NotFormer

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Posts by NotFormer

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  83

  Lines you would never hear from a Jehovah's Witness

  by Ron.W. in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a slightly tongue in cheek, but also serious roundup of jw speak and why trying to reason with them is like trying to chip through concrete with a plastic spoon.. how many can you think of??.

  elder: 'yes.

  i read through the material you asked me to at your judicial meeting - you're right we're both in a cult!

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  NotFormer

  "Knocking on doors is way more fun than the coffee break afterwards".
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  2

  Not on JW.org, A THIRD Bomb found at an Austrian Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

  by Balaamsass2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  attacks in the usa, germany, india, and now austria.

  is it becoming more dangerous to attend jw meetings?

  explosive device found at jehovah's witness meeting in austria.

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  NotFormer

  Anecdotally this can look significant, but I wonder how this stacks up statistically against other worldwide high control religions, especially of similar size? Do similar terrorist attacks occur with similar frequency to Mormon groups, for example?

  BTW, it's terrible that someone is targeting the R&F. The GB are the ones hiding in bunkers and are the ones responsible for whatever beef the perpetrators of these atrocities have.
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  43

  What Does The Organization Really Teach?

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

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  NotFormer

  In all seriousness, it's a good question. If you asked me that question, I still struggle with defining what JWs actually do believe. When you ask a JW you're more likely than not to get a list of things that they don't believe, usually a list of what they think that "Christendom" believes.

  I suppose that the defining belief relates to the above cartoon. They absolutely believe what will happen to them if they don't believe what they're told.
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  85

  Disaster preparedness

  by ElderBerry in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as your family considers its disaster preparedness plan, please ensure that the secretary has up-to-date contact information for you and your emergency contact.

  also, we have re- peatedly seen good results when brothers and sisters are prepared with go bags and are ready to obey direction when they face various kinds of disasters.

  please be sure you have a go bag, and review its contents at least once a year.

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  NotFormer

  LongHairGal: "With regard to these Go-Bags: I remember asking a JW former friend just where they were going to? Of course I got no answer. What I do wonder is - if some JWs are expecting some miracle or supernatural event to occur.. Like maybe an Exodus.2 ?"

  It's a good point: unless each Kingdom Hall has a compound or campsite that congregation members can be evacuated to and looked after, it's only half a step towards preparedness.
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  24

  Advice on fade?

  by NotNorwich in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello, i’ve just joined here and am hoping for some advice.

  i was baptised a long time ago but left soon after (da).. i recently returned and have a bible study.

  was reinstated about a year ago.

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  NotFormer

  "So I can believe in the bible and God but if I’m not sure the FDs scripture really is the gb then I’m disfellowshipped?!"

  Basically. This is the WT's mortal sin. Don't air any doubts about the GB in public or private, and you've got a decent chance of survival within that organisation.

  Just quietly fade. Use the personal stress at home as your reason*. If you need to vent about the GB and your doubts, do it here.

  *"Reason", not "excuse"; you don't need to justify yourself to these people.
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  12

  Assembly with the branch representative

  by LaFrancia in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  we had the meeting with the branch representative this weekend.. the air was different than usual.. bearded ushers at the parking lots welcomed the brothers warmly.. lots of sisters with dress pants or not, nothing scandalous.. the representative of the italian branch made his debut on stage with his full beard.. location: roseto degli abruzzi (italy-europe).

  some interesting statistical data can give a little food for thought after the numerous changes that have occurred in recent months (the ten-year or five-year plan, if you prefer, seems to be producing some small results).. attendance has increased since the last meeting.. our constituency includes 1725 publishers and those present in the morning were 1553, a little better than the november 2023 convention.

  perhaps the new changes have brought some back to attendance?.

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  NotFormer

  Still baptising minors.

  Until this practice is uncoupled from the practice of the punishment of minors by shunning* by the broader congregation, not much has changed.

  *The practice is still in place, the rules for getting to that place have only changed a little.
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  11

  Governing body giving false alarm as a watch dog

  by Longlivetherenegades in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i need help regarding a video where geoffrey jackson likened the governing body to a watch dog given false alarms to its owner just like they do regarding numerous false alarms about the world coming to an end.

  here is why i need that video.

  to make comparison with the words of geoffrey jackson (the false dog illustration) fully, the words of gerrit losch (who was reading out list of those who had given false predictions and alarms in times past before jehovah’s witnesses took over) .

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  NotFormer

  Longlivetherenegades, it's an interesting argument against the mainstream churches. "They don't set dates for the end. We do. That makes us right and them wrong". It's especially fascinating when you consider that the WT had already set several dates that had later proved to be false by this stage. And it's possible that 1975 was already brewing in the minds of some at Bethel, especially if they did the numbers on when the "prophetic calendar" would run out.

  The tone deafness is amazing. Was there not the slightest amount of self-awareness or humility within the author of this piece? Did they not see the audacity, the sheer hubris?

  How many people who read that article, warning of impending doom, in 1952, are still alive?
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  86

  Prediction: no more changes for a long while

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i’ve noticed a pattern where things don’t go the way i expect them to go and/or whenever i realise there is a trend and, i mentally adjust for the idea that the trend will continue, the trend stops in its tracks.

  so on that basis, and given many people, including myself, and active jws, have been asking ‘what changes will the governing body make next?’ perhaps the (disappointing) answer is: ‘nothing much for a while to come’.

  maybe they’ve made the changes they want for now, and will wait a while and see how it’s received.

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  NotFormer

  The modus operandi to date seems to be: announce the big change, but hide it behind a little one, like beards or women's trousers. A big one like 1914 or dropping the blood doctrine entirely would have to be hidden behind something superficial, but important to the R&F, if the pattern holds up. Are there any more important frivolities that they can address?

  Edited to add: would expanding roles for women be a frivolity or a major change?
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  47

  Norway

  by St George of England in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so the wt society is going to contest the recent norway ruling.. jehovah’s witnesses to appeal unconstitutional ruling in norway (jw.org).

  their true colours are shown in the statement: "the decision to deregister jehovah’s witnesses denies us the financial aid and other benefits that the government provides to over 700 registered religious communities in the country.

  additional consequences include losing the right to appoint and authorize ministers of jehovah’s witnesses as officiants for weddings.".

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  NotFormer

  That's a pretty good example, Beth Sarim. 👍👌🖖

  As it is, WT is an accessory before and after the fact when they 1: Tell JWs not to report crimes and 2: Cover up said crimes.
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  35

  Beware of someone who will "cry wolf"!

  by redsetter2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  the following is an excerpt from one of aesop's fables.. the boy who cried "wolf"!.

  there once was a shepherd boy who was bored as he sat on the hillside watching the village sheep.

  to amuse himself he took a great breath and sang out, "wolf!

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  NotFormer

  "In my opinion a Bethelite cannot bring extraordinary proof otherwise he will be discovered by Bethel's spies and executioners."

  No-one is asking any Bethelites to out themselves. Elapsed time will be proof enough, should the predicted changes occur.

  A lot of the areas in which the WT is only now taking baby steps were hot topics and "imminent" changes 20 years ago.

  In the late 90s I offered a $10 bet to a JW that the blood policy would be dropped in five years. He should have taken that bet. 🙄