Posts by Retrovirus

60

How many here have never been one of Jehovah's Witnesses?

by Spade in

how many here have never been one of jehovah's witnesses?

there seems to be a common denominator of former witnesses who accuse the watchtower society of being a false organization.

what they crave is acknowledgment that their way is the best way.

Retrovirus

Spade,

How many here have never been one of Jehovah's Witnesses?

That would be me. Although the rest of your post addresses ex-jws.

They all claim how wonderful it is that they have escaped the “lies” of the Watchtower society by using foul language, derogatory terms and sexual innuendos with each other.

No more foul language and innuendo than my fellow office workers, or indeed most people trying to avoid boring the audience.

have these so called “enlightened” individuals found something better? Have they found the truth?

IMHO, "truth" is subjective, and changes over time for many individuals, As indeed the Watchtower's "truth" changes over time.

The statistics here are hypothetical but anyone would get the point and why those with a commitment to intellectual integrity, objectivity and honest debate would find the variety of conflicting doctrines disconcerting

That is so Watchtower, loaded language (integrity, objectivity, honest) and then defining what people with these qualities would

'find". It is neither honest nor objective to write stuff like this without supporting it.

Retro

16

"Apostates main topic is always Disfellowshipping! And I agree with the arrangement 100%"

by sabastious in

there are a lot of witnesses that have examined the df'ing arrangement and deem it worthy to be the main force of discipline for god's earthly organization.

the prodfers as i just named them, are advovates of the policy and believe that it churns out, once the offender returns through the system in place, very "spiritual" people.. think about this process and figure out what the desired result the originator of the policy was:.

the subject is acused of a "high end sin" (requires the quantification of sin).if subject has been viewed by two or more witnesses a private hearing is formed with a panel of three elders.the subject is interogated by the panel of elders and information is gathered using policies from a secret elder handbook.

Retrovirus

The requirement to attend meetings, but like a ghost; be ignored by all your former "friends" - appals me.

I know children can be cruel, but how, how can "mature Christian" adults do this to another? Surely, it demonstrates repentance that the DF'd person attends the meeting? How could anyone justify making it a torture session?

16

"Apostates main topic is always Disfellowshipping! And I agree with the arrangement 100%"

by sabastious in

there are a lot of witnesses that have examined the df'ing arrangement and deem it worthy to be the main force of discipline for god's earthly organization.

the prodfers as i just named them, are advovates of the policy and believe that it churns out, once the offender returns through the system in place, very "spiritual" people.. think about this process and figure out what the desired result the originator of the policy was:.

the subject is acused of a "high end sin" (requires the quantification of sin).if subject has been viewed by two or more witnesses a private hearing is formed with a panel of three elders.the subject is interogated by the panel of elders and information is gathered using policies from a secret elder handbook.

Retrovirus

Perhaps I missed it, but what about the requirement for a DF'd person to attend meetings? While being shunned all the time.

Retro

31

Hello Everyone!!!

by Crank!!! in

jw
friends

this is my very first post here at jwn.

i have been "lurking" here for a few months as i have slowly faded over the past year.

so i figured it was time to become a full blown jw opposer, and i tell you it couldnt feel better!.

Retrovirus

Welcome, and I look forward to hearing your story! This is a great place for learning to understand the jw religion.

Retro

54

I am new here too!

by NVR2L8 in

jw
friends

for a long while i have been coming to this site on a daily basis and i think it is time to introduce myself.

here we go: my parents learned the truth when i was 4 and i don't have childhood memories of how life was before they converted.

i was a model jw child, although quite mischievous at school.

Retrovirus

That's sad, NVR2L8.

I've seen how older jw's cling to the hope and the routine. My older jw visitor has Parkinsons, and tells me every visit that she believes that "soon" she'll have a perfect healthy body. I asked here on another thread if it wouldn't be better not to disturb her beliefs.

Trouble is, they go in service to the poorer people and to new immigrants. If they gain converts, and the converts or their kids wake up, every chance of another broken family. Hard to know what's right sometimes.

I do hope it works out for your family; that your wife gradually comes to understand, and that there are no confrontations.

Retro

54

I am new here too!

by NVR2L8 in

jw
friends

for a long while i have been coming to this site on a daily basis and i think it is time to introduce myself.

here we go: my parents learned the truth when i was 4 and i don't have childhood memories of how life was before they converted.

i was a model jw child, although quite mischievous at school.

Retrovirus

NVR2L8,

Hi again. Yes, I saw that article too (more earthquakes will come), it was in the issue that had a lot about Haiti, wasn't it? When you realise that the wt has admitted there is no increase in earthquakes in the last 100 years, it's clear that the intention is to deceive honest members.

Based on my family and friend jws, I'm sure that you family that are "in" are made very afraid by your change of heart. Sometimes I have to avoid all religious subjects for weeks, just to keep the relationships alive. I try to concentrate on "broadening" the friendship by looking for other topics, or meeting them in a different place and just having a good time together.

I live in hope that the many restrictions on reading and entertainment, and lack of socialising within the wt might lead them to wonder why they enjoy themselves more somewhere else, and that if they do awaken, they'll know they have at least one friend out there.

Retro

54

I am new here too!

by NVR2L8 in

jw
friends

for a long while i have been coming to this site on a daily basis and i think it is time to introduce myself.

here we go: my parents learned the truth when i was 4 and i don't have childhood memories of how life was before they converted.

i was a model jw child, although quite mischievous at school.

Retrovirus

NVR2L8,

It makes perfect sense - and btw, English wasn't my first language either. I found it amazing that the jws would blindly accept such claims in the wt literature, and then be confident to "teach" me the "truth" without any further checking.

And when I pointed out the retraction in 2002, they checked it, and were equally confident that the biblical reference to earthquakes as a sign meant that they affected more people, or caused more damage, or more distress - of course, none of which can be verified in any way.

Now I understand better, I've learned a lot here about the jw mindset, and also that jws are scared away from reading anything outside wt literature and discouraged from getting a good education.

As you keep reading, you'll find the shoddy claims extend to anything that contradicts the current beliefs. I find it quite difficult to chat with my jw friends without offending them by pointing out too much too soon. A little at a time, and much patience is needed.

All the best, Retro

54

I am new here too!

by NVR2L8 in

jw
friends

for a long while i have been coming to this site on a daily basis and i think it is time to introduce myself.

here we go: my parents learned the truth when i was 4 and i don't have childhood memories of how life was before they converted.

i was a model jw child, although quite mischievous at school.

Retrovirus

Hi again NVR2L8,

have you looked at jwfacts.com yet? (www.jwfacts.com).

The section on eathquakes lists all the times the wt said the frequency was increasing, and also the vague and hidden retraction in 2002.

The jws that visit me still believed that there had been a massive increase this century.

Retro.

54

I am new here too!

by NVR2L8 in

jw
friends

for a long while i have been coming to this site on a daily basis and i think it is time to introduce myself.

here we go: my parents learned the truth when i was 4 and i don't have childhood memories of how life was before they converted.

i was a model jw child, although quite mischievous at school.

Retrovirus

Welcome!

Congratulations on being strong enough to follow your own conscience! I'm not a jw but have some idea (less than many here!) of how hard it is.

Be patient with your wife, and I devoutly hope the situation improves over time.

Retro.

206

I need a show of hands: who believes the Bible and to what extent?

by Terry in

i'll start off.. i don't believe anything is divine about bible writings.

i believe there may be some marginal history although not much.

i think alot of folk tales and regional myths are contained in the old testament.

Retrovirus

As Quentin said:

Is the Bible inspired and inerrant? No. Can you read the Bible and be inspired by it's contents? Yes.

The Bible contains a lot of good stuff, but also is clearly influenced by customs and beliefs of the time and also agendas. Additionally it contradicts itself all over the place.

I trust my own conscience more than any particular interpretation of Bible "truths".