Posts by 3rdgen

7

What is the Best Way to Reach Out to My JW Brother?

by ApostolicJesus93 in

i am not a jw, nor have i ever been.

i'm an apostolic pentecostal.

i do have an older half-brother who is about 13 years my senior.

3rdgen

To be a little more specific, in your case I think a card with a brief family update, a picture or two, and a msg. briefly telling him what's new with you and your family. Then mention that you wanted to let him know about your dad's health issues and your concerns about his emotional well-being as well.

That it would be such a tonic for Dad to have a call or a visit from him. I wouldn't try to guilt him the first time I reached out. Just let him know how lonely Dad is and a reminder that life can be so hectic that sometimes we forget those closest to us. Presume that it's just an oversight on his part. Take the high road.

If he responds -mission accomplished. Give it a couple of weeks or so. If no answer, then use a couple of Scriptures as a reminder to him.

If still no answer, your brother is what he is and there is nothing you can say to change him.

7

What is the Best Way to Reach Out to My JW Brother?

by ApostolicJesus93 in

i am not a jw, nor have i ever been.

i'm an apostolic pentecostal.

i do have an older half-brother who is about 13 years my senior.

3rdgen

Hello, ApostolicJesus

I am, as my name implies, a third generation Jehovah's Witness going back to the very early 1900s.

My father as a young man, while favorable to the religion, was not baptized and married a non-JW. They had one son I will call D. The marriage ended and the boy was raised primarily with his mother.

Meanwhile, father gets baptized, becomes a JW zealot, and marries an equally zealous "pioneer sister". I was born 18 years after my half brother. There are no other siblings.

My Father abandoned D because he didn't want to become a JW so there was ZERO contact between my half brother and my family.

When I was in my 30's (in the '80s) I was an active JW but was disgusted that my father rejected his own son over a difference of religion. I reached out to D with a card, pictures of me and my family, and contact info. I heard nothing back.

A couple of years ago D's oldest son and I met online through a genealogy site. I asked if D had received my card from so many years ago. My nephew said he remembers D showing it to him (he's only 8 years younger than I) D had said he wants NOTHING to do with Anyone whose last name is C****!!

So my brother blamed me for the sins of our father and rejected a person who would dearly love him if he would let me.

The thing is I am VERY glad I tried. Now I sleep well not worrying "What if?" And I get to have a decent relationship with my nephew.

Nobody lies on their deathbed regretting reaching out in kindness. Just be prepared for whatever answer comes.

46

What do you think?

by Tahoe in

.

3rdgen

Hopefully, every word is true.

13 years ago during a particularly unpleasant talk given by the Circuit Overseer, I got up, collected my things, and walked out. My hubby had recently stopped attending at the time but I was trying to "stay faithful".

Neither Baalam's Ass nor I ever set foot in a KH since.

That asshole did us a giant favor. By acting so blatantly UnChrist-like he was the straw that broke my resolve to "stay in the truth" no matter what. Once away from the constant brainwashing, we had enough courage to honestly examine our religion.

One can only hope that millions more will be triggered by something or someone to realize that the rot in the organization comes from the top down.

24

BadAss Bethelites, did they really peak in the 1960's?

by was a new boy in

in the 70's a bethel elder told me that every morning in the 60's the paint and scaffold crew, (which was located on the 5th floor of building 4) would go up to the roof and walk around the perimeter on top of the ledge, which i doubt was more than 12" wide.

then they'd go render sacred service to jehovah..

3rdgen

My husband, (Baalam's Ass) was a Bethelite in 77-78 ish. After hearing his accounts of life and experiences there I believe that many, after seeing how the organization is actually run, are severely stumbled.

Those without a decent support system, are broke, and disillusioned, can easily become despondent. Who can they trust to share their doubts with? Certainly not their family, if they are Staunch JWs!

I had a close JW friend whose boyfriend went to Beth-Hell, came home and shot himself. He was a handsome, intelligent, person who couldn't bear the burden of "The Truth" anymore.

38

Did you ever meet someone born in the 1800’s?

by Fisherman in

i met freddie franz who was born in the 1880’s and many others from the 1880’s.

but as a very small child i remember someone very old aged 106 and that person was born around 1856 which means that he was around people from the 1700’s..

3rdgen

Yes,

My Paternal grandparents were born in 1875 and 1877. Grandma, who became an IBSA died before I was born. However, I knew my grandfather well because he lived with my parents and me for about a year when I was between 6 and 7 yo. (1958) He was 83.

What a character he was! Unlike grandma, he was not a Watchtower believer. He was, like grandma, a child of original California settlers. He had a huge cattle ranch in parts of Lassen and Tehama county. He even built a summer resort that is still there called "Childs Meadows".

Grandpa was a lot like Ben Cartwright on the old show, Bonanza. Although he LOVED his whisky he was never a mean drunk. Sometimes when he had a snootful, he would invite little me up on his lap and tell me stories and say, "You are my only little granddaughter and I love you dearly. Then hand me a $20.00 bill! That is like giving a 6yo over $200.00 regularly. I had no idea about the value of the money. I just felt the love and affection he showed me.

Thanks for the memories, Grandpa.

18

Jehovah`s Witness Elders who were Business men in The Congregations I Attended.

by smiddy3 in

a number of topics have covered work experiences by members who have encountered crticism for having a full time job .in the last few congregations i had attended this was never an issue as elders had businesses they owned and employed brothers and sisters .. while i personally never worked for a jw, both my young sons did at one time or another and my wife did also .i have always worked full time in secular employment and have never been criticised for doing so .and to my knowledge nobody else ever had that experience.. in the first cong.i attended an po as they were called at the time was an insurance agent and his bro.

was an assistant po also worked with the same ins,agency.. other congs,i attended one elder was an owner of a cabinet making firm while about 3 other different elders were self employed builders who ran their own business and employed others to work for them .. at the same time a couple of ms servants had their own plastering business going on supporting these elders business.. so i`m just wondering whether this is just depending on where you are from in the world and what time period we are talking about.. the time i`m talking about was in the sixties and seventies and the area was in s.e.

qld.

3rdgen

In addition, I'm sure these Rich elders I mentioned above, are counseling the younger ones to "Keep their eye simple"

Easy for them to say...

18

Jehovah`s Witness Elders who were Business men in The Congregations I Attended.

by smiddy3 in

a number of topics have covered work experiences by members who have encountered crticism for having a full time job .in the last few congregations i had attended this was never an issue as elders had businesses they owned and employed brothers and sisters .. while i personally never worked for a jw, both my young sons did at one time or another and my wife did also .i have always worked full time in secular employment and have never been criticised for doing so .and to my knowledge nobody else ever had that experience.. in the first cong.i attended an po as they were called at the time was an insurance agent and his bro.

was an assistant po also worked with the same ins,agency.. other congs,i attended one elder was an owner of a cabinet making firm while about 3 other different elders were self employed builders who ran their own business and employed others to work for them .. at the same time a couple of ms servants had their own plastering business going on supporting these elders business.. so i`m just wondering whether this is just depending on where you are from in the world and what time period we are talking about.. the time i`m talking about was in the sixties and seventies and the area was in s.e.

qld.

3rdgen

I can name at least 10 brothers who started Businesses in the1980s who are now multimillionaires

They worked very hard and did not live beyond their means at the time. They were not "Used" as "Servants or Elders" they were not considered "Exemplary" even though they usually had at least a few JW employees.

Now that 30-40 years have passed they retired/sold their businesses, are FILTHY RICH, and are now ELDERS.

By ignoring Watchtower councel Then, they have great lives Now. They are the happiest of JWs -Rich and Prominant.

I was in their social circles then and might still be if it weren't for learning TTATT. I can't stomach the phony JW life anymore and my former "friends" clearly haven't missed me.

44

Miniimizing 'Punishment' - marrying a non-JW

by doasthouwilt in

i’d like to marry my best friend of 30+ years, turned ‘secret’ girlfriend of 1 ½ years who is a jehovah’s witness, born into it, baptized and an active ‘pioneer’.

our marriage would happen prior to letting any of her jw friends and cohorts know that we are together.

once married she may simply come forward and ‘admit’ or we may wait until it’s found out – one way or the other, the reason for this marriage is not customary – i am hoping that by doing so she can avoid being ‘marked’ or possibly ‘disfellowshipped’ once our relationship is no longer a secret and due to our already being married at that point, there can be no notion from society elders about her ending the relationship.

3rdgen

Something else to consider. Her Bible says "There is nothing hidden that won't be revealed." If you marry and If by some miracle she is not disfellowshipped she might always wonder when she might be found out. Not a good start for a marriage.

To me, she must learn to accept that Jesus' sacrifice paid for her sins. She needs to be helped to reason that the sacrifice is enough to put her right with God. There is nothing she can add to it or works she can do to be "more" forgiven. No meetings she can attend or amount of hours she can preach to buy her salvation.

Mind you, I no longer believe in Christianity AT ALL but if a person does, either the ransom is enough or it isn't. Simple as that. How many churches did Jesus build?

She needs to leave JW's for you two to be happy. So my final question is: If she remains a fearful believer, how happy can she be if she becomes what the Bible calls "Unevenly Yolked"? How happy can you be if she is not happy?

44

Miniimizing 'Punishment' - marrying a non-JW

by doasthouwilt in

i’d like to marry my best friend of 30+ years, turned ‘secret’ girlfriend of 1 ½ years who is a jehovah’s witness, born into it, baptized and an active ‘pioneer’.

our marriage would happen prior to letting any of her jw friends and cohorts know that we are together.

once married she may simply come forward and ‘admit’ or we may wait until it’s found out – one way or the other, the reason for this marriage is not customary – i am hoping that by doing so she can avoid being ‘marked’ or possibly ‘disfellowshipped’ once our relationship is no longer a secret and due to our already being married at that point, there can be no notion from society elders about her ending the relationship.

3rdgen

I have a few questions.

You say you are not engaged but you would elope. Have you actually asked her to marry you? Has she accepted?

Is she aware of your plan to elope and announce your marriage to the congregation afterward? (which would deny her a wedding)

Is she willing to be disfellowshipped for this marriage? (the most likely outcome)

My take on this is that indeed she may have been scared by 9/11 into returning to good standing with JWs in order to survive Armageddon which seemed imminent. But when did she start pioneering? Was it after you two became more than friends? If so, that would indicate that in her mind, she is trying to pay for her sins with you by doing extra work for Jehovah. (kind of like penance) The trouble with that is her religion and her God don't officially accept it. Therefore, she is wasting her time pioneering.

The world is a scary place to be right now. (especially for someone with a JW background) She needs to be reminded that 9/11 came and went without Armageddon and so will today's events. She needs to be reminded that since the late 1800's the Watchtower has preached that Armageddon is imminent, that we are now living in the generation that will witness the end of the world- either by surviving it or being destroyed. The fear of being destroyed has to be replaced or she will always be a mental slave. Can you live with that? Can she?

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

3rdgen

Not just you Ozzie.