Posts by metatron

I Believed Because They Were Dumb

by metatron in

jw
friends

while i do feel dumb about believing in the organization.

for so long, i don't feel quite as bad when i remind.

myself why i believed for so long.. i believed because they were dumb!.

metatron

While I do feel dumb about believing in the organization
for so long, I don't feel quite as bad when I remind
myself why I believed for so long.

I believed because they were dumb!

You see, I met and knew some Governing Body members,
as well as others of the 'anointed' who ran the
organization. The more I got to know them, the less I
was impressed. Guys like Gangas and others seemed like
nice old guys who craved a little recognition - not
brilliant leaders. Others like Larson, Knorr, and even
Fred Franz seemed isolated from reality, biased,
and again , not much like the type of person I would
ordinarily think of as being heads of a far flung
religious empire.

I concluded that the organization's success must be due
to holy spirit because I didn't see brilliance in its
leadership. This belief sustained me for a long time
even as I lost faith in various doctrines. As long as
I kept the big picture in view, it was possible to
accept relative truth on everything else.

I now realize that while the organization's success
is remarkable, it is founded on cover-ups, self deceptions,
and blind fanaticism. I am horrified to hear the immediate
responses to the Society's money woes, like dumping
subscriptions, as desperate Witnesses invent positive
'spin' on the matter.

Far from being led by holy spirit, I now see the organization's
future as becoming a footnote in history.

Amazing how we deceive ourselves, isn't it?

metatron

6

Stuff You'll Never Read in Awake

by metatron in

jw
friends

here are some positive things the society is unlikely.

to talk about:.

headline in wall street journal "turning swords into.

metatron

Here are some positive things the Society is unlikely
to talk about:

Headline in Wall Street Journal "Turning Swords Into
Plowshares" (Nov.20,2001)The U.S.Energy Dept. has a
program to employ former Soviet weapons scientists in
useful projects. "Since 1994 the program has awarded
129 million $ in seed money, matched by corporate funds,
to 88 former Soviet weapons institutes.." The EU and Japan
are providing similar funds. One major project? Helping to
find a cure for childhood leukemia.

Most of Europe now has a single currency. Gulf states
are discussing the creation of a customs union and single
currency in the Middle East. Gulf states also publically
called on Iraq to submit to weapons inspection and to
respect other nations borders. Bahrain is finding more
social peace with more democracy. Afghanistan is scheduled to
get a 'Marshall Plan' of 6 billion in reconstruction funds.

Not widely publicized, huge crowds of young people
in Iran commemorated the Sept.11 bombing shouting
"We love you, America!". Demonstrations in favor of
freedom and pro-west ideas have shocked the aging,
corrupt religious leadership of Iran. (sound familiar?)

Both Libya and Iran have made public comments that
in so many words, if the Palestinians got their own
state with a chunk of Jerusalem, that would be OK with
them - possibly leading to normal relations with Israel.

and finally, a true story from Amnesty Now magazine
(Winter 2001-2002). A young Muslim man named Sharam Hashemi
got caught up in the Sept.11 Twin Tower bombing. In the midst
of the smoke and fire, he asked what he could do to help.
He was given a fireman's coat and pressed into service
helping people away from danger. He told the fireman who
gave him the coat " ...just in case anything happens to me,
let my family know." The fireman said he would, embraced
the young man and then made the sign of the cross, "Christ
protect you", he said

Sharam, a Muslim, wept.

Later, taken to a hospital, he noticed that all the
doctors helping people were Jewish.
He said "It was really a moment of peace. Regardless,
of our race or religion, we all cared about each other."

While Watchtower leaders smugly 'trumpet' their meager
efforts at caring - in preaching their message of "comfort",
in which 99% of humans are slaughtered by God, stories
like this one get ignored.

The 'spirit of the world' isn't always something negative,
as they would have everyone believe. It would be wonderful
to see the Watchtower sink under the weight of their own
cynicism and intolerance.

metatron

14

New Year's Prediction

by You Know in

jw
friends

this is an essay by some guy: .

the horsemen of the economic apocalypse.

i find my mind is becoming more elastic these days, as in the silly putty toy of my youth.

metatron

OK, Mr. Prophet, let's put you on the spot.

Right now, silver leasing rates in London are thru the
roof. Is this the long awaited silver rally?

Will silver double in 6 months?

I don't just talk
I put my money where my mouth is.

metatron

5

Funniest Local Needs Talk

by metatron in

jw
friends

true story.

a new england congregation had to have a "local needs".

talk on why brothers shouldn't be going to topless bars.

metatron

true story

a New England congregation had to have a "local needs"
talk on why brothers shouldn't be going to topless bars
and strip shows.

Hey GB! It's all quietly rotting away!

metatron

6

It Doesn't Have To Be This Way

by metatron in

jw
friends

it might surprize some of you 'loyal' defenders to.

consider this but i think many of us dissidents.

would appreciate a strong, specific response from the.

metatron

It might surprize some of you 'loyal' defenders to
consider this but I think many of us dissidents
would appreciate a strong, specific response from the
Society.

Suppose they published one Watchtower after another,
defending everything from blood to Gentile Times,down
to the finest detail. Suppose they expressedly told
Witnesses to throw out their computers, cut off the
internet - or at least face immediate disfellowshipping
for ever communicating with anyone else that's
df'd.

But they don't

I wish they would because it would suggest that
someone is actually in charge of the organization.
If you get together a bunch of old men who were
strict followers all their lives,ethical change becomes
an almost impossible task.

This lack of leadership is why the organization
is being led by lawyers, by DEFAULT. The Society's
lawyers can demand and create immediate change,
based on legal necessity.

This is sad because changing the organization
could be accomplished in a win - win scenario that
would benefit nearly everyone involved.

1) They could dump the blood issue WITHOUT A DISASTER
in 6 months. Write a series of special articles
emphasizing WILLING service. Jesus did what he
did VOLUNTARILY. Then have Circuit Overseers meet
with the elders, as normal, and instruct them to
CROSS out the part of the "Pay Attention" book that
lists failure to abstain from blood as a df'ing
offense. Explain that no one is to be forced on the
matter - it is a question of faith and willing service.

2) Throw out the songbook, write a new one with honest
allusions to classical themes, refuse all works
from organizational hacks - don't ship 'til they
contribute - heck, you'll even make $ out of it!

3) Cut the meetings way back, add other services for
families, old folks, and kids. Add a scheduled
communal meal like the Bible sez (!!!).

4) follow the Bible on df'ing - you can talk to
anybody in an effort to improve them spiritually.
If you must shun, don't eat with 'em

I think they will find more problems with Witnesses
being ashamed of the organization - especially if
they get nailed for child molestation. The kids are
already in the 'double life' mode so things are
moving in that direction.

They could improve things but you can't squeeze much
creativity out of half senile old farts, I guess.

It just doesn't have to be this way.

metatron

47

Why are witnessess persecuted?

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

why are witnessess persecuted?

most religions out there have this thing against witnesses.

many will do anything to get them banned or to shut their mouths.

metatron

Yeah right, JT is "babbling"

I guess "babble" is now some code word for recounting the
false prophecy, broken promises and lies of the Watchtower
Society.

Again, you don't get it, do you? If you lie and deceive people
YOU ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY! If you prophecy falsely, YOU CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
Their word is worthless. Isn't it amazing that normal, rational
people will believe and put up with this nonsense while
they would reject any BUSINESS that acted this way?

metatron

47

Why are witnessess persecuted?

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

why are witnessess persecuted?

most religions out there have this thing against witnesses.

many will do anything to get them banned or to shut their mouths.

metatron

I believe the issue was why Witlesses are persecuted.

What you do or did doesn't interest me. I'm describing the
ugliness of Witnesses in general - damaging families, endlessly
judging, judging , judging, discouraging college education,
and so on.

The only shame I feel is guilt over helping this sick organization
deceive and injure people.

metatron

47

Why are witnessess persecuted?

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

why are witnessess persecuted?

most religions out there have this thing against witnesses.

many will do anything to get them banned or to shut their mouths.

metatron

"We do not judge worldly people"

You really don't get it do you? You just repeat empty Watchtower
phrases as if they were true, without thinking! I can't complain,
I used to do the same.

When you call them "worldly people", when you call fanatically
at their doors because they're going to die at Armageddon
YOU HAVE JUDGED THEM! You have concluded that God is going to
kill them because they are wicked - that is making a judgement,
period. Do you shun some people because they are "bad associations"?
That is a judgement, period! If you do it a lot - and people
sense it, they will consider you JUDGEMENTAL.

understand?

metatron

41

Daily text - 1 Thess 5:19

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

1 thess.

5:19 "do not put out the fire of the spirit.".

commentary:.

metatron

I recall that Ray Franz recounted that not all members of
the Governing Body bothered to read all the magazines. Further,
one or more of them admitted they read the contents the same as everyone else - not beforehand, as if they wrote any of it! (Henschel and barber?)

metatron

41

Daily text - 1 Thess 5:19

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

1 thess.

5:19 "do not put out the fire of the spirit.".

commentary:.

metatron

Sure, yoyomama - go BORROW a copy of Crisis of Conscience!
Ray Franz carefully documents his allegations with copies of
official branch office correspondence. If you can't afford to buy
a copy, go to the Watchtower Observer site and investigate anything
related to Mexico/Malawi - freeminds.org might have some
of the same info - i think Victor E. or others know about
the "carta" scandal firsthand - a lot of brothers paid bribes
for the cards.

metatron