Posts by ABibleStudent

28

Advice Needed

by HeyThere in

so my situation is changing and i am trying to figure out the best way for me to handle this.

i am an unbaptized publisher married to a dub who was inactive when we met and when we married and during the course of our marriage, and just went back active a year and a half ago.

he is a full believing dub.

ABibleStudent

Hi HeyThere, DITTO what Black Sheep, jgnat, and Oubliette wrote.

My additional suggestions would be to:

Learn how to overcome thought-stopping platitudes that your husband uses. To learn more about thought-stopping platitudes read 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 Beleifs"), visit his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watching his FREE videos like Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23) on his website. It is more important to ask a question and wait for your husband to respond before asking another question. You should lean to recognize when your husband feels a lot of cognitive dissonance about answering a question.
Plan fun activities/time consuming hobbies that your husband loves and will help him to meet more non-JWs. The less time your husband spends around JWs the less BITE control reinforcement that JWs can say to him.
When you ask questions of your husband, phrase them so that he must do his own independent research and how Billy the Ex-Bethelite did in exJW Psychology 102--How to Ask a Question When Questions Aren't Allowed. Example: "If you are a "True Christian" and follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, how would you justify shunning (or not associating with non-JWs) using examples of Jesus Christ in the Bible to a non-JW who I know as a "loving arrangement"? There are numerous examples in the Bible of Jesus eating/drinking with non-Jews, tax collectors, prostitutes, etc or why didn't Jesus Christ instruct his disciples to shun disciples that left him in John 6:60-70?
If you work or want to be more financially secure, have you thought about getting more education/training? It helps to be too busy to attend meetings by doing something else that will increase your family's financial security.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

44

Where to go from here...

by Patrickday in

i'm new around here, but i've been browsing the site the last few days in hopes of finding the answer to the situation i've been going through, so hopefully you can help me.

i met this girl in highschool, but never really spoke with her until about a year after i graduated.

she's three years younger (however it's legal where i'm from, don't fret) and still a teenager.

ABibleStudent

Welcome Patrickday, RUN, don't walk away!!

If you still believe that it will work with your friend, DITTO what Witness My Fury wrote about showing her this thread or asking her to watch Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23) video by Steve Hassan who is a cult-exit counselor. You have the rest of your life to meet a non-JW woman, who will have a lot less baggage than your friend.

The WTBTS is a printing/distribution and real estate holding company that uses BITE control techniques to victimize JWs by masquerading as a religion to avoid paying taxes.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

36

Local Kingdom Hall Speakers To Be Replaced By Governing Body Video Feeds.

by donuthole in

jw
friends

so we've seen as the current gb is getting more facetime in an effort to reach the hearts and minds of the rank and file.

this took a leap with video feeds at an open annual meeting.

the international conventions are taking this a step farther.. do you think that local speakers at kingdom halls could ever be replaced by headquarter approved video feeds?.

ABibleStudent

I hope that it will happen for three reasons: it will give the GB more opportunities to screw-up with less deniability, elders may feel that they are losing status in the KH, and it will reduce the social cohesiveness (why go to the KH when JWs can view meetings from home). Less socializing with other JWs to reinforce the WTBTS's BITE control would be a good thing.

It might play into the GB's money making opportunities, because why have KH's when you can use the internet to feed the "Slaves" (JWs). It would also feed the GB's egos.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

95

The Ravings of Trolls Distracts FOCUS From Real Watchtower Scandals

by cofty in

my thread was inspired by gentledawn's insightful comment about the effect the events in wales had on her jw husband.... hope any lurkers out there can filter out the signal (storys and experiences like this) to noise (the current trolls running amok on the forums) ratios.

this the problem with those who focus on outrageous fantasies about the watchtower.

it distracts from the real issues that need to be highlighted.. what happened in wales was for real.

ABibleStudent

I agree with your sentiments Cofty. Why turn-off/alienate JW visitors with ludicrous threads?

Maybe Simon could create a Jokes & Humor section in the Members Only sub-form for the ludicrous threads.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

36

New Member Story

by No Retreat No Surrender in

jw
friends

when i found out "ttat" i felt like muhammad ali when joe frazer knocked him down in their first fight in the 15th round.

the ref came over grab my gloves and looked me in the eyes and asked me "are you ok, can you continue" and then gave me the standing 8 count.

no it didn't knock me out but it staggered me.

ABibleStudent

Welcome No Retreat No Surrender, Thank you for sharing your story. It may help another JW to see the WTBTS for what it is.

Best of wishes for you and your wife living a happy and carefree life free from the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

16

My First Year of Posting and How I Have Changed

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

i lurked for 2 years on this site before i joined in july 2013. what a roller coaster ride it has been.. first of all, i was a very active jw for those unfamilar with my story having been a longtime elder(21 years), regular pioneer (14 years), convention & assembly speaker, etc.

i am still an active witness because i am older now, with close to 40 years in the borg with some longtime friends.

boy how i have changed!

ABibleStudent

Hi James Jackson, I wish learning TTATT was more enjoyable and easier for you, but it is better than slaving for the WTBTS.

What kind of hobbies do you like that you and your wife would enjoy doing besides playing Fantasy Football and Beer Pong?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

43

JW Lady Witnesses to me in My Truck While Trying to get a Nap !

by flipper in

jw
friends

incredible.

absolutely incredible.

so i asked, " isn't it 100 years since 1914 ?

ABibleStudent

Great reverse witnessing flipper! I doubt that she will approach a trunk in the parking lot again.

My only suggestion would have been to ask her a simple question that would lead into telling her about www.jwfacts.com or www.freedomofmind.com, so that she might be tempted in the future to do her own research. How do you feel she would have reacted to you asking her, "Why do you feel that the elders are imperfect men? If you visit www.freedomofmind.com (or www.jwfacts.com), you will no longer have any doubts about the Watchtower or the elders." She will know that the WTBTS is a dangerous cult.

I feel that overcoming JWs' thought-stopping platitudes is a good way to help JWs to critically think for themselves. Of course, you need to be prepared in advance to do it.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

16

shepherding call

by DesirousOfChange in

you don't say why you are inactive.. if you can control your tongue and not blurt out anything you have learned about ttatt, then perhaps no harm in agreeing to a visit if you feel the need to be polite and cooperative.

no doubt, they will inquire as to why you are inactive.. don't you know it's the truth(tm)?.

don't you know the end(tm) is close?.

ABibleStudent

Welcome shlth34d, DITTO what other posters wrote about avoid them if possible, or meet with them if it is convenient and only talk about general topics of interest. If the DO/CO ask you direct questions about what you believe or why don't you do more, how do you feel they would react to you saying, "I'm waiting on Jehovah to guide me." or, if they press you more, "Thank you for your concern. I will contact you whan I'm ready to do more. Please do not contact me or talk with my family without my consent."

Although you are inactive, your family is not. What will you do if the WTBTS issues "New Light" for JW family/friends to pressure inactive JWs to participate more? How strong is your personal relationship with your wife and children?

You should develop a plan to help your family to critically think for themselves and improve their financial security and happiness, so that they will choose to love you more than the WTBTS. Your plan should include some of the following:

Vent on JWN as much as possible so that your family does not feel that you oppose the WTBTS. Also, search the JWN archive to learn how to help your family to critically think for themselves.
Get a better education or more training to improve your family's financial security and enjoyment of life. It is also a good reason to miss meetings and FS.
Learn as much as possible about helping your family to critically think for themselves by reading information by cult-exit counselors, like Steve Hassan. Read Steve Hassan's books ('Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones to Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs", visit his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watch his FREE videos on his website. Also, learn how to overcome thought-stopping platitudes that your family uses, like "Where else shall we go?" or "True Christians need an organization to guide them." Also, visit reputable websites like www.jwfacts.com to learn more about the WTBTS history and doctrines.
Ask you wife and kids simple questions to learn more about how they feel and to learn what interests them in the WTBTS as well as what hobbies they might like more than going to WTBTS meetings.

Best of wishes being inactive and having an unconditionally loving relationship with your wife and kids.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

8

Does No Solicitation equal Put on "Do not Call List"?

by ABibleStudent in

i live in a townhome complex.

a few days ago i asked the property manager to ask the local kingdom hall to no longer place wtbts literature (propaganda) at the complex because the area is posted as no solicitation and because the literature is sometimes blown away from doors becoming litter.. today i received a response that the kingdom hall agreed to no longer place literature at the complex and to let him know if wtbts literature is placed at the complex.

i was shocked how easy it was for the kh representative to agree to no longer place literature at the complex.

ABibleStudent

Thank you for the comments.

How do you feel that the local KH would respond if I asked the property manager to send the KH a written letter like the following?

Dear Local Kingdom Hall,

Please put the Townhome complex on the Kingdom Hall's "Do not Call List" indefinately so that Jehovah's Witnesses do not go door-to-door to place Watchtower literature with residents of the townhome complex. Compliants about Jehovah's Witnesses knocking on doors and/or leaving literature at doors that have blown away by the wind to become litter have been lodged with the Property Manager of the Complex by owners/residents. "No Soliciting" signs are posted at the entrances to streets into the complex and apply to religious groups like the Watchtower and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Besides being annoyed by unannounced door knocking and litter, some residents are concerned about Jehovah's Witnesses coming into contact with children that live in the complex. What are the Watchtower's child protection policies? Are Jehovah's Witnesses that go door-to-door been screened for child abuse and/or molestation by local law enforcement by being finger-printed? Are Jehovah's Witnesses required to immediately contact local law enforcement instead of the Watchtower when a Jehovah's Witness is suspected of abusing or molesting a child? Law suits against the Watchtower and Jehovah's Witnesses such as the Candace Conti's, etc. lawsuits concern some residents with Jehovah's Witnesses soliciting at the complex.

Regards

Property Manager

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

8

Does No Solicitation equal Put on "Do not Call List"?

by ABibleStudent in

i live in a townhome complex.

a few days ago i asked the property manager to ask the local kingdom hall to no longer place wtbts literature (propaganda) at the complex because the area is posted as no solicitation and because the literature is sometimes blown away from doors becoming litter.. today i received a response that the kingdom hall agreed to no longer place literature at the complex and to let him know if wtbts literature is placed at the complex.

i was shocked how easy it was for the kh representative to agree to no longer place literature at the complex.

ABibleStudent

I live in a townhome complex. A few days ago I asked the property manager to ask the local Kingdom Hall to no longer place WTBTS literature (propaganda) at the complex because the area is posted as no solicitation and because the literature is sometimes blown away from doors becoming litter.

Today I received a response that the Kingdom Hall agreed to no longer place literature at the complex and to let him know if WTBTS literature is placed at the complex. I was shocked how easy it was for the KH representative to agree to no longer place literature at the complex. Because the WTBTS promotes using "Theocratic Warfare Strategy", I wonder if JWs will stop going D2D at the complex, will stop until next year, or will ignor the request. I thanked the property manager and asked him if the KH representative said that he put/would put the complex on the KH's "Do not Call List"? It will be interesting to see what happens.

Also, I wonder if the local KH will create a propaganda cart at a local mall soon. I doubt it, because local malls would probably want to be paid rent. Unlike in Europe or small towns, most shoppers go to malls in the USA instead of to a town center. Also, there are no public transportation venues where I live.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert