Posts by NewLight

8

Help needed

by NewLight in

jw
friends

i’ve been visiting this site for quite a long time, although i rarely posted.

i would like to thank simon and all the participants, for the valuable information and support that is available here, for anyone searching about the jw organization.. just a brief introduction of myself: i live in europe (english is not my native language, so please bear with any mistakes i make).

i was born in a jw family and i’m still in the organization, but i’ve been “on the fence” about leaving the organization for quite a long time.

NewLight

Hello to everyone!

I’ve been visiting this site for quite a long time, although I rarely posted. I would like to thank Simon and all the participants, for the valuable information and support that is available here, for anyone searching about the JW organization.

Just a brief introduction of myself: I live in Europe (English is not my native language, so please bear with any mistakes I make). I was born in a JW family and I’m still in the organization, but I’ve been “on the fence” about leaving the organization for quite a long time. I hope that here I’ll find some help, in order to decide.

So I would first like to ask if anyone who was raised as a jw and left the organization, would like to share how easy or difficult this transition was. Having been in the organization for many years, means I have few contacts outside of it. Plus, I’ve been conditioned by the org to see with suspicion anyone who is not a jw - worldly people are malicious… So it seems somewhat scary to me. Any experiences would be appreciated! I would also like to know what helped you in this transition.

Finally, a note about my nickname, “New Light”: I chose it to mock the doctrine changes of the jw org over the years, that were presented as new light, with the result that today, the founder of the org C. T. Russell, would be considered an apostate! But “New Light” has also another (optimistic) meaning: we can shed even more light and see things as they are in reality, without the organization’s lenses…

33

What’s Your Prediction For Covid & Its Consequences?

by minimus in

jw
friends

will we close down again?

will we be masked forever?

will we be required to get vaccinated over and over again?

NewLight

I don’t want to be a “prophet after Christ”, it’s difficult to tell what exactly will happen.

First of all, I think we are lucky to have a vaccine -during the ‘Spanish flu’ there was none.

I would say it depends mainly on the course of mutations. As things are today, I believe a third dose of the vaccine will probably be needed for many people. There is a small probability for a fourth dose, but I think somewhere there it will be the end of the pandemic.

I’m not that concerned about the coronavirus - I’m more concerned about the viruses of misinformation and hatred. 😉

22

Whatever Happened To The Flu?

by minimus in

jw
friends

has the flu vanished?

has it been replaced by covid?

no one is talking about making sure you get you flu shots.

NewLight

I agree with GreatTeacher. Since COVID-19 is transmitted more easily than the flu, the measures taken for COVID are even more effective against the flu. Besides, many have been vaccinated against the flu.

15

What is the JW view on the vaccine rollout?

by MebyonKernow in

jw
friends

out of morbid curiosity...what is the jehovah's witnesses current view about the vaccine rollout?is the watchtower society advocating the position to take the covid vaccine?

is it a personal 'conscience' matter?

how many jws are refusing the vaccine does anyone know?

NewLight

Science has made it (with the vaccines against covid) again! JWs may boast about how Jesus healed the lepers, but medical science outperformed him by (almost) vanishing leprosy from the face of earth.

I was surprised that many JWs have bought into conspiracy theories against COVID vaccines. Almost always, the articles in WT’s magazines are appreciative of science (except when it comes to evolution theory). But maybe I should have expected it, given the educational level of the majority.

By the way, I have taken the first dose of the vaccine (being a health professional) and everything is OK. What bothers me is mutant strains of coronavirus, which the vaccine may not cover. But it is the best we can do for now, waiting for science to produce even better vaccines and medicines against the virus.

32

Will You Take A Covid Vac!

by minimus in

jw
friends

yes.

right now i would like to see how good the vaccine really is.

i’ve never taken a flu shot and so far, no flu..

NewLight

Nice mentality sloppyjoe2! Being part of the solution is sooo mature!

I agree that there is nothing serious to be concerned about the vaccine. Since you just had Covid, probably you already have antibodies. However, as experts suggest, vaccination will give you better and more lasting immunity.

As for me, I am going to do it. Not only for myself, but also because I take care of my elderly parent.

40

What Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Like Nowadays?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i’ve been gone a long time.

after my mother passed away a few years ago, i pretty much lost most contact with the witnesses.

a couple that were family friends for many years stopped checking on me to say hello.

NewLight

Hello minimus! I would say “business as usual”. Only that they are extra cautious now, during the pandemic.

Preaching is allowed only to persons that are acquaintances of JWs - and only via phone, zoom etc. Also, during November, there was an “expedition” by writing emails and sending electronic publications to professionals.

In general, I discern that the organization gets more centralized, cutting costs and turning towards electronic publications and videos. But not any significant change, as far as I can tell.

PS. I frequently read your posts, they are always interesting. Thank you!

84

Do you have any evidence that the GB had bad intent?

by AlainAlam in

do you have any evidence that the gb had bad intent?

as opposed to blind faith/cognitive dissonance and honest mistakes.. i'm inclined to think they have the best of intentions and are just wrong (primarily because the bible is wrong), but i'm willing to consider the evidence otherwise..

NewLight

Hello AlainAlam! Great thread -and congratulations for the way you handled the “attacks” you received.

I can understand you and relate to you. I’m also “on the way out”, but have my doubts as to whether the JW leadership are deceiving people on purpose, or they are good people with good intentions but just wrong in their beliefs.

One thought is that, maybe, we are good people and tend to think that others are well meaning too. We have difficulty in believing that JW leaders could be misleading people intentionally.

Another thought is that at the end it doesn’t really matter: as you said, since all religions are false, this should not matter regarding one’s decision to leave the org.

My general feeling, however, is that although the rank-and-file JWs are generally good people, those at higher positions are not so sincere.

My main accusation against them is that they don’t tolerate any dispute of their teachings. That they force family members not to talk to each other, just because someone came to understand that they are wrong at what they teach. This, I think, shows lack of sincerity and true love.

9

Avatar

by Verenda in

how do i change my avatar?

i have tried uploading an image but nothing seems to be working.. thanks.

NewLight

Hello again,

I messaged Simon, but didn't get any reply yet. So I followed Finkelstein's advice and uploaded my image at the Gravatar site.

Now, at my profile page (of jw discussion board), I see my new image appearing at the "Refresh Gravatar" button. However, when I press it, nothing seems to be happening (I waited also for a little while, as suggested).

Any ideas? (Hope it's not the curse of J...h!)

9

Avatar

by Verenda in

how do i change my avatar?

i have tried uploading an image but nothing seems to be working.. thanks.

NewLight

Thank you Finkelstein for your help.

I looked at the link you gave, but it seems a little complicated to me - first I should create a Wordpress account, plus there are various types of Gravatar images.

So, is there not a simpler way? Why the “upload avatar” feature, in my profile page, is not working? Does it work only with certain types/sizes of pictures, or something else is the problem?

Does anybody know?

9

Avatar

by Verenda in

how do i change my avatar?

i have tried uploading an image but nothing seems to be working.. thanks.

NewLight

Hello! Same problem here. I'm trying to upload an avatar picture, but doesn't seem to work. I've tried various browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) and devices (Windows PC, iPad) but without success. Grateful for any help!