Posts by Balaamsass

64

Confused...

by raxxxx in

.

hiya and... i do not really know where to begin... currently a jw... slightly starting to fade... got a girlfriend baptised... i am baptised also... my head is a mess... i do not know what to believe anymore... never really fully trusted elders as it comes to 'leading the flock'... got burned a few times with their ... decisions etc.

read a few articles in here about their alleged false beliefs... do not really know what to do... wondered if any of you felt like that at any point... when something that you trusted and followed most of your life... does not seem to be what you thought it was... .

Balaamsass

raxxx,

Sorry, I forgot to welcome you. Welcome. ( had to leave with a migraine) Leaving WT gave you GREAT advice. Don't repeat our mistake, drink "Koolaid", loose your criticle thinking ability, and 50 plus years of your life.

The last two mornings I bolted up at 4:30 am with a vivid nightmare of Dan Sydlick (GB ) yelling at me and his wife-lol!! ( He lived a couple of doors away at Bethel, we shared a bathroom, and ate at the same table weekends). Right now I am feeling a lot of guilt for believing any of the horse-shit about dear Ray & Cynthia Franz. They were kind, sweet people who even had me and other Bethel boys over to thier room at Bethel for dinner. For years I hid the fact they were friends for fear of being labeled " an apostate" by association.. I have a lot of apologizing to do for drinking the Kool-aid. Damm I feel so guilty and bad. Sooo many regrets.

Raxx...congrats to you and all the young members and "Lurkers" for being smarter than I, so much younger. You will not waste your life or be a part of hurting anyone elses life.

54

You Can Overcome WT Phobias!

by leavingwt in

jw
friends

early in the exit process, it's very important to begin overcoming irrational fears.

fear of the devil.

fear of god.

Balaamsass

Great thread. Thanks!

64

Confused...

by raxxxx in

.

hiya and... i do not really know where to begin... currently a jw... slightly starting to fade... got a girlfriend baptised... i am baptised also... my head is a mess... i do not know what to believe anymore... never really fully trusted elders as it comes to 'leading the flock'... got burned a few times with their ... decisions etc.

read a few articles in here about their alleged false beliefs... do not really know what to do... wondered if any of you felt like that at any point... when something that you trusted and followed most of your life... does not seem to be what you thought it was... .

Balaamsass

You have gotten good advice. 3rd Gen and I have had some lively discussions. For years I believed 98% of what I was taught. An older Branch Overseer admonished me "Follow the scriptures, and take some of what you hear the GB say with a grain of Salt, remember they are imperfect men". That worked OK for 40 years. But the more I saw, the more JESUS words came into my mind: "By thier FRUITS you shall recognize them". Using simple common sense, and just reading what Jesus SAID, it became obvious the Watchtower Society "Governing Body" are like the Bad Kings of Isreal and the Pharasees of Jesus day, binding heavy loads on everyone but themselves, and "spiritually killing" or banishing everyone who disagrees with them.

7 years ago I just chalked EVERYTHING up to human imperfection and told the wife and some discouraged JWs friends "Oh Well, 80% of the Isrealite Kings were bad" should we expect any different today?" "People are People". "Wait on Jehovah".

This year with the newest, newest, newest, newest, "Light", and the KrAZY Rabid talk about anyone simply "weak" or having "Doubts" being "mentally deseased APOSTATES worthy of death", the big move upstate from Brooklyn, N.Y. to "Jonestown" NY., and the $$ grabbing, THEY FORCED me AWAKE to the fact I was in what has become a cult and needed to re-examine EVERYTHING I had learned in the last 50 years from the rainbow of WT books on our bookshelves. (I donated 1,800 lbs of WT Lit. to recycle). What will be the final result? I do not know. BUT we already feel like a huge weight is off our shoulders. I read my bible daily, pray, read a broader range of material, and have a much greater appreciation for Christ and the ransom.

The final result? I Do not know. We are already happier and less judgemental. I am still a servant of Jehovah and Jesus..just not volunteer labor for a publishing company run by some wacky self appointed messiahs. Be glad it isn't taking you 50 years to cross this road.

1

If it's OK to save a life by killing someone in self-defense, why isn't it acceptable to break the law on blood to save

by NVR2L8 in

Balaamsass

Why isn't it? :) What is actually sacred...blood...or Life..?

36

Which Beliefs and Doctrines Helped Push You Out?

by ilikecheese in

okay, so this is my first post, but i've been lurking here for months and months.

i have to say this is a very informative and hilarious site.

you guys are great to read!

Balaamsass

LYING. Satan is the Father of the lie. We all lie, by accident, to ourselves, in a moment of weakness...but for the Watchtower to TEACH lying as OK..that is over the top. Also minimizing Jesus as our mediator, and cheapening his sacrifice in the Baptism Vows, and signage, judicial arrangement (probation, restrictions etc.).

81

How did plants survive the Flood?

by dgp in

noah is not said to have carried plants in his ark.

supposedly the flood was severe enough to cover "even the tallest mountains", which would mean that mount everest was covered.

and this for forty days.

Balaamsass

Last month I was channel surfing. Either the history Channel or National Geographic has some interesting shows on ancient underwater sites. One was under the english Channel, some in the Black Sea, others off the coast of India. It seems at some time in the distant past Sea levels were 150 to 200 ft lower than today. Since most people then as today live on or near the coast a quick pole change or other disaster (Ice Cap melt) could have created tidal waves, climatic changes, rain and a sea level change. The net result would have been a destruction of the "Known World". A 200' Sea level change would bring the Sea MILES inland in most areas. Was an interesting show...made me wonder.

58

My Bethel experience

by new boy in

jw
friends

because of the length of this, it will be done in two parts.

part 1. i when to bethel march 21,1970. at the time you had to be a pioneer for two years to apply, by the time i left in 1974 they were calling people in who had never pioneered..........average stay was 5 months ( they had signed up for 4 years)..........the reason they left was......well, it was hell.. one of the reasons was, knorr hated bethelites, but he loved the gilead students and why?

because when they screwed up they were thousands of miles away!........just before i got there, they had kicked out over 60!

Balaamsass

Thanks New Boy! All these different people...same Watchtower BETHEL experience. Any more experiences at other Watchtower Society Branch offices?

82

What really ended the book study in private homes?

by Alfred in

it's been over 3 years since the book study in private homes was discontinued and some jws are still scratching their heads over it.

although a letter was read to all congregations explaining that "book study night" would now be "family worship night", there was still much speculation among jws as to the real reason behind this decision (the great tribulation was about to start, jehovah was simplifying the lives of jws, to lessen the burden of poor jws who had no money for gas, etc.)...

but as we all know, decisions like these from the gb invariably have some ulterior motive behind it... and discussion boards such as this one usually finds a way to dig up the truth for all to see... but after reading several threads on this subject, i'm really not sure we've uncovered all the facts yet.... so i have to ask... what do you believe really ended the book study in private homes?

Balaamsass

Actually I enjoyed Bookstudy when we had it at our home or a "cool" publishers home. Everyweek was goodie night. Sometimes a theme dinner or wine and cheese tasting. Somes just popcorn and TV after with whoever wanted to stay.

When gas got expensive or we had a rural spread-out congregation we arranged to have it Saturday morning for 45 minutes over coffee, followed by a 10 minutes meeting for field service, less dressing up, driving etc.

Depending on where and who was in the group, it was either the best or worse meeting of the week.

82

What really ended the book study in private homes?

by Alfred in

it's been over 3 years since the book study in private homes was discontinued and some jws are still scratching their heads over it.

although a letter was read to all congregations explaining that "book study night" would now be "family worship night", there was still much speculation among jws as to the real reason behind this decision (the great tribulation was about to start, jehovah was simplifying the lives of jws, to lessen the burden of poor jws who had no money for gas, etc.)...

but as we all know, decisions like these from the gb invariably have some ulterior motive behind it... and discussion boards such as this one usually finds a way to dig up the truth for all to see... but after reading several threads on this subject, i'm really not sure we've uncovered all the facts yet.... so i have to ask... what do you believe really ended the book study in private homes?

Balaamsass

"The other effect cancelling " in home " book studies has is it makes people get less personal in their friendships with one another. Relationships stay more formal inside a public Kingdom hall as it squelches the opportunity to REALLY get to know people so they can't talk openly." - I agree

AAAHHHMAZING how the "lifesaving meeting" the Bookstudy, was just chopped by the WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY because of "high gas prices". Hummm. EXACTLY when HUGE settlements were being paid out to child molest victims. YES...$$ LIABILITY...but... Slips and falls are covered by homeowners and renters insurance policies. As an ex- Elder involved in looking into some molestation cases, the most egregious molestation cases I ever heard of were connected with the Book Study arrangement.

Only at the the bookstudy could brother overseer say "Hi little Suzy, why don't you show me your pet hamster in your room while mommy warms up the cobbler". One local molester/servant who quietly went from one circuit to another, set up his own homes as a virtual "disneyland" for children. This "Wonderful" friendly brother who showed such "intrest in our young people" threw many childrens parties and regularly offered his home as a bookstudy location. He even used those close bookstudy relationships to encourage "camping trips". This guy was a regular self appointed Boyscout leader. Some Moms sung his praises. If mom was tired he offered to take the kids in field service and "ice cream afterwards. No less than a half dozen children have accused him of molesting in multiple locations. EVERY time rather than believe the kids and just call 911, the parents confronted the Perv, or called the elders. By the time police got involved evidence had been distroyed, the cases botched, and he would move and set up again in another locale.

Same thing with another local Elder who molested for 20+ years. And one from Bethel in NYC.- The bookstudy provided the opportunity to get into a close relationship with kids. As servants, these guys arranged to be assigned to homes with potential victims.

86

This site is a bad site! I am ashamed that i have joined!

by MsPassach in

i am so ashamed that i joined this site!

i thought that i would meet people here that honour jehovah here.

insread most of the people here are not here for the service of god.

Balaamsass

Ohh come on now. This is not a bad site with bad people. Don't you "look for openminded householders in the Ministry"? Shouldn't you "be all things to all people to gain them"? Doesn't "iron sharpen iron?" You know you are curious..thats why you joined. Just a bunch of Boreans here..doing some examining. Anyway you can count time!! :)

Moshe..to Diverge a bit, I'm 1/2 Jewish and the wife and I were discusing the Orthadox viewpoint of Blood Transfusions and fractions. Had this discussion at Bethel with governing Body members when dealing with butchering Bethel meat. Please share. I will be sharing on my new Disturbing Bethel Story thread Monday eve. (after work).