At the same time however, we were given stories of those who sustained themselves in isolation. What are we to think of that - if you do not have faith that can withstand questioning, consideration, and living an actual life - how are you to survive isolation?
Posts by bafh
-
38
Did it bother you that they taught, "miss a meeting and you'll fall away?"
by Wasanelder Once inhow many times did we hear that if we dont attend meetings we will leave the truth because satan will get ahold of us?
that always bothered me.
i thought, "if my faith isn't able to stand alone what good is it?
-
86
Watchtower Legal Department targeting Facebook and Youtube users
by Londo111 infrom an email i received of a conversation had with people from patterson:.
it seems that the wts legal dept.
has been working with the fb [facebook] legal dept for about a year and also with youtube whoever they are, to enforce transparency.
-
bafh
So monitoring FB is all good and dandy, but anyone very smart who is also a Doubting Thomas will put that elder on "acquaintance" and not post anything publicly that he could see. So much for requiring real names. And I also can't see FB actually being able to enforce that policy with the number of users they currently have.
I can see elders being encouraged to spy - and they've always been encouraged to do that, hell - everyone is encouraged to do that. So the big change is what, they get to count an hour of their time for it?
Whooppeee!
"'
-
57
Where Are You on The Witno Scale?
by tresdecu in1 - still think it's the truth ...came to this site cause danger is your middle name.. 2 - concerned, smoething's amiss but still believe.
3 - 98% sure it's bs, but still go for / with family.
4 - anger / denial, inactive with minimal attendance (ie memorial, spec talk etc).
-
bafh
I am a 4.75 - no anger/denial, but I still go to the memorial for the family. It's very likely that I will not return.
-
71
BORG running low on $$$??
by fader77 indear brothers:.
re: personal literature supply.
reducing existing stock at the branch office before the revisions are released.
-
bafh
This isn't new. They do this every so often and especially prior to releasing revisions.
-
110
What song or line from a song bests describes your time as a JW?????
by karter inwaisted days and waisted nites.. freddy fender..
-
bafh
Hotel California
-
30
Well, IT HAS BEGUN. See the future of the WTBTS in print.
by DATA-DOG ini hate to read the wt, but i skimmed the july 15 study edition.
i found many examples of propaganda, of course, but a couple things really stood out.
1) the future of the preaching work.
-
bafh
I just read it, and I'm not sure I understand what you are referring to. Care to expand?
-
20
144,000 New Light update
by goingthruthemotions ini updated the list of partakers to 2013 (see below)...if i was to predict as to what new light might be coming down the borg poop shoot may be.
i would predict that they need to do something about the 144,000 being a literal number.. for two reasons:.
1. the number of partakers is increasing every year.
-
bafh
If they say that 144000 is symbolic and that everyone is under the covenent - then that coupled with the idea that the annointed and FDS are not the same, does that mean:
1) "anointed" will not refer to those with a heavenly hope
2) the FDS could be comprised entirely of those without the heavenly hope who could still be termed "anointed" as in "chosen"
I can't see them getting around the 144000 being symbolic when the numbers are going up and up. And, they are going to have to give up 1914. In another 5 years, no one will even attend meetings if they keep it. It will be too hard to spin. This year has been something spectacular with 100 years, blah blah blah, easy peasy spin. But every year going forward, it will be harder.
It would be nice if they just focused on being good people and not being so judgmental about how much everyone "does" - and how about encouraging people to participate in their community a bit? Nothing sets an example of what kind of person Christ was (if you believe in him) as someone doing something to help others, i.e Mother Theresa, Desmond Tutu, etc. It doesn't have to be on that grand a scale, but if the JWs wanted to - they could do something along those lines. They have the resources, they know how to organize, and they have the willing followers.
Such a waste of time, talent and resources.
-
13
You ought to know positively the appearance of your flock
by leaving_quietly inthis famous line from proverbs 27:23 (in the old nwt) is used for elders and the organization to justify field service reports.
but, what is this verse talking about?
is it about overseers in the congregation?
-
bafh
well, it does make sense they would use this verse as the "wealth" of the organization is a result of the condition of the "sheep" - they should know the appearance of their flock since they are the ones making all the "donations" *cough, cough* - if this was a real business, the donations would have run out long ago since their "customer" service sucks the big one.
BAFH
-
32
Please help....in a dilemma..
by crazyhorse inplease help with this: when i was in college, there was a lot of talk about university and how all who pursue that are wasting their time and all that.
even before going to uni, there was a lot of pressurr on me concerning my decision.
during that time, two elders sat with me for appointment as ms and asked me if i have freedom of speech in the org since i'm going to uni and i said no.
-
bafh
What is your degree in? Can you get a job that requires you to move? Moving is an easy way to fade out without too much question because "out of sight, out of mind" to a certain degree. They will still check on you, but it will be easier to fade and you can occasionally attend meetings if you want without triggering too much interest from the new congregation.
Move, and get a job that requires you to work a lot. You can pretend to be depressed, or pretend to be materialistic, or .... there are other options.
I do happen to understand the pressure of having all of your family in and trying to fade. Lucky for me, I'm a girl and not pressured to take a "positon" other than pioneering and I can see that as a young male, the pressure would be much more intense.I think moving might be your easiest way to slip away, or at least to reduce the immediate pressure.
BAFH
-
46
ELDER LIES AND GET'S PRAISED FOR IT! FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ME!
by BucketShopBill inwant to know how a lie can turn into a compliment?
only in the jw mindset!!!.
we got called into the dreaded back room after meeting to find two elders wanting to discuss a 'serious' matter with us.
-
bafh
If you want to approach it under the guide they are following, then I think the scripture that applies here is Matthew 18:15,16 - If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
1) If he had a real concern about you, the direction is to approach you directly, not to tattle tell to the Elders. This is the direction to the congregation as a whole. But he is in fact an Elder - a minister, a shepherd. So it's his "job" to help those with spiritual need. Why didn't he take that approach?? Trouble Maker for sure.
2) This is the same principal they use to excuse child molesters in the congregation from being reported the first time...So why do they take just one person's word against someone in the congregation who otherwise is minding their own business??
It is something of a police state, and they are quick to want to report on each other. One reason I was having panic attacks before I left I think. Afraid I'd be "found out" as a doubter. My nerves couldn't take it.