truth_b_known

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Posts by truth_b_known

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  63

  Prelude to a disfellowshipping

  by rory-ks in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was 25 years a congregation member; ten years an elder; all told, up to 18 years an appointed man; a decade or so as a full-time minister; assembly speaker, with the pinnacle giving the public discourse at a district convention.. .

  i stopped being an active member of the congregation in november 2010, but it had been brewing for several years, with the customary gradual drifting away - all the necessary mental gymnastics as my spiritual views changed and doubts set in; quitting the theocratic ministry school; ceasing to answer; sitting quietly off to the side.

  i think the straw that broke the camels back was when family worship inevitably became family worship.

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  truth_b_known

  rory-ks, welcome!

  I have found that this website is the root cause for helping cut all ties to the evil empire. Although I was inactive for 5 years and saw serious issues within the organization, it was not until I read some great posts from those who post here that I knew in my heart that Jehovah's Witnesses as a religion is a snare and a racket.

  You will find many members who were elders and bethelites that have contributed eye opening stories as well as people like yourself who retell storied of their bravery when confronted because of their beliefs.
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  80

  The "invisible" Elephant in the room: ELDERLY JW's nobody provides for

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  question: how does the leadership of jehovah's witnesses instruct its members to prepare for the eventual elder care of its members?.

  answer: it pretends it will never happen!.

  is this responsible leadership or some kind of cognitive dissonant malfeasance?.

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  truth_b_known

  Jesus promised his followers that, if they would put kingdom interests first, they would have food and clothing for the day provided by God. Jesus also said that the Son of God had no place to lie his head. Therefore, there is not guarentee of shelter for Christians. (Matt. 6:25-34)

  With this being said, elderly Witnesses who have put kingdom interests first in their life (as defined by the WTB&TS) and do not have the means to provide for their food and clothing for the day are proof of 1 of 2 things:

  1) Jehovah's Witnesses are not really putting kingdom interests first as defined by Jesus or

  2) There is no God.

  For the WTB&TS to take steps to provide for elderly ones in the congregation they would be giving concrete evidence of either #1 or #2.
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  17

  Vehicle registration laws in your state, especially western states

  by badseed in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here in california, i have to get a smog, which is an emissions test in order to register my vehicle.

  does your state require an emissions test?

  a regular inspection of the vehicle, or none?

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  truth_b_known

  In Texas you must have your vehicle inspected every year and you receive an inspection sticker that goes next to your registration sticker. The state does not allow the inspection to cost more than $39.99. It may include an emissions test. The inspection makes sure your breaks work, all your lights, seatbelts, horn, gas tank cover, and even the windshield wiper blades (no breaks).

  I'd gladly deal with the California smog check.
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  44

  Atheists, Agnostics or Theists .... So Who's Happiest?

  by 00DAD in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a couple of years ago, a psychologist i know made the off-handed comment that there is conclusive evidence that "atheists are not as happy as the ordinary, average person?

  we tossed that subject around for a few minutes and then moved on to something else.

  at the time, i didn't think too much about it.

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  truth_b_known

  obsolete: good fortune :prosperity a: a state of well-being and contentment :joy b: a pleasurable or satisfying experience

  Above are definitions of the word "happy" according with Webster's Dictionary. How can anyone who is in constant fear of a diety cutting their life short in a cataclismic event or placing them for eternity in a place of torment live in "a state of well-being and contentment". If you have to be constantly asked: "Are you doing enough for God?" or refusing to partake in life because it might offend a diety can you be content? How pleasurable or satisfying is it to be shunned or to have to shun family and friends because a diety demands it? When I was about 14 I came home from school one day and, as I was walking to my bedroom, I had a very sharp pain suddenly appear in my chest. It happened so quickly and it was so powerful my legs buckled to the point I almost fell. I thought I was dying from a heartache. At that very moment I was also overcome with a feeling of content. I thought to myself if I was to die at that very moment I was okay with that. However, I did not think this for one second because thoguht I was going to be resurrected. I was a full-on Kool-Aid drinking Witness at the time, but it just didn't come to mind. At this point in time I am an atheist. I am content with the fact that I am alive, I have experienced life, and will one day die. I am ok with death.
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  26

  JW's 'put off living'

  by Lady Viola in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was reading a book and read the following quote:.

  "one of the most tragic things i know about human nature is.

  that all of us tend to put off living.

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  truth_b_known

  It truly upset me to hear Witnesses say,"This isn't the real life?" Well, what the hell is it?

  Living a highly restricted lifestyle in hopes of receiving eternal life after death is no different than gambling.
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  39

  "Awake" 1973 says Witnesses should not play CHESS it's EVIL!!!

  by Witness 007 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  awake 73 march 22 p.12 "the spirit of competition between players can lead to unplesant circumstances...in some homes tensions linger long past checkmate...chess has been a game of war since it originated...the games conection to war is obvious....a play substitue for the art of war...there is a danger of stirring uo competition with one another even developing hostility with one another something the bible warns against....what effect does playing chess have on one?

  is it a wholesome effect?

  ....there are questions regarding it that each one who plays chess should consider.".

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  truth_b_known

  This topic is often used as an example of the WTB&TS flip-flopping. I think they have been several articles over the years on chess. The evil empire would go back and forth. It's good. It's bad. It's good. It's bad. I think the last article gave the WTB&TS seal of approval.

  The article I have been looking for over the years was in an old Watchtower or Awake. The title was something like "Learn Judo". I took Judo in college and even joined the team in spite of the prohibition on martial arts. Then I learned that was back in the day there was an magazine article promoting it.
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  45

  I am speechless over the latest tactic to get people to Pioneer!

  by iclone in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><!

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  [endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* style definitions */ table.msonormaltable {mso-style-name:"table normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"times new roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:en-us;} </style> <!

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  truth_b_known

  7 Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

  Doesn't this scripture invalidate just about every child baptism in the evil empire? I was 15 when I got baptised. Mine was definately under compulsion.

  This whole incident is a numbers scam. Then again, remember, they're "publishers" and publishers is defined as "a company or person engaged in publishing periodicals, books, music, etc." So, the "company" (i.e. WTB&TS) sends it's "regional manager" (i.e. Circuit Overseer) to make sure each "store" (i.e. congregation) is selling more books. So the "store managers" (i.e. body of elders) have to come up with ways to increase productivity to hit those numbers set by the company.
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  4

  The family story I've never told

  by Celestial in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this took place in the 1970s (i'm 38).. .

  all members of the story are or were jehovahs witnesses.

  i've known this all my life but i've never told anyone.

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  truth_b_known

  "I don't know how the congregation elders became suspicious of this, but I was told they followed and spied on them and confronted my father with what they observed."

  Isn't great how elders are willing to play private investigator when it comes to adultry, but won't bother to call the police when it comes to domestic violence or child abuse?
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  13

  The world is getting better

  by laverite in

  1. social
  2. current

  the world is getting better in many ways despite the doom and gloom jws might claim.

  the 24/7 news cycle seems to be all doom and gloom.

  but is it all doom and gloom?

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  truth_b_known

  "What's the world coming to, sir?"

  "The world ain't coming to nothing, son. Same as it ever was."
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  22

  Did you miss out on a career opportunity when you were a JW?

  by moshe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  opportunities seemed to be advertised everywhere when i was a young man, it was hard to decide on one.

  .

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  truth_b_known

  Almost...

  I would have 10 more years of experience as a police officer and I would probably be a police chief by now if I had started my career when I was younger.