dad was a great man, great, despite the religion.
he was powerful, tall and intelligent, yet humble and kind.
he was an introvert, and a circuit overseer.
I'm sorry to hear about your loss Paul.
I realize that your exit from the WT was a shock for your family, but you've truly helped so many JWs.
It's good you kept in touch with your father during the last months and made peace.
My condolences to your family.
yeah thatnks jw step grandmother bitch.
i can't believe that she would not call her step sons and let them know their father had passed away.
my father is a jw also and my little sister sees this woman at assemblies and she didn't bother to call anyone.
I'm very sorry to hear about your grandfather's passing Noni. Also for finding out about it months later... There's simply no excuse for dividing and isolating someone from family members.
how many times did you hear that?
it wasn't until i read with disbelief no room for george's pitiful statement about being proud to be a jw did i start to think of a simple of way of discrediting the jws... it needed a simple scriptural phrase that causes them to shoot their own foot!.
so - how many different ways can you think of where jws have "gone beyond the things written"?.
Jesus is Michael.
Jesus' coming was invisible and in 1914.
He also inspected all religions and chose Bible Students in 1919.
Jesus' followers have to participate in d2d service as a witnessing method. (one can't just claim to do informal witnessing and skip FS)
They also have to report the hours and literature placed at the end of each month.
Decorating a tree at the end of the year is pagan, while wearing a ring or a veil for brides isn't. The pinata is okay too apparently.
Social networks like facebook are wrong.
Getting a higher education is wrong.
Loving one's country and getting involved in ways to benefit the local community (not preaching the JW message) is wrong.
Having a non-JW close friend is wrong. (even if they might believe in God & the Bible).
Wearing pants during meetings or witnessing isn't allowed for sisters.
Beards aren't allowed for brothers. Ties are mandatory, in some places you can't take off the jacket even in hot weather.
Toasting is pagan...nowhere in the Bible.
Saying "bless you" upon sneezing is also wrong.
etc...
it has been over a month and a half since i have even been on the board, and that really only to ask about gps units (got a tom-tom) and mention the new job.
way too busy with life - post jw now 4 years.. of course, the new job has benefits, health insurance, etc.
(including unlimited use of the company car for personal use and the company pays for the unlimited gas for about a $25/week out of my check -- huge benefit) and this has enabled toni and i to finally after a two year engagement, to get married.
Congratulations & best wishes!
would you express an opinion to that person studying with the witnesses or would you keep quiet?.
if you did say something, what would it be?.
I'd try to talk to them, sharing with them my firsthand experience with the WT. I wish someone had warned me against JWs when I was a study, presenting me with real proof why association with this org is not beneficial.
"When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning?"
- THE WATCHTOWER January 15,1974
i just heard from his brother that he has passed.
several of you know that he has been fighting cancer for a while now.. oh, sac!
i am so very sorry you have left this world... rest in peace, joy, and light... your fight, suffering, and fears are put to rest.. strength and love to all who love you.. .
I'm sorry to hear about this.
Heartfelt condolences to his family.
..when you got baptised, and when you discovered the truth about the truth?.
me: 20 and 27.
19 and 27
i was discussing with an elder today, and as usual the conversation drifted towards apostates and their line of reasoning, he angrily looked into my eyes with the scriptures in his hand and told me:.
(1) that apostates are destructive peddlers who shut the door of everlasting life on people as they are very sure they have no portion in there.
he quoted matt 23:13- 13 woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!
"My question is, do you feel that your activities here are synonymous to shutting the door of everlasting life on innocent people?. I just want to know if your motives are pure for what you are doing and if your experience as an ex-JW justify your presence here. Just curious."
If I actually believed JW teachings were the way to everlasting life, I'd not be posting here but sitting at the KH or out in service. Rather, because I've come to the realization that it's all a sham that I wouldn't wish others to waste time, energies, hopes, etc in the pursuit of an empty promise. Armageddon didn't come in 1914, 1925, the 40s, 1975, within the 20th century...why should innocent people believe this organization?
Before I tried my best to teach people in FS the 'precious truths' as I'd been taught as a JW. Now I'm open to sharing with others my knowledge of this organization. Isn't it natural to want to share with others something beneficial? I believe researching one's faith, making sure of what one believes in is of crucial importance.
how do you respond when you walk past a jw or bump into a close jw friend who broke of contact with you?.
i remember when one brother was disfellowshipped, he himself honoured the arrangement and walked past the brothers with his eyes fixed to the floor.. im going to be disfellowshipped in 8 days, so i just thought id ask you all.. personaly, im going to be kind and cheery as i always tried to be with people.. timmy xxx.
Tim this can be a difficult at times.. You happen to cross paths with a JW post df-ing or da-ing and your old 'friend' purposefully turns a smug or disappointed face, full of self righteousness and bordering on pity.
My first advice would be to keep your inner calm, running into JWs can be an uneasy experience for some (me included).
Then just be yourself. If you had a great day, make sure to show it.
hi everyone, first i just want to say if it wasn't this forum, i'd be baptized!
i haven't managed to successfully end my studies with a zealous jw.
she uses everything against me to brainwash me into believing i need the org.
"Going to the convention in a bad mood and showing absolutely no interest and maybe after those 3 days of misery I won't even have to tell her I'm not studying anymore. "
Attending it would be showing your study conductor that there's still a chance you might join. That would definitely set her hopes up. Please consider that if you do attend, it'll be harder to tell her you want to quit the 'bible study'. I agree with sizemik & the rest of the posters. "The time has come...just say NO."
