Posts by ScenicViewer

82

What really ended the book study in private homes?

by Alfred in

it's been over 3 years since the book study in private homes was discontinued and some jws are still scratching their heads over it.

although a letter was read to all congregations explaining that "book study night" would now be "family worship night", there was still much speculation among jws as to the real reason behind this decision (the great tribulation was about to start, jehovah was simplifying the lives of jws, to lessen the burden of poor jws who had no money for gas, etc.)...

but as we all know, decisions like these from the gb invariably have some ulterior motive behind it... and discussion boards such as this one usually finds a way to dig up the truth for all to see... but after reading several threads on this subject, i'm really not sure we've uncovered all the facts yet.... so i have to ask... what do you believe really ended the book study in private homes?

ScenicViewer

@ No Room For George who said,

"I don't know why all of you have to always assume the negative when it comes to the direction given by the WT. The reality is that, the Book Study at its former setting wasn't effective in strengthening Christian families which is the nucleus of a stable Christian Congregation [...] That way there was an opening for the Family Worship Night arrangement without it becoming too burdensome upon the sheep."

Do you believe every reason the Societ gives for making a change? For decades we were told that every family member should have his personal subscription the both magazines because it was important for his spirituality and development. What did the Society say when the subs were discontinued? That 'it's for your spiritual benefit, since it will give you one more good reason to get to meetings, to get your magazines'! Do you believe that one too?

@ the OP.

Maybe C (liability issues), although all the choices make some sense. The book study was in my home for many years, and that little contribution box never had any money in it. It was the least-donated-to meeting of the five. If there were any liability issues at all, the book study was losing money, and that alone would be reason enough to cut it from the program. Any business corporation would do that.

"...real reason behind this decision (the great tribulation was about to start...etc.)"

The reason the book study was started in the first place (small groups, meeting in private homes) was to prepare for the tribulation. The idea was that when the government moved against JWs, and closed KHs, there would still be a way of having organized meetings.

It's amazing how all the Society's good reasons keep changing.

22

Birthdays - For You Vientotz

by outsmartthesystem in

birthdays.

i have always questioned the witness belief that birthdays are not to be celebrated.

another reason is that various customs that tend to accompany birthday celebrations have pagan origins.

ScenicViewer

So there's no active JW's here? =( Okey.

Yes, there are some active JWs here, actually quite a few of them. But they have seen problems in the religion and come here to learn more, to learn things they are forbidden to know. They look in, read, learn, sometimes they have something to say and post remarks.

283

Are you sure leaving is a wise decision ?- Lurkers think twice- Part 2

by mankkeli in

in the previous thread of this series, i called lurkers attention to the need of being discreet when contemplating an exit from the jw religion.

i mentioned that the thread was borne as a result of the general observations i made reading old posts here and discussing with many ex-jws and their lives have gradually turned out.

that thread alone was visited more than 2,980 times and graced with 204 contributions.

ScenicViewer

@ Billy, re the sinking Titanic

Wow, that last post was very good. I doubt that Mankkeli will get it. He seems too wrapped up in what he will say next to listen to logic.

8

AJWRB must back away from Lawrence Hughes

by zengalileo in

yes, sad to say.

i found out that he lied to me on two occasions.

one, that if he didn't get 500 dollars in 1 (then 2, then 3, then he sort of forgot how many weeks it was supposed to be) week the court would force him to drop the case.

ScenicViewer

Thank you Zen, for the explanation. I too was under the impression the case was over, but he's still holding on to the papers that he signed, and still trying to get money?

15

2010 Shepherd the Flock of God - guidance to elders on child abuse

by cedars in

i've recently had opportunity to examine certain sections of the 2010 "shepherd the flock of god" book, which is published exclusively for elders.

there are strict rules in place to prevent its disclosure to those who aren't appointed as elders.. i was particularly interested in what the book had to say on the subject of child abuse, given recent developments in victoria, australia.. on first glance, it strikes one that perhaps some small improvements have been made in as much as the contacting of police or the authorities by the victims is not to be discouraged whatsoever - however, it isn't necessarily encouraged either, and it is regarded as a purely 'personal decision' with no congregational repercussions.

however, a glaring ommission in this advice remains that elders are not advised to proactively encourage victims or their parents to contact the police, which is clearly what they should do in any case.

ScenicViewer

Is this a religious organization or a law firm?

I think it's all about legal positioning, making sure the organization is protected from law suits as much as possible. Could this be the real reason to inform the Society first? Victims and people will always come second.

So, it's a law firm. It's very legalistic. It's legal dept is big and powerful. It's first course of action is to cover its legal bases.

260

Are you sure leaving the JW religion has made your life better?. Lurkers think twice

by mankkeli in

on this forum, i have carefully read most of the experiences of those who left the jw religion, i have even read experiences that have dated back to 2001, i have read the different circumstances surrounding their exits and what ensued upon leaving.

for the majority, i observed they are better remainning in the religion than leaving.

what benefit is there to strain family relationship because you want to be free?, please tell me, of what value is that freedom?,.

ScenicViewer

my pure motive is to keep lurkers away from information intended to undermine the credibility of the borg.

That motive is not pure at all.

Are you sure you're not one of JWs? Who else would care about 'keeping lurkers away,' and protecting the 'credibility of the borg'?

FWIW, you are doing a terrible job of protecting lurkers...reasoning with you is like reasoning with Charles Manson, and everyone buy you can see that. He's crazy. Scary crazy.

Using one sided logic as you do, is one of the things that convinced me to leave the org a few years ago. As I read your posts I think back to the time when I heard witnesses regularly using arguments like the ones you present. It's a flashback that nauseates me.

Keep up the good work!

60

why JWs doesn't celebrate birthday?

by vientotz in

i'm so curious, why they're not celebrating their birthdays?

is it just because jesus don't celebrate it and it's not written in the bible that they celebrated the birthday of jesus?

or is it written in the bible not to celebrate birthday?

ScenicViewer

it is also written in the bible that one true religion will be hated by all..

No Vientotz, the Bible does not say that. Did she show you a scripture that says that? I'll bet she didn't. Put her to the test and ask her for the scripture that says exactly that. This is the way Jehovah's Witnesses often work; they make remarks that are from their religion, then claim that the Bible says it.

I like StillStuckCruz' advice...get the book by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience. You will learn a lot about the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. It's a little hard to find these days, but if you can't find one at a reasonable price, you can download it here for very little money.

http://www.commentarypress.com/Detail/eng_crisis_e.html

260

Are you sure leaving the JW religion has made your life better?. Lurkers think twice

by mankkeli in

on this forum, i have carefully read most of the experiences of those who left the jw religion, i have even read experiences that have dated back to 2001, i have read the different circumstances surrounding their exits and what ensued upon leaving.

for the majority, i observed they are better remainning in the religion than leaving.

what benefit is there to strain family relationship because you want to be free?, please tell me, of what value is that freedom?,.

ScenicViewer

That's very good Sizemik. I'm not sure Mankelli has room for the common sense and truthfulness expdressed in your post...he/she/it seems so slanted and disingenuous in his rematks...but the truth of what you have said rings true to many, many people who have had the Watchtower experience.

29

Are you sure joining or staying is a wise decision? Lurkers think twice. Part 1

by NewChapter in

i'd like to call lurkers attention to the need of being discreet when contemplating joining or staying in the the jw religion.

my general observations on active jw's and how their lives are going.

the majority of them relate many beautiful ways their lives have turned out after joining but they refused to mention how rough and tough the journey truly is., here in america, we have received reports of many jws who terminated their lives because of the difficulty of coping with the cultish shunning and abandoment of those they love.

ScenicViewer

The longer people stay in the Watchtower, the more problems they have after leaving. Those who leave sooner have far fewer problems.

Why?

Because the longer you are in the more friendships you develop, and the more family you have in the religion. When you leave, even if it's for a good reason, those friends and family are instructed to shun you. It's this treatment -- the same treatment that most cults give -- that leads to the depression that causes some to harm themselves.

The Watchtower is not a lifesaver. It is a killer.

12

Jehovahs Witnesses should take part in non-military national service.Latest news from Sweeden

by Hairyhegoat in

defence minister wallin: jehovahs witnesses should take part in non-military national service .

omkt/omktstefan wallin, minister of defence print thisthe exemption from the obligation of military service granted to the jehovahs witnesses is unfair, and should be abolished, minister of defence stefan wallin (swedish peoples party) told the finnish commercial television channel mtv3 on wednesday.. in wallins opinion, the jehovahs witnesses could perform a non-military national service in their congregations.. .

jehovahs witnesses, who refuse to take part in the military service or any of its non-military alternatives (siviilipalvelus, see link below) for reasons of conscience, were exempted from the compulsory national service in 1987. well the jw's in sweeden better get used to having to comply with this very soon then.

ScenicViewer

I could not imagine sitting in prison b/c of an org that compromised the very belief for which I must suffer punishment.

Yes, Band, many JWs have sacrificed, even died, to maintain Christian neutrality, while the Society itself has thumbed it's nose at the same concept by becoming an NGO supporter of the UN.

This is one of the issues that really opened my eyes to the true nature of the WTS.