for what was done at Bethel, during 9/11 I can't say. I have only heard things....I have no real evidence of what actually happened there. As a former Bethelite, I can think of lots of reasons why they would close their doors when the trade centers were crashed into only a stones throw away from them. Mostly security reasons and protecting the residents of the buildings until they knew what in the world was going on.
As an organization I would say that they are quite unprepared to allow the unsanitary gritty world into their pristine spiritual paradise at Bethel. It wouldn't suprise me to hear that they didn't just fling their doors open and scurry those in need straignt into the Lobby of one of the hotels or into one of the many large cafeterias where food and aid could be administered. For all I know, they may have done just that very thing.
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I heard Jehovah's Witnesses were the first ones on the scene in Boston providing assistance.
by Theocratic Sedition inyou know those articles from the wt are coming, along with emails from jw friends and family.
all the shameless self-attaboys, and fictitious observations by non-jws remarking on how jws provided the most and best assistance to the victims..
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exwhyzee
Although I'm not really happy with the WTBTS at the moment and I don't always agree with their doctrine, to be fair, I must say ... No Jehovah's Witness I know or ever have known would ever be unhelpful or unsympathetic to anyone with the misfortune of having been caught up in a situation such as we've seen happen in Boston. I think it's unfair, even in jest, to suggest that JW's would in any way shape or form act in any way, but exemplary.
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I heard Jehovah's Witnesses were the first ones on the scene in Boston providing assistance.
by Theocratic Sedition inyou know those articles from the wt are coming, along with emails from jw friends and family.
all the shameless self-attaboys, and fictitious observations by non-jws remarking on how jws provided the most and best assistance to the victims..
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exwhyzee
Hopefully there wasn't one of those tables full of literature or anyone out doing street Witnessing near the blast zone.
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JW's like when tragic events the Boston bombing happen.
by El_Guapo inso i get a text message this morning from an elder (also an old friend) from my hall.
(mind you i haven't been to meetings in months) he says the following:.
elder: did you hear about what happend in bos?
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exwhyzee
In the 70's , 80's and 90's there were IRA bombings in London practically ever week. In Syria and Lebanon and such places, it's been the same way as long as I can remember....this is not a new thing but when it happens in ones own country, it's a different story...things are getting a little too close to home now so this time it truly must be the end of the world, those other places don't count.
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How to identify Publishers who know TTATT
by His Excellency insince coming to know ttatt, i have always wondered if there are others in the congregation who also share similar experience with me, are there pointers to identifying others who are also faking meeting attendance and fs activities..
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exwhyzee
The telltale signs are:
Not bothering to look up the connect the dot scriptures during talks anymore.
Still looking up the scriptures but continuing to read and compare the surrounding verses even when the speaker has already moved on.
Elbowing of ones spouse when scriptures are found that contradict what the speaker just said.
Slouching in ones seat and not having ones own magazine during the watchtower study or caring if anyone notices.
Barely concealed eye rolling when certain topics are covered or ridiculous comments are made.
Not singing along with the kingdom melodies or holding back of ones snickers when certain lyrics are encountered.
Looking around during the prayer and seeing all the others that are doing the same.
Not saying Amen anymore.
Vagueness in the form of shoulder shrugging and or a nailed on sickly smile when someone asks " Wasn't that the best Watchtower/assembly/talk-ever??"
Appreciating the individuals one is associating with yet experiencing a certain disconnectedness that occurs when one has has moved on mentally.This disconnectedness is often discernible in ones body language.