Posts by Quendi

9

Letters Elder Resignation and Withdrawal!

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

14 years ago

elder resignation and withdrawal!

today i added a new article to my blog showing the result of watchtowers means and methods on the ranks of good folks within the community of jehovahs witnesses.

this article contains a set of letters that are self-explanatory.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

This episode took place some twenty-three years ago. If conditions were that bad then, how much worse are they today? I have said before that no man of good conscience should serve as an elder in any congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses because that makes him an accessory to the evils the WTS is determined to pursue. The tactics this former elder outlines in his letters that were used against him come right out of the Inquisitions of the Middle Ages! Such a spirit of lying, subterfuge, and deceit reflects the personality of Satan and not Christ. How ironic that this organization, which claims to be firmly opposed to Satan and his minions, copies their methods so well.

In all likelihood by now this man and his wife have both gone to their rest. It would seem that they did so at peace with God and themselves. I can only hope that the WTS is not so fortunate. Its sins and crimes must be atoned for because the organization has wrecked the lives of many good people. If this is how an elder is treated when a cloud of suspicion comes over him, what would it be like for a simple publisher? May the WTS reap what it has sown and may I live to see the day!

Quendi

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22

Does 2 John 10-11 encourage shunning ex JW's?

by TimothyT in

14 years ago

i was reading john's second letter before in my nlt bible and i came accross the scriptures used to back up the act of shunning former jw's.

in my bible it reads totaly contrary to the way the jw's say, so i decided to get out the old nwt bible which gives exactly the same ideas.

here are some of my thoughts:.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

As it has done with so many other passages, the WTS has taken 2 John 9-11 entirely out of context. But this should not be surprising to us. The apostle Peter warned against those who who were 'untaught and unsteady' and who would twist the Scriptures to advance their own thinking. It was true in the first century and it is true now in the twenty-first. When I pointed out John's real meaning to my judicial committee, the silence that followed was deafening.

Seeing how the WTS has twisted the Bible, ignorance about the teachings of Jesus is a given. When I told my judicial committee that its proceedings were nothing like the course Jesus recommended in the parable of the Prodigal Son and that Jesus said he was "the way, the truth, and the life" and not the "faithful and discreet slave", I was answered with angry and furious words. Looking back on my experience with those men now, the kindest thing they ever did for me was denying my reinstatement. That eventually set me on the spiritual path I'm on now and I'm all the better for it. From what you have shared with us, TimothyT, so are you.

Quendi

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19

Non NWT use in Public Talks

by cantleave in

14 years ago

i am sure that when i gave talks, although the nwt was always the main bible used, other translations could be used to make a point.. the elders recived a letter dated may10th 2011 re:public speakers and it stated under the subheading "reading from scriptures".

scriptures should be read by the speaker rather than requesting a volunteer from the audience.

the new world translation should be used, if available.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

I agree that this directive is just one more control device the WTS has implemented on the rank and file. Years ago, I used to bring both the NWT and the Jerusalem Bible to the meetings. I can remember more than one occasion when the Witness handling a meeting part would specifically ask me to read a passage from the Jerusalem Bible. Many of the Witnesses told me how much they liked its fresh, vibrant renderings of many passages. I loved reading from it when I did my personal study as well.

The WTS has now shown how much it respects the Word of God which is to say it has none at all. Its stance reminds me of other fundamentalists who insist on using only the outdated, antiquated, and error-filled Authorized Version of the Bible. Telling people there is one and only one translation/version of the Bible to read is religious tyranny, but what else should we expect from an organization that believes its ex cathedra pronouncements are infallible?

Quendi

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17

Post disfellowshipped: My first experience within "Babylon the Great"

by TimothyT in

14 years ago

in need of my continuing search for spirituality and my desire to find a church where i can be welcomed and have good enjoyable spiritual conversation with its members, jack and i decided today that we would visit the baptist church near his home.

it was punkofnice who suggested it.

x. well... i loved it!.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

Congratulations, Tim and Jack, on your visit to the Baptist church. I hope both of you find the loving and welcoming community you're seeking. As for me, I attended my second service at Denver's Metropolitan Community Church of the Rockies on Sunday. The service was again delightful, but the message the pastor gave was wonderful. He talked about the events of ten years ago but rather than talk about patriotism he talked about the need for love and forgiveness. All of us appreciated what he had to say as it spoke directly to the somber and solemn mood much of the country was in on Sunday.

I'm meeting other people and while I haven't started any friendships--this was only my second time there after all--I am feeling more comfortable. The church has a custom of having different members host welcoming dinners for new ones. This happens once a month. I won't be able to attend September's love feast, but I plan to go next month. Can you imagine anything like that taking place in a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses? And can you imagine any congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses the majority of whom are gay as they are at MCCR? We all know the answers to those questions.

I am already appreciating the freedom of speech and thought that I am enjoying at this church. This is a Christian church, so the emphasis is on the life, work, and ministry of Jesus Christ, but nobody is compelled to believe a rigid set of doctrines and teachings. The Bible is referenced and read and members are free to share their understanding of Scripture with one another, the idea being to use the Bible to guide, comfort, and help one another. But nobody is going to be expelled for holding a point of view different from that of a fellow believer. I'm looking forward to worship next Sunday and on the following Sunday, 25 September, the church will celebrate its ninth anniversary with a picnic. That's something else you rarely see nowadays in a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses: a large social gathering of people where fun and frolic as well as good food is shared.

I never thought I would be a church-goer after abandoning the WTS, but in my case I have come to realize that I need to be part of a faith-community. That is because I need to be in a place not just to receive good things from others, but to contribute them as well. I wasn't allowed to contribute what abilities I had whilst one of Jehovah's Witnesses because I was judged to be too much of a free-thinker and was said to be "uncooperative". But I have already been told at MCCR that any way I want to contribute to the good of the community will be welcomed with no strings attached. What a difference! And how opposite from the unloving, guilt-ridden and coercive ways I experienced in the WTS.

Quendi

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25

The Meetings Really Suck Lately

by Pika_Chu in

jw
friends

14 years ago

warning.....profanity ahead...wimps may want to leave this page.... perhaps it's stupid bringing this up when all you guys are up to speed with how the gb is full of shit anyway, but i just feel like complaining about it.

the borg is royally fucked up, and we need to call them out on it.. all the talks are about armageddon being close, closer than ever, etc.

you know, the usual crap...we've all heard a thousand times...puke puke.... then there's the added factor that everyone in my congo is actually convinced that they cannot miss even a single meeting.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

I am glad that Pika_Chu has shared his story with us and I want to wish him all the best. In time, my friend, you will find the circumstances that will allow you to exit from this cult for good and all. You already have support among us on this board, but this is a virtual community. You need to find a real one that will accept, respect, and love you for who you really are. That can take some time, and for many of us came only after we left the WTS. But for now, you are in pain and are looking for relief. Since you are still living at home, leaving the WTS could pose major problems, but you must set that as a goal. Once that is done, then you can stop participating in the meetings, going out in the field service, and doing the other Witness things. In the meantime, I leave you with this thought from Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken":

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

  —Robert Frost

Quendi

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41

Was today's WT study an indictment of us who still attend the KH?

by compound complex in

14 years ago

given the interest shown in today's wt study, i got to thinking that the society knows many of us still attend meetings.

the wording of today's lesson doesn't allude only to outsider's breaking in with their filthy apostate literature and tv interviews but also to satanic insider's working the faithful sheep in the pen.. we've discussed on other threads how jwn and like sites appear to be monitored.

of course, the society's literature never clues the reader in on what exactly apostates teach nor how we infiltrators do our clandestine work of sabotaging the sheep's faith.. any thoughts?.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

As I have posted elsewhere, I fully understand CoCo's reasons for his continued association with the WTS and Jehovah's Witnesses. I was disfellowshipped and lost practically all the friends I had in the organization. I still communicate with a few, but as far as the rest are concerned, I might as well be dead. I occasionally get second-hand messages from some saying they wish I would come back, but as it has been six years since I was expelled I think most of them realize now I will not return.

I was also one of those ardent sycophants who toed the WTS line and gladly spread its propaganda. My reasons for doing so were that I sincerely thought I was doing Jehovah's will and that any doubts, difficulties, and problems I may have had with dogma, doctrine, and practice would be resolved in due time if I were only faithful and patient. Being disfellowshipped and constantly frustrated in my efforts to be reinstated taught me otherwise. The sheep's covering was ripped off and I got to see the ravenous wolf underneath. Now I wouldn't enter a Kingdom Hall even if I were surrounded by enemies and it alone offered escape.

The "spiritual paradise" the WTS tells its adherents they inhabit is actually a spiritual police state. The organization has always been xenophobic, but now it has decided to create a climate of fear and suspicion among the rank and file. The combination of warning against internal enemies and that the end of the world is imminent is a very effective one. Yesterday's Watchtower study clearly demonstrated that with its dark message and supporting comments made in different congregations as others have posted.

I hope CoCo and others like him succeed in rescuing their loved ones. I wish my closest friends would abandon the WTS as well, but I have little hope of that happening. It would take a monumental scandal that would touch the very highest levels of the organization for them to open their eyes and get out. I have shared my reasons for refusing to return with my friends to no avail. They tell me I have succumbed to arrogance and pride, and prefer listening to embittered apostates rather than Jehovah's duly appointed organization. So we have gone our separate ways, but if matters should turn out otherwise and the WTS is racked by scandal or suffers a defeat of some kind, my friends will find me more than willing to help them.

Quendi

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46

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-11-2011 WT Study (CLEAR WARNINGS)

by blondie in

jw
friends

14 years ago

(b) from where do false teachers often come, and.

false teachers are like dried-up.

about false teachers.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

I want to thank you for your review of this week's Watchtower study, Blondie. Besides the great comments, I especially appreciated the hyperlinks which detail WTS hypocrisy and errors in other matters.

Quendi

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51

Not Raising My Hand at Tomorrow's WT Study.

by compound complex in

14 years ago

greetings, friends:.

wishing you all a pleasant weekend.

committed to attend tomorrow's meeting at the kingdom hall, i've decided that i am going because i love my friends and family.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

I am anxious for our friend CoCo's report and how the congregation responded to the Watchtower study. I know that he will be in agony listening to a study that is filled with contempt for the truth and hatred for others. But his motives are good as he wishes to preserve peace in his family. His actions make me think of what Don Cameron wrote in his book Captives of a Concept, that there is no honorable way to leave the WTS. This cult is not content with keeping a stranglehold on its members. It must reach beyond and wreak havoc with those members' friends and relatives who no longer wish to have anything to do with it.

A religion like this does not deserve any respect and/or support. I feel for those of our family and friends who are still trapped inside. They remind me of those traveling through a hot and thirsty desert who espy water far off not realizing that it is a mirage. Having traveled through such wastes and seen such sights I know how alluring they can be. CoCo knows this too, and I hope the day comes when he'll no longer be under the constraints and obligations he now has and can go free. I wish the same for all who are under those circumstances.

Quendi

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20

oops, absence noted ...

by talesin in

jw
friends

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

I'm thinking about you and glad that you are on the mend. I look forward to your contributions again.

Quendi

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13

A chance encounter that proved how much I've grown.

by purpleplus in

jw
friends

14 years ago

while at a gas station, i saw an acquaintance from my jw days.

i spoke to him first and he responded.

we had a little small talk.

14 years ago

Quendi 14 years ago

Congratulations on exercising your freedom of conscience, speech, and choice! Regardless of how your former JW colleague may have viewed the encounter, you've taken another step into a much larger and better world.

Quendi

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