Posts by Retrovirus

20

Were you surpised how little the "world" new about JW's after you left?

by donny in

i have been out of the jw organization for some time now and have been fairly active in discussing my adventures in watchtower with those who are interested.

what really surprised me in the first few years after leaving was how little the "world" knew about jw's.

we were taught that we have been warning the unwashed for 100+ years and they resist the message because satan keeps them from grasping this "good news".. in the many discussions i have had with these folks since leaving, it is amazing how little or no understanding about jw's beyond the blood issue and holidays they have.

Retrovirus

...I find the vast majority of people know little to nothing about them despite their never-ending "preaching work".

And as a non-jw I'd suggest that a large reason is that it isn't "preaching", it's selling. JWs don't come to the door to tell you you may not have a blood transfusion and you must regard your family and close friends as "walking corpses", they tell you that Paradise will be here 'soon' and everything wrong with the world will be 'fixed'. A bible study will tell you how!

If the householder already knows some of the typically jw beliefs they sometimes offer a weak defense, but quickly move on.

The great majority of what people know about jws is from contacts like Talesin, and from sites like these.

Retro

19

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 04-22-2012 WT Study (POSITIVE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

a loving spirit in the congregation.

be zealous in the ministry.

9. how does our attitude toward the field ministry.

Retrovirus

Paragraph 7 : "True friends keep personal matters confidential"

Paragraph 16: "If he or she does not do so within a reasonable perion of time, though, we should report the wrongdoing"

Confidentiality? Well, when it suits us. . .

45

Introduction Bio

by JakeM2012 in

jw
friends

hi everyone, i would like to introduce myself and tell my story.

from the standpoint of being one of jehovahs witnesses, my whole family is deeply involved as i was the 5th generation of witness and any children that my brothers or sister have will be the sixth generation.

as some of my brothers and sisters are grandparents, i guess that makes their grandchildren a potential 7th generation.

Retrovirus

Great introduction bio and an excellent read! Also wonderful that your wife is out with you.

And you are right, the demonizing of higher education should be criminal!

Welcome again, Retro

32

Talked to 2 Elders Today

by 2tone in

jw
friends

i had a conversation on the phone today with two different elders today.

i dont want to post the topic that we discussed on here at this time.

they had a problem with something going on in my life and i said where is it written that this is a problem.

Retrovirus

Hi 2tone, just to clear up, I didn't mean that you had indulged in brazen conduct, but whether the elders could use it as a catch all.

The situation as you described it is certainly no business of anyone else. when I was "studying" I was often amazed at how pushy my study conductor and the other one could be; enquiring into any problem I hinted at, asking openly about the "attitude" of family members, insisting that I fin time for a visit from the CO etc.

They don't seem to understand privacy and boundaries.

32

Talked to 2 Elders Today

by 2tone in

jw
friends

i had a conversation on the phone today with two different elders today.

i dont want to post the topic that we discussed on here at this time.

they had a problem with something going on in my life and i said where is it written that this is a problem.

Retrovirus

Brazen conduct?

23

Female Householder Stabbed/Raped by Purported JW in Tennessee

by skeeter1 in

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_368.shtml .

marion county assault victim remains hospitalized.

by karen zatkulak .

Retrovirus

Hi and welcome, nonjwspouse!

Perhaps you could start a topic with as much of your story as you'd like to share? From the home page, select your

forum and hit "New Topic" on the blue bar at the top.

Look forward to more of your posts, Retro

16

Identifying marks of the true religion

by ex360shipper in

saw this on jwtalk they were putting down apostates and posted this quote:.

watchtower 1982 3/1 p. 8. .

identifying marks of true religion .

Retrovirus

OK, I'll give it a go:

1. Those who practice it have genuine love among themselves

The "genuine" is a classic jw weasel word, implying that any love in the "worldly" world is fake. Ask them to define "genuine" vs "non-genuine" love and how to identify it.

2. (I'll leave to @Vanderhoven7)

3. They pray for God to sanctify his name

And so do all Christians who use the Lord's Prayer. They just don't incorrectly call that name "Jehovah".

4. They proclaim God’s kingdom in all the earth

Many Christian churches have missionaries and evangelists. Nor is the jw "coverage" in any way complete, or likely to be so "soon".

5. They keep separate from the world’s affairs

Not exactly. They accept pensions, health benefits and other allowances wherever they can. There's nothing creditable about taking and sneering at the giver.

6. They cultivate the fruitage of God’s spirit

Whatever that may mean. I think it means expelling (disfellowshipping) any deemed to fall short; so much for "genuine" love! Also, once again they cannot define exactly how they do this "better" than other denominations.

7. They obey all human laws not contrary to God’s law

And other denomination do not? This is not a distinguishing mark. Worse, they have flagrantly disobeyed the Working With Children legislation in Victoria until called on it. Even now many go door to door without a WWC card.

So how do these "prove" that they are the One True Faith?

Retro

9

Forget about your exams - go for a weeks ministry June public WT

by dozy in

bearing in mind that every experience in the watchtower has some kind of agenda behind it , what about this experience of a london girl going to ireland to preach & have a holiday.

i was just waiting for the inevitable "i came home & passed all my exams with flying colours.

" but it didn't say.. and what kind of responsible parent would take a child on holiday so that she could " take her mind off her exams.

Retrovirus

From the same article . .

". . and I took the ferry to tiny Heir Island, home to fewer than 30 people. Jesus did say that the

good news must be preached in

all the inhabited earth!"

Hope her exam wasn't in geography!

34

on the fence - an introduction

by so confused in

i was brought up around the truth.

my dad was disfellowshiped when i was young, around 6-7. he was a elder and very devoted even going to jail when he was younger for the truth.

he had a stroke and started preaching things that the society was not teaching and he was disfellowshiped.

Retrovirus

Welcome, So Confused!

Yes, the Bible does say the heart is treacherous, but since the governing body selectively claim not to be prophets, isn't it possible that their hearts are treacherous too? Despite many backtrackings and changes of mind, they seem to have a problem with lowering their crests enough to admit they were wrong!

I'm not a jw but did raise my children as a single parent, and I understand your need to keep your son happy and safe. Perhaps you could read through some experiences of jw childhoods - they don't sound all that happy to me!

Also remember that many young born-ins are leaving the organisation, even when both parents are still believers. My SIL is a JW (brother is not) and their children have chosen not to be JWs. If you could remain a believer, would you ever shun your child?

Best wishes, and keep researching. God gave us brains for a reason!

Retro

101

Victoria, Australia: A MUST READ-Transcript of audio recording of WT letter read to all Victoria congs Oct/Nov. 2011 re: Working With Children Act

by AndersonsInfo in

see www.jwnews.net, steven unthank's private blog site where he posted the following material.

i enlarged and put in bold the third paragraph of the wt's letter where the elder, an ex-bethelite, made some fascinating errors while reading the letter by using the words, "borg" and "perp.

" does this mean what i think it means?

Retrovirus

From the transcript:

However, this is the second point, if we are in regular contact with a minor, someone under the age of 18, we may still be required by law to have a Working with Children Check (my underlining)

This is simply wrong. As I understand WWC (and I live in Melbourne) you need the WWC card if there is a possiblility that your work or volunteering could be with children, and you need the card before you come into contact with children.

For example I'm a palliative care volunteer, and have so far not worked with children, but as a condition of being a recognised volunteer I do have a current WWC card. So surely any JW who engages in field service should have to get the WWC card first?

Retro