Posts by erbie

18

I Let Go Of Faith Ten years Ago Today

by cofty in

after more than 30 years as a jw and 9 as a born-again christian i finally let go of faith 10 years ago today.... it was on boxing day 2004 that news of the asian tsunami put the final nail in the coffin of my relationship with god.

since that time i have listened attentively to every possible argument in defense of faith; there has never been a single moment that i have felt any discomfort with my decision.. life without god has been liberating.

no longer do i have to defend the indefensible.

erbie

Though I am not a religious man myself I find it extraordinary that you should lose your faith over a natural disaster. It appears to me to show a lack of maturity to throw ones teddy in the corner because God has been unkind by sending a tsunami to cause havoc on Boxing Day. After all, natural disasters are part of Earth's history and it will continue to be so.

I watched my mother die very slowly of cancer and it has had a permanent effect on me but although I do believe in a creator I wouldn't say I blame God for the many afflictions the human race is forced to endure.

I rather suspect that your loss of faith was due to a collective body of things that had accumulated over some time. Certainly the Watchtower has had its effect on all of us which doesn't help at all because it fills people's heads with idealistic ideas among other things.

Nowadays, I have a much more pragmatic approach to life.

I wish you well Cofty.

44

Men are not looking forward to becoming Elders or Ministerial Servants

by Hidden-Window in

jw
friends

i have noticed an apparently increasing number of men who are not interested in becoming ministerial servants or elders.

i also know of some that have voluntarily stepped down (which is my case) for no obvious solid reason.. i remember, during my teenage years or even during my twenties, the brothers were always looking forward to being appointed... although many still do, i have noticed there are many others with whom you do not know what the deal is.. since there is no freedom of speech within the organization, we remain in the dark about the motives and desires of everybody else.

i attend a congregation with only two ministerial servants, while it is full of men who do not seem to be willing to do more.. it is hard to tell exactly what is going on, since honesty is not possible while you are inside, but i am starting to think that more and more are becoming disillusioned.... .

erbie

Many enjoy the title of elder or servant as they feel it gains them some acceptance within the fold in the form of prestige or prominence.

But really, I think many are now looking to the real world in order to fulfil their ambitions and aspirations with real, tangible benefits rather than the petty tokens offered by the Watchtower which, let's face it, are valueless outside of the fold and of no consequence whatsoever to educated, sophisticated people.

Better to be an average sized fish in a large ocean than an over-grown, over-inflated fish in a small puddle.

19

Christmas markets - apparently fine for JW's to attend

by FeelingFree in

this has got me really wound up and i feel the need to post.

our friend an ex jw has just returned from a famous christmas market in germany, now my husband mentioned this to his mum as they have connections there.

she got all excited about how amazing the german christmas markets are there and how she would of def gone to one this year if she had the time!

erbie

I know loads of Jdubstandards that do the whole Christmas thing. My inlaws come for Christmas dinner every year and he is an elder and she a pioneer.

Just brilliant...

57

Couple questions....like if JW's not the right way then what is?

by world in

jw
friends

new member here so don't attack :d here is a couple questions i have been contemplating lately.. .

if jw isn't the right religion, then which one is?

or is it basically believe in god, the bible and you'll be fine?.

erbie

You are still thinking like a JW which is to be expected because that is what they have trained your mind to do.

It can take a long time to free your mind of their control.

If you want to look at it from a Christian/Biblical perspective I would suggest you try this:

Even his disciples asked Jesus how they were to know the way, to which He replied, "I Am the way, the truth and the light".

It took me many years before I saw the truth in those few words and for the penny to drop. It is actually painfully simple and that is the marvel of it all. All those Watchtower lies, one stacked upon another just for the purpose of defending the central, pivotal lie are completely unnecessary and are an obstacle to any kind of spirituality.

It is much less complicated than you think, just don't look at things through the eyes with which you once approached the Watchtower riddles.

In short, the 'Truth' is not a religious cult run by a troupe of corporate suits in a tall office building but is Jesus Christ himself (according to the Bible).

...if indeed it is the Bible's viewpoint you are searching for. However, if you are searching for a preconceived, eroronious viewpoint that you have inherited from the Watchtower cult then I wish you well for it will be a long, arduous task and ultimately a fruitless one.

11

The Watchtower explains the sheep and the goats

by runForever in

the march 2015 study watchtower finally solves the mystery of the sheep and the goats:.

" first, note that jesus is teaching bymeans of an illustration.

obviously, he isnot talking about separating literal sheepfrom literal goats.".

erbie

Thanks for that clarification. I always wondered why a sheep was more worthy of life than a goat as I had always found them to be quite peaceful creatures.

I don't need to worry about that anymore 😏

40

What Was Your Body of Elders Like?

by minimus in

jw
friends

were they pretty much a good group of men?

we're they jerks?.

erbie

You'll get there Millie.

Their whole belief system is structured around lies and deception and it can never sustain itself. The Internet is rapidly uncovering their once hidden past and that is good news for all of us.

One brick at a time and don't get disheartened.

18

Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any U.S. religion

by new light in

jw
friends

well i'll be darned.

serves 'em right.

man does that put a smile on my face.'.

erbie

Yep, grinning from ear to ear 😆

40

What Was Your Body of Elders Like?

by minimus in

jw
friends

were they pretty much a good group of men?

we're they jerks?.

erbie

In our old congregation (Gloucestershire UK) we had a sly tax inspector as a PO, a wet door mat as secretary and a few other oldies who would potter around and mostly speak nonsense in the name of 'theocratic' service.

My goodness, they were a crooked and twisted bunch.

I'm just thankful that my children won't be influenced by them at all because in the end...

I won 😜

53

How did your family react when you made it known that you did not want to be a JW anymore?

by Yondaime in

please share your experiences..

erbie

Like a swarm of very angry hornets.

10

BRITAIN - A High Court Judge has ruled that a Jehovah's Witness boy can receive a Blood Transfusion

by jwleaks in

britain - a high court judge has ruled that the son of two jehovahs witnesses can be given a blood transfusion despite religious objections from his parents.. mr justice moylan was told by doctors that the very young boy had suffered severe burns in an accident and might need a blood transfusion.

the judge concluded that a blood transfusion would be in the youngsters best interests in spite of the deeply held views of his mother and father.. the judge said a health trust with responsibility for treating the boy had asked for a ruling.

he did not name anyone involved and did not give the childs age.. judgment - www.jwleaks.org/blood/case-no-fd14p00803.

erbie

Yes, I heard this on the radio today.

It is actually quite comforting to see common sense prevail at a time when there seems to be so much madness in the world.