i am a happy man!
i texted my mother a couple of questions.
i asked if she thought that my children will die in armagedon even if they were good, and had a possitive outlook on life.
I think there is a softening among the ranks.
Not in the party line coming down from on high but just on the grassroots level.
I think it is groundswell effect of mothers just not wanting to shun their children.
It is still small but I definitely see it in my area
ralph and pam candelario were active jws in colorado.
ralph murdered pam.
professor jim penton was invited to appear at the trial last month by the prosecution as an expert witness to answer questions about jws.
TheOldHippie
I wonder why this should be so interesting? One murderer among thousands in the USA. What makes this one so special? Is it because he is a JW? What about the Catholics or Evangelicals or Agnostics or Atheists? Why specifically target this one?
we have the circuit overseer’s visit this week, and my folks are having him and his wife over for lunch today.
of course, i’m making it a point of hightailing it out of there to have my lunch elsewhere.
when my mom asks me “why don’t you stay and meet him,” i just say, “well, he’s just a man like everybody else.” she says, “well, of course.
If they dont want people asking them to autograph Bibles and such - they shouldnt be giving them rock star billing to begin with.
When Morris gave the closing talk at the convention in Atlanta, it began to storm heavily. He said the brothers asked him to announce that everyone should remain in the building for 15 minutes after the closing prayer for their safety in the lightening.
He then said that unlike his big brother he couldnt stay the storm.
JAW DROP!
Did he just SAY that????
Yep. He was joking about Jesus being his big brother who could still a storm but Anthony couldnt.....yet.
It was a puke worthy moment.
That kind of thinking is where the problem of autograph seeking begins.
Like Londo said - classic double think/speak.
luke 15:4. new international version.
"suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.
doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?.
Seems to me that if this was the true religion, that Levels experience related in his post would be the common one.
Bible principle = elders.
Instead it seems to have been an isolated occurrence of 3 men doing the right thing.
Oh, and they happened to be elders also.
i am so bad at being worldly, it's not like i gave it a good try, we are just not good at it my husband and i, i see him light up as he has started to read the bible again.
i'm good at being a witness, i am accepted, and hold the same beliefs, i have tried to find somewhere else, if there is a place, why hav'n't jehovah and the angels directed me to it?
thank you for all the loving posts, some of them have been just what i needed.
Sledracer,
Being tucked inside a religious structure has its appeal.
Anyone who would deny that is denying the great success organized religions have enjoyed over thousands of years.
It meets a need.
It fills a place.
It gives comfort, friends, guidance and tangibility to group beliefs.
Honestly, I would still be a Witness if it were only the beliefs that were questionable.
I was one of those people who pushed away my doubts by telling myself that the good outweighed the bad.
Then 2 things happened.
One,
a family member of prominence got in to a "situation". Someone was after his head and watching that go down was amazing. I saw a Circuit Overseer lie to Headquarters. There was money involved but I wont bog down in the details. I saw documents that had forged signatures (the forgery was committed by the Presiding Overseer. Bethel sent a committee.
The forgery brother got his hand slapped privately. The C.O got hand slapped privately. The entire body of elders had to get with the wronged party and apologize (again privately). So basically they got up and slandered a good mans name from the platform calling it an "announcement". and when they got called on their shenanigans that could not be handled with an announcement. It had to be handled quietly and "privately".
That is when it hit me that the standards I though were so solid gold were actually done on whim.
I wish I was intellectual enough that I could have left for a "higher" reason but it was just getting smacked in the face with a shovel and seeing that ultimately, no one is flying the plane that gave me permission to walk out.
so after some time and with some urgings of a friend came reason number
Two
I attended what would be the equivalent of an old Tuesday night book study but his one wasnt the Witnesses.
It was the Seventh Day Adventists. I saw a very similar format. Similar belief structure, similar support mechanisms.
That experience )it lasted 3 months) seemed to evaporate the last of the mystique the Witness experience held over me.
To see them have such feet of clay in my #1 and then to see that other groups (and there are many) have as much to offer as they do - which I found in step #2 did a lot to help me.
I think that is why your post resonates so much with me. You are expressing what you think you need to do and that is exactly what you should do.
No one can find your way for you except you.
So go back. See how it works for you.
If it doesnt work you will have clarity as to why.
If it does work - then good.
You deserve to be happy.
i was born into the elastic fact, tract & knock knock club, as it is known to some, but most often you will hear them referred to as "the worst thing i've ever been through.
"i had the typical jw early life of forced compliance by sadistic joy killing narcissists.
i learned early on that 'new light' doesn't come from stifled children and there was no suggestion box at my house.. when i was 6 my parents divorced and my mom quickly remarried and we moved from portland to the oregon coast.
Thanks for making me feel like I knew Onacruise personally by reading your words.
This reminds me just how much we say and do NOW can impact people later for the good.
So thanks for that and Im glad youre here.
hello, i have been lurking for a while, but discovered ttatt for about 8 months now.
i am trying to fade out, problem is i have a big family i would lose if i got df'ed or da,'ed myself.
my wife knows how i feel, and is not thrilled but i cant hide my feelings.
Hi Drifting Away,
I completely understand about your being reluctant to say much. Its fine to just lean in to things instead of leap.
Lots of wonderful listening ears and good friends await you here on this forum!
jw's are constantly trying to prove they have the truth.
they always point to matthew 24:14 and say "who is accomplishing this work today?
this proves we have the truth and gods backing".. for those of us in this community looking from the other side what is one thing that proves to you that this organization does not have gods backing?
We all know stories about the politics involved in appointments, the rampant abuse of a sexual nature and other types of abuse as well that occurs among these "appointed men".
Once you know they are not appointed by Holy Spirit then you have to wonder who is? The C.O.s that appoint the elders?
Obviously not based on who they appoint....
The headquarters that appoint the C.Os?
Well no...
Then who?
Well that would be nobody.
Nobody is appointed by anyone except mere men.
Its a man made Org posing as being "of God".
i am an 'active' jw but i do not agree with most of the doctrines inc blood, baptism, the memorial etc etc.i took the emblems at the memorial because i think we all should recognise and accept jesus' command to remember him.
not for one minute do i think this is only for the so called anointed.
i know it is full of man made error and that my fellow brothers and sisters are in a state of mindless, spiritual unawareness.
Damascus, welcme, its nice to meet you.
I am curious, other than the elders , how do the other congregation members treat you? Do you get support there?
