Posts by MrDarkKnight

19

My uncle who is an Elder has been warned not to ''talk or meet grandson''.

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

my cousin( who was disfellowshipped many years ago) told me that he cannot speak to or come over to his grandfather's any longer.. he would stop by every month or so just to see his grandfather and grandmother.

they are both in their 80's and not in the best of health.. my uncle who is still serving as an elder would talk to his grandson only when his grandson would visit his house.

well,someone found out and snitched on my uncle.

MrDarkKnight

My departure from the JWs in January 2011 put me in serious financial hardship. My family and friends abandoned me and even though I am not disfellowshipped they treat me like I am. I contacted my best friend, an ex-elder, who is disfellowshipped. He loaned me money, which I promptly paid back once I got work. He put me in touch with a friend of his who helped me get car and just last week he put me in touch with another friend of his who helped me get a beautiful house.

Who proved to be MY neighbor and REAL brother?

22

my take on this weekends Assembly

by TheLoveDoctor in

adgrpid:|servtype: google_ad_section_start to the making of many books is worrisome as the bible says yet the last time we received a ypa book it was 2008 volume 1, 2 now this weekend we received volume 1 revised.

wow and so many are excited about us killing so many trees to repeat the same thing over and over again.

i need to vent a bit and could easily get on to many issues of wtbts and its goober body.

MrDarkKnight

This summer I will be missing the District Convention for the first time in 38 years. My 12 year old son went with his mother. He called me up and was able to give me the highlights of a three day program in five mintues! On the one hand I was impressed that he was able to grasp what he heard and only share with me what he considered to be "new light". On the other hand, I marveled at how "dumbed down" the presentations have become and yet how enthusiastic folks are about attending.

I am really glad that I am not going. I just can't fake it anymore.

46

reading a life time of WT literatrash = College education

by Free!! in

or at least that's what my super jw ex-roommate told me when i try to have an adult discussion w her about the importance of a higher education... according to her (a girl that never finished hs because it was not necessary) she has a better education than any college graduate because the jehovah has used the borg literatrash to teach her many many important things.... she says her knowledge of the "truth" is the equivalent of my 4 years of college education..... .

.

is there a cure for stupid???!!

MrDarkKnight

To please my parents and the elders, I turned down a college scholarship to work at Watchtower facilities for 10 years. As NC mentioned, like a lot young Witnesses back in the 1980s, I went to a vocational high school, and I took a trade. When I left Watchtower Headquarters I worked in a trade and did well, but was unable to make maximum dollar until I started going to college. I was raised to think college was a waste of time but I quickly found out how far behind my contemparies I was and why. I did not know how to ANALYZE business problems and think CRITICALLY. I had a limited vocabulary and no BUSINESS PROCESS for getting tasks done.

I found out that I did not know as much as I thought I did. Only after going to college did discover how ignorant I was.

Now I have successful career in management and I am on track to being an executive with a major corporation.

A college education is absolutely necessary to make it in this world. Now I am fighting to make sure my son avoids the path I took and gets his college eduction before he is 38 years old!

3

A New Member Needing Help With the Site

by MrDarkKnight in

i just joined the site and noticed that other members have changed their pictures and added some info about themselves.

i would like to do the same but i can't figure out where the menu is to do that.

can some help me?

MrDarkKnight

I just joined the site and noticed that other members have changed their pictures and added some info about themselves. I would like to do the same but I can't figure out where the menu is to do that. Can some help me? Thanks!

51

Do you believe in an annointed class?

by irondork in

regarless of their identity - in fact, if they are really "discreet" their identity should probably remain unknown - do you believe the bible speaks of a spirit annointed class of folks, a limited number of humans that have been called to heaven to serve with jesus?.

.

MrDarkKnight

I have a fundamental problem with the teaching that only 144,000 persons go to heaven. TF the selection process of a LIMITED NUMBER began at Pentecost 33 CE and has continued for 1,988 years, and there have always been anointed on the earth at some time, and there have been MILLIONS of Christians since 33CE, why are there still 10,000 plus openings? Would this number not have been filled YEARS ago? Why does the number GROW?

It is not a logical teaching and is a subject of my personal investigation of the Bible since this belief is at the crux of the JW belief system. No anointed means no Faithful and Discreet Slave. No Faithful and Discreet Slave means all of the so-called fulfillments of prophecy commented ad nauseum in the WTS publications are not from the channel of God afterall and the FDS is not the final authority on truth. If the FDS is not the final authority on truth then....uh oh....

49

Help Please. Mother says she can prove I will die using the bible alone, no WT literature

by scooterspank in

she says she can prove i will die if i'm not in the "truth" strictly using the bible .

MrDarkKnight

Cantleave you make good points. The interesting thing is that the WTS teaches that Christ inspected the congregation in 1918 (there is not one scripture that supports this date) and the WTS were the only ones practicing "truth" (who's truth?) and standing out as different. The problem is that in 1918 the WTS still celebrated birthdays and Christmas, still had the cross on the Watchtower, some members actually joined the Army and not everyone was preaching house to house as they say in necessary.

So please tell me, what exactly makes them better than every other Christian religion at the time?

49

Help Please. Mother says she can prove I will die using the bible alone, no WT literature

by scooterspank in

she says she can prove i will die if i'm not in the "truth" strictly using the bible .

MrDarkKnight

A good approach is use the JW method on her. Let her make her case and prove her point. Take notes and ask clarifying questions. Say nothing in rebuttal. Bring her arguments here and we can help you prepare and respond.

The best way to deal with JWs is to ask questions that they do not want to answer or will not answer because the answers poke holes in the foundation of the doctrine. If you ask enough tough questions you will be considered "lost" or "lacking faith" or giving way to "doubts" or given the ultimate insult and be labeled as an "apostate." It is easier to label people negatively than to face inconsistencies in the doctrine and so this what is often done.

You will be fine.

34

I have decided to leave

by umadevi in

i have read coc, ccmc, isocf and captive of a concept.

i have been fading since april.

i have nothing to hold me back in wbts so i have decided to leave it.

MrDarkKnight

I agree with Ziddina and NewChapter. Unless there are new or younger elders trying to make the climb and gain notoriety by "getting" you, you should be fine. If they try to arrange a judicial hearing they have to make several attempts to personally invite you to the Kingdom Hall. This is policy.

If after several attempts they cannot reach you then they may send a registered letter. If you do not respond then it is possible they could meet without you and render a decision. However, this route must be accompanied by heavy documentation in order for a disfellowshipping to stand. And you must be trying associate with active JWs to be considered a threat. This is more trouble than most elders are willing to go through and so they will likely make a few notes, create a file and keep it should you ever decide to return.

Unless you are publicly speaking out against JWs on TV or other media they will probably leave you alone.

47

'BELIEVE IT OR LEAVE IT' - a long time faders dilemma.

by nicolaou in

i've noticed a lot of newbies aren't bothering with long fades from the wt.

good for them, perhaps this younger, more savvy generation are more comfortable sticking two fingers up to the organisation and forcing their families to make the uncomfortable decisions about associating with them.. i applaud you, you were happy to believe it or leave it.. me?

i submitted my last field service report more than 11 years ago and have been 'fading' ever since, and i'm sick of it.

MrDarkKnight

Make your decision and live your decision. Everyone's circumstances are different. For me the fade to inactivity was best becasue my 12 year old some lives with his mom who is a staunch JW. We separated in February 2011 and I left the JWs at the same time. Being inactive allows me to visit with my Son without legal issues, but all my family and friends have effectively disfellowshipped me. I recently needed place to stay for a few days and my own mother turned me away. All I could say to that was, WOW, that was really a Christian thing to do. Hypocrites.

But frankly I could not be happier. I am free and I am never going back. But you must be firm in your decision.

34

I have decided to leave

by umadevi in

i have read coc, ccmc, isocf and captive of a concept.

i have been fading since april.

i have nothing to hold me back in wbts so i have decided to leave it.

MrDarkKnight

I am a former Bethelite and Elder with 24 years with Watchtower in various capacities. I left in January 2011. I only recently learned that the approach I used is called "fading". I like the term. It is the best way to go. The two elders were sent to "investigate" and get back to the body. If you are considered a threat to the congregation expect a phone call. If not, you will be left alone.

I was removed as an elder in 2006 after a maor bipolar episode. I lacked "soundness of mind" according to my colleagues. Frankly, they did me a favor. My "fade" took five years, but I am irrelevant now, no longer considered a threat so no one tried to disuade me or even "meet" with me.

It is a challenge to reinvent yourself, but I have to tell you I could not be happier.