wisdomfrombelow

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Posts by wisdomfrombelow

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  81

  Friend gets "scriptural divorce" over wifes transgressions before they got married...

  by sosoconfused in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so i have a friend in a congregation in new jersey who recently called me to tell me that he got a divorce.

  nothing surprising there at first but it is the fact of when it happened.

  his wife began pioneering april 1, and after about three weeks she came to him and told him that about 4 years she had engaged in loose conduct (fondling the penis and the guy kissing her breasts) during a time that she was inactive.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  I was thinking that he might have grounds for annulment of the marriage if it was based on fraud. If he decides to legally annul the marriage then he is free to remarry because he was never legally married. Marriage is defined by the state not the congregation so if they say it is invalid then it is not valid. It reminds me of the crazy "vow of faithfulness" that is allowed for JW couples to cohabit when divorce is not allowed by the state yet the circumstances for a JW scriptural divorce are met. It basically says "we will get married when we are allowed to but until then we can live like we are married without any congregational consequences".

  Whatever he decides to do he will have to live with his decision and the consequences. I hope he thinks seriously about his options and his reasoning.
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  27

  We are "On the doorstep of the New World" (Awake!)

  by Splash in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  anyone see that quote in the latest magazine?.

  in full it says:.

  "since the things are happening today that jesus told us about, we know that we are right at the very doorstep of the new world, the world to come.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  Does anyone have a PDF of the 1927 Golden Age that is referenced? Awake didn't exist then. I would love to see the entire article.
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  153

  The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

  unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

  jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  Didn't they change the allowance for how to count time when studying with your unbaptized children when they instituted the Family worship night? If both parents can count up to 1 hour per week that's already 8 hours per month (for the parents). We all know pioneer's can get credit working at quick builds. Are those counted among their "hours" in the annual tally? Since they are now offering tracts as the literature offer, the presentation has gotten much easier hence not as much stress when going door to door? They can do a lot of things that will make the number of hours reported look higher and have a different substance than before.
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  36

  2013 Sept WT out

  by Gayle in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  could only just quickly scan it.

  still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

  of the 20th century, there were a number.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  In paragraph 12 of the study article 'Have you been transformed?' they try to compare congregation procedures as the same importance as bible commandments. They again denounce the internet and 'higher education'. If you don't go along with them or complain...well the paragraph infers how bad that is...

  Even many who claim to be religious feel that they are at liberty to do what they think is right, without any obligation to obey God and his commandments. (Ps. 14:1) This attitude may pose a real threat to true Christians. The unwary may adopt the same view of theocratic arrangements. They may be unwilling to go along with congregation procedures and may even complain about anything not to their liking. Or they may have reservations about Bible-based counsel on entertainment, use of the Internet, and the pursuit of higher education.

  They really don't like anyone who dares think for themselves or dares argue with their suggestions.
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  39

  Since you've left, are you still good friends with your bestest JW buddies?

  by Julia Orwell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is it possible that someone has a jw friend who's very active in the congregation, knows you don't believe it anymore, and is still your friend?

  i'm at the point where word is getting out that i'm not going to meetings anymore, and friends ask me if they'll be seeing me at the ca and i tell them i'm not going.

  they want to know why, and what they can do to encourage me.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  My real friends have remained though our interaction has changed. We are not close but we keep in touch. When I was still active I kept my friends if they went inactive or got disfellowshipped. Some people I've known for decades also look past me. If the friendship was only based on attending the same congregation and nothing deeper it was sure not to last. Being disfellowshipped is much harder to keep JW friends than being inactive because of the penalties they face due to association.
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  28

  Conversation with Substitute CO

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so i was talking to a substitute co, he and his wife recently returned from "the school for christian couples" .

  anyways this couple has delayed having children in hopes of entering the circuit work, and have been sub coing for a couple years.

  they both have well paying, good jobs.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  They each make a choice and should realize the consequences of their choice. They could say "no thanks" but they won't. All the Society will do is "reduce" your privileges--free work you do for them in return for the adoration of men. Most people don't want to move to where the need is greater--they want to move to where the response is greater. Better they got assigned to some congregation in the same country then being sent to a foreign land and really having problems.
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  30

  A JW husband emailing his ex-girlfriend after his wife reveals her apostasy

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a woman i've known for years recently confided in me.

  she told me she found out her jw husband had been secretly e-mailing his jw ex-girlfriend.

  he was telling his ex about how difficult it had been for him since his wife was now basically an apostate.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  My advice is to stay out of it. She's a fully grown adult who can make her own decisions and doesn't need anyone on the outside telling her to end her marriage based on the little information you have conveyed. Also, what problemaddict said, consider your relationship with her and why you even have one. Even if 99% of emotional affairs become physical affairs, what about the 1%? People are so quick to judge based on their own experiences. Does being married mean an end to privacy? Think before you give advice...think if you SHOULD give any advice at all.
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  63

  marrying younger spouses

  by ssn587 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my wife passed away 2 years ago we had been married over 30 years, i have since remarried and my new wife is younger than 3 of my children from my first marriage.

  i just wondering if there are any more like me out there.

  i stay in excellent shape for my age, work out almost daily eat good and have absolutely no medical problems or at least none i can do anything about, bad knees, but my vitals are excellent, and i am known as the teenage because of them when i have my yearly medical checkup.. so was wondering if there are others out there like me, and what some may think about it, just for the record i am extremely happy once again, and we have a 18 month boy who delights me, have a whole new outlook on fatherhood and child raising.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  If they are old enough to get married and do so of their own free will, it's not my concern. People have the right to do things that we choose not to do. Likewise, we have the right to do things others choose not to do.
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  36

  Trying to handle my JW mom

  by KatyMomof2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my mom is a recent widow.

  she, being a jw does not have means to support herself and does not seek higher education ( because that would take from her studies ).

  so, she is living ( sponging off of ) me.

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  wisdomfrombelow

  What if your mom had a mental illness? Would you kick her out? How about dementia? I'm just giving you a different way to look at things. You should, by all means, protect and educate your kids about your mom's condition and how she sees things is not how you see things. You should also talk to your mom and let her know that you are raising your kids the way you see fit and she should not interfere or try to subvert them. But in the end it is your decision and they are your kids and she is your mom and you will have to live with the consequences of how you deal with the situation.
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  112

  So tired of life

  by LouBelle in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am so tired of waking up without hope.

  so tired of fighting one more day...i just want it to end as painless as possible.

  i truly don't have the willpower or strength anymore..

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  wisdomfrombelow

  I don't know your situation or circumstances but don't give up. Life can always get better but death--it is always the same.