JakeM2012

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Posts by JakeM2012

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  9

  What grinds my gears most about being part of a high control religion!

  by UnshackleTheChains in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the one thing that annoys me most about being a jdub is the control watchtower has over everyone.

  for a start, there is absolutely no liberty in christ.

  there is no freedom to openly express your own thoughts on scripture.

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  JakeM2012

  Great point. Look into the windshield, not into the rearview mirror. Make new friends.
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  10

  I hope this is just a joke, because when reading this board, I thought this was'nt suppose to happen

  by Truth and Justice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi to all the board, .

  i am confused about something that i read on this board.

  it was the subject about the building and development of new kingdom halls.

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  JakeM2012

  McDonald's has realized that they are not in the hamburger, happy meal, or french fries business. McDonald's is in the real estate business and they make their money from the leasing the property that produces hamburgers, happy meals, and french fries. WTBTS has similarly realized that they are not in the printing business or religious business but in the real estate business of leasing the property to the congregation's tax-free.
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  9

  Congregation picnic time

  by Jayk in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've never been completely shunned because i've never been baptized.

  my father side has always talked to me and included me in family events.

  but my mom's side is in denial of shunning me.

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  JakeM2012

  Jayk, I'm glad your mother still communicates with you. (mine doesn't) I wouldn't give the authority to anyone to say if you can or can't come. If you would like to go, go.
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  24

  March 2018 Study Watchtower

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the first study article is about getting bible studies and children baptized.

  there is much more emphasis placed on parents to get their own children baptized rather than focusing on bible students.

  they try to impress on others the need for urgency.

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  JakeM2012

  "a child is accountable to God when the child knows what is right and what is wrong in Jehovah’s eyes"

  Is this their way of redirecting blame to sexually abused children from pedophiles within the congregation? Are they going to require that the child scream before penetration and if not it's considered consensual? So they can disfellowship the child and leave the old pervert in his organizational position because the child was so tempting.

  There are so many subjects that WT just needs to stay away from and shut up.

  
  
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  81

  Secret sex in the Org

  by pomo6780 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  2 pioneers of the opposite sex.

  the brother is in his mid-20s, sister is in her late 20s.

  both are alone in car as the only 2 out in field service.

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  JakeM2012

  I heard a story from an Elder that "claimed" a sister had laid four elders and the C.O. Evidently, she needed quite a bit of private counsel which the elders were happy to do by going over to her house alone.
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  28

  Should I stay or should I go?

  by BlackWolf in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello everyone, i haven't posted anything on here for a while and today i just really felt like i needed to get my thoughts together.

  (if you don't know me please read some of my previous posts).

  so pretty much not much has changed in my life, i'm still living with my parents and going to all the meetings and service.

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  JakeM2012

  BlackWolf, reading your posts we have a lot in common. Although, I have several decades on you. I have suffered from depression since I was around 11. I had a few doubts about our Biblical beliefs, but I knew that I wanted to go to college and was met with great resistance from my family. I caved to my Fathers demands about college and years later he told me that he should have let me go to college. He found out that Watchtower had brothers that he respected who were engineers.

  The primary reason I caved was that I thought my family would at least have peace and unity. I gave a prediction to my successful Father when I was eighteen about how the family business that he wanted me to get into would end up after his death. My words came 100% true. As far as unity in the family, they are all still active witnesses, but everyone has gone their own direction and doesn't even talk with each other and especially to me. Truth is, that not only do they have problems with each other, they also have problems with others in the congregations. There was constant turmoil in their lives. Some in the family bounce around from congregation to congregation and never find a happy place. I label them as the negative ones in the soap opera family.

  I eventually separated myself from them many years ago by moving far away. When I was in my 20's I had an older spiritual brother tell me that it would be best to move away and make my own way. I believe he gave good advice and should have acted on it sooner. Even the Bible says that a man should leave his mother and father when getting married. I would advise to move away and not be in a hurry to getting married.

  About work: A college education does not carry the weight that it once did. But I'm not discouraging you from that pursuit. At the moment there are opportunities with skilled labor, as many are retiring. I joined a labor union 10 years ago and have found plenty of work and I travel a lot for work. Welders, ironworkers, operators, pipe fitters etc. have apprenticeship programs available, being trained by journeymen who will shortly retire. You get paid a wage better than most starting out while you learn, health insurance and retirement. Just call one of the Locals Unions for more information if that interests you.

  You can get antidepression medicine from a family doctor, you don't have to see a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist does not necessarily give worldly advice, they are trained specifically in the medications for your mind. Antidepressants are not a magic bullet to make you happy, but they do help. If you haven't started to drink alcohol, I wouldn't. It is no friend to depression. Stay away from the benzodiazepines for anxiety.

  I know that listening to someone upbeat and positive is great. I listen to audible books and to Joel Olsteen. I know there is criticism of him by some, but he is very positive and his message is one that encourages you to look at the bright side of life and he uses Biblical examples of people like David, Moses, and Joseph to show how just because things are not great at the time it doesn't mean all of life is going to continue that way. It's just a chapter not the end of the book.

  You are young, Think big, think bold, and pursue your dreams. Live in peace with those that are agreeable, don't spend emotional energy on negative people, keep your thinking at an elevated level. I know it's hard when you are young with all the uncertainty, but things will work out. You will find your way.
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  15

  Leaked - Video tape inside Watchtower HQ of protest Nov 5, 2017

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i saw this on jw reddit and thought, okay that will just be one of the protesters videotaping near their security entrance but it's really from inside the hq's.

  i doubt the org.

  will be happy that this was taped and leaked.https://rutube.ru/video/2dbc8185062524a41ed8c9e2117ca39d/.

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  JakeM2012

  I'll bet the town of Warwick is so excited that the JW's Headquarters is there. Great neighbors.

  And that's pretty pompous naming the road king's highway or whatever.
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  10

  Let J.W.'s keep their "two-witnesses" rule..................

  by The Fall Guy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ................for all their sinners - but make it mandatory that all j.w.

  alleged criminals are promptly reported to the relevant authorities.

  problem solved.

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  JakeM2012

  WTBTS also says that, if two separate witnesses reported similar conduct on two different occasions a judicial committee can convict. They fail to even go by their own rules.

  I think it is interesting that the U.S. government has used $17 million for hush money on sexual abuse accusation against its congressmen and senators and people are now demanding to know who that tax payer's money was paid to protect. $17 million pales in comparison to what WTBTS has paid out.

  WTBTS wants to ignore the problem, put a band-aid on it, and kick it down the road. They would do better to open Pandora's box and get it over with. If they weren't busy and mentally occupied with this distraction perhaps they could come up with a new direction for the organization. Beating the drum that the world is going to come to an end and advertise with carts is not getting them anywhere. 95,000 hours to get one convert?

  It would be easy to find one or two GB members to label as an apostate, have them be the fall guy, come clean on the matter, start reporting the problems, change direction, say that Jehovah's spirit was being withheld from his organization. The Boy Scouts had a problem at one time and now they have come clean and are admired because of their stance.

  Maybe they need to take some lessons from Joel Olstein's sermons, he seems to be doing great.
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  9

  Happy Thanksgiving 2017

  by EverApostate in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  once upon a time, as a jw, i was afraid to buy turkey during thanksgiving time.

  while attending the thursday night ministry school meeting (on thanksgiving day), i was cautious not to mention the word thanksgiving, for fear of bringing reproach to bigj.. now, free at last, my happy thanksgiving wishes to everyone who celebrate this holiday..

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  JakeM2012

  This is one Holiday that I never could wrap my mind around to understand why it was so bad. The cheapest price on Turkey meat is in November, what is wrong with purchasing something on sale? Many grocery stores will give a turkey away with a certain amount of purchases. This is one holiday that all the family members are off for four days and they can get together. There is no tree involved, special decorations, or gift giving. It is just a family or friends gathering, a meal, and some football. What is wrong with a day of thanks and appreciation? I believe this was something that Rutherford came up with to isolate witnesses from the mainstream.
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  37

  My Cognitive Dissonance is Eating Me Alive (Intro Post)

  by pometerre21 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been lurking here for a couple of weeks now.

  i'm starting to "awaken" and it is all that has been occupying my mind.

  i've always, always had doubts, some of which i expressed to family members who always had the same replies:.

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  JakeM2012

  Welcome to this forum. I look forward to hearing more about your journey. At first it can be overwhelming but hang in there.