Posts by Listener

57

2024 Annual Meeting Doctrinal Change

by Listener in

a change to their doctrine came from jackson.

this isn't a transcript of his whole speech but i thought i would try and get some of his main speech in writing.. at around 1hr26 minutes he starts talking about some dangerous thinking in feeling there is some wiggle room in regards to the schedule for the gt.

but you see, we need to be careful about what we are thinking about the number of anointed ones left on earth.

Listener

Good observation on the 'We just don't know' by G Jackson, he repeated it numerous times.

The crazy thing is that at one time, they professed to know those answers. The light has just gone completely black all of a sudden and he admits it.

4

January 2025 Letter to the Elders

by blondie in

jw
friends

i used to send my comments on these letters to atlantis, so i will share them here if that is okay, if not, i'll still do it.

:) 1) medical matters: (technology has arrived) listing of hlc members is not online and updated regularly, but only elders have access, not for general circulation.

(and in case the reader of the letter needs clarification) copies should not be made for publishers or on the information board (!).

Listener

Deer Yang Wans

Thanks Blondie

4

Leah Remini's Next A&E Project to Tackle Jehovah's Witness

by blondie in

jw
friends

leah remini's did a show several years ago, it was very good.

she is working on a new one.. https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/leah-reminis-next-aande-project-to-tackle-jehovahs-witness/ar-aaxeni9?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1 .

Listener

Leah Remini did a wonderful job.

85

Reddit thread - ‘Organization Finally Suggesting to Plan for Retirement’

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

this information is supposed to be in the upcoming march wt.

(i don’t go on jw dot org).

it would sound like they are hinting at a change in thinking.. in my opinion, any such change would be yet another slap in the face to faithful pimis along with those other recent changes.. there are so many heartfelt responses on that thread and a lot of justified anger.. don’t know what to say except that i’m so glad i never listened to the religion all those years ago.

Listener

AFAIK they are also taking a new stand on children's education. In the same article they write -

"As they grow, help them to do their best at school. Christian parents do well to research and apply Bible principles to help their children decide how to use education wisely."

They want parents to now actively assist in ensuring the kids are doing their best at school.

For many, this will be a new and added pressure as a JW. More time will need to be spent on home studies and with parents becoming involved with this.

My father, who was a very strict JW Elder, encouraged us to always do our best at school but didn't pressure us and he didn't spend any time helping us with home work or studying. If we had a problem, he would encourage us to talk to our teachers.

33

follower of Eric Wilson, abusive to single women covered by paying sums of money to support Beroean Pickets tourism trips.

by buzkid in

susanne eigenheer is an ex-jw and suffered religious abuse in eric wilson's group.

her personal statement and experiences within the beroean pickets study groups was one of betrayal where she was taken advantage of financially.

in one text conversation, wendy wiens disfellowshiped susanne and demanded an apology from her.

Listener

Just 3 weeks ago he had dedicated a whole video, asking for money and translation help titled ‘We have some great news and we need your help!’

He needs $30,000 so that he can have a weekly video published into different languages where AI is used to show him and his voice speaking many different languages of his blog.

But there’s no need to be concerned, he’s not interested in building halls like the Watchtower which he says one report claims they spent half a billion doing so last year.

Listening to the OP video, it seems that it is Eric’s wife, Wendy, that is the centre of some problems. He may have to be like Pastor Russel and banish her. She must be giving him many sleepless nights. 😉

27

BEROEAN PICKETS:- VIcky And Mike's Story. "Judged To Be Like The Antichrist "

by buzkid in

vicky and mike hobbs are ex jehovah’s witnesses and ex beroean pickets members their personal statements and experiences within the beroean pickets bible study groups wasn't pleasant.

and vicky was likened to the antichrist because of her differing views.

spiritual abuse is becoming more widespread and the purpose of this interview is to raise awareness, provide education around spiritual and religious abuse, and to keep the public safe.

Listener

I don't have anything to do with his meetings that he arranges but I was subscribed to his Youtube Chanel until a few weeks ago.

I unsubscribed due to coming to the realization that he was a leader and dictating his teachings upon others, being those in his meeting groups.

His Youtube titled "What is Really Wrong with Praying to Jesus" told me a lot about him.

In this Youtube, Eric talks about the need to resolve an issue in 'our' foreign language online Bible study groups but then reverts to stating that HE has the need to resolve the issue, taking on a dictatorial, leadership role.

He then goes on to lecture them, in what I consider, a very condescending way that doesn't even make sense. He tells those giving prayers to Jesus at the meetings that they have been upsetting others, causing hurt feelings and sleepless nights. He then admonishes them for being divisive, yet tells them that they were free to pray to Jesus in private. And if they had only done so they would causing no divisions and no issues.

He then tells them that by praying to Jesus they are proving that they believe in the Trinity.

Yet why does he have anything to do with these people if they believe in the trinity and pray to Jesus when he is completely against either?

The bottom line is, that he has no problem with trinitarians and non trinitarians worshipping together at his meetings as long as the trinitarians practice their worship of prayer to Jesus in private.

He further adds "Now, it can be very daunting to deal with brothers and sisters you’ve trusted and come to love, when they turn on you with false teachings. But this is nothing new. " He didn't express his disappointment in them turning on Jesus or God, rather he says they were turning on him.

I'm surprised he brought this issue out on his Youtubes but I guess it was just the next progressive step for him.

18

Shunning--newest directive

by stan livedeath in

so just what is the latest directive on shunning?.

asking for a family member.

Listener

Good pick up St George.

A good demonstration of their pure hypocrisy.

Even the wording of the original statement is telling -

“ Opposers attack our Bible based beliefs on morality, and on the disfellowshipping arrangement”

They are stating that their moral beliefs are bible based but that clarification is deliberately not made in regards to their disfellowshipping arrangement.

According to Scribbr regarding the use of a comma before an ‘and’, it states ‘You need a comma before “and” when it connects two independent clauses’.

Another point is that their disfellowshipping arrangement is full of moral issues.

8

WHY THE WATCHTOWER TREATS MEN LIKE DONKEYS OF BURDEN

by raymond frantz in

https://youtu.be/tppmprdxxzw?si=shh5vkmuzfp6c9_m.

so the watchtower has come out with sn article, study article 2 in their newly released study watchtower magazine for 2025 and we see from the start how they keep perpetuating the same old outdated narrative that when it comes to marriages the husband is the one at fault, we'll thats i think when i read paragraph from this article where i man has to work on a whole list of things and not once the wife is instructed to do any of these things, but let's just read together paragraph 14:.

what are these steps?

Listener

I find it repulsive that they are doing this as a study article with toddlers and children present.

8

WHY THE WATCHTOWER TREATS MEN LIKE DONKEYS OF BURDEN

by raymond frantz in

https://youtu.be/tppmprdxxzw?si=shh5vkmuzfp6c9_m.

so the watchtower has come out with sn article, study article 2 in their newly released study watchtower magazine for 2025 and we see from the start how they keep perpetuating the same old outdated narrative that when it comes to marriages the husband is the one at fault, we'll thats i think when i read paragraph from this article where i man has to work on a whole list of things and not once the wife is instructed to do any of these things, but let's just read together paragraph 14:.

what are these steps?

Listener

There's lots of valid points you've made raymond frantz.

They usually follow up with another article, either in the same magazine or the following magazine 'directed' at the wives.

They are so stupid when it comes to serious topics like this. They've realized there is a need to address the issue again because of the abuse going on and appoint a writer or group of writers to present an article on it. Then, I imagine, the writer doesn't even consider bringing up how the couple should deal with issues together because they are only dealing with the one sex at a time.

They've listed six steps that an abusive husband needs to take. Being 'steps' they should be all inclusive.

These are their steps, note that these are the same steps if he is looking at pornography with a few comments by me -

First, he recognizes that he has a serious problem. Nothing is hidden from Jehovah’s sight. (Ps. 44:21; Eccl. 12:14; Heb. 4:13)

How is the husband supposed to recognize that he has a problem and a 'serious' one at that? At what point does raising your voice become abusive and when does looking at porn become a serious problem? When it happens once, or twice...? Even a alcoholic often doesn't recognize that he/she has a problem until something significant happens.

Second, he stops abusing his wife and changes his behavior. (Prov. 28:13)

Well that was easy. We are only at Step 2 and have the problem solved.

Third, he apologizes to his wife and to Jehovah and seeks their forgiveness. (Acts 3:19) He should also beg Jehovah for both the desire to change and the help to control his thoughts, speech, and actions. (Ps. 51:10-12; 2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 2:13)

Shouldn't this have been step 1?

There's nothing wrong in this other than the fact that too often, apologies are empty words and the behaviour continues.

Also, apologizing just isn't enough. A good man would do something kind and sincere to show his sorrow for what he has done.

Fourth, he acts in harmony with his prayers by learning to hate all forms of violence and abusive speech. (Ps. 97:10)

That is a lovely sentiment but more than a tough one to enact, if not impossible. We are sinful human beings and we will have bad thoughts. As much as we try, I don't think it is even possible to hate all forms of violence and abusive speech. The Roadrunner and Ben and Jerry come to mind for a start. That would really restrict what we watch on tele or the video games that we would play. Do we hate the police because they may physically defend us or protect us from criminals by inflicting harm to them?

Fifth, he seeks immediate help from loving shepherds in the congregation. (Jas. 5:14-16)

Is this a step to follow every time he has been abusive by raising his voice or looking at any porn? As for seeking their help immediately, isn't that an overexageration? Aren't there more urgent issues like seeing to the wife, whether she needs assistance, medical help, or other support?

Sixth, he develops a plan that will help him to avoid all such behavior in the future.

As a final step, he is told that he should develop a plan to help himself avoid abuse. What on earth did he talk to the Shepherds for? This step shows a complete lack of understanding of how a marriage works. As raymond frantz points out, there are no discussions with his wife and no way of understanding of how the dynamics work in their relationship in order to solve issues.

Another problem is that a Brother can choose to go to the Elders with or without his wife but a wife must have her husband there if she goes to the Elders. It's unlikely to result in any real marriage counselling and even more so because they are not qualified counsellors.

60

1/25 WT: Oral and Anal sex are a go - if she's ok with it

by neat blue dog in

he will not pressure her to engage in sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that are demeaning, or that bother her conscience..... the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.

a christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to honor jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.

generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this intimate aspect of their marriage..

Listener

I agree Neatbluedog.

To some degree, they follow the Bible then go off a complete tangent and come up with their own rules. Then they stuff up and cover them up with even further rules that are unbiblical.

They went too far into the bedrooms of JWs, making rules that should have been kept under the sheets. Then when they flipflop and decide they went too far and should not said anything about it, they tell JWs that there should be no discussion with anyone else other than their partner.

They should have been honest and said these matters were not for the GB or Elders to dictate on and therefore, it would not be discreet for them to discuss with the flock.