Posts by JWStruggle

13

should there be a national coming out day for JWs leaving the borg?

by zengalileo in

i got the idea from what harvey milk did for the gay movement.

i am tired of hearing these stories about people staying jws while scared to admit they don't believe in it anymore.

if you saw the movie milk, then you know the argument.

JWStruggle

Zen - I like your idea. I would love to see it happen.

However it is easy to urge stealth Witnesses to "come out" and "be brave" and to even condemn them for not doing it in the way that you feel they should. But if their entire network of family and friends are JWs, it can be extremely difficult to just quit. For some Witnesses even their employer and their financial livelihood is tied up in the movement.

So to make someone feel guilty for not being able to put their entire life on the chopping block is unfair IMO. To say that " people who live a lie for the sake of making life easier and holding onto their family are lacking courage" is your opinion, but it is also a gross oversimplification of the agonizing moral dilemma many of us find ourselves in.

Some can do it, but many cannot. This is part of the reason that the WT shunning doctrine is so effective as you know. Please continue to help people to get out of the WTO...but please don't beat us over the head if we don't get out as quickly or as decisively as you think we should.

21

"The 'Borg'

by mauiboy in

i have read the phrase "the borg" over and over again....what is it's real meaning?

still a newbie here.

this is the 1st site i've joined since i left about 4 years ago, so i'm still picking up on the lingo.......

JWStruggle

@Knowsnothing - You said: "(A poster once did a word check on the WT CD Rom, and found the word "organisation" to be stated more than "Jesus", I believe)"

I did a comparison on how many times the WT Lib says the O word compared to other words on my YouTube video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=hLXOzQQ2ePM

It's at :47 seconds and brings out that the word "organization" is in the WT pubs over 17,000 times, more than "heaven", "moses", "paradise", "salvation", and "ransom".

Although I don't think the word "Borg" appears at all lol...

Don't Lose Heart

by JWStruggle in

i just wrote a new article to upbuild those of us that have learned the truth about the truth (ttatt) and feel like giving up.

"don't lose heart" is the theme.

i must confess i kept thinking about former gb member dan sydlik's talk that he used to give by that title, but hopefully this will be more encouraging for those of us that have awakened to the flaws and deception of the organization.. .

JWStruggle

I just wrote a new article to upbuild those of us that have learned the truth about the truth (TTATT) and feel like giving up. "Don't Lose Heart" is the theme. I must confess I kept thinking about former GB member Dan Sydlik's talk that he used to give by that title, but hopefully this will be more encouraging for those of us that have awakened to the flaws and deception of the Organization.

Now that we know what we know about the Watchtower and the flawed doctrinal template that everything is squeezed into, what will we do? Will we give up? Will we lose heart? Hebrews 10:39 says:

“Now we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction, but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.” (NWT)

The article is below:

http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011/11/dont-lose-heart/

I hope you find it encouraging.

JJ

www.JWStruggle.com

7

Bible Students - have you spoken with them or attended their meetings?

by JWStruggle in

jw
friends

the bible students are very friendly and loving people and i recently attended a convention of theirs.. i was wondering if many on here have had dealings with them?

i do not think i am ready to join any organized religious group ever again, but they are welcoming and sincere and i do like many of the things russell taught.

he certainly wouldn't have stood for what rutherford did to the wtbts.. .

JWStruggle

They are fiercely independant, very sincere and yes alive and well. There is about one million worldwide or so I was told. The WTO wants us to think they all became JWs but actually only a small percentage did.

Their numbers in any one place are small, but they seem to be all over the place. They are very progressive in the use of technology and yes they stream some of their conventions and meetings over the internet.

@ Band on the run - "Were there any young people?" That was surprising to me bc there was virtually none. A few teens were there but in another room separated from the main auditorium. No little ones at all. Most were over 50, a small amount in their 40s, and just one sister that was about 30. No one in their 20s.

@Oldlightnewshite - Well it was a two day but I only went to one full day. They know how to pace themselves though, not like a JW convention where you have one mind-numbing talk after another. They would sing a song and have a prayer, then give a talk, usually 30-45 minutes. But then you would have a 30 minute break. People would visit, mull around, get refreshments in the dining room nearby, then it would start again with song, prayer and a talk, then another nice long 30 minute break. A much easier and relaxed atmosphere.

Who Today Sheds Spiritual Enlightenment?

by JWStruggle in

according to this sunday's wt study (november 6, 2011) it is "jehovah" then it is "jesus" then "god" in paragraphs 14 and 15 that shed enlightenment.

but substitute a certain two-word group and you'll find the sentences all seem to still fit... .

the article is linked to below.

JWStruggle

According to this Sunday's WT study (November 6, 2011) it is "Jehovah" then it is "Jesus" then "God" in paragraphs 14 and 15 that shed enlightenment. But substitute a certain two-word group and you'll find the sentences all seem to still fit...

The article is linked to below. There is also a new graphical chart with a scan of the paragraphs and some comments that you may find useful enough to download and save:

http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011/11/who-today-sheds-spiritual-enlightenment/

JJ

jwstruggle.com

59

Disfellowshipping Rescinded!

by 00DAD in

has anyone been successful in getting their disfellowshipping rescinded?

i specifically do not mean getting reinstated.

i want to know if anyone that was disfellowshipped was able to officially and through the congregation and/or the organization have their status as a "disfellowshipped person" changed without getting "reinstated" through the normal procedures?.

JWStruggle

During the years I was an elder I was involved in a couple hundred JC cases. I can tell you that rescinding a DF never happened or even came close to happening. A few cases were appealed but it was very rare if a person was retained and the DFing was reversed.

What the appeal committee is assigned to do is look for a "serious oversight in judgment" from the original committee. Was there a mistake made at the time of the original meeting is what the new group of three are supposed to be looking for.

I know of one case where a young brother had 4 beers in the span of about 2 hours. He drove home and got pulled over by the police and given a DUI. They then DFed him. (And he did have a background as a bit of a drinker) He appealed and the ruling was that a mistake had been made by the original 3 elders, and public reproof would be all that is required because he was not technically "drunk" only slightly impaired.

At any rate, holy spirit is not a player in this IMO, it is men judging other people, pure and simple. Spin the wheel...some win, some lose.

7

Bible Students - have you spoken with them or attended their meetings?

by JWStruggle in

jw
friends

the bible students are very friendly and loving people and i recently attended a convention of theirs.. i was wondering if many on here have had dealings with them?

i do not think i am ready to join any organized religious group ever again, but they are welcoming and sincere and i do like many of the things russell taught.

he certainly wouldn't have stood for what rutherford did to the wtbts.. .

JWStruggle

The Bible Students are very friendly and loving people and I recently attended a convention of theirs.

I was wondering if many on here have had dealings with them? I do not think I am ready to join any organized religious group ever again, but they are welcoming and sincere and I do like many of the things Russell taught. He certainly wouldn't have stood for what Rutherford did to the WTBTS.

8

Watchtower and Apostasy Then and Now

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtower and apostasy then and now.

today i uploaded a new article to my blog addressing watchtowers historical and contemporary doctrinal position on individuals holding views divergent from those taught by their religion.

my article is titled watchtower and apostasy then and now and is available at: http://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2011/10/watchtower-and-apostasy-then-and-now.html.

JWStruggle

Designs - You said " Just for historical clarity the first letter is by a Bible Student and the second by a JW and they are very different religions."

You are right that they are not the same thing. Bible Students are lovely people and never became JWs-- Rutherford started JWs not Russell.

That said, they still share many of the same doctrinal beliefs such as no trinity, no hellfire, 144,000 going to heaven, 1914 is a marked year in Bible chronology, etc. So you must admit they are pretty closely linked...The BS still to this day are active in their efforts to recruit JWs and reach out to them. And indeed a significant fraction of current BS are former JWs.

10

So anyone here went to the Zone Visit meeting?

by stillin9 in

well, i was considered spiritual enough (lol) to be given a red badge that said "special meeting, united states branch zone visit" on it!

what a privilege!

all excited, i counted down (not really but you know) to the day the meeting was going to be held on, which was the 22nd.

JWStruggle

Stillstuckcruz - You have a PM

31

Sad situation unfolding on FB

by Mickey mouse in

jw
friends

there are reports on one of the facebook ex jw groups that a 19 year old girl who disassociated herself last week was physically attacked by her family and so she tried to commit sucide by shooting herself.

she's in a critical state in hospital.

i don't know all the details but it would appear that she had endured sexual abuse.. please keep her in your thoughts.. .

JWStruggle

Another casualty chalked up to the JW movement. Her "sins have massed up clear to heaven". Organ transplants, blood fractions, etc. on and on and on and on.