Posts by DesirousOfChange

60

Rec'd a letter from my Dad - need some advice...

by Fadeaway3pointer in

fader here - last meeting was in autumn 2005. lurker on this site and others.

not one to get all controversial.. typical situation, pretty much a born in and left the church at age 38 and never looked back.. i'm 53 now, parents getting older - late 70s but very active, dad is still an elder.. parents, in laws, brother and brother-in-law still uber active jws.. my family (wife and 2 adult children) out since 2005.. we have stayed close to our parents - we have treaded religion lightly and have had a pretty good relationship and have kept our personal lives and beliefs/opinions separated from them.

this was intentional - as we love them and do not want anything to cause shunning since they are getting older and want to be there for them and we respect their beliefs.. got this letter today.

DesirousOfChange

When pressured to respond to something like this, I remind the person (assuming I feel comfortable letting my guard down with the individual) that they are surely aware of some of the serious issues within the Borganization. (Your father would be as an elder.) (1) Million$ lost due to convictions in child abuse lawsuits. (BTW- I pose this as Jah using "Babylon" to punish His Org for their sins.) (2) Obvious errors in past "prophecy" and ridiculous "New Light" to put a bandaid on it.

My summary: To ME, these issues we are witnessing is the result of apostasy within the higher ranks of the Borg. (Another Ray Franz.) While they may feel they are being loyal by supporting the Borg, but I feel I am being loyal by supporting Jah and Bible principals. (1 Kings 18 -- Elijah did not show loyalty to the Baal worshiping kings/priests. He showed loyalty to Jah.) Based on my Bible Trained Conscience (thanks, Dad) I CANNOT support everything that we both know (but cannot dare mention) is going on in the Borg.

LET THAT SINK IN.

(BTW -- I don't really believe all that Elijah crap, but THEY do. Make them think about it! And, I have no bad thoughts regarding Ray Franz and his position.)

26

"Generation of 1914" Countdown Timer

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

so proud of this counter that i made!.

very simple yet shows the estimated amount of people that are living that are from the generation of 1914, defined as "all the people who were alive, even just barely being born, when ww1 started".. here's what i assumed:.

10% of the 1.7 billion people alive in 1914 were infants, just children.

DesirousOfChange

WHAT FLIPPER SAID (above)!

31

Don Adams has passed away

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

i received a call from a friend in new york city that don adams passed away late last evening (30 dec 2019).

many of you bethelites know him and he was the president of the society for a number of years after the gb got out of the corporate structure business.

from what i understand, he was generally liked by many there.. some in my family knew him.

DesirousOfChange

Sounds like he was a nice guy. Just deluded and deceived (as most of us were).

7

Australian Royal Commission into Child Abuse Annual Reporting

by Listener in

jw leaks (steven unthank) has listed on his website two annual reports that the austrailan bethel were required to lodge.

interestingly, they were one of only 11 organizations required to do so.there are a few interesting claims that the watchtower makes, this is from the 2019 report that they wrote -.

5. when elders learn of an accusation of child abuse, they immediately consult with the branch office of jehovah’s witnesses to ensure compliance with child abuse reporting laws.

DesirousOfChange

In their minds, they are above the rules of Caesar and beyond the "long arm of the law".

However, in the USA they are finding they are NOT beyond the long arms of the litigation attorneys! Those guys know how to get into "deep pockets" and WT has been marked as having some deep pockets!

16

Does Anyone Elses PIMI Family Do A "Not Christmas" Day?

by pale.emperor in

i was told today that my jw family had a massive family gathering with presents exchanged, drinks and a big roast dinner.

they even wore paper hats.. the day they chose for this family day?.

26th december.. totally not christmas or anything - honest.. does anyone elses family do that?

DesirousOfChange

My family usually did the "after Christmas" sales and we got as much as any other kid rec'd for Christmas, so when we went back to school we had plenty of gifts to speak of.

10

Question: When did the JWs start having judicial committees?

by Spiral in

i've been reading the book recommended by zing "soul snatchers, the mechanics of cults" (bought a used copy online) and one of the things mentioned was how cults police all aspects of their members' lives.

so it got me to wondering, when did the practice of three men (elders) having a hearing (or should we say trial) and passing judgment on a member start?

did the early bible students do this?

DesirousOfChange

There is WT article in about 1947 that condemns "excommunication" (referring to the Catholic Church). But JC's and DFing was around in the mid-60s. I remember a DF announcement when I was early teens

17

Big elders meetings?

by road to nowhere in

i hear of whole circuit meetings being held, taking all day.

maybe just usual yearly stuff, but it seems the local elders immediately held a followup.

i am sure it will be about better local control, more charity, kindness, that sort of thing.

DesirousOfChange

Big elders meeting?

Just curious if this is a meet for only "big Elders" -- meaning an Elder who is 5ft 4 in tall would not qualify?

Or is it for Big (Time) Elders? You know the ones that can't buy a hat that will fit their oversized eqo?

Must be the hangover.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

39

Is it possible to nullify a baptism?

by idk123 in

hope you are all well,.

i was wondering within the organisation if there are any guidelines or grounds for nullifying a baptism.

see i grew up a jehovah's witness and was baptised at age 13, i didn't get baptised for the right reasons, i felt pressured to because my friends were getting baptised at the same time.

DesirousOfChange

The newest scenario is not answer phone, keep track of thru relatives, go to hospital uf they are in, or as noted elsewhere return any mail. And absolutely no funeral That will bring them back to loving jehovah.

The "alternative new thing" is that there are many JWs who just ignore that shit and carry on normally with their DF kids and grandkids but know NOT to talk about it to anyone, which is why they are covertly putting the hammer down on Elders/MS who ignore the (secret) rule to shun.

39

Is it possible to nullify a baptism?

by idk123 in

hope you are all well,.

i was wondering within the organisation if there are any guidelines or grounds for nullifying a baptism.

see i grew up a jehovah's witness and was baptised at age 13, i didn't get baptised for the right reasons, i felt pressured to because my friends were getting baptised at the same time.

DesirousOfChange

Out of respect for the organization

Your thinking is fucked up. They deserve no respect. They respect no one else.

Also, Finkelstein is correct. WT lawyers have made the sworn statement in court that ONLY spiritual relationship with family members is to cease. NORMAL FAMILY RELATIONS CONTINUE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DiFM845NtE

This is a clip from the hearing. Show it to your parents. If they say that is not true, then ask them if they mean the WT Society representative (attorney) LIED UNDER OATH. If they say it is fake, ask them to contact the Branch and ask if this is their position or if they lied in Court.

Be really f&cking stumbled that WT is lying in Court. Paul said to "pray for the King" and respect the Superior Authorities. It would appear to me that something or someone way up in WTS has gone rogue (apostate)!

1

Authorities Raid Russian Jehovah’s Witnesses

by Bangalore in

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/12/31/authorities-raid-russian-jehovahs-witnesses-uthorities-raid-russian-jehovahs-witnesses-a68786.

authorities raided homes of jehovah’s witnesses in northern russia as part of a criminal probe into extremism against the banned religious organization, investigators said in a statement monday.. russia banned the christian denomination known for door-to-door preaching, close bible study and rejection of military service and blood transfusions in 2017. rights groups have condemned the crackdown against the jehovah’s witnesses as a violation of religious freedom.

investigators in the city of murmansk accused worshippers of “knowingly conducting the activities of the religious organization from april 2017 to the present time.” .

DesirousOfChange

Wish they'd quit it with this shit. It just fuels the persecution complex of every JW.