Posts by ABibleStudent

54

Hello, I am new

by LillyC in

jw
friends

i am not a jehovah's witness but i am very interested, i have many questions and hope they can be answered here.. i do believe in god, privately.

i do say my prayers daily and do believe god helps me in countless ways.

but i don't go to any church.. i have always been impressed at how smart, polite and nice jehovah's witnesses are and i always make time to speak to them when they call at my door.

ABibleStudent

Welcome LillyC, A BIG DITTO what other posters wrote about visiting www.jwfacts.com before you study with JWs.

Also, please visit Steve Hassan's website www.freedomofmind.com and watch the following three videos: Randy Watters, ex Jehovah's Witness elder August 2012 (26:43), How Big is the Phenomenon of Undue Influence? (2:01), and Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23). Steve Hassan is a cult-exit counselor and is a former Moonie.

The WTBTS is for people who do not want to critically think for oneself, blindly follow what WTBTS elders tell you to do, do not want to acquire more education to qualify for a well-paid career, support an organization that is more interested in protecting pedophiles more than children, will love-bomb you before you get baptized and pressure one to do more for the organization after, and like to shun/mark other JW friends and family who express differences with WTBTS's doctrines.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

41

Discussion with some elders

by GoUnion in

hello everyone just wanted to relate a situation that occurred a few days ago.

so i have quit going to meetings for a few months now based on some issues i have with the explanations of current doctrines.

my wife is none too happy with this but over the last few months we have had some date nights and have tentitively agreed to disagree.

ABibleStudent

Welcome GoUnion, Do what you got to do to keep yourself sane and your wife happy. Keep on venting on JWN, so that you do not "Cross the Line" and vent your real feelings to your wife until she can critically think for herself. Be patient and compassionate with your wife and only ask her simple questions and encourage her to do independent research to find answers. Please read the thread exJW Psychology 102--How to Ask a Question When Questions Aren't Allowed by Billy the Ex-Bethelite so that you can ask stealth questions to JWs.

Even though the two elders, who you talked with, sounded reasonable, it is best that you keep your real feelings to yourself and only ask simple questions with a tone of voice that indicates you are asking for their help. It is also possible that the two elders may have doubts also, but they will probably follow the WTBTS's doctrines instead of protecting you.

You should read books by cult-exit counselors to help you heal, help your wife to critically think for herself, and to better communicate with JW family and friends. I would recommend reading Steve Hassan's books (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"), visiting his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watching his FREE videos on his website. I would recommend watching Steve Hassan's How Big is the Phenomenon of Undue Influence? (2:01) and Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23).

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

6

Discussion with some elders

by GoUnion in

hello everyone just wanted to relate a situation that occurred a few days ago.

so i have quit going to meetings for a few months now based on some issues i have with the explanations of current doctrines.

my wife is none to .

ABibleStudent

Welcome GoUnion, Do what you got to do to keep yourself sane and your wife happy. Keep on venting on JWN on an iPhone, so that you do not vent your real feelings to your wife until she can critically think for herself. Be patient and compassionate with your wife and only ask her simple questions and encourage her to do independent research to find answers.

You should read books by cult-exit counselors to help you heal, help your wife to critically think for herself, and to better communicate with JW family and friends. I would recommend reading Steve Hassan's books (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"), visiting his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watching his FREE videos on his website. I would recommend watching Steve Hassan's How Big is the Phenomenon of Undue Influence? (2:01) and Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23).

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

37

Shared some TTATT with my wife and now she wants us to have a weekly personal bible study

by suavojr in

jw
friends

here is the situation.... a young 19 year old in our congo had a fallout with his parents because of all the restrictions and jw dogma and moved out of the house last wednesday.. to make the story short, the parents went running to the elders and what was the comfort?.

coe said: i saw that coming!

your son never reached out to get baptized.. then the other elder said: don't worry, you still have one left that will be saved.

ABibleStudent

Hi suavojr, Where would your wife like to start reading the Bible? I would recommend purchasing a study Bible such as a NIV or NKJ Bible instead of the NWT and starting in MT in the NT, so that you can see how Jesus Christ felt about how the Pharisees and Sadducees victimized the Jews with BITE control techniques and to decide to follow God's two greatist commandments in Mt 22:37-40. Emphasize to your wife that God's greatist commandment states that you should love God with "ALL" your mind, heart, and soul. It doesn't say to an organization nor that you should be part of an organization.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

63

First Post...Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your help over the years!

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).

i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.

although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.

ABibleStudent

Welcome stuckinarut2, Thanks for sharing your experience. If you could write about what helped to awaken you, it might help other JWs who are visting to relate and awaken. The Friends forum is a good forum to write your introduction.

Since you are a born-in, you might want to read books by cult-exit counselors to help you heal and to better communicate with JW family and friends. I would recommend reading Steve Hassan's books (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"), visiting his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watching his FREE videos on his website. I would recommend watching Steve Hassan's How Big is the Phenomenon of Undue Influence? (2:01) and Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23).

If you are married, please be patient and compassionate with your spouse. Vent on JWN so that you do not vent to your spouse about how you feel.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

126

This is my first post

by Make Lemonade in

i wanted to express appreciation to the members of this forum.

there are resources here that are deep.

like we heard from the stage, "what is your depth and breadth of bible knowledge?

ABibleStudent

Welcome Make Lemonade, I'm glad that you are staying positive, and that you supported the victim instead of blindly following the WTBTS.

I'm sorry to hear that the judge dismissed the case in summary judgement because of first admendment rights. I'm glad that other judges have not been as narrow minded, otherwise victims of abuse could not have won judgements against the Catholic Church, or were able to settle out-of-court with the WTBTS and other religions. Was Candace Conti's attorney, Rick Simons (Office phone - 510-582-1080 Ext. 19, [email protected]) consulted about the case?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

95

Where the need is greater: TTATT in Spanish

by Londo111 in

it seems most of the us growth is in spanish-speaking territory, and of course, there is growth in the nations where spanish is the predominant language.

most sites oriented around ttatt, are english-speaking.

there seems then to be a great need for translators...for instance, imagine if there was a spanish version of www.jwfacts.com.. unfortunately, i dont speak this language.

ABibleStudent

I look forward to trying to read it on jwfacts, ILoveTTATT. You are doing an awesome job in translating the webpage!

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

26

News article: Watchtower buys former motel

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20140322/biz/403220306 watchtower buys former motelgroup may also purchase site in tuxedo the former hampton inn on route 300 will provide housing for volunteers working on the watchtowers new headquarters being built in goshen.steve borland/times herald-record.

by james walshtimes herald-recordpublished: 2:00 am - 03/22/14town of newburgh the watchtower tract and bible society closed friday on the purchase of the hampton inn on route 300.. watchtower spokesman richard devine said the building will be used to provide housing for short-term volunteers working on the organization's world headquarters, which is under construction in warwick.. the sale price wasn't disclosed.. another property, sterling forest apartments in a rural area of the town of tuxedo, may also be purchased by watchtower.

that would provide housing for long-term volunteer construction workers at the headquarters.. "we talked to the owner there," devine said of the apartments, "but we're still investigating that.

ABibleStudent

Hi ShirleyW, I know that the WTBTS is currently both a printing/distributing company and a real estate holding company. I am just wondering if the WTBTS plans to do less printing/distributing and buy more real estate.

Why would the WTBTS buy motels? I could think of two reasons. Owning motels would allow the WTBTS to make money from JWs visiting HQ in the future. Also, will the WTBTS convert motels to rest homes for JWs. Since there are more senior JWs in developed countries than younger ones, the WTBTS might be transitioning into operating resthomes for senior JWs. I could easily imagine the WTBTS pitching to JWs, "Come spend your last days with "Spiritually Enlightened, True Christians" in a paradise on earth" and all you have to do make the WTBTS the beneficiary of your house and assets when you die.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

2

Went to visit my parents!

by Kool Jo in

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ABibleStudent

Thanks for sharing Kool Jo. It is good that he can think more for himself. You did a good job of expanding his knowledge or the WTBTS.

Since your father seemed a little surprized by the WTBTS owning stocks, what would your father have said if you told him how to find out which companies the WTBTS owns stock in?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

26

News article: Watchtower buys former motel

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20140322/biz/403220306 watchtower buys former motelgroup may also purchase site in tuxedo the former hampton inn on route 300 will provide housing for volunteers working on the watchtowers new headquarters being built in goshen.steve borland/times herald-record.

by james walshtimes herald-recordpublished: 2:00 am - 03/22/14town of newburgh the watchtower tract and bible society closed friday on the purchase of the hampton inn on route 300.. watchtower spokesman richard devine said the building will be used to provide housing for short-term volunteers working on the organization's world headquarters, which is under construction in warwick.. the sale price wasn't disclosed.. another property, sterling forest apartments in a rural area of the town of tuxedo, may also be purchased by watchtower.

that would provide housing for long-term volunteer construction workers at the headquarters.. "we talked to the owner there," devine said of the apartments, "but we're still investigating that.

ABibleStudent

Thanks for sharing Barbara.

I'm curious what monetary benefit the WTBTS will receive from owning an apartment complex. Is the WTBTS transitioning from a printing/distribution company to a real estate holding/motel company? The WTBTS from one side of their mouth says, "Donate more and do more", and from the other side says "Buy, buy, buy."

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert