Posts by NotFormer

153

When JW.org drops 607BCE...

by Nathan Natas in

probably everyone else thought of this long ago, but i, being an "independent thunker" thunk of it just a coupla weeks ago.. we all know that since the year zero (on the fredfranzian calendar) the wtb&ts has defied archaeology and insisted that jerusalem was destroyed in 607 bce, even though the physical evidence shows that 587 bce is a more likely date.

in fact, the book "the gentile times reconsidered: have jehovah's witnesses been wrong all along about 607 bce?

" by carl olof jonsson and rud persson made this conversation public.. it is a difference of 20 years.

NotFormer

"Switch out 1919 for 1939 and focus on the start of WW2 and presto! You have a momentous world occasion to mark your "Biblical Chronology." Problem solved!"

Except that the leadership is completely US-centric. Thus WW2 wouldn't have started until December 7, 1941. 😉😺

Somewhat off topic, I remember arguing with an old JW lady about 1914. She declared that WW1 was unique in that all the nations of the world were involved for the first time. I disputed that claim, saying that the Napoleonic wars were pretty vast in scope, involving a lot of nations of the time and their colonies, and battles associated with it were happening way outside of Europe's borders.

9

Remember that they really control a Community

by EdLogan in

jw
friends

there's a lot going on, and a lot of saying.the interpretation of the scriptures, their internal doctrine and their policy change.. the 1914, 1919 and its consequences.. the birthdays and other holidays.. the beard, the tie, the slacks.. the "hi, nice to see you here".. but at the end of the day, what they're in control of, is a community.

a society of people.

and a corporation as well, that controls all this.. many of them don't even really mind about those changes.

NotFormer

Preaching isn't meant the way the JWs would mean it. How would that occur, anyway? We can't actively seek out JWs and knock on their doors. There are Reddit and quora threads, but there are veterans on both sides who aren't going to be easily swayed by the other side's arguments.

Occasionally someone with doubts will find this place and ask advice, and the exJWs who've been through something similar can provide that advice and some encouragement. The "preaching" that happens here is therefore more reactive than dynamic (hat tip to Vidiot).

Also, it is quite possible to be entirely passive and the anti Watchtower message will get through. This discussion board has been around for decades and has a vast number of threads on pretty well every topic that a questioning JW could possibly have thoughts about. The search function is pretty decent as well.

87

Lines you would never hear from a Jehovah's Witness

by Ron.W. in

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!

NotFormer

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

2

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

by Balaamsass2 in

jw
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.

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.

43

What Does The Organization Really Teach?

by Sea Breeze in

.

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.

85

Disaster preparedness

by ElderBerry in

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.

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.

24

Advice on fade?

by NotNorwich in

jw
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.

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.

12

Assembly with the branch representative

by LaFrancia in

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?.

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.

11

Governing body giving false alarm as a watch dog

by Longlivetherenegades in

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) .

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?

86

Prediction: no more changes for a long while

by slimboyfat in

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.

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?