Posts by ThinkerBelle

137

Something interesting!

by John Aquila in

i was invited to a small get-together by a long time friend.

we both served as elders for years.

he is in his late 70s.

I'm in the 30-40 range, but I can't say that I ever really questioned anything until now and might have just been content keeping on keeping on if I hadn't dug in simply out of tradition (I never really took any of it to heart like some of the youth) - they never really encouraged us to. The majority of the people around my age that I grew up with are no longer JWs. I think there is definitely a big gap between the older generation and how they worshiped to the present day, but my parents fall into the age range that Aquila's group above was and they, especially my mom, seem to embrace all the changes and don't really think about the past - sometimes I wonder how much they really know about the past or just think it's progressive. I asked about what it was like in 1975, thinking of how many were affected by this, but my mother just said, "oh well, the society never put anything in print, it was the local brothers reading into it"........so I guess the WBTS knows what they are doing when they publish crap like that because the JWs will just eat it up and take it for face value. No wonder they don't encourage study or looking into the older pubs.

7

If you still believe, do you go to church?

by ThinkerBelle in

while i'm still finding my journey and figuring out what exactly i believe in, i'm curious to know if others on this board who do still believe in a god attend other churches and what drew you to them.

sorry if this topic has been brought up before, i tried to do a search, but didn't find what i was looking for.. having been born and raised in jwland, how easily do you give up those doctrines that have been so thoroughly engrained?

even sort of celebrating (more like acknowledging, no party) my son's birthday seemed so strange to me because i've never done that, but it felt good to see him smile about it.

ThinkerBelle

While I'm still finding my journey and figuring out what exactly I believe in, I'm curious to know if others on this board who do still believe in a god attend other churches and what drew you to them. Sorry if this topic has been brought up before, I tried to do a search, but didn't find what I was looking for.

Having been born and raised in JWland, how easily do you give up those doctrines that have been so thoroughly engrained? Even sort of celebrating (more like acknowledging, no party) my son's birthday seemed so strange to me because I've never done that, but it felt good to see him smile about it. I've thought about joining another church if I can successfully fade (If I still believe in a God and Jesus when all is said and done); I have a close non JW friend now that goes to a non denominational church and while I know the beliefs are kind of a free for all in that type, they seem to do a lot for and with the kids. I guess I like the idea of a group community that shares the same belief/morals, maybe that's the JW talking, but we hardly ever have "get-togethers" anymore and it just seems sad as my kids really aren't close to any kids in the hall except for two and I'm not very fond of many of the school kids in his class either. At this point, I still think I believe in a creator and I guess my biggest hurdle is "this can't be all there is" so I do still want to believe in something better - my husband and I have discussed this as he's been questioning the existence of god for many years now when I wouldn't listen or came up with a JW reason for certain things. Now that I no longer believe in the JW business model, I'd like to explore my options and see what others have done in finding their faith or finding that feeling of community. It just seems hard to find a religion who's beliefs I could actually ascribe to after everything I've been taught. It seems that those who end up as a witness get jaded and leave faith altogether, but I'm not sure that's my path (a few people I grew up with that were DF and never came back attend other churches, but many have just abandoned it).

30

Pledge for Global Assistance Arrangement - $15 per publisher!

by nmthinker in

last night our congregation read a letter for the global assistance arrangement combined with the traveling overseer assistance arrangement.

the "recommended" amount was $15 per publisher, which was well over $1000 for our hall.. it seemed steep.

our congregation does not have this type of money.

ThinkerBelle

Does the money actually go into separate funds for each "arrangement"? They haven't gotten money from me in years, not just because I don't support the business model, but also because our personal funds are tight. And seriously, every other church I know of has a food pantry and helps their members out when in need......why does our supposed loving religion never have that?

24

Why JWs record and report time?

by ThinkerBelle in

okay, so yes, i'm a born-in, but this point has always baffled me (and i guess i never bothered to research or ask).

what is the purpose of counting time in service?

when was it started and why?

ThinkerBelle

That all makes sense for control and I can see how when they were charging for literature, they wiuld want to keep track of "sales"....I know others that fudge their time too that are firmly in. I only report maybe 4 or 5 hours in a minth so I guess I'd be labeled weak, but I've never had a sheparding call ( maybe cause my father is an elder).

Does anyone know the scriptual reason, if any, that JFR gave to support it?

24

Why JWs record and report time?

by ThinkerBelle in

okay, so yes, i'm a born-in, but this point has always baffled me (and i guess i never bothered to research or ask).

what is the purpose of counting time in service?

when was it started and why?

ThinkerBelle

Okay, so yes, I'm a born-in, but this point has always baffled me (and I guess I never bothered to research or ask). What is the purpose of counting time in service? When was it started and why? Since I'm still effectively "practicing" by motions, I don't keep track of my time during the month and just write random numbers on the sheet at the end of the month to look like I'm active (I've hardly been out at all over the last couple months, I just can't bring myself to talk about something I don't believe in).....how many others do this (I know I can't be the only one)? That would make the yearly reports not very accurate in proving growth.

21

'Seek the Kingdom First' Economics

by Tornintwo in

jw
friends

has anyone else's family finances been victim to the 'seek the kingdom first' economic policy?.

for years, my husband and i have had our own business, my husband is not the most proactive guy, prefers to go in field service than to work, but he has always encouraged me to 'rely on jehovah and all these other things will be added to you', 'seek the kingdom first' etc etc.

there have been times, such as when i was heavily pregnant and we lost a big deal, that i have been begging jehovah on hands and knees to honour that promise, wondering why he wasn't helping us.

ThinkerBelle

Don't forget the lovely little quip "God won't give you more than you can handle". Ugh, I hate these phrases some days.

Sorry, I know that's not advice. I'm kind of in your same position and just taking it day by day. I've gone back to college to finish my degree so I can make double the income I make now, so take that GB!

112

Did an EX-JW wake you up to TTATT or did you put the effort to wake up yourself?

by John Aquila in

how many of us were woken up by some apostate yelling false prophets at a convention?.

how many of us were woken up by someone holding a sign and yelling, what happened to 1975.

how many of us were coerced to investigate the wt because some ex-jw pulled up a bunch of old watchtowers magazines and told us to read the false predictions?.

ThinkerBelle

I'm not sure what exactly was thw "aha" moment for me, but apostates weren't involved initially. I had been researching holidays online ( but never went to apostate sites) and found some stuff contradictory to what I had always been taught. I didn't pursue it. Then I took a religion class ( professor happened to be atheist, but never forced those views on us) that covered the ancient religions to modern day and I was shocked that Christianity had a lot of similarities to the old religions. Professor really got us to think about and thoroughly explain our stance which got me really thinking about what I believe. So I explored and found COC and jwfacts and lets just say that got the ball rolling.

Edit to add: looking back, I never had strong faith in the jws, just did it because that was what I had been raised as so didnt really question anything even though it didnt seem normal - never "made the truth my own"

12

I had a melt down with my Father over my Mom and Sister not coming to my daughter's Birthday Party.

by adjusted knowledge in

last year my daughter had her first birthday and all my wife's family and friends were there.

my family didn't attend.

my mother and sister still believe in the jw teachings even though they are both considered inactive.

ThinkerBelle

Hm, I can understand being upset, but since you also lived the life, there should be some understanding there too. I don't feel my chuldhood was wasted at all; I have very fond memories, maybe I'm one of the lucky ones since my parents weren't overly strict. My MIL who is I guess considered inactive or informally DA tells me of the struggle with guilt over holidays knowing what she knows from the JWs. Even though your mom and sister are considered inactive, they aren't out of that mind set, and hokidays/birthdays may be one of those lines they don't want to cross. There are other religions that don't celebrate these either, JW are not unique in that. You will just have to accept that. In my opinion, and maybe this is based off how I was raised, but holidays and birthdays aren't the be all, do all that make a childhood memorable - my in laws are a nightmare around the holidays!!

29

me and my new girlfriend

by justthenorm in

you see ive started dating this girl and her family is of strong jehova belief.

now i am not i do see certain things in there studie that is true in my opinion but ive never really been a religion type of person.

i think i want to marry her but i am not a jehovas witness and am not looking to be anytime at all she says that is ok and we can still get married but i dont know how its possible or where we would even do it please i need advice

ThinkerBelle

I'm going to go against the grain here and before you dump her or stay away as others have said, find out her intentions with the religion. Maybe ipen her eyes as ithers have said with jwfacts and see where it goes. I married a "worldly" person when I was young because I got pregnant and was scared knowing full well the consequences within the religion ( he had actually studied prior as a child as his mom used to be in so he knew his JW stuff). My parents were upset, but they came to accept him and now we are all good. I did go back, but never pushed him to do anything and we would visit his relatives on holidays......my family even did that as most are not in. So gauge where she is at with her family as well because that is actually the hardest part, but even when I was out, my parents didnt shun me the way the org tells you to. If you really do like this girl, figure out some of those things before you jump into marriage, being disfellowshipped is hard when you're indoctrinated and there is a major pull to get back in because of family. But, it may not be the end of the world either if she's willing to leave and has a support system to help her ( does your family like her? Does she have "worldly" friends?).

59

What does your baptism mean to you now?

by GiftsinMen in

i was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.

it is still a date with deep meaning for me.

i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.

ThinkerBelle

My baptism was me going through a motion that was expected. I wasn't spiritually ready, that's for sure. I didn't feel or think any different afterwards. I just got tired of people asking me when.....because obviously if you are born-in and an elder's kid, you should be baptized by 13.