the congregation i attend had it's watchtower study on thursday night because of l.d.c work this week-end, and another congregation i have some not very spiritual friends in had their watchtower study on wednesday.
from what i have delicately prised out of people, the congregations loved the watchtower study this week, saying it was so encouraging and all the usual stuff, with no-one seeming to realise the g.b.
said they're not inspired, so the spirit int he past has moved them to teach wrong things, and all the other ideas excellently summed up on reddit.. today's watchtower will wash over the heads of most j.w's like it never even happened, the all remaining as loyal as ever, and it makes me so, so sad..
and he skips over the entire first half of the paragraph. He didn't say anything about the GB being infallible. He spent like 30 seconds on the paragraph, just talking about whatever the end of it says, and then he moved on.
The words 'Skirt' and 'issues' come to mind for some reason
the congregation i attend had it's watchtower study on thursday night because of l.d.c work this week-end, and another congregation i have some not very spiritual friends in had their watchtower study on wednesday.
from what i have delicately prised out of people, the congregations loved the watchtower study this week, saying it was so encouraging and all the usual stuff, with no-one seeming to realise the g.b.
said they're not inspired, so the spirit int he past has moved them to teach wrong things, and all the other ideas excellently summed up on reddit.. today's watchtower will wash over the heads of most j.w's like it never even happened, the all remaining as loyal as ever, and it makes me so, so sad..
Just copied this 1973 Watchtower statement (uninspired of course), from jw facts
"Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book. Many persons of the world are very intelligent, capable of understanding complex matters. They can read the Holy Scriptures, but they cannot understand their deep meaning. Yet God's people can comprehend such spiritual things. Why? Not because of special intelligence on their part, but as the apostle Paul declared: "For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God."" Watchtower 1973 Jul 1 p.402
this is obviously a question for the older generation.
i'm really curious what it was like to be a witness in the 60's and 70's?.
was the society as strict as it is today?.
Someone in my area had black on white stickers and bumper stickers printed up and pasted them everywhere around town during 1974 and 1975 that read: "JEHOVAH is coming!"
Man that's almost similiar to the nut jobs who used to walk around with placards saying 'the end is nigh' 🙄😂
over many years i have been pondering how mental illness has impacted upon jw's due to the effects of indoctrination.
in my case; when i was 21 i had a breakdown and was hospitalised for 6 weeks.
i was diagnosed with anxiety tension state disorder.
My mental health has been directly affected by this publishing corporation.
When peoples thoughts are repressed and you are made to feel guilty all the time, particularly when you absolutely believe it is God's true organisation; it's no wonder so many are messed up.
this is obviously a question for the older generation.
i'm really curious what it was like to be a witness in the 60's and 70's?.
was the society as strict as it is today?.
think their problem goes back to Rutherford who changed Russell's policies and put the emphasis on preaching and increasing numbers rather than on character development in other words on quantity rather than on quality and the JWs are paying the cost of this policy until now.
I recall reading coc by Raymond Franz back in 2002 where he mentioned how Nathan Knorr appeared to be fixated on numbers also. I think they were traveling in a car and listening to the radio about how many had attended some famous preachers convention locally( think it might have been Jimmy swaggart); and Nathan Knorr made a comment about the numbers and gloating that the Society drew bigger crowds to their conventions.
It is interesting that Ray Franz felt uneasy about this attitude too ie 'quantity over quality'
local.
irs raids televangelist benny hinn's office in grapevine.
lauren zakalik, wfaa2 hours agofacebook.
Ha ha nice one vidiot 😋
i am interested in finding out how you view yourself.
are really you when it comes to every day interactions....ie when at work, with family or friends, or if attending meetings?.
if still attending, do you feel you are not the real you at meetings?
While I understand enduring things due to a family situation, remember that forcing yourself for family reasons is very different. One doesn't "force" a family experience. If you have to, then it means you are not really part of that family anymore or that the family may not really be there. There is a big elephant in the room. Elephants don't stay still. They will eventually stomp things and all will end up destroyed.
It sounds horrible, but cults are burning buildings. All of them are. You can try to save who you can from them, but eventually time will run out and you will have to choose whether you are going to survive or burn with those who won't leave. There's no easy out in a cult.
David _jay
I know where you are coming from. But I love my family. Thats the thing. I attend for them. I've tried to fade a few times. For me...here and now....it's a no no. It's hard to explain, but I suppose it kind of feels like i'm stuck in a Genie flask. No way out at mo.
I'm trying to work my way out of this high control publishing corporation with minimal colatoral damage! Maybe one day, my wife's eyes will be fully opened and I can open my heart. At the moment, I need to tread carefully. Thanks for your input though, as do agree with your thoughts.
we are so overjoyed with what is happening in the exjw community!
it is places like this forum where many can have a place to interact anonymously and be felt like they are understood.
you guys are awesome!
Here in the UK we had a onezee at our assembly. Seems to be catching!
i am looking for a recent wt article where i believe it states that the gb are not inspired - or words to that effect.. does anyone know in which study article it appears?.
is this article available for download off the org's website?.
many thanks..
No probs Tallon
i am interested in finding out how you view yourself.
are really you when it comes to every day interactions....ie when at work, with family or friends, or if attending meetings?.
if still attending, do you feel you are not the real you at meetings?
The hardest bit is seeing relatives, friends and congregants who are besotted with the organisation simply seeming unable to see the hypocrisy and other problems, leaving me feeling like it's ME who has the problem and is the idiot
Thanks to everyone's comments and feedback. I used to find that I had to take a deep breath every time I walked into the KH. Nowadays, I really couldn't give a flying fudge cake what people think. I don't care anymore as to how people view me, though I still do put on a front.
As soon as I leave the KH, it's like my strait jacket is off, particularly when I turn the key in the car and drive off home.
It astonishes me how everyone around me at the KH takes what we are being spoon fed by the GB so seriously, whilst all the controversies rage on in the media. Being at the KH feels like a parallel universe. It's business as usual. Yet during meetings, I sit there thinking, what the? Eh? Surely not! No way! Come on? Really? Nonsense!
I find the meetings for the most part mind numbingly Boring. Most speakers (not all) sound half hearted and lack enthusiasm when giving talks. Talks tend to be very matter of fact.....not really coming from the heart. Yet many in my hall continue to be as described above 'besotted with the Organisation'. Its just all so surreal!
