Posts by ABibleStudent

5

Trolley Dollies (Again) - With Sadness

by Joe Grundy in

at 9.00 am, saturday 14 march i was in the town centre of cheltenham, gloucestershire, uk.

a beautiful town with fine architecture.. feeling replete after a full 'english breakfast' and generally happy with life, i waited outside a bank, smoking a contemplative cigarette, whilst mu friend carried out his bank business.

there were some fine women out and about.. across the square, i noticed (no-one else seemed to) two jw literature carts.

ABibleStudent

stuckinarut2 - Why not have a VENDING MACHINE that gives out free literature instead??

I can think of two reasons. 1) The WTBTS needs to keep JWs too busy to think for themselves and doing something that they can brag about. 2) The WTBTS would rather not pay for vending machines, electricity, and possible rent when they have free labor.

I do feel sorry for the boy. I don't feel sorry for the parents, because they have the power to say "NO" to the elders.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

7

Told my JW mother about the report on Nightline!

by truthseekeriam in

even though we have agreed to not speak religion, i thought this was something she would want to see, especially because she knows the struggles we have been through because of what happened to our daughter.

after watching it she actually agreed things need to change in their policy's and that the congregation should be warned.. she also said kendrick and his wife made fools of themselves.. i have a feeling more witnesses then not would agree with her....however, how they feel and what they do about it is two very different things.

they are completely powerless in their religion!

ABibleStudent

truthseekeriam - I have a feeling more witnesses then not would agree with her....however, how they feel and what they do about it is two very different things. They are completely powerless in their religion!

I strongly disagree! The WTBTS's BITE mind manipulation techniques make JWs prisoners of their own minds.

JWs have lots of options without fading, DA'ing, or being DF'ed. JWs could stop donating money to the WTBTS, JWs could stop handing out WTBTS propaganda - throw it in the recycle bin instead - , JWs could cover-up the WTBTS QR code with a QR code for jwfacts.com or write www.jwfacts.com on propaganda that they do handout, JWs could study the Bible with new recruits instead of trying to indoctrinate them with WTBTS propaganda, JWs could stop telling elders about what other JWs are doing that would get them DF'ed, JWs could write to their Congressional representatives about revising the Tax Code to Protect Children from sexual abuse like I wrote about in the thread Revise Tax Code to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse, or JWs could write to State politicians about eliminating civil and criminal statue of limitation laws for violent crimes when "undue influence" is used like I wrote about in a Linkedin Group Discussion Uniform Third-Party Civil SOL Reform: Heal Now, Deterrence, and Justice or Punishment? . None of the aforementioned ideas would cause a JW any adverse consequences, except possibly not donating a monthly donation pledge to the WTBTS, because elders are unable to monitor all activities that a JW does.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

9

Why does the Watchtower or Scientology Get Tax-Exempt Status, They Don't Do Squat for Anyone!

by JWCartPusher in

yesterday there was a plumber asking me about the watchtower's view of charity, you know how uncomfortable we got when people asked us "why don't you help the poor or try to make the world a better place?

" finally i agreed that the watchtower is not a charity, they don't care about anyone other than their own members in new york and worldwide bethels.. can you help me locate a watchtower organization that is obedient to not only the bible but common decency, why are they getting a tax free or tax-exempt status if their not helping humanity or doing charity work?

has the watchtower done charity on a consistent basis because all that equipment at bethel (medical, dental, tv studios and professional everything is very expensive.).

ABibleStudent

JWCartPusher - Robert, if the Bible tells us to help the poor and look out after everyone, how are they obeying God by looking after their own, the Gentiles did that much themselves according to the Christ!

Hi JWCartPusher, I don't feel that the WTBTS should be a Tax-Exempt/charitable organization, even though politicians have allowed them to qualify.

I'm probably the most politically active member of JWN trying to revise the Tax Code so that the WTBTS would have to change how it treats JWs. Please read one of my threads like Revise Tax Code to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

9

Why does the Watchtower or Scientology Get Tax-Exempt Status, They Don't Do Squat for Anyone!

by JWCartPusher in

yesterday there was a plumber asking me about the watchtower's view of charity, you know how uncomfortable we got when people asked us "why don't you help the poor or try to make the world a better place?

" finally i agreed that the watchtower is not a charity, they don't care about anyone other than their own members in new york and worldwide bethels.. can you help me locate a watchtower organization that is obedient to not only the bible but common decency, why are they getting a tax free or tax-exempt status if their not helping humanity or doing charity work?

has the watchtower done charity on a consistent basis because all that equipment at bethel (medical, dental, tv studios and professional everything is very expensive.).

ABibleStudent

In the U.S. it is because the WTBTS says that it is a religious organization. If you want to learn more, you can read the IRS publication 1828 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf .

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

10

What are the legal and financial ramifications to apologize for abuse issues. Anyone know.

by joe134cd in

i'm hearing all these comments about how wt dosnt care, is arrogant, unapologetic and is covering it up.

hey and i agree with these comments to a point but as i'm no lawyer and don't know american law what would be the implications if wt did came out and admitted it's errors.

i'm talking front cover wt here.

ABibleStudent

The WTBTS doesn't have to admit that it has made any errors. It could just send another BOE letter stating that henceforth elders are to report all violent crimes to the police by at least telling the police the name of the victim and how to contact the victim. Do not call the Legal Department. The WTBTS could even use its standard reply to its child abuse problem that "JWs despise child abuse."

There would be no financial risk. If asked in court why the change, the WTBTS could just state that it was mitigating future risk.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

5

Unevenly yoked - it does work!!!

by quellycatface in

jw
friends

just wanted to share with my friends, old and new, i got married to an "unbeliever" 11 years ago.. at the weekend we had our marriage blessed in our local parish church with a little party after.. my husband always supported my religious convictions until i disassociated myself in december 2013.. don't deprive yourself of love just because of the jw's.

life is too short.. god bless.

xxxx.

ABibleStudent

Congratulations quellycatface to you and your husband!

Were you considered "Spiritually Weak" (still thinking), quellycatface? I use to feel like your husband, but I have changed my mind.

Based on my experiences, I would never consider marrying a "Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking) JW, much less a "Spiritually Weak" (still thinking) JW. If a person loves an organization more than a potential spouse and will will not critically think for themselves, why marry them? Life is too short and unpredictable to marry someone with lots of emotional baggage.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

30

Just Want To Be Heard

by dubstepped in

i've been lurking here for a while now, and i guess you could call me a fader.

i don't have hate in my heart for the organization that i spent most of my life in, but i have had an awakening.

luckily, so has my wife, and that way i don't feel so alone.

ABibleStudent

Welcome dubstepped. I'm glad that you and your wife woke up together. Make plans to meet new non-JW friends. What do you like to do? If you are in a metropolitan area, you should be able to meet lots of poets and writers.

Awesome poem. I wish it would appear in an Awake! or Watchtower.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

15

Stop Writing People Off

by Coded Logic in

if you choose to enter into a discussion on this site and you don't have the time, or patience, or are just too damn lazy to defend your position on any given topic that is perfectly fine.

i'm not going to bash you over the head about it.

however, please don't tell me that i'm "wasting my time" or that the person i'm trying to convince, "will never learn.

ABibleStudent

@ Coded Logic, Well stated! As long as someone is willing to help a JW critically think for themself, do it!!

It is unfortunate that not every member of JWN is at a stage of healing/grief from the WTBTS's BITE control to want to offer positive and constructive advice to others who are willing to help JWs to critically think for themselves.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

51

CO has been coming to my door. Would like 1 or 2 solid and easy arguments.

by The Laser Viking in

i am 6th generation.

i have been out for a few years.. back story on the situation:.

i had a co come by while going door-to-door in the neighborhood.

ABibleStudent

Welcome The Laser Viking, Let the CO do all the work. Just ask him simple questions, like:

Where in the Bible does it say that God/Jesus Christ commanded followers to not celebrate birthdays? Bad things happened to people on a Pharaoh's and King's birthday in Ge 40:20, Mt 14:6, and Mk 6:21, but their was no commandment to not celebrate an individual's birthday.
Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus Christ commanded followers not to accept blood transfusions? Refer to Mt 15:1-14 about what Jesus Christ said about what goes in a person's mouth. Sure early Christians wrote about abstaining from blood in Acts 15:29, but even early Jews could become clean again by following instructions in Le 17:15, and Jews today accept blood transfusions. Is the Watchtower's prohibition on whole blood transfusions for JWs adding to God's commandments?
Why didn't Jesus Christ tell his remaining disciples to shun those disciples who left him in the desert? Refer to John 6:60-70.
Why does the Watchtower teach JWs to say, "Where else shall we go?" when non-JWs ask difficult questions instead of admitting that JWs are trying to go to Jesus Christ? Refer to John 6:60-70.
Why does the Watchtower teach JWs to blindly follow the organization [Watchtower (Study Edition) Nov 2013, pg 16 - 20, paragraph 17], believe in the organization, or follow its literature, instead of God's two greatest commandments or listening to the Holy Spirit? Refer to Mt 22:24-40 and Mt 12:30-32.
Why does the Watchtower teach JWs to ask non-JWs to keep an open mind, but will not allow JWs to question the Watchtower nor its leaders instructions? Didn't Paul praise the Bereans for studying the scriptures to verify what Paul said was true? Refer to Acts 17:11.
What should I do if I believe that men are adding to or subtracting from God's commandments? Refer to Deu 4:1-2 and Mt 15:1-12

I doubt that the CO will every bother you again by asking him a few of the above questions.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

50

Freedom, Free speech, Censorship, Religion and Tight Pants

by Simon in

you would need to be living in a cave to not be aware of the turmoil happening in the world with groups like isis murdering cartoonists over their depiction of their prophet and sides being taken to either attack religion or to defend the right to practise it.. the battle lines appear to be drawn between those who believe in freedom and those who would see it curtailed to be replaced with their own version of what is and isnt acceptable.

most people want freedom and free speech but when choosing it are perhaps unconsciously judging it to only apply to things that they themselves believe in.. we need to be crystal clear what freedom and free speech were really talking about.

freedom itself is usually easier to define as there are some fundamental principles: you should be allowed to do what you want as long as you are not harming others.

ABibleStudent

Freedom has a price.

So let the price for an organization be, either qualify for tax-exempt status/charitable status and stop using undue influence on members and promoting that members use it against other members, or don't qualify for tax-exempt/charitable status.

Robert