hi guys, owyergoin?
(that’s australian for youse foreigners!
haven’t called in quite a while but just called by to say “i’m still standing and still enjoying shiraz !.
Joe Ratherflawed ~ Ozzie
LOL Good one!
We determined to spend time in earnest Bible study and bought simply hundreds of Bible commentaries, dictionaries, audio tapes and spent a year determining what is truth.
One has to admire anyone who dug deep enough on their own to discover TTATT after having had years of indoctrination by family and The Cult. So much easier today with the books of Ray Franz and websites like JWFacts and this place to "congregate".
Thanks for sharing your story!
hi guys, owyergoin?
(that’s australian for youse foreigners!
haven’t called in quite a while but just called by to say “i’m still standing and still enjoying shiraz !.
I'm a new arrival here compared to you.
My sympathy regarding the loss of your wife. My wife and I both have had some serious health issues and thus we have talked about that "inevitable event". We've even acquired cemetery plots. It all still seems a little surreal since for all of our lives we were told (and I guess believed) that we would live forever. Of course, we were also told we would never start school, or graduate from school, or get married, or have children (in this system of things). Yet, all of these things have come to pass and now we have grandchildren. So, I suppose somewhere along the way we already had some doubts about the other promises ie, living forever.
I would find it interesting if you shared a little of your "story" and I think other Newbies would as well, How is it that you showed up here 21 years ago? What was that first doubt or first event that opened the floodgates of TTATT?
The greatest revenge is living a happy & successful life!
Hopefully you've gotten your "revenge".
i searched but could not find it, i apologize if it has already been covered.
https://patch.com/illinois/crystallake/trial-starts-church-elders-accused-not-reporting-sex-abuse.
and here too- https://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/news/crime-and-courts/2022/03/03/trial-for-jehovahs-witnesses-elders-underway-without-decision-from-judge-on-what-hell-consider-in-evidence/.
If Illinois law does not require it due to the religious exemption, then the problem is NOT with the Branch or the Elders. The problem is with Illinois politicians. There is a huge Catholic voting block (esp in Chicago) and I suspect a politician wanting to get re-elected isn't going to piss off the local Diocese.
well let me clarify the question.
i know you call yourselves apostates because the bible defines people who leave their previously held beliefs as apostates.
my question means, if the bible is not true (and i don't think it is) then there is no such thing as an apostate.i have never been a jw, only a bible student with them.
I think it's in an effort to make the JW term a "joke" vs their "mentally diseased" description.
Similar to a black person referring to themself with the N***** word-- or a Mexican using "Wetback" or "Spic". They would never mean that is a "real" description of themself. Rather, it's using the pejorative term to make a point.
interesting idea by;.
fabian strategy warrior.
to many of you, this idea might seem absurd, but is it?.
You can tell that the holy spirit has left the building along time ago ~ Ray Franz
In the 1040's and 1950's the won 49 of 50 cases before the US Supreme Court.
In the past 10-20 years, they've been bled dry on CSA awards and settlements.
No Holy Spirit guidance any more.
the watchtower—study edition | may 2022. study article 19. revelation—what it means for you today.
15 satan instigated an attack on the anointed brothers who were taking the lead in the kingdom-preaching work.
prominent ones among them were the figurative “two witnesses” spoken of as being killed.
And the trumpet blasts are talks or Declarations made in the 1920's at Cedar Point OH. WTF? Nobody gives a sh!t about any of that. It's all meaningless! Anyone that remembers it is dead. Most JW's don't know anything about it. (Like that's surprising)
this question has been presented many times throughout the years.
somewhat recently, there has been much talk surrounding the "bite method" :.
"bite” stands for behavior, information, thought, and emotional control.. some examples were thrown at me, such as the decisions of who we associate with, discouraging any worldy media, encouraging our brothers and sisters to report any of our misbehaviours to the elders, our rejection of criticism on the truth, shunning etc.. what do we think about this?.
Just pick up a copy of Steven Hassan’s book, “Combatting Cult Mind Control” and read it. The JW Org is the Poster Child of a cult. They “check every box” on identifying a cult. It cannot be dismissed as coincidence. It is clearly their strategy.
from an interview with ebony magazine:.
in 1987, he left the jehovah's witnesses.
there was strong opposition to his "thriller" video on the part of some witnesses.
My daughter claims she never believed it, but the JW's visited her often, so that was her motivation.
I think there are a lot of JW's who are in it for that reason. It's their only social network. And frankly, most JW's are sincere and kind people. (Sure some are a$$holes, esp the pompous ass big shots who love the power and limelight.)
My elderly mother has begun to have a lot of doubts. She has come to realize she is not going to live forever. That was a lie. She is aware of all the child abuse issues and has mostly stopped contributing as she doesn't want her money to cover those lawsuits (and because she has given plenty in her lifetime). But I would hate for her to leave The Truth™ now. It is her "everything". Her friends are there (at least the ones not in the cemetery). The young families/people really cater to her and even offer assistance as she has been decades in that Cong and fortunately she is not a cranky old bitch.
i am new to this forum and uncertain that this is legitimately and entirely independent of conniving jw controllers or the wtb&ts and its related entities.
markers like the use of jw.org in the forum description and the policies seem controlled/controlling vs other xjw forums.
this is not an accusation, it is an attempt to know enough to be comfortable with motives of the ownership and controllers of the forum.
If you knew Simon (Owner/Moderator) you'd have your answer.
https://avoidjw.org/files/en/docs/doc-s/s-147/2022/s-147-22.01-e_bi.pdf.
avoidjw.org has posted a letter titled, ''announcements and reminders january 2022.''.
the governing body are always changing bible procedures.
I gave up serving as an elder long before I was awakened to TTATT resulting in me giving up on the religion altogether. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to position unless it is a means of giving them fulfillment in their life. Or unless they are a power-hungry lover of the limelight.
