i am writing to ask if anyone cares to share their experience and/or offer advice for people leaving.
i was raised in the religion, and both my parents died when i was very young.
i recently stopped associating because my conscience no longer allows me to preach or support the organization.
Losing your social network is daunting. Making that change can be more stressful than people realise.
My advice - for what it's worth, is to not give up that control if you still have it. If you can play along to an extent and keep your friends if you need to, it might make the change easier.
Remember though, these people won't be your friends once you come clean. Even lifelong JW friends you think you are close and can trust, will shun you and feel self-righteous while doing it.
https://youtu.be/rjr0ugtu6zu?si=d3zsz20ee33gytxi.
these new appointments are troubling, to say the least, especially considering the factors surrounding their selection.
these appointments raise key concerns about leadership, experience, and what is happening behind the scenes at the organization's headquarters.
This contrasts sharply with past appointees, who often had decades of proven leadership and tangible accomplishments. In most organizations, top leadership positions are awarded to those who have demonstrated a long track record of success and contribution, making these appointments seem even more unusual.
Call it whatever you like; change management/ succession planning, the actions of the WT leadership certainly don't give the impression that we are 'close to the end'.
It seems they are appointing corporation men as opposed to religious men, as you point out. and yes, it's amazing how gods spirit can only find white, North American men to fill these roles.
There has to be some older JW's that are starting to become just a little uncomfortable with the direction the WT has taken recently. However, the org has done a good job to brainwash the average JW over the last few years.
The recurring theme of listen and obey, even if it doesn't make sense from a human point of view has been used to prepare JW's for all these changes.
can i call you friends, i think so after 23 years posting here.
i am dismayed how jwn is being "dominated" or taken over by a few posters, peppering the comments.
in the past, the admin did not approve of this and did remove some posters from jwn.
Hi Blondie, I have enjoyed reading your post's ever since I joined.
For me, I noticed a change particularly when Trump was elected. The politics of the day were divisive and were debated at length here. Covid was another big non-jw issue that sparked a few heated debates.
There has always been the rogue apologist/ fundamentalist/ prophet that turns up from time to time to make life interesting.
Having said that, I think this forum still contains a lot of helpful people and of course, the reference material here would be hard to beat for anyone looking for answers. And yes, call me friend. 😀
As for Simon - our Canadian Overlord, I got the impression a few years ago he was happy to have some other topics discussed besides events pertaining to the JW world.👍
As a member of Gen X, when I was a teenager, the thought of one of my peers becoming one of the 144000 anointed was ludicrous and laughable.
In fact I'm sure, anyone of that age at that time would have been counselled if they let it be known they had those thoughts. They would have been viewed by the congregation as mentally ill.
is there any independently verified evidence that a miracle worker called jesus existed and did the things that the bible said he did?.
the four gospels were written by unknown authors many decades after the so called events, so can't be considered as eyewitness accounts.
i think that there may have been a apocalyptic preacher who was executed by the romans and the story evolved from their.
Mythology, fantasy, immorality and violence were what I learned about growing up.
There, you just proved my point. That's what you were taught. Your beliefs haven't changed. It's just a different book.
is there any independently verified evidence that a miracle worker called jesus existed and did the things that the bible said he did?.
the four gospels were written by unknown authors many decades after the so called events, so can't be considered as eyewitness accounts.
i think that there may have been a apocalyptic preacher who was executed by the romans and the story evolved from their.
There seems to be a point where a seemingly rational person becomes irrational when it comes to faith.
If you are broadly the same religion as your parents, or identify as a member of your national religion, it means you accepted what you were told by parents and peers.
Believing a man named Jesus, Mohammed, or whoever once existed is one thing, but basing your way of life on it and insisting your children do the same is madness if you boil it down. Just because something is old doesn't make it right.
All of our parents made mistakes, they were not perfect and all-knowing. So why are they automatically right about the subject of religion?
is there any independently verified evidence that a miracle worker called jesus existed and did the things that the bible said he did?.
the four gospels were written by unknown authors many decades after the so called events, so can't be considered as eyewitness accounts.
i think that there may have been a apocalyptic preacher who was executed by the romans and the story evolved from their.
FreeTheMasons
Thank you. I did enjoy it.🙂 Maybe sometime we'll all have one together - while hanging out with Jesus too.😉
Are you asking me to have a beer with you and some dude from Mexico?
Sounds good - I like Mexican beer.
is there any independently verified evidence that a miracle worker called jesus existed and did the things that the bible said he did?.
the four gospels were written by unknown authors many decades after the so called events, so can't be considered as eyewitness accounts.
i think that there may have been a apocalyptic preacher who was executed by the romans and the story evolved from their.
The Bible is well written.
Only those who don't understand love cannot understand the Bible.
"God is love."
Love: ' unselfish interest in another's welfare'.
Fundamental Christians:
'If someone doesn't believe what I believe they can burn in hell for all I care '.
'I can't wait for Armageddon when God kills everyone that doesn't agree with me'
is there any independently verified evidence that a miracle worker called jesus existed and did the things that the bible said he did?.
the four gospels were written by unknown authors many decades after the so called events, so can't be considered as eyewitness accounts.
i think that there may have been a apocalyptic preacher who was executed by the romans and the story evolved from their.
FreeTheMasons
@joeyjojo -
If I cared more about what people think than about what Jehovah thinks, I'd still be in the JWborg now.
You seem to care more about impressing people than truth, which is why you value "being taken seriously" more than I do.
Are you a former JW elder?
No. In my 30 - ish years as a born in jw I never 'reached out'. Never an elder or m.s. - I didnt even auxilliary pioneer once.
Im not a fan of Garth Brooks or country music, so I dont know the song you are referring to, but thanks for dedicating it to me.
Enjoy your beer- I wish i was drinking one right now.
is there any independently verified evidence that a miracle worker called jesus existed and did the things that the bible said he did?.
the four gospels were written by unknown authors many decades after the so called events, so can't be considered as eyewitness accounts.
i think that there may have been a apocalyptic preacher who was executed by the romans and the story evolved from their.
FreetheMasons, I'm not sure if you are new here, or posting with a new account. With respect, you are simply paraphrasing selected bible passages that you believe to have some kind of meaning in 2024.
This board is full of people that lived a majority of their lives as JW's and have heard all of this before. Since leaving the org, a lot of those same people have studied the Bible in great detail - including the inconvenient parts of the bible they don't talk about much at the meetings.
All you seem to be saying is, ' the bible said it- that settles it'. That's not good enough if you want to be taken seriously.
