Posts by xjwsrock

22

If Apostates Were Allowed To Stay In The Congregations...

by JW_Rogue in

my wife was playing the "stay loyal" convention that she taped the other day and i noticed the brother said something that wasn't in the outline.

during one of the talks friday on shunning he said "can you imagine if apostates were allowed to stay in the congregations?

the congregations would be a garbage heap instead of the spiritual paradise they are now.

xjwsrock

Isn't it interesting that in their "spiritual paradise" no debate or personal opinion is allowed.

Conformity at all costs!

I can't wait until the New ~~Order~~ ~~System~~ World! Then we can forbid debate and opinion forever!

15

Jehovah's Witnesses Do Not Believe in Freedom of Religion

by xjwsrock in

this statement may seem odd at first.

you may think of jehovah's witnesses as being an american religion in a country where freedoms exist and are prized.

you may think of the organization's legal battles in the supreme court to protect certain rights and freedoms.

This statement may seem odd at first. You may think of Jehovah's Witnesses as being an American religion in a country where freedoms exist and are prized. You may think of the organization's legal battles in the Supreme Court to protect certain rights and freedoms. This is true, but it is only part of the story.

Freedom of Religion - Jehovah's Witnesses as a religion/business want to be in a country that has freedom of religion simply so they can operate freely and recruit freely. They DO NOT extend this freedom to their membership. Once a member of their group, you no longer have the right to practice religion as you see fit. You are obligated to practice religion according to their long list of rules and doctrines. You cannot, for instance, believe only partially in Jehovah's Witness dogma. You are either all in or you are all out. Literally.

But the real proof that they actually DO NOT believe in a person's religious freedom is this: they do not allow a member to change religions or to formally stop practicing the religion without severe, abusive penalties.

Jehovah's Witness leadership will ostracize, demean, and vilify a person for leaving the group. This is done regardless of the person's reasons, sincerity, or character . This treatment is given even if the person simply no longer wants to be religious.

With very few exceptions, members are not allowed to even speak to former members.

So Jehovah's Witnesses believe that citizens should have the freedom to JOIN their religion but then not have the freedom to LEAVE.

This is HYPOCRISY of the highest order. This is a DOUBLE STANDARD. This is ABUSIVE. This is ANTI-FREEDOM.

It is my opinion that a government should not allow a religion to operate, and in turn protect that religion's freedom to assemble, evangelize, and recruit, unless that religion extends freedom to its membership to dis-join or leave. It should be considered a breach of human rights.

What do you think?

13

Keeping your sanity while stuck as an active JW

by oldskool in

jw
friends

i pass along this advice as a new topic, to get it past one off comments that may not get as much attention.. i exited the jehovah's witnesses about a decade ago.

like many, my personal situation felt to restrained to act on my impulse and get out quickly.

i took about a year and a half to two years to leave via da.. i empathize with anybody leaving the watchtower who finds it difficult to falsify dedication, interest, and belief in both their personal and public life.

xjwsrock

Wanted to bump this thread. Some wise words here.

48

Animals not meant to eat meat

by Carl in

jw don't believe in evolution .

how come animals teeth are designed to chew meat?

sharks for instance have razor sharp pointy teeth these are not to eat vegetation .

xjwsrock

Well some alligators have jaws that can exert 3000 lbs of pressure. That ain't for crushing sweet potatoes.

36

But where else should we go? Can you answer this question?

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

having watched many jc youtube videos one question that gets asked is "where else would you go?".

in other words if not jehovah's witnesses then what other religion or organisation would you go to?.

it's one that i have trouble answering, what would you say?.

xjwsrock

Go home

30

What would you like to have known about JWs before deciding whether to get baptised?

by slimboyfat in

if you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing about jws would you do it?

and what would you choose to say to yourself?

do you think you could have convinced yourself not to get baptised if you chose the right thing to say?

xjwsrock

I would teach my past self about critical thinking and logical fallacy.

I would let the rest happen naturally.

18

Underlying Resentment Among the Members

by xjwsrock in

most of us here have seen and experienced the judgmental attitude among jw's.

the pioneers look down on the publishers.

the appointed men look down on the non-appointed men.

xjwsrock

I'm happy for you ToesUp. I can just taste that freedom. Must be amazing.

I do enjoy the mental freedom. It actually surprises me now to hear someone speak as if God himself is watching over the congregation. I'm like - you mean all those sick people and crazy people and self-righteous people? You mean that brother that just got in a wreck? You mean that family over there struggling financially?

Yeah great job looking over us.

The dysfunctional belief system has to cause inner frustration and anger. Add that to the resentment, no wonder there is back biting.

18

Underlying Resentment Among the Members

by xjwsrock in

most of us here have seen and experienced the judgmental attitude among jw's.

the pioneers look down on the publishers.

the appointed men look down on the non-appointed men.

xjwsrock

Yeah what has always bugged me was this. If you are so happy in all of your righteous, God-loving, save-the-world, spiritual martyrdom, then why do you care so much about what I'm doing (or not doing)?

Shouldn't you be eat up with zeal? Isn't it your food to do the will of God like Jesus? Shouldn't a person as spiritual as you say you are, be overwhelmed with love and concern instead of ridicule and contempt?

I guess I am just confused......(sarcasm) 😒

12

"What is in it for me."

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

so if there was no promise of a "reward" for faithfulness...no paradise...no eternal life etc, how many witnesses would stick with the "faith"?.

sure, the reward might be "making god happy", but he supposedly holds out the paradise promise with eternal life as an incentive right?.

before anyone says, that's what satans challenge regarding job was about, just think.

xjwsrock

Well I will answer this way. One of the best manipulation tools is the simple carot-and-stick. It works on humans and animals alike. You can dangle a reward/treat to motivate or threaten pain/punishment. It really works well when used simultaneously.

For JW's the paradise is the carrot and the biggest stick is Armageddon. Take away the paradise=take away the carrot=take away a huge manipulation tool.

So less would stick with it because they would be less emotionally manipulated to stick with it.

18

Underlying Resentment Among the Members

by xjwsrock in

most of us here have seen and experienced the judgmental attitude among jw's.

the pioneers look down on the publishers.

the appointed men look down on the non-appointed men.

xjwsrock

Most of us here have seen and experienced the judgmental attitude among JW's.

The pioneers look down on the publishers. The appointed men look down on the non-appointed men. The mid-week service go-ers look down on the weekenders. etc. etc. etc.

How much of this is driven by underlying resentment?

How many pioneers actually hate pioneering and resent the other publishers because they don't feel the same obligation to do it?

Same for elders. Same for MS's. Same for CO's. etc...?