Posts by ABibleStudent

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

59

How to wake up and reverse the trance???

by J-DUBBED in

how do you wake up someone taken from us by these screwed up people?.

our son was hooked by a jw at the age of 25. within 3 months they were married and we never even new about it.

he is now 29 and has nothing to do with his family(except his sister the odd time, when he needs something) of any freinds.. we are lost and have been for four years.. .

ABibleStudent

Also, it is interesting that, whilst most JWs criticize celebrating birthdays, they have no trouble celebrating wedding anniversaries which are simply "birthdays" of the wedding day.

Hi J-DUBBED, As other members have expressed, focus on improving your relationship with your son and his wife first. May be in a couple of years, you could convince your son and his wife to allow you and your wife to give your grand-daughter a present on the day before or after her birthday, or some other specifically agreed to day. There is no hurry. The WTBTS's Armageddon isn't going to happen.

If you want to plant a seed of doubt in your son using birthdays, I would say something like the following when your son's authentic persona is more dominate than his cult persona (i.e., a couple of months before or after assemblies/conventions and may be on a two week vacation from a WTBTS meeting):

Son, your mother and I would like to give our grand-daughter presents on her special day to make her feel special. We understand that as a JW you no longer believe that your daughter should celebrate birthdays by giving her presents. Where in the Bible is it written that birthdays should not be celebrated?
[Wait for your son's response.]
Since only bad things happened to two individuals on a Pharaoh's or King's birthday (i.e., Ge 40:20, Mt 14:6, and Mk 6:21) in the Bible, why does the Watchtower teach JWs that God does not want JWs to celebrate their birthdays? Are men adding to God's teachings?
[Wait for your son's response]
Wasn't Jesus Christ's birth celebrated by angels (Luke 2)? Why do Jews celebrate birthdays, and bar mitzvahs and bat barmizhs?
[Wait for your son's response]
What does the bible say in Deu 4:1-2 and Mt 15:1-10 about adding to or subtracting from God's commandments? Quickly and subtly change subjects.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

P.S. - Learn to use https://www.biblegateway.com/ to search different bibles for specific keywords/phrases. I prefer the NIV Bible.

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

Now if only we could agree who decides what the good and bad ideas are ...

Many democratic governments will not regulate what a person believes, but will regulate a person's actions. An organization on the other hand is incapable of believing or thinking. Why should governments allow leaders of an organization - especially appointed leaders and not freely elected - to use undue influence on its members to manipulate them to adhere to the beliefs of its leaders. At least allow individuals to freely choose to follow or not follow the ideas/practices of an organization's leaders.

Robert

59

How to wake up and reverse the trance???

by J-DUBBED in

how do you wake up someone taken from us by these screwed up people?.

our son was hooked by a jw at the age of 25. within 3 months they were married and we never even new about it.

he is now 29 and has nothing to do with his family(except his sister the odd time, when he needs something) of any freinds.. we are lost and have been for four years.. .

ABibleStudent

Hi J-DUBBED, Keep it simple and proceed very slowly with your son and his wife. Let your son do all the work trying to prove to you that the WTBTS has the truth. All you need to do is ask him simple questions to reach his authentic persona. The best thing is to listen to what your son says. Take your time, read information from cult-exit counselors like 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"), make your plans with your wife, practice with your wife, and then little by little ask your son simple questions.

If you ask questions, your wife should listen to what your son says (or secretly record it with your cell phone) and then you can plan what to say to your son the next time. The most important thing is to let your son do most of the talking and do not explode at him. Yes, the WTBTS is full of BS, but telling your son that will not help him.

The WTBTS has taught JWs though-stopping platitudes, like "Where else shall we go?" Learn to overcome those thought-stopping platitudes within a few seconds, like "Don't you mean to whom shall you go? Simon-Peter said to Jesus Christ in John 6:68-69. What else has the WTBTS interpreted differently from the Bible?" At first occasionally overcome thought-stopping platitudes that your son uses. Overtime when your son's authentic persona uses a thought-stopping platitude, overcome it more frequently.

Also, read the thread by Billy the Ex-Bethelite thread exJW Psychology 102--How to Ask a Question When Questions Aren't Allowed. After your relationship with your son has improved a lot, use Billy's methods when you want to ask really controversial questions of your son like "This guy I know thinks that the Watchtower are a dangerous cult, because JWs will not independently examine their own faith as they preach others do and critically think for themselves. JWs are hypocrites for telling non-JWs to keep an open mind when they won't do the same."

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert