the year 1925 was notable as the year when the wts for the first time proclaimed the importance of the name jehovah, although the watchtower followers were not called jehovah's witnesses until six years later in 1931.. this is claimed by the wts (see proclaimers book, page 152) to be a name given by "divine providence".. this is the teaching given in the knowledge book on page 94, paragraph 12.. a question: since there's much conjecture about the 'proper' name and pronunciation of god's name, some believing that yahweh is the most appropriate, why did an all-knowing god not impart to his f&ds the correct pronunciation.
if he wanted his followers to be named after himself, then why did he tell them to be called by an erroneous name?.
interestingly, the proclaimers book itself gives an alternative explanation of the origin of the name jehovah's witnesses:.
Danny...
When I refer to Jehovah, then I mean a Supreme Being, Yahweh, The Lord, Adonai, Elohim, God the Lord, Our Father, Our Heavenly Father, God Above, The Alpha and Omega, Jah, Almighty God, all referring to an unseen spirit force of the highest magnitude who loves us greatly.
In that way He is the living God, at least for me and many others.
Richie :*)
the year 1925 was notable as the year when the wts for the first time proclaimed the importance of the name jehovah, although the watchtower followers were not called jehovah's witnesses until six years later in 1931.. this is claimed by the wts (see proclaimers book, page 152) to be a name given by "divine providence".. this is the teaching given in the knowledge book on page 94, paragraph 12.. a question: since there's much conjecture about the 'proper' name and pronunciation of god's name, some believing that yahweh is the most appropriate, why did an all-knowing god not impart to his f&ds the correct pronunciation.
if he wanted his followers to be named after himself, then why did he tell them to be called by an erroneous name?.
interestingly, the proclaimers book itself gives an alternative explanation of the origin of the name jehovah's witnesses:.
Erich...
I agree with you that "the society is now judged by the Almighty God in regard to having put honor to HIS name or not; more than any other society, religion or association in the world". Yes, Jehovah will adversely judge the WTBS for having dared to use his name blasphemously throughout the better part of a century. Very similar to the Pharisaical class who at the time once had God's approval but made it invalid because of their traditions and their burdensome rules and regulations. Yes it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God...
Richie :*)
zero did all the work and found this.
just wanted to post it on a thread, because some lurkers might not want to go off site to look at stuff.
hats off to zero.. .
Ashitaka...
Thanks for your post so much! It makes me realize without a shadow of doubt, what a wicked organization the WT really is!
It's difficult to suppress my anger when I see this wholesale manipulation on the part of the GB! Some of the points are even more ridiculous where they exploit the elders and R & F like marionettes or puppets!
You are almost correct in saying that the GB is 10 years behind: I would say at least 30 years behind or more!
They say that verbal correspondence is better. What a farce - of course anything verbal does not stand up in any court of law, including a JC. They are just covering their "butts" in all this.
Then they say that the "ideal is to have nothing at all to do with our disfellowshipped family members if possible, as that would please God" The WT deliberately maneuvers things so as to make sure that the members do not get any outside information, so they stay clear of even their own flesh and blood. How insidious and unloving and how they dare to put themselves on the pedestal as superior judges!
Regarding the blood issue: they expect another change soon - most probably because otherwise they could be sued by friends and family members of those who decided not to take blood and die as a result.
They reiterate that the FDS (Faithful & Discreet Slave) has been appointed over all his belongings and that all should be obedient no matter what! If they don't then they ridicule Christ. How presumptuous on their part to claim the backing of Jehovah! Do we need more proof that they cannot be supported by a loving God. They can say what they want - you can say a lie a thousand times and people will believe the lie eventually, but God sees through the hearts and knows better!
They assert that wordly people read the bible in a perfunctory or disinterested way... How do they know that? How many times do they quote bible scholars and paraphrase their interpretations as a done deal? They are also panicking when someone does secular research - what are they afraid of? That we might find out the real truth about them and the bible? Then they again come up with their assessment of what an education entails: that it serves no purpose. In my view a good and solid education always has a purpose: to get and have a real life...!
Richie :*)
the subject is pretty cut and dry:.
---why did you leave the society??---.
was it one thing or several?
For me it was a combination of things - I have been in the truth for about 23 years, yet in the beginning I wasn't doing too well: missed a lot of meetings, was irregular in service - needed to travel a lot because of my business. Eventually I got more serious as time progressed and as a result received more responsibility in the congregation. I became an elder in 1997 and immediately afterwards things were starting to be different: I noticed that I could not have my own voice anymore but had to go along with all the other elders in the congregation. That became the standard way of thinking: we could have our opinion on certain matters, but it always seemed to gravitate to a majority held viewpoint, even though I may have disagreed with various matters.
There was one thing that happened which changed my whole outlook: one of our elders who returned from visiting Europe, related an experience about this particular elder who gave a public talk at a district convention somewhere in Switserland, and after finishing his discourse he made it known to everybody present "that he had enough and did not have the strength or conviction anymore to continue on serving Jehovah" - He left the truth right then and there and he never came back.
When I heard that story, something snapped in me - in fact I secretly admired that elder in Switzerland and I wished deep inside that I could have done exactly the same. From then on I knew that it was a matter of time before I would resign. Sure enough - about 2 years later I did resign as an elder first and right after that I did not bother to attend the meetings anymore.
When I made that final decision to stop pretending I felt an enormous load off my chest and was relieved to the point of tears. It's like stepping from a prison to genuine freedom, similar to when you are ready to drown and suddenly your head is above water and you are able to breathe again!
When I finally left, I knew that my decision sprouted from many years of doubts, unhappiness, seeing hypocrisy practised over and over again.
My life as a witness was a journey of slow motion, where I did not even realize I existed even though I was alive yet dead in my true feelings...
Richie :*)
suppose you never took the truth, what instead would you have done differently in your life???.
richie :*)
Suppose you never took the truth, what instead would you have done differently in your life???
Richie :*)
i called my brother this evening and he asked me if "mom told me the news".
and in the last 2 calls i've had with my mom, she hasn't said a word.
he da'd himself.
Mike...
I am very happy for you that your brother is now able to be a real brother to you.
If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much whether he is going to be shocked too soon. Remember he da'd himself, so he knows what he is doing. Just let him ask you any question and you just answer him every time - he will recognize how you've changed for the better.
When he peeks into this board, he will be amazed and "liberated" even faster - so be happy that he is back from the zombie land and I wish you all the best and continued success in all your endeavours.
Give my regards to your brother!
Richie :*)
my wife went into my email and found out i have been looking at porn and chatting with other women she went to the elders and told them i go before them on sunday.
what do you think my fate will be
LovesDubs...
I had the same feeling as you have that his wife may be vindictive and is seeking some kind of revenge or a reason to re-marry.
DB...
On the matter of cyber-sex, I believe this is more serious than you think - it would fall under the category of lewd behavior with two "consenting" individuals. I realize that with cyber-sex there is no actual touching of the genitals involved, but the way it is performed is close to the real thing. It is the deliberate action involved where both parties talk to each other over the internet and/or by telephone while they masturbate. All the sounds, feelings and expressions are in conformity to reach a mutual climax very similar to actual intercourse without the contact of body parts.
Cyber-sex did not exist until fairly recently and I can imagine the complexity on the part of the elders in handling these cases. I know that masturbation is a private thing and is done secretly by one person and is an unclean habit (according to the Society), whereas cyber-sex has already the consent of two people who simultaneously engage in "distant" sex. I guess it may be a bit difficult to assess the seriousness, although it is not fornication or adultery in a legal sense, but perhaps the elders will probably find out how many times it's been done - did the person stop this alltogether -does he show repentance and not wanting to do it again etc..., then I personally think the elders will privately reprove him (or if this has become public knowledge, there will be reproof from the platform) and take away his responsibilities in the congregation.
Woooow, am I happy not to be part of the Borg anymore!!
Richie :*)
my wife went into my email and found out i have been looking at porn and chatting with other women she went to the elders and told them i go before them on sunday.
what do you think my fate will be
Jazz...
When your wife discovered this, did she confront you first? She should first speak to you and if you can resolve this between her and you, that's all that is needed.
But now the situation has become worse; the elders will want to find out everything what you have done. Just tell them firstly that this matter should have been between you and your wife only and that she had no business running to them on the spur of the moment.
Afterwards you can tell the elders that you received porn by email or it sometimes happened that you receive pop-up windows while being on the internet, so it may not even be your fault - about the matter of speaking with other women on the net, you could say that you also speak to men in a chat room once in a while. I only hope that it was not cyber-sex you engaged in (in that case it would be a different ball game alltogether). In any case, the elders will counsel you and most likely will take away from you some responsibility in the congregation. Don't worry, you will not be disfellowshipped for this, but be given a warning with some scriptural advise.
But please speak to your wife and be honest about everything to her; she will understand you much more than the elders ever could!
Richie :*)
hello everyone...hope all are having a great holiday season.. ***warning--kind of long***.
i am 31 and have been "out" for an undetermined # of years...probably starting as soon as i moved out of the house at age 23. i just "drifted away".. i was born into the jw faith.
my parents remain devout and "zealous" to this day.
Razor...
Thanks so much for your heartwarming story which rings so similar to most of us. Education with the WT is a delicate thing - college or higher learning is not desirable, since "the end is so near at hand" as they always say. I see another angle here which in my view is one more reason - apart from the excuse that "your mind will be polluted if you go to college" - why the WT does not want you to further your education. It is another way to keep you in the Borg, because if you leave the truth then out in the world without any education you will do worse than in the organization. They figure that inside the organization you can always get help from your brothers and sisters or be given a menial job, so you're not out in the cold. So if you leave, then they always can say "look at so and so, he is doing worse" - why? - "because he left the truth and does not have Jehovah's blessing anymore"
Razor, do not despair - I know it may be hard in the beginning to get adjusted to a "new" life, but rest assured you will receive so much support here on this board, as you will meet many who have had similar experiences and succeeded in making a better and happier life for themselves. As was mentioned earlier on, we are never too old to learn and in your case - you're still relatively young - just continue to study and complete a college education or similar. It doesn't matter how long it takes to finish schooling, you just follow your natural ambition and focus on that - if you like arts, then just do it and nobody can stop you. As a result you will be a much happier person and also be able to help others accomplish their dreams. Additionally you will gain real friends who are capable of showing genuine care and love rather than the plastic love which eminates from the Borg...
Welcome to this board Razor and from now on, things will get better as you have already started your journey to success by moving forward to the accomplishment of your dream or ultimate goal and that way you'll be reaping a harvest of fulfillment and joy!
Take care...
Richie :*)
conscience is always to be respected, never to be throttled or violated.
nor is any one who stands faithful to his conscience to be disesteemed therefor by his brethren, even if their consciences view the matter differently.
r5501:6
Hoi Andy, I didn't realize you're from Holland. I used to live in and around Haarlem many years ago.
Ik wilde je even een gelukkig Nieuw Jaar toewensen met alle gezondheid and geluk!
Vriendelijke groeten,
Richie :*)
