Posts by ABibleStudent

50

Hello

by lurkernomore in

i thought it was high time to introduce myself (without my name of course).

as my name would suggest i have been reading your intriguing post, thoughts and discussions for some time now.

around 3/4 months to be exact.. i guess to start with it would seem fitting to give a little background on my current situation.. i'm a born-in, but have over the last few years found that through a number of varying occurences, (some of which i may discuss in future posts) that my 'zeal' has gone from regular field service and meetings to no service in over a year and very sporadic meeting attendance.

ABibleStudent

Welcome lurkernomore, You are very lucky that your wife loves you more than the WTBTS. Was your wife a "Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking) JW? What inspired her to agree with your change in beliefs?

The WTBTS's BITE conrol is very strong, especially if you have close "Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking) JW family and friends. Please do more independent research about the WTBTS and dangerous cults by visiting reputable websites like www.jwfacts.com and www.freedomofmind.com to critically think more for yourself and to help you leave/fade quietly from the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

46

hello everyone

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

i've been browsing the site for some time as things that the society teach just are not adding up much these days.

by exploring some of the threads on here i'm starting to see why.

a brief bio.

ABibleStudent

purrpurr - Thanks dis-member! Since you seem to be the techy sort can I ask... If I take my tablet to the meeting and logon to other websites than jw.org through the kingdom hall WiFi can the elders see what programmes, apps and websites are being asscessed through the halls WiFi modem??

Welcome purrpurr, If businesses can purchase software to monitor their employees' internet activity then the KH can buy that same software to monitor their local WiFi network usage. The KH would not have records connecting a person to a specific computer's id, but they would know when one is accessing a website. If in doubt about your KH's capability, do some investigating to learn if elders at your KH care and have the technical skills, purchase a data plan and only use a 3G/4G modem or smartphone to access the internet at your KH, or investigate whether your KH is close enough to connect to another stable WiFi signal.

DITTO what others have written about never stop doing independent research and critically thinking for yourself. Once you start blindly following others, it is a slippery slope that is hard to stop sliding down.

WARNING: as you start to critically think for yourself, you will be tempted to share what you find with other JWs. DON'T show them what you learn! Instead help them to critically think for themselves by asking them simple questions like Billy the Ex-Bethelite did in the thread exJW Psychology 102--How to Ask a Question When Questions Aren't Allowed. You can help JWs you love get involved in time-consuming non-JW hobbies that they love. Also, you can learn how to overcome thought-stopping platitudes that JWs use like "Where else shall we go" or "True Christians need an organization to guide them."

If you want to learn more how to critically think for yourself (which you are already doing somewhat), read information by reputable cult-exit couselors like Steve Hassan's books (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Thnk for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs"), visiting his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watching his FREE videos on his website.

Learning about TTATT will be an emotional rollercoaster ride for you because the WTBTS uses BITE control to victimize JWs. Please post on JWN as much as you want to to vent your frustrations as well as to learn how to overcome the WTBTS's BITE control.

Best of wishes for you living life free of the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

127

I'm sitting here listening to a JW try to recruit somebody

by Terry in

jw
friends

i'm at starbucks .

just outside in the courtyard.. i'm trembling.

my hands are shaking.. wow!.

ABibleStudent

Vidiot - Hmm.

That gave me an idea for another little axiom:

"If you feel threatened at the thought of your religion being wrong, your religion is probably wrong."

I like your axiom Vidiot. I may paraphrase it in the future to "If you are afraid that your beliefs are wrong, they probably are." Facts and Truths do not change: only your belief(s) changes. Another axiom that I like is "The Truth is what you believe it to be."

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

56

Need help understanding scriptues in Mathew. just trying to show my wife the BORG is soooo wrong

by goingthruthemotions in

as you know i am still in but have no strong conviction for this cult..but i still go because my wife is still asleep to the false teachings.

for a few months now...when we have family study it is stricly from the bible.

which is great, while we study we are taking the bible as it is, i think it is opening her eyes and how important jesus is.

ABibleStudent

Hi Cofty, If I read only Luke 14:26, Mt 8:22, and other similar verses and not Mt 22:37-40, I would agree with your opinion.

It is very easy to cherry-pick passages from written works to justify one's beliefs. I prefer to quote entire paragraphs or chapters of the Bible rather than a sentance or phrase.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

56

Need help understanding scriptues in Mathew. just trying to show my wife the BORG is soooo wrong

by goingthruthemotions in

as you know i am still in but have no strong conviction for this cult..but i still go because my wife is still asleep to the false teachings.

for a few months now...when we have family study it is stricly from the bible.

which is great, while we study we are taking the bible as it is, i think it is opening her eyes and how important jesus is.

ABibleStudent

Cofty -

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” - Matt 8:22

It's like some believers have never read the damn book.

Hi Cofty, My comments were written to goingthruthemotions to help him with helping his wife critically think for herself and do her own independent research. My comments were not promoting to believe in the examples and teachings of Jesus Christ (nor whether he existed).

I have read the bible and thought alot about Luke 14:25-34. I just have a different perspective and conclusions than you have. I agree that the Bible appears to have inconsistant statements which is why, I prefer to intrepret Bible verses using Mt 22:37-40. Although I do not like the wording of Luke 14:25-34, is it possible that about 2000 years ago that (some) Jews were members of a dangerous cult according to Steve Hassan's BITE model and would have striclty shunned relatives or close friends for not blindly following Jewish leaders?

When you left the WTBTS, didn't your JW family and friends choose to damage their relationships with you by shunning you? Could your choice have been viewed by those JWs as hating them and loving Satan?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

56

Need help understanding scriptues in Mathew. just trying to show my wife the BORG is soooo wrong

by goingthruthemotions in

as you know i am still in but have no strong conviction for this cult..but i still go because my wife is still asleep to the false teachings.

for a few months now...when we have family study it is stricly from the bible.

which is great, while we study we are taking the bible as it is, i think it is opening her eyes and how important jesus is.

ABibleStudent

Hi goingthruthemotions, Mathew is loaded with verses that contradict that God needs an organization to guide "True" Christians and shunning. Jesus Christ's messages were unconditional love (most important), mercy, and truth.

If you have read about Steve Hassan's BITE model, than ask your wife simple questions about how Jesus Christ felt about the Pharisees and Sadducees and how they victimized the Jews. I would recommend asking a lot of questions about:

Mt 7 How does the WTBTS's doctrines compare to Mt 7? Would JWs like to be shunned, deceived to, or not associated with because they are JWs (Mt 7:12)? How do JWs follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ?
Mt 12:22-37 If blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven, how does one blasphemy the Spirit?
Mt 15:1-28 Why blindly follow religious leaders, give to the religion instead of help parents, and not associate because of being non-Jewish?
MT16:13-20 Why did Jesus order his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah? Why does the WTBTS tell JWs to tell everyone that they are "True Christians"? Aren't deeds better than talk?
Mt 18:10-14 Why does the WTBTS shun JWs who do not believe that the WTBTS has the "Truth"? How would you reconcile the differences in teachings of verses Mt 18:10-14 and Mt 18:15-20? What type of sin is Mt 18:15-20 referring to (Mt 12:31)?
Mt 22:34-40 How can a JW believe with "ALL" his heart, mind, and soul in God and still be able to blindly follow religious leaders? How does the WTBTS follow the two greatist commandments?
Mt 23 Without describing about the BITE model nor comparing Mt 23 to the WTBTS's actions and doctrines, how did Jesus Christ view the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Best wishes helping your wife to critically think for herself and to do her own independent research.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

50

thinking of leaving

by justme67 in

i am 46 and have been a jw for only 6 years.

i was doing ok until about a month ago.

we were having an international convention and i heard the brother that had to pick up 2 of the members of the governing body had to get a background check done on him and his wife.

ABibleStudent

Welcome justme67, If the love-bombing is over at your KH and you have no other JW family or close friends, just leave. Especially before dating a JW.

What was it that attracted you to the WTBTS?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

22

TUTORIAL: Proving the GB and Watch Tower is guilty

by Terry in

q: are you willing to admit the gb and the wts is wrong if the facts go against them?.

proof text.

proof text:.

ABibleStudent

Ding - JWs will say that the GB are just humble men who don't claim to be infallible or inspired.

Sooo, why are you following imperfect men instead of (Christians: the Holy Spirit as directed by Jesus Christ or Atheist: critically thinking for yourself)? What are you afraid of?

Overcoming JWs' thought-stopping platitudes will help them to critically think for themselves and hopefully make it easier for their authentic persona to overcome their cult persona.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

57

Writing campaign to Washington DC papers in view of International Convention

by Londo111 in

ive heard from a credible source that the landover (dc) international convention is important to the society in view of the 100 year anniversary of "kingdom rule" and the location being near the capital of the "seventh world power".

perhaps they hope this particular international sends a message.

we know that come convention time usually there is some feel good fluff piece in the newspapers about the watchtower religion.

ABibleStudent

I don't know how to effectively contact news organizations other than using their contact information from their webpages. Being well-known or, when submitting videos, being attractive and articulate like ApostateChick, would probably increase chances of being accepted by news organizations.

I would recommend writing in a concise, focused, and neutral tone while relating personal experiences that are heart-wrenching. According to Barbara Anderson, news editors do not like terms like "dangerous cults" when referring to well-known religions. If you do not like referring to the WTBTS as a religion (like I feel), it is probably best to refer to it as JW.org, Watchtower, organization, or corporation instead of "dangerous cult" or "high-control group" when writing to news organizations. Let readers form their own opinion after reading a letter to the editor and Op-Eds.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

57

Writing campaign to Washington DC papers in view of International Convention

by Londo111 in

ive heard from a credible source that the landover (dc) international convention is important to the society in view of the 100 year anniversary of "kingdom rule" and the location being near the capital of the "seventh world power".

perhaps they hope this particular international sends a message.

we know that come convention time usually there is some feel good fluff piece in the newspapers about the watchtower religion.

ABibleStudent

BTTT

Even though Barbara Anderson was very busy preparing for a trip, she was able to write a letter to the editor of the Washington Post. I hope that the Washington Post will print her letter.

Has anyone thought about writing an Op-Ed to the NY Times to celebrate the WTBTS's 1914 prediction?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert