Posts by DesirousOfChange

36

"I never thought I would come that close to my retirement in this old system of things"

by Hoffnung in

some time ago i was at a family gathering.

my father and uncles are all long-time elders in their congregations.

when they were discussing they all were 50+ now, one of my uncles said: "i never thought i would come that close to my retirement in this old system of things".

DesirousOfChange

I commented in another post that a (faithful) elder I know who is 40 year old, recently shared his early retirement plans with me whereby he will be able to retire at 57 years old. I said it's remarkable that you are planning for 17 years from now IN THIS SYSTEM..... Well, [now backpedaling] he doesn't really expect that it could go on that long, BUT................................

Most JWs no longer really believe the end is near.

Older ones expect to die in this system.

Middle aged ones as shoring up for retirement to avoid the situation now faced by the old ones who did not do so.

Younger ones ARE going to college and starting families.

20

Hi :-)

by GiveMeAnAspirin in

jw
friends

hi, i am a catholic.

i've never been a jw nor ever tried to become one but i know a number of former jws and one or two current/active jws.. i've been wondering why active jws are so anti-catholic; is it part of the teaching they receive in the watchtower?.

cheers.

DesirousOfChange

I've been wondering why active JWs are so anti-catholic;

They also feel/teach that the Catholic Church grew from what was the original apostacy that infiltrated the 1st Century Christian Congregation. Of course, the Catholic religion did do a lot of nasty things throughout history (Crusades, Inquisition), but even more so, the Catholic Church leaders often took the lead in local attacks against JWs during WW2. (Litchfield, IL; Kennebunk, ME are examples. See 1940 Time Magazine article: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,764089,00.html). Thus old-timer JWs have great resentment for the Catholic Church. In recent years, both have moderated their attitude toward the other (at least publicly).

17

DFing and Dying

by IMHO in

jw
friends

for those that still believe.. what hope is there is you die whilst you're disfellowshipped?.

.

DesirousOfChange

IMHO: As far as I'm concerned we are all imperfect. Therefore we all may die and at death our payment for sin is paid as quoted above Rom 6:7.

I agree with IMHO. According to WT theology, if the sin for which one was DFd was the result of Adamic sin (most everything is), then death pays the price and the deceased would be entitled to a resurrection (of judgement) based on the forgiveness granted by the ransom sacrifice. Christ died for sinners.

8

The ties that keep you in chains

by dgp in

i am under the impression that one of the worst aspects of life as a jehovah's witness is that every new family and friendship tie you make might become a chain if you ever want out.. i was never a jw and therefore don't have the mindset, but, being who i am, i find that i would not want to create any ties with the witness community.

but it would feel to me that every new friend i made, and every relative, would come at the price of their eventually becoming your worst enemies.. let's use marriage as an example.

i would want a woman by my side, to share my life; but then i would also feel that i would need to find her among the witnesses only; my relationship with her would need to be approved by others; i would not be free to actually get to meet her before we married; once we married, she'd be someone who would know me intimately and could turn me in to the elders; and, if, unfortunately, my relationship didn't work, i would need to sleep with someone else and be disfellowshipped in order to be able to divorce her.

DesirousOfChange

....right now I feel very sick and tired because of this "decision" that is ahead....

I've just continued to put off any serious decision that could have any grave consequences. Maybe a fade. Given up hope for any change.

DOC

9

Prom tonight!

by FifthOfNovember in

jw
friends

i'm excited and nervous at the same time.

i'm a horrible dancer but oh well, i know i'll have fun.

i don't have any immediate family that are witnesses, so i've had it really easy compared to most people on the board..

DesirousOfChange

I went to my Junior & Senior proms, with JW dates (also went with one them to their prom).

Although they were long time JWs thru & thru, I'm beginning to see how liberal my parents were about many things.

17

Any new directions about Facebook at the summer conventions?

by awaken2004 in

jw
friends

just wondering because a few of my jw friends have "left the building".

i really hope so because i am totally regretting having a few fb pals.

hope more leave soon.

DesirousOfChange

I remember when smoking was frowned upon, but you couldn't be DFd.

I wonder if one day, they'll do the same for the internet?

I'm sure they could find a scriptural principle.

Evidently, one's participation on FB and such can have effect on determining if "irreprehensible" or "reasonable" or "humble [meaning: submissive to GB]" and qualified to be appointed as MS/Elder.

Could it eventually become BRAZEN conduct for failure to heed to counsel?

(Edited to add: Sorry, Wobble. Hadn't read far enough to see that you already suggested that idea.)

51

Are more long standing JW's leaving?

by cantleave in

jw
friends

at one time, it seemed that the majority of those leaving, were young ones brought up in the cult.. from what i can see now (at least on here), there seems to be a high number of 20+ baptised members years leaving.. has this always been the case?

it might be i just didn't notice from my parochial view from the kingdom hall!.

or are there really more long standing jw's leaving now, than ever before?.

DesirousOfChange

On the book release, according to a former Bethelite, a book was completed and ready to go to translation but was canceled at the last minute, possibly due to a GB split.

But apparently it IS true that there was no "new release" as far as an actual book goes -

Gotta quit printing all those books when nobody is paying for them.

(Tho I'd like to hear more insider info about a "cancelled" book project, if that's true.)

13

Confessing of sins

by Terry in

jw
friends

you murder somebody.. the police nab you.. should you confess or deny it?.

what about confession to god?.

from the standpoint of he who knows (god) what is gained if you do or do not confess?.

DesirousOfChange

As my Lord said, "Let him WITHOUT sin cast the first stone."

Resorting to questionable verses, aren't you?

26

Bachmann vs Palin, who will out cute the other....

by designs in

the presidential race will be so much fun........ .

gov.

pawlenty was on this morning touting himself and i dozed off after 1 minute of his talking .

DesirousOfChange

If gas prices and unemployment numbers go down, Obama is a shoe-in for 4-more-years.

51

Are more long standing JW's leaving?

by cantleave in

jw
friends

at one time, it seemed that the majority of those leaving, were young ones brought up in the cult.. from what i can see now (at least on here), there seems to be a high number of 20+ baptised members years leaving.. has this always been the case?

it might be i just didn't notice from my parochial view from the kingdom hall!.

or are there really more long standing jw's leaving now, than ever before?.

DesirousOfChange

Most that I talk to are in just going through the motions. JWs have great parties. If you have had friends for 20 years, why give it up for doctrinal reasons. Most Witnesses could not go to a church because of brain-washing, so living a lie and having great friends is the only option for many.

Good observation SC. I think it would be fair to say that more long standing JWs are MENTALLY LEAVING. They are there in body, but that's it. And frankly, they are not there in body as regularly as they used to be. HUGE problem with meeting attendance everywhere. Our circuit, meeting attendance 20-25% lower than publisher count.