Posts by Ucantnome

88

Damned if they do, Damned if they don't

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

i see an attitude among some people here which is not very helpful.

i can understand it, but still, it's not constructive or helpful.. if you condemn the society for not changing, but then you also condemn them when they do change in a positive way, what incentive or motive does that provide for the people at the society to ever want to change for the better?.

also, what does that attitude look like to current witnesses who are having doubts?.

Ucantnome

If you condemn the Society for NOT changing, but then you also condemn them when they DO change in a positive way, what incentive or motive does that provide for the people at the Society to ever want to change for the better?

I don't think that I have condemned the Society for changing or not changing.

I think the videos and shorter meetings are good. Wish we had them when I was a child. However that isn't the reason I left.

I also think the Witnesses are basically the same I don't really see anything that alters them theologically.

64

What triggered your doubts / awakening?

by Tornintwo in

i am sort of new here, used a different username for a while but things got 'difficult' at home so i've since been lurking.... what i would be really interested to know, if you don't mind sharing, is what it was that triggered your doubts and initial research which led to awakening, was it a bad experience, injustice, changed doctrine?

for me, it was seeing mistreatment of young ones in the congregation, they're under so much pressure and as soon as they go even slightly astray they are shunned, either informally (as bad associations which pushes them further into the 'world') or formally - with elders dying to throw the book at them so they even lose their family.... ...then reading about child abuse issues in the press.... ...which led me to silentlambs.

...then jw facts, this forum and coc, wham!

Ucantnome

There was a Watchtower that altered the understanding I had of a scripture. After a while and discussions with several people and elders I came to the conclusion that my support of the preaching work could not continue unless I felt convinced of the things preached. After more research and final discussion with elders it came to the point that it wasn't of any value attending the hall. I tried a couple of times with a slightly different viewpoint and as new light emerged and with further discussions with an elder to attend the hall again, but it proved to be short lived.

10

Are You a 607 BCE Specialist?

by God_Delusion in

jw
friends

hi guys & gals,.

we're currently preparing for the season finale of the show (to be recorded on sunday, may 24th at 2pm eastern time nyc / 6pm uk time / 4am sydney time.. as we're going to (finally) be covering 607 bce in detail, we're looking for a specialist (or two) that can come on the show and tell everyone about this almighty doctrine.

if you know your 587 from your 607 and why the 1914 and 1919 dates are important to jws (although most have no idea why), please send us an email to [email protected], using "i'm a 607er" in the subject line and let us know why we should pick you as a guest on the season finale.. can't wait to hear from you!.

Ucantnome

Are You a 607 BCE Specialist?

no

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

Ucantnome

How would you respond to your family?

Forgive and forget.

34

Are J.W.'s as Gullible as the Org's Writings Imply?

by The Searcher in

the latest watchtower certainly indicates that the org thinks they are!!

why keep in expectation?

watchtower august 15 par.

Ucantnome

Matthew 24:44 - "On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it."

Since Jesus said that Christians would not know, this means that anyone claiming to know, cannot be a Christian!

When my parents became Jehovah's Witnesses the belief was, and when I was a child, that the tribulation had started in 1914 and been cut short. At least I think that's what it was.

I don't think my father was the gullible sort. I also think that maybe their view of this scripture related to being in the presence already.

10

I Felt Proud Telling People That Michael Jackson Was Raised a JW

by Tempest in a Teacup in

jw
friends

i just remembered this thing this morning:.

sharing the same faith with the king of pop made me feel important for belonging to this religion, even if he was never baptised.

we were not in america or anywhere close by.

Ucantnome

He visited our hall once I was indifferent

146

Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses

by Brother Jeramy in

allow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.

i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.

some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).

Ucantnome

Some totally understand the distinction between the Family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the Watchtower Society (WTS).

Brother Jeramy I don't understand the distinction. I thought that supposedly the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11 were Christ's brothers and when the Watchtower Society's President and several other members of the Society were imprisoned in 1918 it was as though the preaching work was dead (the two witnesses). Which seems to me to tie the Society to Christ's brothers who are part of the 'Family of brothers and sisters'?

41

How Do You Feel About All The Time You Wasted Being. A Jehovah's Witness?

by minimus in

jw
friends

all that i can say is....what a shame!

Ucantnome

I don't know that it was wasted time because if I hadn't have been raised as a witness I have no idea how my life would have turned out. Maybe there were things that I needed to do that were small but significant to my life or the lives of others that needed me to be a Witness and the only way I would ever have done them would be because I was raised as a witness. I know decisions that I made were influenced by my faith in the good news that I preached as Witness and decisions may have been better if I'd chosen a different path but I don't know. I have a different view of the preaching work that I engaged in and so I no longer participate that's it. Looking at my cousins who were not raised as Witness they are better educated and have better jobs than I have. The same is true of my father and children. So probably I would have been financially better.

160

"The organisation is imperfect, but it doesn't affect my relationship with Jehovah"

by Alive! in

i've noted active, devoted jw's state the above.. and, it's not a problem for me to remain trusting of god, i just don't trust religions or men.. recently, a member of this forum stated that he remains an active jw, in the family of god's people, wanting to encourage and do good - whilst recognising that the pastoral leaders (the gb) have shipwrecked the faith of many, being unsound scripturally etc, etc.. stop and think about this - the bible says to not follow after those who lie and hurt the faith of "little ones".. the pharisees were accused of traversing over lands and expending much energy to make a single convert - only for that convert to end up worse of than he started off with.. it's one thing to not believe this is the 'truth' and feeling the awful pressure of managing ones life, trying not to lose ones family.. it's quite another thing to declare oneself to be a christian believer of god's jw household, and somehow believe the god of love would use corrupt liars to parade as jesus' brothers in the urgency of last days.

really?

and, to then visibly promote faith in corrupt men, and try to bring converts into a place where the rulership is wrong.. some of us are dying from hurt here.......give me a break..

Ucantnome

I still believe in God and have faith in his provisions but I found I couldn't remain actively preaching as a Jehovah's Witness and not feel a complete hypocrite. A friend commented to me that they can join in preaching but never mention some primary teachings that they are not happy with. I felt identifying myself as Jehovah's Witness would show my support. I have gone back to the hall at times but not to joining in the preaching work and after awhile I found there was little point especially if I was honest to all about how I felt. In the future who knows what changes will be made and maybe I would be able to whole heartedly support the kingdom preaching done by Jehovah's Witnesses but I feel God doesn't want lukewarm activity.

78

Am I the only "witness here besides the admins?

by TheOnlyRealWittnessHere in

jw
friends

with all the negativity here i was wondering if i am the only one here that's a witness.

.

the topic pretty much says everything..

Ucantnome

depends maybe how you define witness