Posts by ABibleStudent

103

That does it ! I'm leaving ! ! !

by Billy the Ex-Bethelite in

jw
friends

leaving the university with my degree!.

exams are finished and it's just a matter of days before i walk.. i was certainly stressed about doing this.

i'm older than my classmates and armageddon was sooooo close!

ABibleStudent

Congratulations!! Live long and prosper (free from the WTBTS)!!

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

17

Hey There...An Introduction to a Married IN nonDub (unbaptised pub)

by HeyThere in

jw
friends

hey there all, i just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and thank you all for this wonderful site and all the helpful discussions sich a loving arrangement .

my name may (or may not) be tracee.

i may (or may not) live in texas.

ABibleStudent

Welcome HeyThere, Thank you for sharing your experiences and I'm sorry that your husband is so gung-ho.

Have you read information by cult-exit conselors like Steve Hassan's books (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering Peopel to Think for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling Peope, Cults and Beleifs"), visited his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watched his FREE videos on his website?

Have you visited reputable websites like www.jwfacts.com, www.watchtowerdocuments.com, www.jwsurvey.org, and www.freeminds2.org to learn more about the WTBTS, its history, and its flip-flopping changes in doctrines? Have you read books by Raymond Franz (i.e., "Crisis of Conscience" and "In Seach of Christian Freedom") or Don Cameron's book (i.e., "Captives of a Concept")?

Since your husband does not want to associate with non-JWs and is throwing out smurf toys, he seems too "Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking) to help him critically think for himself. Is there a way to help him see that those life-changing events are not good reasons to become more active in the WTBTS? Does your husband love the WTBTS more than you and his children? If he does love you more, how would your husband react if you and all your children went on a three day vacation far from your home and explained why you do not believe that the WTBTS is God's channel for Christians by relating your individiual stories to him, the questions that caused you doubts about the WTBTS, and that you will never return to the WTBTS?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

60

I had a funny feeling he was a Witness... and now I need help.

by noontide in

jw
friends

im in a bit of a bind and im not quite sure what (if anything) i can do about it.

i was recently hired as a business consultant for a rather large company.

the company that hired me mentioned that they are concerned about a certain department and the way its being run, as this department affects every other department in the company.

ABibleStudent

noontide - The only reason I even broached the subject of religion, is because I can clearly see that his JW mentality is affecting his work, and others see his JW behavior as strange (think newly indoctrinated Witness, who is very proud of his religion and you’ll get a sense of how he conducts himself). I can sympathize with this; I was once there myself.

I really wanted to help him and see him succeed; unfortunately I don't believe this will happen. I have taken over the HR department and am now instructing him how to run it. In the few weeks that I have been here, people are now coming to me and directing their questions and issues with me. This does not bode well for him. But ultimately it will be all about this job performance.

Hi noontide, How long has the director been a director and how long has he been a JW? What attibutes did the company see in him that made them choose him over other candidates?

Since you have taken over the department, he may already be searching for a new job. His ego may be seeing the writing on the wall.

If you want to help him, how do you feel he would respond to you offering to help him improve his interpersonal skills (and possibly other skills)? It would either push him to find a job quicker or he might try to change if he understood the effect he had on people and his department's performance.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

60

I had a funny feeling he was a Witness... and now I need help.

by noontide in

jw
friends

im in a bit of a bind and im not quite sure what (if anything) i can do about it.

i was recently hired as a business consultant for a rather large company.

the company that hired me mentioned that they are concerned about a certain department and the way its being run, as this department affects every other department in the company.

ABibleStudent

Hi noontide, Can you suggest to the company about doing a 360-deg evaluation of the director where you suggest specific questions to evaluate his performance? What metrics can you suggest to the company to measure the performance of the director's department?

I would suggest that you present to the company what you feel are important attributes for the director's performance. I would include being pro-active, having a vision, inspiring employees to work more effectively.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

1

organization against child abuse

by never a jw in

even though i have never been a jw, i hope just as much as many of you to bring the wt to its knees, even put it behind in the annals of history of millenarian religions.

one thing that gets me very very upset is the abuses commited against all children raised in a jw household.

the list is long.

ABibleStudent

Hi never a jw, I feel that you should follow your heart. Nothing is stopping you from writing to your Congressional representatives.

I have written numerous letters to my Congressmen/Congresswomen about changing tax laws for non-profit corporations. Although the WTBTS promotes to JWs actions that I feel border on emotional child abuse, I feel it would be better to limit any changes to tax laws to requiring that non-profit corporations must

Immediately report child abuse/molestation and other violent crimes such as rape to appropriate law enforcement before reporting it to the corporation's legal department,
Institute effective policies to protect children from member/volunteers/employees abusing/molesting children,
Promote tolerance of religious/racial/sexual differences and of physical/psychological/emotional handicaps, and
Avoid using Behavioral, Information, Thought, and Emotional (BITE) Control techniques (e.g., shunning, not associating with non-members) to "unduly influence" members and former members.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

36

Do You Believe That Jehovah's Witnesses Should Be Outlawed As They Are In Some Countries?

by minimus in

jw
friends

or do you believe they have the right to practice their religion, as they do?.

ABibleStudent

No, JWs should not be outlawed in any country.

All non-profit corporations (which would probably only apply to dangerous cults like the WTBTS or dangerous orgs like the Catholic Church and Sandusky's Second Mile Charity) should lose their non-profit status if they do not meet minimum societal expections like DO NOT use BITE control techniques (e.g., promoting shunning and information control) to unduly influence members, and must report all violent criminal activity (e.g., child abuse/molestation and rape) to local law enforcement immediately and before reporting it to thier legal department.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

18

I need some encouragement.. Well Mrs.ObjectiveTruth needs some encouragement.

by objectivetruth in

jw
friends

hey everyone.. i'm trying to convince mrs.objectivetruth to join the forum, but she's a bit nervous.

perhaps if you all can give her some words of encouragement, it will convince her to join the jwn family... btw she already knows ttatt.. she's just not convinced to join the forum..

ABibleStudent

Welcome objectivetruth, What are your concerns?

How about planning a nice vacation with Mr. objectivetruth instead?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

34

Feeling disloyal

by stirred but not shaken in

i've been visiting here for about a year or so, but didn't really feel compelled to participate other than reading the various posts that interested me.. there's been that uncomfortable feeling of being disloyal to god, the organization, many friends and relatives.. i've been associated since birth.

after 65 + years of service within this organization and actually enjoying that time, it troubled me to find myself wanting to express feelings that were contrary to all that time of "faithfulness".

those years were filled with progressive "privileges and responsibilities" even at a high level, and there was considerable success in our evangelizing activity.

ABibleStudent

Welcome stirred but not shaken, You are a very lucky man that your wife and a few other family members accepted your change in belief. Do you have children? Did your children accept your change in belief?

IMHO being a little skeptical and using your mind is a good thing. Blindly following others can lead one over a cliff like a lemming (or Mt 15:14)!

Besides JWN what other sources have you read? What other websites have you visited? Have you visited reputable websites like www.jwfacts.com, www.freedomofmind.com, www.watchtowerdocuments.com, www.jwsurvey.org, and www.freeminds2.org? Have you read any books by Raymond Franz (i.e., "Crisis of Conscience" and "In Search of Christian Freedom"), Don Cameron (i.e., "Captive of a Concept"), and books by cult-exit counselors like Steve Hassan (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs")?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

10

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life..." What is the JW perspective on this passage?

by Faithful Witness in

how important is the phrase, "i am" to jw's, when it is spoken by jesus about himself?

my elderette wants to examine this scripture (john 14:6) together next week.

i'm wondering what rabbit she is going to pull out of her hat.

ABibleStudent

Hi Faithful Witness, I don't know how Miss K will try to twist John 14:6, but I feel that you can turn the tables on her by insisting on reading all of John 14 (especially the highlighted passages below) instead of cherry-picking scriptures, and asking her two questions. Why do Christians need an organization when Jesus Christ promised that God would send Christians the Holy Spirit to guide them? Why does the WTBTS write so much about what the WTBTS believes a "True Christian" should follow, when Jesus Christ said obey his teachings in John 14:23?

IMHO if Christians follow God's Greatist Commandments in Mt 22:37-40 they will live a happier and more productive life than blindly following other men or only loving money/power.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

John 14:15-30 (NIV)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be [ c ] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

27

They are i- Pad Nutty Now

by Poztate in

so many at my wife's hall have rushed to buy i-pads,androids etc for use in servicetm and at the hall.. most know little or nothing about how to use them but have joined the stampede to jw.org tm and the reinvention of the wtbts.. it prompted one elder at my wife's hall to have a seminar at his house to explain how to use them in service and at the hall.. how exciting.... one 80 year old pioneer woman will be there with her new toy.. as a distraction it seems to be working quite well.

no need to worry about 1914 or other issues.. they are all nuts and getting nuttier....

ABibleStudent

I feel that the WTBTS encouraging JWs to use tablets will backfire on the WTBTS for four reasons.

More money spent on tablets/data plans means less money to donate to the WTBTS for constructing new buildings.
More JWs who own tablets means more chances for JWs visiting non-WTBTS approved sites. The WTBTS needs to create an app for JWs to use to protect them from freely searching the internet. I would love to type www.jwfacts.com or www.freedomofmind.com in a JW's tablet.
Most non-jWs would not be impressed with www.jw.org nor with JWs carrying iPads. Either non-JWs already own a tablet/laptop, do not like using computers, or they might steal the iPad from JWs.
Most people do not get involved with dangerous cults because of technology. They get involved because of social influence (i.e., love bombing, sexual attraction, loneliness, born-in).

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert