i'm not a jehovah's witness, nor have i ever been one.
(neither have i played one on tv.
) but i have relatives who joined back in the late 60s, and we've heard precious little from them since.. i've read many jw publications, talked to their missionaries and am at a loss.
Rutherford claimed he had a dream to call his new group Jehovah's Witnesses (never said God spoke to him though) ... thing is, Rutherford was a known drunk.
There's no real proof. The dates just make me believe they were practicing astrology and numerology to base their conclusions on.
i pop into jwd/jwn almost everyday.
some posters name i recognise.
some posters i admire and cannot wait to read their comments.
Someone got high off a giant Shitake? ... or is that some type of Oyster mushroom?
while in the org we are constantly told that if we just tow the line and behave that will we be blessed and everything we want will come to us.
personaly i havn't found that to be the case in the 30 years i spent trying to tow the line.. but now i've left wonderfull things are starting to happen in my life and i'm so very happy!.
so i wondered, have you encountered more "blessings" or less since leaving?.
Yep.
Real people and real friends who don't run behind your back gossiping or telling your every faux pas. The freedom to chose who I like and do not like.
Being able to help anyone I so choose without others questioning it has led to feeling better as a person at an inmeasurable magnitutde.
The self righteous can immediatly be denounced and avoided. No need for forced association or their being held up as an example to deal with.
No wearing clothes unfit for the weather. No stress about superficial things.
Last but not least, I have a choice whether to believe in God or not, and how ... that's the real blessing.
Freedom to chose what type of person to be is a blessing.
my wife and i had a "bible study" with an elder and his wife yesterday (9-11-09) and the topic was marraige.
the book we covered was "keeping yourself in god's love.
" this particular "bible study" was based primarily on the topic we covered in the book and, of course, there was a lot of "hop scotching" of the bible.
Don't do it .... RUN!!!!!
To be a Christian, one does not have to belong to any particular denomination.
What denomination was Jesus? He didn't have one, and neither did his disciples, contrary to popular belief. Christianity is a way of life, notedly by doing good things toward your fellow man/woman, from your heart ... and accepting Christ as your salvation to the glory of God.
It isn't a brand. [No middle-men need apply.]
just give your personal thoughts and view.... what are your coping skills....the epitome of your personal motivation in life ??.
long term goals... or short term" one day at time "(for example ).
.
I'll pick God & his son. Everyone else is simply in the way.
Don't need to "go" anywhere for that one. Plus it's pretty hard to leave the planet unless one is an astronaught.
No need to see a particular group to know what "God wants". Its written down for goodness sakes!
[Heck! Those were Apostles who made the statement and they weren't looking for anyone to come to THEM.]
i mean, they had four new books released at the last dc... if they were doing that bad, would they have that many new releases???
.
Additionally, why are the R\F baseically "renting" assembly facilities their money has already paid for?
For the same reason a Congo must get a "loan" from the org. to build a new KH, due to overcrowding ... when in fact, its the R/F's money in the first place. Last time I checked it was as supposed non-profit. Yet members have to get a loan from the org. to build more stuff which belongs to the org.
Bizzarro
it seems there have been a number of changes in the wtbs corporations over the last few years, as well as changes in meetings etc.
maybe somebody has already thought of this and i missed it.
this thought was sparked by the thread about them going after another website quoting their material.. i think the watchtower is about to divide its religious and secular functions completely.
There's already a President [Adams?]of something (and one can buy stock) while the GB has nothing to do with that side of the Org.
did you all start getting the "full court press" from "friends" to start doing more things socially as you began your fade?.
i havent been invited to do a whole lot the last few months, but now all of a sudden i am getting phone calls and invites to do things.
fortunately, it hasnt been - "hey lets go out in field service" or anything like that since i would tell them to take a hike (which at this point means make myself busy at work or otherwise) .
I didn't have any JW "friends," I only had associates; the association, of course, being conditional.
So, I was glad when I dropped of the earth and had not alienated the other humans around (the people who would tell me I was dead wrong but would help bury the body anyway).
i have no idea what i want to convey in words here on this site, and have surprised myself by even joining at all.
i intended just to read, and get a few pieces of information, and now am a member, and spend many hours looking through posts old and new alike.
i am a current jw, born into it, and lets just say i'm in my thirties, female, and a mom of more than your average kids.
Welcome Heart!
I'm certain you will find others here, with similar circumstances, who can help you think over your situation.
Remember: We regret decisions which others make for us, so whatever happens, you decide on what course to take.
Agape.
PS. Try not to get caught by any LEOs with that happy shrubbery, please.
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[endif] i'm curious about how people who have shifted religious beliefs feel about their own morals.
has the religion you've chosen made you a better person?
Sure. I'm free to be me. I decide what I will and will not tolerate, me.
Parents instill morals and charachter ... and then we all move on in life to stand on our own.
