Henry Goriup
Harvey McFaddeyn
Doug Jones....names from the past...have not been to a meeting for a couple of years.
Henry Goriup
Harvey McFaddeyn
Doug Jones....names from the past...have not been to a meeting for a couple of years.
should i do it this year - which would be the minimum five year interval, or wait until the maximum ten year interval?.
divine guidance is needed..
James, I have similar issues with my K1200GT BMW motorcycle...not only do I have to take off the whole fairing to do any mechanical service, but when it comes to even changing the spark plugs I have to take the radiator out...talk about "smart" engineering. On the other end, the thrill of riding this 152 HP machine makes me forget the maintenance assles and high cost.
was talking with blackman the other day and reflecting on our past and we were discussing some trials we went thru together, namely bethel.
our friendship has endured thru days of pioneering together, bethel and now full fledged post jw apostasy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1.
what we were talking about was other friends of ours who went thru and endured some severe bullshit at bethel.
Designs, I had the same experience when a brother called me from across the world only to ask where was the DC was being held in my area because a sister from his congregation was traveling abroad with her unbelieving husband and she didn't want to miss the convention. I used to work with this brother and since he moved away over ten years ago we hadn't spoken. The conversation was limited to answering his question and he was in a hurry to hang up without sharing any news about his family. Last week I received another call from a brother I haven't spoken with for 15 years...all he was interested in was for me to get him a deal for equipment to be used in a new assenbly hall. I feel so loved by the brotherhood...
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my wife and i were invited to dinner by a coworker of hers.
I remember going out for breakfast with an elder in the restaurent where his disfellowshipped sister worked...you guessed it we were seated in her section...she was very polite and friendly toward us but I could see that he was keeping the conversation to the minimum...no how are you, how are the kids, you are looking well...What a shame to have so little natural affection.
was talking with blackman the other day and reflecting on our past and we were discussing some trials we went thru together, namely bethel.
our friendship has endured thru days of pioneering together, bethel and now full fledged post jw apostasy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1.
what we were talking about was other friends of ours who went thru and endured some severe bullshit at bethel.
The friendships are centered around congregation activities with some few exceptions as occasional "social" activities. If your best friend moves to a neighbouring congregation in very little time you will have nothing to do with him. The same goes for family members. The regimen of activities required from JWs leaves very little time for real friendships so you have to content with "friends" who slave at the same congregation activities...By the way a true friend would be someone you can confide in expecting that they will not judge you or betray confidentiality...this does not exist among JWs...
as a special "thank you" gift to the watch tower society's team of lawyers for getting jwsurvey shut down yesterday, i have written a new article focussing on the experience of the nigeria plane crash from pages 29 and 30 of the 2013 yearbook.
the experience purports to be about the relief committee set up to assist a witness family whose home was destroyed by a deadly plane crash that claimed over 150 lives rather than the freak survival of the family because they obediently attended their meeting.. still, the reaction of witnesses on facebook unmistakably demonstrates that the real aim of the watchtower propaganda machine was mostly achieved in this article.
despite the fact that two witnesses were recently killed in a bus crash on their way to an assembly, apparently those who obey the bible's command to not forsake gathering together will experience "jehovah's hand" of protection.. here is the link.... http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/we-have-truly-seen-jehovahs-hand-the-shocking-side-of-watchtower-propaganda.
Excellent article Cedars,
I read some of the FB comments and was shocked by the lack of empathy towards the victims. The other thing that struck me is that all comments are clichés taken right out of a WT publication and spewed without any thought given to them...they all sound like mindless clones. As soon as one comment calls them to reason they automatically deduct that their are facing an apostate...even when what is said is scripturally correct.
Afrikana, thanks for your comment...I was just researching this event that occured in Nigeria early November. There has been several other tragedies affecting JWs during 2012 including the murder of a young married sister in Oregon by a neighbour JW who raped her before shooting her. I also read the story of JWs from Texas that were in field service when their car mysteriously speed off and landed upside down in a ditch drowning all 4...
I would be interested to hear JWs answer the following questions: How does Jehovah choose amongst his faithful servants who he protects vs who he allows to die? Isn't he an impartial god? If the family that survived for being at the Kingdom Hall had been visiting the shopping mall or had been at the beach instead, would they have still survived? Does their survival have anything to do with where they were or where they weren't? What about all their neighbours that survived but do not go to the Kingdom Hall? Who saved them? If they were at their church, should they now never forsake their gathering of worshippers of false religion? The "Bible teach" book clearly says Jehovah does not intervene in the favour of humans because this may lead people to believe that Satan's world can succeed...So when JWs die in a tragedy it is seen as unforseen events...but when they survive it is seen like divine intervention...which is it...
while reading the thread about the jw elder clearing his conscience, i had the thought.... .
while taking everyone's experiences in the jw org at face value, we all certainly had different influences present around us concerning education.. .
it is clear to me that within the jw org, there is a spectrum running from hard-liners to very liberal, in this particular matter.
I was in High School in the late 60s and I quit before graduating because the Awake said I wouldn't have time to go to college or have a career. I also married young because I didn't want to live single eternally. Due to not having a diploma and a family at a young age, I always felt I had to work twice as hard as the next guy to keep my job. This also affected my finances because I didn't earn much for a long while and I didn't believe in investing for retirement. Fortunately I worked under people who saw my potential and they provided me the oportunity to grow within the company where I stayed for almost 30 years. With no Armaggedon in sight I started saving for my retirement and I have done well financially. Still, there is no telling what I could have accomplished if I had the right credentials or if I had used my drive in business rather than in the cult...
http://www.jw.org.
http://www.mormon.org.
has anyone noticed the site is veeeery similar?
Sir82,
I doubt the WTS would hire an external firm for their website...they often brag of the accomplishments of their in-house projects...MEPS (program developped to print in multiple languages) is one example. Also I know of some IT engineers who volunteer their time and expertise so the WTS doesn't have to pay external firms...
tonight i watched a program from the bbc that was a follow up for a previous report on scientology.
several members and leaders have left the cult and they were willing to go on camera and explain how scientology is a dangerous cult.
when i was an active jw i knew that scientology was a cult but i didn't realize they shared many practices with the jws.
Hello Robert: My daughter who disassociated 15 years ago came for a visit and her and I openly discussed why I was no longer going to the Kingdom Hall. My wife listened in from a distance and I could see that it was bothering her. Later she told me she I disrespected her religion and she didn't want to hear it in her own house...I replied that it was my house to and that I was entitled to express my opinion. She then said that she doesn't talk about her faith in my presence so I should do the same and keep my beliefs to myself. In regards to TV programs I watch, I remember watch a few reports on JW child abuse with her while I was still in. Of course we agreed that shouldn't be watching and but we did because we may have to answer questions in the ministry...we also thought that there were just a few disgruntle ex-JWs who had an axe to grind. On another note...the following link appeared under my opening post...quite powerful for Scientology to have their message available on JWN... Truth About Scientology Scientology.org Think For Yourself and Find Out For Yourself
here i am, sat at my computer.
i feel an odd clamness as i sit alone in my house.
my wife and kids have just left for the meeting.
Jonno, use the time to do something you love...when my wife goes to the meeting I spend time in the garage tinkering on my cars and on Sunday I go on a motorcycle ride...I return in time to have lunch with my wife and spend the rest of the day with her. In the winter I go out to play hockey with my new buddies...I no longer feel odd or guilty for not going along with the endoctrinations program.