Posts by Hoffnung

93

Undercover apostates...

by Maze in

i've observed some forum users here that claim to be active witnesses (even claims to be ministerial servants or elders) while duplicitously supporting apostates online.

my contention is this; why attend meetings and/or participate in the preaching activity when the second you divulge your apostate thinking into the congregation, you'll be disfellowshipped?

while this action taken may seem to be harsh, the outworking of events wouldn't be much different in one of christendom's churches.

If the watchtower policies would allow JW to discuss doubts and alternative ideas freely amongst themselves, this board and many others would not exist. I am a born-in, my wife and I take care of my mother-in-law, who sits in a wheel chair, and my entire extended family are all "strong JW". I cannot leave without losing my family as well, and I am not ready for that, and I might never be. Who is going to take care of my MIL? The JW consider going from door-to-door way more important than caring for their fellows in the faith. Furthermore I don't think it would be very loving towards all these nice people to shock them by quitting. Even when there is a high price to pay in time and energy, and I have to weigh carefully every word I say, it is well worth it. Every day my wife and I continue this path undetected, it is a further proof, God has not much to do with the organization, governing body, etc. If God is involved at all with JW, then it is only on a very selective individual basis, the 'good' guys, if you want. There are not too many of those in the congregations I was part of. This board is the only place where I can share my thoughts and off-load my burdens, because only here, people understand what it's like. I am not an apostate, I am a victim, trapped in an organized structure that is becoming more un-christian every day. If you know an easy way out, please give us some help in finding it. If you can't help us, keep your labels like 'apostate' to yourselves. Your lack of empathy is quite evident. But JW are not unique in this respect, some born-again-christians display the same regretful attitude. What can I say, Jesus died for everybody, there is still some hope left. Have a nice day.

Hoffnung

21

If this doesn't scream cult, what does?

by LostGeneration in

from the now infamous 7.15.2011 wt.

page 28, para 16 and 17-. we can enter into jehovahs rest or join him in his restby obediently working in harmony with his advancing purpose as it is revealed to us through his organization.

(italics theirs-not mine).

Hoffnung

Did you also note the contradiction in this paragraph 16?

Paul said: "By this undeserved kindness, indeed, you have been
saved through faith; and this not owing to you, it is God’s gift. No, it is not owing to works".

The Faithful & Discrete Slave (same paragraph, italic theirs):

"We can enter into Jehovah’s rest —or join him in his rest—by obedientlyworking"

Do more, work more, slave for the slave. Make sure you deserve the "undeserved kindness", or else... Is it not great to be a Jehovah's Witness today? Can you feel the love?

58

I was an Idiot.

by NomadSoul in

jw
friends

not too many threads like these but i thought this forum could use one.

not going to use the inexperience or ignorance excuse.

nor am i going to excuse that i was a born in.. plain and simple: i was an idiot for believing in the jehovah witness religion.. okay, no cat pictures.. .

Hoffnung

Born-in as an idiot, and life-time member of the idiot-club. We should start a Facebook JW idiot group. Cats can be members as well.

70

"Who else are we to go away to?"

by simon17 in

to the intellectually honest witness, it seems like it often comes down to this principle.

"fine, if the witnesses aren't the truth, then show me the better answer and i'll consider it.

" and how do you deal with that?

Hoffnung

The answer I got so far in my searching is sufficient. There might not be a religion as widely known as the witnesses that fulfills biblical criteria to be the 'True' religion. But unfortunately staying with the Witnesses is one of the worst options available. If you have kids, they will be outsiders at school for their steadfast refusals to participate in Birthdays, christmas, etc. They will not consider to do something with their lives like going to college, because Armaggedon will come soon. Their ideas about friendships with other people will be strange, dividing them into, 'worldlings', 'spiritually weak'. and others. Your own mental health is at risk because of the continuous bombardments of guilt feelings to make you pioneer, etc. Your physical health is at risk due to their no-blood policy. Your time is wasted in Field Service that brings close to no result in helping people. Instead you could better spending your time in helping the needy. (Matt 7). Your worship is directed to a governing body, faithful and discreet slave, etc, a human organization, and not to God or Jesus (maybe hard to believe, but absolutely true).

So where go to? first you must discover for yourself what the bible says. Read it on your own, without bible study aids from the watchtower, and take another translation if possible. Note down what God expects from christians (found in the New Testament). You will find it very different then what the Watchtower teaches, they have admitted as much in their own magazine in the past. That should define your belief system. (some easy points: Salvations comes by Grace of God and Faith in Jesus Ransom, and not by 'Undeserved Kindness that has to be deserved by participating in the preaching work). Then you can choose any christian denomination you feel comfortable with and that you feel as close enough as what you believe. It is not necessary that you confirm your ideas exactly to theirs, most even don't require that.

5

Blood What Happened at Watchtower in 1945?

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

blood what happened at watchtower in 1945?

today i added a new article onto my blog addressing an aspect of watchtowers doctrinal presentation on blood that is more often than not overlooked for its significance, which is tremendous.

you can read the details in the article blood what happened at watchtower in 1945?

Hoffnung

Hi Marvin,

Thank you for your continously great work of research. Please go on.

Best Regards

Hoffnung

40

My article on Russia's ban of JW's

by honorsthesis in

i am a columinst for cornell university's "the diplomacist".

i recently wrote an article on the various troubles jehovah's witnesses are facing in russia.

i try to make the point that, even if you do not support the witnesses (and most don't) you should support freedom of thought, expression and religion.. if you are interested in checking it out, here it is: "snuffing out religious freedom in russia".

Hoffnung

Jehovah's Witnesses are as free as someone with a gun pointed to his head. The person wants to run away, but the criminal says: If you run, I'll shoot you. Technically, he is free to run, but in reality, he is held hostage. The organization does not respect the rights of the individual Witness. It is too bad this has not yet been confirmed in higher courts.

80

What is it with all the men waking up but the wives stay in? Why is it the opposite for me?

by Cadellin in

this is something i've thought about for a while now.

it seems like the same story on this board over and over--the husband, who also might be an elder, ms, etc.--starts having doubts and researching, aka miseryloveselders and franklin massey and others.

he starts to smell the coffee and realizes that this organization isn't what it claims to be.

Hoffnung

As a MS, I was in around in the congregation kitchen and saw too many cockroaches doing the cooking, and carcasses lying around. This could not be a healthfull environment to prepare spiritual food.

61

Wow, This is Getting Tougher!

by Franklin Massey in

jw
friends

i'm having a really hard time giving my meeting parts.

i had a service meeting part this week and i could hardly get through it.

i am no longer convinced of some of the things jws teach and so i try to either eliminate those things from my parts, or reword them so that i'm not speaking about that which i do not personally believe.

Hoffnung

Let love for your fellowman guide your thoughts and actions.

Every situation is different, and only you can estimate what impact your decision will have on the people around you. Not to forget you cannot violate your conscience for too long either. If you cannot step down, what about telling bros and sisters in private that you do not always fully agree with the society, but that sometimes you have to say these things because it is in the outline/KM/WT article. It might help them to put it in a relative perspective. Can you bring yourself to encourage a youngster to consider a college education as something worthy to pursue? There is much you can do on a personal/private level to balance things out.

My wife and I decided to stay "in" because her mother is suffering severely from a Multiple Sclerosis type of sickness. My MIL just clings to the big A - big cure hope, and I cannot bring myself to take that last straw away from her. Even when we know it will never come. I love her too much to add this to her sufferings, let alone losing her only daughter and SIL in an "apostasy-disfellowshipment". But that is just for us, in our current situation. If we would get kids, that would become a very different ball game.

24

I've Taken So Much From This Board ...

by snowbird in

jw
friends

sometimes, i feel guilty that i haven't given back as much.. i hate feeling like a moocher.. perhaps, one day i will be able to reciprocate all the good y'all have been to and for me.. love.

.

syl.

Hoffnung

We would miss your posts dearly.

40

My article on Russia's ban of JW's

by honorsthesis in

i am a columinst for cornell university's "the diplomacist".

i recently wrote an article on the various troubles jehovah's witnesses are facing in russia.

i try to make the point that, even if you do not support the witnesses (and most don't) you should support freedom of thought, expression and religion.. if you are interested in checking it out, here it is: "snuffing out religious freedom in russia".

Hoffnung

Hello honorsthesis,

I am afraid I have to disagree with your opinion and article. Whereas the russian authorities indeed go too far in violating the personal integrity of individual witnesses, it is the OBLIGATION of the russian state to protect their citizens from harmful influences. The Watchtower Society is not afraid to appeal to Supreme Courts and the EHCR for the Freedom of Speech, but does not feel inclined to grant this same Freedom of Speech to their own members, and even less so to ex-members. They do not have any problem to resort to outright lies to get recognition as a religion in Bulgaria. They do not feel pressed to disclose to their own members the Watchtower Society was a member of the United Nations when their own writings condemned this organization at the SAME TIME (see their Revelation - Climax book 1988, still considered current teaching today). They do not feel responsible for the premature death of members in medical needs, forced to refuse transfusions of blood, plasma, leukocytes, red blood cells and platelets. Individual witnesses know that they WILL get disfellowshipped or considered disassociated if they do not refuse this treatment, thereby being cut off completely from family and friends for life. The Society does not feel responsible for the loss of a country when bright youngsters are told not to get a proper education. Less then 5% of witnesses have college education, the majority of these BEFORE they became witnesses. They have never admitted that their doctrines are based upon a chronology that is neither backed up by science or the bible, every attempt from individual witnesses to bring this to the attention, has led to the ultimate punishment of the individual (Carl Olof Jonsson - the Gentile Times Reconsidered). They have never accepted responsiblity for any wrong teaching they learned, and many there were, some with very bad consequences, e.g. forbidding vaccinations for decades. I can go on and on and on.

Although civil rights are problematic in Russia, the Watchtower Society does not deserve the preferential status it has enjoyed in western countries during all these decades. As cults are dangerous for people, it is the full right of the Russian state to declare it illegal, and have its activities suspended. Please do some more research before you defend such an enemy of democratic rights. The methods of Russia might be questionable, but their target is not. What could help Russia is educating the general population about the dangers of cults, using the Witnesses as an example. From Europe with love.