Posts by Joepublisher1

5

Remembering V... Here's to you on the 5th of November

by darthfader in

jw
friends

http://www.watchtowercomments.com/.

a well designed site and quality production videos make a solid impact!.

hope you're doing well.. cheers!.

Joepublisher1

Without a doubt - V's videos are some of the best on the internet! V's videos were so well done! I like how he based his videos on actual quotes from the WTS literature. And, his logic was just plain indisputable! I believe his videos present some of the most problematic issues for any hard-core JW BECAUSE they were done by an insider (aka V) with obvious experience with "Watchtower - think". In other words, they're done in such a manner that even the most indoctrinated JW would have to sigh, after viewing his videos. Lastly, they were so easy to follow and understand. And because they were presented like a Watchtower study (read paragraph/answer questions), it uses a format that every JW is familiar with!!!

Great job V - we love your current videos and would LOVE to see MORE! (Thanks for your efforts and time!)

65

Here is the funeral talk outline. VERY discraceful.

by stillstuckcruz in

this is truly terrible.

i just love the statement "instead of eulogizing the deceased, use the material in this outline to give a fine witness concerning the truth.

" in other words, utterly disregard the deceased.

Joepublisher1

Yup, it really bothers me that the WTS organization uses such a sad event to exploit "the dead members" in hopes that it can gain recruits (read: more donations). It's so inappropriate. They cease every opportunity to sell their religion to anyone who will listen. Funerals shouldn't be a time to market the religion of anyone, it's about the individuals life and those survivors who are grieving over the loss. The WTS is one of the coldest organizations that I know. Loyal JWs would disagree with that statement because they are SO BLINDED.

If you even dare to express doubts about this religion and you do so publicly, you WILL be DF'd. Shunned. Why? Just because you can't swallow this crap anymore. I mean, crap is crap. And, once you learn the WTS's religion is crap, why would anyone continue to partake of it? (Of course, Jim Jones stands as an example of how religious leaders can make their followers swallow anything [i.e. poisoned kool-aid]. Think about how JWs swallow everything that this religion teaches, even when the WTS demonstrates time and time again that they never had the truth in the first place - thus, the need for CONSTANT changes to their doctrine!)

I'm so thankful for the internet - it has allowed me to "see" with my own eyes what the WTS has always told me not to read/watch - and NOW I know why. There are so many things that expose this religion as a sham! Thanks to all those that have tirelessly and humbly exposed them! The WTS is in trouble - I see more and more people (many one-time loyal JWs) on the internet who have expressed disgust about things that they have learned about the WTS and who are speaking out (i.e YouTube). The number of exJWs continues to grow.

Peace.

77

Heavenly Gates Closed in 1935 Re-opened in 2007

by Alfred in

since 1935, the watchtower had been categorically teaching (for over 6 decades) that the heavenly calling of the 144,000 anointed christians had ceased in 1935. this teaching was especially significant to older jws (especially those who spent much of their lives serving the watchtower as pioneers, elders, missionaries, bethelites, etc.

) because many of these would eventually turn their attention to the aging governing body members and feel a sense of relief knowing that the end was drawing ever so near.

in other words, as more governing body members (who were born before 1935) passed away, the closer they would get to their long-awaited reward of surviving armageddon and living on paradise earth where they would finally hug grass-eating lions near a waterfall while marveling at snow-peaked mountains in the distance.

Joepublisher1

This religion is so full of changes, it should be call, "the Revisionists", as opposed to " the [so-called] Truth". Really though. If all these revisions (i.e. 1935 cut-off date done away with) to their teachings don't wake up JWs, they are not thinking about what this really means. And, that is, that this religion isn't guided by God's Holy Spirit, it's directed and led by "imperfect" men and the religion's claim that it's lead by Holy Spirit is a sham! The proof (as they say), is IN THE PUDDING (aka their literature).

As has always been the case, newer JWs aren't typically pointed to all of these revisions, leading them to believe that the latest explanation is a long-held teaching of JWs. (btw: I remember when some changes were made and revealed in Watchtower Studies on Sunday [during the 80s] and the only way I would know it was a change is that someone would comment about the previous understanding. So many times, the WTS wasn't clear [to us newbies] that this was a new explanation! I think they did this on purpose, so as to not draw too much attention to [yet] another change!)

Peace.

77

Heavenly Gates Closed in 1935 Re-opened in 2007

by Alfred in

since 1935, the watchtower had been categorically teaching (for over 6 decades) that the heavenly calling of the 144,000 anointed christians had ceased in 1935. this teaching was especially significant to older jws (especially those who spent much of their lives serving the watchtower as pioneers, elders, missionaries, bethelites, etc.

) because many of these would eventually turn their attention to the aging governing body members and feel a sense of relief knowing that the end was drawing ever so near.

in other words, as more governing body members (who were born before 1935) passed away, the closer they would get to their long-awaited reward of surviving armageddon and living on paradise earth where they would finally hug grass-eating lions near a waterfall while marveling at snow-peaked mountains in the distance.

Joepublisher1

As mentioned in this thread [and others] many JWs don't even take note of some these changes (or, they prefer the old teachings to the new). To prove this, listen to this true account. This past Thursday evening, during the sister's talks, a sister - who grew up in the so-called truth and is now in her 50s - gave the old explanation to "the generation" teaching, during her talk. She said, "The generation of 1914 that witnessed those events will not die before the end comes." I sat there in amazement.

66

Thoughts on the current Governing Body

by JRK in

jw
friends

here is a list of the current governing body members:.

gerrit losch: born 1942, appointed july 1, 1994 .

guy h. pierce: born 1935, appointed oct. 1, 1999 .

Joepublisher1

Great thread and great comments. Personally, I cannot get over or understand how these people "think/believe" they are appointed by God. Some - if not all - have to know this whole religion is a sham! Their own changed teachings, false end-time predictions and white-washed history down through the decades have betrayed them OVER and OVER again - and its ALL IN PRINT in WTS literature! You have to really be in denial - as a Governing Body member [including the rank and file] - not to admit this and step out of this man-made religion. The internet has made it possible [for anyone, but especially JWs] for this so-called religion to be thoroughly exposed to them!

73

C.O. Jonsson's response to Watchtower's latest 607 articles

by wannabefree in

http://kristenfrihet.se/vtsvar/vtsvar1.pdf.

(thanks to augustin for bringing this to our attention in another thread.

).

Joepublisher1

Wow! I just became aware of the very recent Watchtower article: "When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed?" I said to myself, "Boy, I hope someone who has researched this topic would post a rebuttal." And, behold, a detailed thoroughly researched response was provided on JWN - with Freeminds bringing my attention to this in the Net Soup section!

In my JW days (for more than two decades as a VERY loyal JW with many congregation responsibilities), I would have blown off this rebuttal. First, I would have said to myself, "Well, the WTS set things right with erroneous teachings like the trinity, hell-fire, etc., so why would they be wrong about such an important point - the date of the destruction of Jerusalem?" And, I would have reasoned, well, at least we use the Bible to arrive at this date!

However, in 1995, I learned that the WTS was wrong about their long-held interpretation of "the generation", albeit they did make some small tweaks to it over the decades preceeding that major change in understanding (or should I say interpretation) in 1995. This was the beginning of my enlightment. I was starting to see something that I didn't realise, seeing that I was always thought that God's spirit directs the Governing body, and that realization was this: The Governing Body "interprets" the Bible! (Boy, was that a revelation to me!) Subsequently, I watched in amazement when the WTS continued to make huge changes in their understanding of what "the generation" means. (This proved to me that there's NO WAY that God's spirit is directing them BECAUSE how could God's spirit be so wrong about previous teachings?) This all caused me to read as much as I could on the internet about Jehovah's Witnesses (including their history) and it was all over for me. It became clear to me that this organization is not who the say they are ("God's only earthly organization - the [so-called] truth."). btw: These web-sites helped me with this conclusion: FREEMINDS, JWFACTS, SILENTLAMBS, YOUTUBE (esp. videos by Propaganda Techniques and Watchtower Comments) - not to mention this JWN board.

While reading through the PDF file from C.O. Jonsson, something became very obvious to me. It re-inforces what I have already concluded. If God can't produce a book that can be comprehended by the "average Joe", something is seriously wrong. Unfortunately, this has lead to many centuries - if not melleniums of various men (and groups) coming along and saying, "Come with me, I understand what the Bible means - I"ll explain it to you."

Unfortunately, the Bible has caused more division, then it has caused unity - just count the number of religions and sects that have been produced as a result of ONE book - most believing that they alone have "the truth"! If God was to speak with me and ask me why I don't believe in the Bible as "his word", I would have concrete proof that there is no reason for me to believe it is his word because a loving God would produce a book that could be understood by anyone with sincerity of heart.

I'm so disappointed in this religion because they have such a hard time admitting when they are wrong! However, they'll be quick to point out the "wrongs" in every other religion. Isn't it interesting that they have printed statements like this, concerning pride, "Do you put others down so as to elevate yourself?" And, that my friends is a question for the Governing Body - the leaders of this man-made religion!

Finally, this enlightment has called into mind the actual belief in a loving Creator. (If you were a loving God, is there really any reason good enough NOT to remedy the suffering in this world?)

Peace.

53

Did YOU Actually Believe That You Would Never Die?

by minimus in

jw
friends

even though i was raised a witness, i was never convinced that the end would be in 1975 or even in my lifetime..

Joepublisher1

In looking at the responses (posts) and it appears that most who said they thought that they would die, it was because they didn't think they were going to be spared at the big A by Jehovah - so, it appears that many did believe in Everlasting Life in a Paradise Earth, but didn't believe that they qualified.

Pre-1995 and the change in the explanation of "the generation", I believe most JW believed (and hoped) that they would NEVER die. Of course, after that change, many JWs (esp. older ones) were now re-thinking this and coming to the conclusion that they would die before "the end" came. I have heard individuals say this out loud to me and others.

I am mad and disappointed at the WTS for holding out a hope that is NEVER going to happen! Who in the world do these Governing Body members think they are! Living off of everyone's contributions and making rules that go beyond the scriptures! With all that is available on the internet exposing the WTS, it's amazing to me that they can sleep at night.

29

December 1, 2011 Watchtower - I believe there may be some lying in here...

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

our readers ask: will the earth survive 2012?.

page 10: "when will this occur?

no human knows.

Joepublisher1

RE: “Jehovah's Witnesses do not try to predict when God will destroy the wicked.”

I take this WTS statement to be intentionally misleading. Now, if it said this, “The leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses have learned that it’s not a good idea to try to predict when God will destroy the wicked”, that would be more accurate.

Of course, where the WTS walks a fine line is when they say that God will destroy the wicked “very soon now”. Has anyone else noticed them using this phrase in their publications when talking about “the end”? I have news for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Every time the WTS uses that phrase, they prove themselves wrong when “the end” doesn’t come [very soon now].” And, it proves that they constantly try to hint about when “the end” is coming - but not necessarily using a date [anymore].

The WTS is one of the most disingenuous and dishonest organizations that I know. The internet has made it possible to thoroughly exposed them and for anyone to read about this exposure.

My favorite line goes like this: “How do the WTS leaders sleep at night?” (My conscience would bother me horribly if I was one of them!)

60

Name Some Stupid Organization/ Congregation Rules

by minimus in

jw
friends

there's a lot of them!.

one rule is you can't wear a tee shirt with writing on it if you are working at a quick build kh .

nothing with logos.. let's add more stupid rules that were in your hall or that the organization has.. .

Joepublisher1

I was working on a Kingdom Hall project and this sister walked up to me and reminded me that there's no tank tops allowed! I walked off the site and NEVER helped out on a Kindom Hall project again! Of course, later on (with the help of the internet) I found out this whole religion is a sham and no different then all other religions on this earth. They are all hypocritical. And, there's ALWAYS someone or some body of men at the top of the pyramid living off of the backs of hard-working people!

57

The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

Joepublisher1

"...being a former JW is about leaving a god, not heading to a new one. So for you theists out there, show some respect and remember that, ok?"

I couldn't agree more. After spending decades in a religion that taught you it was the ONLY true religion, I don't need anyone telling me that another religion or belief system is REALLY the one. I understand now how religion exploits even the most sincere individual. What bothers me greatly is how god can allow phony religions to take advantage of sincere people who are/were only looking to understand the Bible and to please god.