the greatest benefit to come from jehovah's witnesses was the introduction of honest investigation into the.
claims of christianity based on the bible.. exposing error was the gimmick.. replacing doctrine or ritual with door to door activity was the greatest failure to follow truth where it leads.. .
mainstream religion in pastor russell's day was set in stone.
Terry
Good stuff ! where do you locate this old info? They sure do not have this on the CD and the library at the Kh has been cleared of anything from around the 50's back.
I am new here posting but have trolled for several months and must say without blowing your ego up to much, your posts along with a handful of people on here are very informative and seem to be well documented.
I would like to read your story assuming it is on here someone. Thanks and keep it coming.
Kensho Satori
as time goes on i find it a real challenge to keep my sanity while still in "the truth" especially after considering all the rsearch i have been doing about the org.
that i have been very active in for almost 4 decades.
i have managed to be removed as an elder while staying in good standing (prayers-reading,mic carring etc.
stillajw
I hear you- I have had those deflectors on for a long time and it is getting more difficult to keep them at maxiimum as time goes on and the BS level gets higher.
QWT
I sense from your comments we probably do have much in common. I appreciate your point about how to view this whole situation and I'm working hard and really in deep meditation for the next couple of weeks before and after the memorial on this mess as I have some solid alone time for the rest of the month. I have been in this black hole in the past and have survived, I guess it has been the accumulation of a series of events begining with my appt as an elder several yrs. ago that started me wondering about the HS being involved as I certainly had doubts then and thought wouldn't God have know that. Then there was the uncomfortable job of JC's and judging others-never felt qualified for that- very seriuos to have that much power over the spiritual life of another. Then the appointing of other brothers and looking for some set required amount of FS hours which is not even mentioned by the apostle Paul. Even if a br. made all the other qualifications and was doing all he could in FS. The Holy Spirit couldn't be envolved in that stuff.
So I reached my overload point and knew I could not just step down without major hassels, so as the survivor I am I saw a loop hole in the stupid rules book and got removed while staying in good standing, can't give more details or the bethel boys who monitor this site will fiqure out who I am.( they have special powers ya know that make them immune to apostate stuff)
The other issues over the years has been the lack of real personality changes starting with myself of course and others that I am real close to- the lack of true forgiveness, drama makers,uncontrolled anger and then how JW's view those outside the cong. I remember it being pointed out to me by a family member that the use of the term "worldly" when referring to non-Jw's was very unloving and I agreed it was hypocritical, these are the same people we are trying to "save" and I made it a point not to use that term again after all who are we? We are just as screwed up as everyone else-"stop judging lest ye be judged"
I don't want to focus attacks on the Org. ( my issues go far beyond the GB and the Org.) there are plenty of people on here that focus on that. I have mentioned on earlier post that I have some questions for the Creator that can't be answered by the WTBTS.
There is alot of positive things to say about the JW lifestyle and most of the beliefs and maybe I'll take all the good stuff and start my own congregation,hey that can be a subject for a different post, I'll bet that will get some interesting comments. LOL!
Kensho Satori
as time goes on i find it a real challenge to keep my sanity while still in "the truth" especially after considering all the rsearch i have been doing about the org.
that i have been very active in for almost 4 decades.
i have managed to be removed as an elder while staying in good standing (prayers-reading,mic carring etc.
I hear what everyone is saying and as much as I was brainwashed in the past to be fearful of the sites it has been a big help the past few months as well as a huge eye opener with some really damning evidence for the org. I understand why the average R & F could not deal with most of what can be found here they would run screaming with their hair on fire. I have never had a problem with looking at both sides of the issues even reading C of C in the late 80's in order to get an insiders take on things. I realized that imperfect men have always been in charge so there was no big suprises for me. One must do their best to know the script. and follow their conscience and conform when it does not matter on the issues the bottom line we are responsable for following and teaching things we have convinced ourselves of,' reasoning we are doing God's will. But lately the changes are just cover your butt reasonings- blood-generations-type of porno someone watched etc etc. and the ever demanding push to report FS time which is totally unscriptual and it is just over the top for me.
Kensho
as time goes on i find it a real challenge to keep my sanity while still in "the truth" especially after considering all the rsearch i have been doing about the org.
that i have been very active in for almost 4 decades.
i have managed to be removed as an elder while staying in good standing (prayers-reading,mic carring etc.
As time goes on I find it a real challenge to keep my sanity while still in "the truth" especially after considering all the rsearch I have been doing about the org. that I have been very active in for almost 4 decades. I have managed to be removed as an elder while staying in good standing (prayers-reading,mic carring etc. I guess those are the proverbial bones) While not serving in that capacity has helped greatly to eleviate conflicts by being in that pressure cooker, often referred to a "privelege." Now I pretty much come and go as I please in regards to FS and meetings although I know there are many eyes on me for this sudden change.
I know many will say just get out or fade, but that is not an option due to family and very close friends and the fact that I would devastate many that I care about. I always enjoyed FS and feel I accomplished some good in the community never really preaching the party line but focusing on the things Jesus taught and the Kingdom hope of a better future. I really never believed God was going to wipe out everyone who isn't a JW, there are just to many really good people who act just as christian as any JW only with doctrinal differences.
I guess my question is how do those who post here that are active keep it together? Some posters like Yknot who someone said is pioneering and some who claim to even still be serving as elders and MS (really-how's that working out for ya??) I mean I have seen some very strong, bitter, and just down wright mean comments on here from those who are still active, how do they turn that off when going to meetings, assemblies and FS, what do they preach about in service, do they give out the jw.org site and then wink and give them this forum on the return visit. How do you stay in without being a huge HYPOCRITE you can't preach your own message unless you work D to D by yourself there is just to much message control from the org.
Sorry for the long post- ok release the hounds!
Kensho
like the question is jehovah witness the true religion?
is all others false, what do yall think?.
i am confuse and just wanting to know others thoughts??
wow! lovedoctor
That is some powerful evidence of why the GB does not want the R&f to be on these forums, I mean what in the world are these guys thinking, don't they read their own press! More importantly what are they going to say if the Creator ever decides to come back from wherever he is presently focused because it sure isn't here - I mean since the NT was "written" for the annointed don't they think Rom. 14:10 would especially apply to them?
It's hard to beleive that less than a year ago I was giving public talks and I always included the statement "If this is not God's organization...then he doesn't have one" man what a paradigm shift I'm having.
You can't help to feel like a fool when the blinders come off and to think I read C of C by Ray Franz twice in 1988 and came back from exile anyway.
what a chucklehead!
it seems that most xjws have left because at one point in their jw life something happened that made them start to think something wasn't right with the religion.
when i left, i still believed the jws had "the truth".
i was dying inside, trapped and unhappy (another poster's words, but describes exactly how i felt).
The "truth" is JW's are like everyone else on the this Godforsaken planet, they want the same things as most rational humans. I have been on all sides of the this org. over 37 yrs. ( Df, divorced,pioneer-elder etc.) and I am still "active" at this point because of family and friends I dearly love and respect and really do not want to be without them in my life. I have worked hard at being at peace with myself, this is still a work in progress.
I went through all the mental turmoil and pain you see on this forum and have come to the conclusion that no one has all the answers. The positives are what I focus on, like the basic Bible principles that are a good code to live by (which can also be found in other beliefs) and they give people some kind of hope for better things to come even if they never do. Its not who is wright or wrong or us against them or what church you belong to its what kind of person you can strive to be and how you should "do unto others". Many on these forums are angry and bitter and that is their choice and it may be justified, they forgot the good they saw within the type of people trying to serve God, sadly under rules, teachings, and prophecies of men with the authority to control over 7 million peoples self worth. We shouldn't complain we gave them that power not Jehovah.
The truth is almost every JW I know is a selfsacrificing, loving and caring God seeking human just like billions in other religions who have been abandoned by the Creator of the universe to try to fiquire out on their own what he wants and then surrendering their lives to people who claim to speak for God out of pure frustration hoping God is using them to deliver the answers they seek.
So my issues are not with the GB (although I can find many without much effort) and not with my fellow lost witness friends and family but with Jehovah himself for allowing this whole screwed up mess to exist in the first place. This puts me in the worst of situations because I'm not angry at an organization but as a recent WT stated I have "become enraged at Jehovah" and expect that if it were not for the blood of Jesus I would not have the small amount of hope I do have. This is my truth.
Kensho
there is no doubt jws are famous for the preaching work even if you do not agree with the doctrine.
i have always wondered why if the work is so important and backed by jehovah, jesus, and the angels why do pioneers, cos, dos and assembly hall overseers and their wives etc.
who are on the front lines get cancer and other debilitating diseases that take them out of the most important work in the so called" last days".
V665 I have seen many referrences to the WBTS being a front for something, could you elaborate is it a money thing and if so who gets it. I have been in a long time and can't fiquire out what motives a handful of GB would have other than what they demonstrate with directing the ww org. albeit making some very big mistakes and the fact that they have setup an atmosphere where I have to seek answers to questions from forums like this because of the major control they are able to exercise over the sheep, not to mention the fear they instill in those who dare question them. That of course is fodder for another thread.
Kensho
there is no doubt jws are famous for the preaching work even if you do not agree with the doctrine.
i have always wondered why if the work is so important and backed by jehovah, jesus, and the angels why do pioneers, cos, dos and assembly hall overseers and their wives etc.
who are on the front lines get cancer and other debilitating diseases that take them out of the most important work in the so called" last days".
There is no doubt JWs are famous for the preaching work even if you do not agree with the doctrine. I have always wondered why if the work is so important and backed by Jehovah, Jesus, and the Angels why do pioneers, COs, DOs and assembly hall overseers and their wives etc. who are on the front lines get cancer and other debilitating diseases that take them out of the most important work in the so called" last days". It seems counter productive in accomplishing the goal of reaching as many as possible before the end and it's not like Jehovah hasn't performed healing miracles in the past if we are to believe the Bible, I mean he wouldn't have to advertise it or anything just do healing to keep them in "his" work. I bring this up because I have noticed this seems to be on the rise with many in the fulltime work, it's a good thing they are covered by a great medical plan the R&F pay for with exception of the poor reg. pioneers who are out there busting their hump and on their own, at least they make for some good wt and yearbook inspirational stories.
your thoughts are welcome
Kensho
i must be said that a whole bunch of us were wondering and worrying, thinking that evrything from bears to elders to cia agents got you, yknot.
we're glad you're back; even me, the dark one, who was a bit nasty at times and stung you.
welcome back!.
Thanks everyone, go fiqure my first post and I already pissed off a vampire.
Kensho
i must be said that a whole bunch of us were wondering and worrying, thinking that evrything from bears to elders to cia agents got you, yknot.
we're glad you're back; even me, the dark one, who was a bit nasty at times and stung you.
welcome back!.
Greetings and sorry to bust in on this thread, but this is my first post and although I'm pretty good with a computer I've never posted on a forum before. I have been visiting here over the last several months and decided to get involved by starting some discussions and seeing what opinions I get from the active and ex-witnesses here as most of the topics here you absolutely cannot have with fellow witnesses.
I have been around the block truthwise since 1974 and nothing shocks me anymore and obviously I have "issues" or I would not be on this forum.
So if you could please tell me how do you start a thread or topic I would appreciate it .....be gentle it is my first time.
Kensho
