NotFormer

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Posts by NotFormer

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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

  Ron.W. How is that ridiculously petty and crappy behaviour supposed to give glory to God? No outsider visiting and observing such a scene would think that these are God's special people. 🙄
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  153

  When JW.org drops 607BCE...

  by Nathan Natas in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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.

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  NotFormer

  Should 1914 go, would any of the faithful feel it's a bridge too far and get themselves disfellowshipped for disagreeing with the GB?
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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 biblical verse that covers the carrying of the microphone must be a doozy! 😱🙄
• 
  153

  When JW.org drops 607BCE...

  by Nathan Natas in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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.

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  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.
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  9

  Remember that they really control a Community

  by EdLogan in

  1. jw
  2. 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.

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  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.
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  87

  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.