Posts by ABibleStudent

19

What to ask a proselytizing spouse

by Nickolas in

jw
friends

if you are a non-jw married to a jw, how do you deal with those times during the week when he or she slips out for several hours with bookbag in hand, going door to door?

your spouse is out there actively recruiting for the watchtower - do you have a problem with that?

do you ask your spouse if he/she is up front with the prospective convert?

ABibleStudent

Nickolas - The difficulty I have with your suggestion, as good as it may be ABibleStudent, is that it tacitly approves something I have difficulty with. In this case I have difficulty with the aspect of non-disclosure, because it is as OUTLAW points out a form of intellectual dishonesty, if not deliberate deception. If one proceeds with the assumption that the Watchtower destroys lives and one's spouse is actively involved in the process of bringing people in and he says nothing about it, how does he live with himself?

Hi Nickolas, I do agree with your rational. I just like to win! I would prefer to search out other options instead of beating my head against a wall, which is what you would be doing as long as your wife is in Cult-mode. The key is to get your wife out of cult mode, before you use reason with her. I believe that what I suggested is the quickiest way to get your wife out of cult-mode so that eventually you can have a rational conversation with her. I do applaude your efforts and never give up. Something as small as having a calm and rational conversation is a tremondous leap of progress.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

38

Court case against the WT in Belgium - NEW For discrimination

by Nick! in

jw
friends

court case against the wt in belgium.

you may recall that sometime ago i posted an information about it.. jacques lejeunes case, ex jw, who had won an appeal against the adverse second level judgment, will be heard for the last time in front of the mons court on october 18th.. this case is emblematic as it is the first time that the violation of human right against the wt will be heard.. jacques is determined to go to the european court of human rights if this last case will end up in favor of the wt.. whoever wants to join me in attending the trial in support of jacques is welcome.. believe that jacques deserves this support.. the case will be heard on october 18th at 2 p.m. and is planned to last 4 hours.

both jacques and the wt have already presented their memorandum which is available online on my website, but in french only.

ABibleStudent

Band on the Run - Is there any way of obtaining an English translation. Would Google translator be enough to read a rough version?

FYI, I use the following link for free internet translations: http://www.freetranslation.com/. It seems to work pretty good as long as no slang is used and correct punctuation and grammer is used.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

7

Do you think that the JW religion will die out?

by i_drank_the_wine in

jw
friends

while the number of jw's reported every year is still growing, it doesn't seem to really be growing as fast as they once did.. do you think that they will eventually level off and then decline?

some of this was based on the stats on this page i was reading: http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php granted, statistics can be presented in whatever light the author is trying to represent (look at the way the jw's massage their statistics to always be favorable).. of particular interest was their deductive math to find the number of people leaving yearly, which is pretty considerable.. a popular pew research study that lots of you probably heard about a couple years ago stated that jw's have the lowest family retention rate of any other mainstream religion.. combine the aging jw populace, the number of people leaving every year, the slowing growth rate numbers, the mindset held by many to "not have children in this system", the children that are had are only staying jw's roughly 1/3rd of the time according to statistics, the end never coming... add 20, 30 years?

could the jw's actually, for all intents and purposes, die out?.

ABibleStudent

I hope and believe that membership in the WTBTS will start falling by 2016. I wrote a thread (http://www.jwsupportforum.com/index.php?topic=12159.0) about this on the JWSF on March 18, 2011. My conclusion was "Statistical analysis of the WTBTS’ annual reports shows that the WTBTS’ is expending more resources to convert fewer JW’s from 1960 to 2010." Around 1994 publisher growth numbers took a dramatic change about the time that everyone was starting to use the internet. I also predicted "that publishers in the WTBTS will peak within 5 years and decline rapidly if the WTBTS does not change its policies and practices to reduce the burden of JWs."

Since 72% of JWs are in 20 countries and that 31% of JWs are in G8 countries (according to the 2010 Annual Report), I would guess that if WTBTS contributions start falling in developed countries it really won't matter to the WTBTS that their numbers are growing in undeveloped countries. The WTBTS is a publishing and distribution corporation, so income and expenses are very important to the WTBTS accountants and business managers. Printing more literature for members who do not contribute very much is not economically sustainable.

I hope and pray that more ex-JWs reach out to their JW family members and show them how fun, joyful, and meaningful life is without the WTBTS to hasten more JWs leaving the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

16

Hungary strips JW's of its legal status as a religious organization

by Honesty in

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=14742.

hungary has introduced a new law governing the registration of religious groups that critics charge discriminates against minority faiths, and strips st margaret's anglican church in budapest of its status as a religious organisation.. .

on 14 july the hungarian parliament adopted "the right to freedom of conscience and religion and on the status of churches, religions and religious communities" law, by a vote of 254 in favour to 43 opposed.. .

ABibleStudent

It doesn't make much sense to pass that law, since all the banned religions will file lawsuits in the European Court because Hungary is a member of the European Union. Hungary would have been better off passing a law which would comply with the Laws of the European Union and collect a lot of documentation to prove their decisions if a religion filed a lawsuit in the European Court. I feel that in the case of the WTBTS that Hungary could easily prove that the WTBTS should not qualify as a bonified religion and take away any privileges (i.e., not paying taxes) that the WTBTS currently receives.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

9

Sitting poolside and guilt-free.

by Open mind in

jw
friends

it was a couple years ago that my wife awakened to the true nature of jwism.

today is our first overnighter (sans kids).

at home this morning we called in to the k hall, listened to about 2 minutes of the public talk, had a couple good laughs and continued with a leisurely brunch.

ABibleStudent

Hi Open mind, keep the good stories rolling!! I would rather hear good stories than heart-breaking ones.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

19

What to ask a proselytizing spouse

by Nickolas in

jw
friends

if you are a non-jw married to a jw, how do you deal with those times during the week when he or she slips out for several hours with bookbag in hand, going door to door?

your spouse is out there actively recruiting for the watchtower - do you have a problem with that?

do you ask your spouse if he/she is up front with the prospective convert?

ABibleStudent

Nickolas - If you are a non-JW married to a JW, how do you deal with those times during the week when he or she slips out for several hours with bookbag in hand, going door to door? Your spouse is out there actively recruiting for the Watchtower - do you have a problem with that? Do you ask your spouse if he/she is up front with the prospective convert? As in

How about play golf (or do something that you love doing), posting on JWN, and planning diversions to keep your spouse happy and busy so that they do not think like a JW? There is not much that a "Worldly" person can say to a JW spouse in cult mode to make them understand that their thoughts and actions are controlled by a publishing and distribution corporation that dupes people into thinking that they are a religion. On the other hand a non-JW can go out to enjoy life and recharge emotionally when their spouse goes out on FS. Once a person recharges emotionally they may think more clearly about planning trips to keep their spouse busy enjoying life, meeting more "Worldly" friends to counter-act the effects of WTBTS indoctrination, and to post on JWN to learn more ideas.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

7

need advice to free family

by strymeckirules in

my family and me havent talked in over a year since i found out about the cult.. yesterday my mother texted me that she misses me and she loves me.

short message.. yesterday my sister also texted me to ask how i am.

also short message.. now, i am an apostate and they are not allowed to talk to me.

ABibleStudent

Hi strymeckirules, I agree with jamiebowers to read Steve Hassan's books (e.g., "Combatting Cult Mind Control" and ) "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves") and visit Steve Hassan's website www.freedomofmind.com for more ideas. You should also read Raymond Franz's books (e.g., "Crisis of Conscience") if your family is inclined to openly discuss doctrines and practices of the WTBTS. The best thing that you can do is not to argue with your family about the WTBTS. Even if your familiy starts to shun you, always send them emails/cards with pictures of you enjoying your life. Showing your family that you are doing well is the best way to counter act the WTBTS indoctrination. Also, if you feel inclined to pray, then pray for your family.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

38

How do i overcome this guilt and fear?

by newcomer1982 in

ive recently decided not to be a witness anymore and at the age of 28 was still so afraid to tell my parents.

the truth is their life and knew i would hurt them.

ive had such a battle with the elders and because my dad is an elder its even worse.

ABibleStudent

Welcome newcomer1982 and I am sorry about your situation. Are you married? I only ask because you mention that you have a son, but didn't mention whether there were any potential issues with your spouse. I agree with what others have said on this forum, especially reading books by Steve Hassan and Raymond Franz. I can add that you should also visit the following websites:

Also, please remember that your parents have been indoctrinated by the WTBTS and the WTBTS is very good at reforming the thoughts of its members. If you are shunned by your parents, you can continue to send your parents pictures of your family having fun. The best thing that you can do is show your parents that the WTBTS is wrong about how JWs will be destroyed if they leave the WTBTS. Time, making new "Worldly" friends, making plans for your future, possibly seeing a therapist about overcoming WTBTS phobias, and enjoying life are the best cures for overcoming the WTBTS indoctrination.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

P.S. - here is a video of Raymond Franz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c6I0fjiYNU

22

What would you say to a pregnant teenager and her parents?

by skeeter1 in

on the in-law side, someone is pregnant.

teenager.

unwed.

ABibleStudent

Hi skeeter 1, how about saying, "Hi, and how are you feeling?" and then be quiet and listen to the girl. You don't have to fix anything. Ask her questions if you cannot be quiet, but listen to her and show her unconditional love. If the girl wants your help she will let you know when she feels like it. I do agree with you that it sucks that teenagers don't listen very well to adults and make many mistakes. Fortunately, it is their lives and not yours, so be thankful that you are a lot smarter than teenagers!

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent

15

Did you find reading the Bible enjoyable but your enjoyment was later soiled by the watchtower's take on it?

by punkofnice in

jw
friends

i enjoyed reading the bible and my favourite was an asv i purchased at an a$$emby.. however, when i wanted to bone up on a passage or verse, i'd look at the insight or watchtowers and found the wtb$ really did ruin my enjoyment when they explained what i was reading.

i think it must have been the self serving spin the wtb$ put on the scriptures!.

anyone else get this and can comment why this happened?.

ABibleStudent

Reading the Awake! and Watchtower can make me sick, but so can reading the NWT make me ill. It is amazing how translation of the Bible can be influenced by the preceptions of the translator. I was amazed how translating the word pornei to fornication instead of sexual immorality could change my interpretation of the Bible. I prefer to read my 2008 NIV Bible a lot more.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

ABibleStudent