Posts by Maria Nieves

33

Are Jehovah Witness willing to end studies?

by Maria Nieves in

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-october-2020/how-to-conduct-a-bible-study-that-leads-to-baptism-part-two/.

i recently came across the above watchtower article which spoke about conducting bible studies which lead to baptism.

it progressed to say that if the bible study instructor does not see growth within the student or the desire to work towards baptism, then the studies should end.

Maria Nieves

My previous Bible study conductor was doing Bible Study with an elderly woman for many years. She died without having been baptized.

23

New JW study book / method announced on JW Broadcast

by Funky in

so did anyone catch the january jw broadcast?.

it's the "spiritual content" of what would have been introduced in the october annual meeting, had the october annual meeting taken place.. morris, splane, and jackson introduce a new jw study publication: "live forever eternally - an interactive guide".. details were sparse, but apparently it is a 256 page book (when in actual printed form), primarily designed to be used in its electronic form, stuffed with links to videos.. it is designed to be "just one book" to be studied prior to baptism, where "all 60 questions that baptism candidates have to know" are found in just one place.. the purported reason is to make jw "bible" studies more "productive", i.e., lead to more baptisms.. splane brought out the governing body's "great concern" that 10 million+ "bible" studies are conducted by jws every year, but the number of baptisms has been stuck at 200,000 - 300,000 per year for decades.

so the thinking is, this new book + a "new method of conducting studies" (again, no real detail, but apparently it involves more "discussion" and less "question and answer").. want to know my thoughts?

Maria Nieves

I just finished making a post which had to do with baptism. Recently, there were two Watchtower articles that spoke of conducting Bible studies which lead to baptism. But, I thought that spreading the good news was going to come to an end because the preaching work had been completed and the current system of things was coming to an end?

33

Are Jehovah Witness willing to end studies?

by Maria Nieves in

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-october-2020/how-to-conduct-a-bible-study-that-leads-to-baptism-part-two/.

i recently came across the above watchtower article which spoke about conducting bible studies which lead to baptism.

it progressed to say that if the bible study instructor does not see growth within the student or the desire to work towards baptism, then the studies should end.

Maria Nieves

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-october-2020/How-to-Conduct-a-Bible-Study-That-Leads-to-Baptism-Part-Two/

I recently came across the above Watchtower Article which spoke about conducting Bible studies which lead to baptism. It progressed to say that if the Bible Study Instructor does not see growth within the student or the desire to work towards baptism, then the studies should end.

I am wondering the likelihood of a Jehovah Witness willing to end a Bible study? After all, doesn’t it count towards field service and how likely are they to obtain another Bible study student?

17

What Did You Choose Jehovah Over?

by minimus in

jw
friends

some jws believe they have the truth.

they alone understand god, jehovah.

they are very happy being jehovah’s witnesses.👍👌..... many others realize what they have given up for jehovah, to belong to the jehovah’s witness religion.

Maria Nieves

RolRod, did Jehovah provide you with a mate?

17

Are Jehovah Witnesses still trying to bring the good news to others during the pandemic?

by Maria Nieves in

i am no longer a study.

during the onset of the pandemic the person who used to be my bible study teacher began to reach out to me.

initially, i just thought that she wanted to know that i was well.

Maria Nieves

It is quite possible that some Jehovah Witnesses do not want others to achieve the level of success that they have achieved. For me, obtaining a higher education has been one of my greatest accomplishments in life and it has provided me with financial security. I believe that it is wrong for someone to criticize me for seeking higher education and for that person to also try to make me feel guilt. Just like you, LongHairGal, I despise those Jehovah Witnesses who worked hard to secure a future for themselves but them prevent others from securing a future for themselves.

Its been a year since I was a study. I no longer study. During my final days of studying, I was also treated horribly by my Bible Study Conductor. It was a situation where I just had to accept the information that she presented to me as facts. There was an unwritten rule of me not being able to ask her any questions. When I would ask her questions, such as why seeking higher education was discouraged, she would become upset and would quickly correct me as if I were a child. I literally did not have a voice.

I felt pressured into pursuing baptism but I didn't. I didn't see the purpose in being baptized because at that point I no longer believed the truth to be the truth. I also felt that if I did get baptized, it was only a matter of time before I was disfellowshipped. I guess that I have an idea as to why she was pressuring me into baptism. I think that it was just for show so that she could say that her teaching resulted in baptism.

17

Are Jehovah Witnesses still trying to bring the good news to others during the pandemic?

by Maria Nieves in

i am no longer a study.

during the onset of the pandemic the person who used to be my bible study teacher began to reach out to me.

initially, i just thought that she wanted to know that i was well.

Maria Nieves

HappyDad, when quarantine began, I received one of those letters as well with a track. I wonder if this is how they are now counting their hours. I also wonder if my previous bible study teacher reaching out to me was her way to get in hours.

17

Are Jehovah Witnesses still trying to bring the good news to others during the pandemic?

by Maria Nieves in

i am no longer a study.

during the onset of the pandemic the person who used to be my bible study teacher began to reach out to me.

initially, i just thought that she wanted to know that i was well.

Maria Nieves

Oppostate, I was also contacted by another Jehovah Witness from The Kingdom Hall that I used to attend asking if I wanted to do the morning texts with her. I wonder if they are reporting these things as study hours.

17

Are Jehovah Witnesses still trying to bring the good news to others during the pandemic?

by Maria Nieves in

i am no longer a study.

during the onset of the pandemic the person who used to be my bible study teacher began to reach out to me.

initially, i just thought that she wanted to know that i was well.

Maria Nieves

Pete Zahut, you have explained things to me in a manner that I am able to understand. I agree with everything that you have stated and I also observed those same things when I use to study and attend The Kingdom Hall.

It’s unbelievable to me that Jehovah Witnesses can condemn and discourage others from pursuing higher education and financial security but they themselves have achieved those same things. If they really feel that those are worldly things, then why don’t they give up those things? Why don’t they resign from their employment that requires an advance degree? Why don’t they resign from their employment that provides them with financial security? When those questions are asked, the response that is received is a hostile one and one that does not make sense and is not believable.

The female that I spoke with today, she stated to me that pursuing higher education was the biggest mistake of her life. If it was the biggest mistake of her life, she would not have remained in her current employment.

17

Are Jehovah Witnesses still trying to bring the good news to others during the pandemic?

by Maria Nieves in

i am no longer a study.

during the onset of the pandemic the person who used to be my bible study teacher began to reach out to me.

initially, i just thought that she wanted to know that i was well.

Maria Nieves

Thank-you LongHairGal for your support.

Matthew 7:7 was presented to me and I spoke of having wanted a master’s degree and having obtained one.

During my graduate school days, I encountered a lot of obstacles and challenges. However, I persisted and finally graduated. During my hardships, I felt that God helped me and I spoke to my previous bible study teacher of my feelings. I was not studying with the Jehovah Witnesses during my graduate school days. I began to study with the Jehovah Witnesses approximately one year after having graduated.

After I shared my feelings, I was asked if I really believed that Jehovah helped me to obtain a master’s degree and I was asked what purpose it had served. The question sounded harsh and this was not the first time that I had been spoken to in such a manner by her. During the time that I was a study, towards the end of my study, I felt overpowered and controlled by my Bible Study Teacher. I believe that she was probably frustrated that I had spent several years studying but was not working towards baptism.

I responded to her by telling her that in the same manner that I had obtained a master’s degree, so had she. Although I did not question her, I questioned how she could judge me for doing something that she herself had done. She is not in favor of higher education. However, she makes a living from her field of study. In addition, if she feels that having obtained higher education is so bad, the door is open for her to walk away from her current employment. But, she doesn’t walk away. Instead, she is working towards retirement. I know that she is working towards retirement because she told me.

The amount of hypocrisy and double standards that I observed when I use to attend The Kingdom Hall is beyond belief. Higher education was discouraged but there was a pioneer at the congregation who was working towards a master’s degree while she continued to preach the good news.

There was also a sister who was married to a financer. Just by looking at them, you would get the impression that they were financially secured. Every meeting, she would come dressed in Gucci and she would have on Christian Louboutin heels. So much for being humble and living a modest life.

17

Are Jehovah Witnesses still trying to bring the good news to others during the pandemic?

by Maria Nieves in

i am no longer a study.

during the onset of the pandemic the person who used to be my bible study teacher began to reach out to me.

initially, i just thought that she wanted to know that i was well.

Maria Nieves

I am no longer a study. During the onset of the pandemic the person who used to be my bible study teacher began to reach out to me. Initially, I just thought that she wanted to know that I was well.

Today, she contacted me and the conversation started out well with her asking how I was. I spoke of my fears of COVID-19 and she provided scriptures that we reviewed.

The conversation quickly became sour when my views did not match hers and when I asked questions. I was spoken to in a way where I felt demeaned and belittle which were the exact same reasons as to why I had ended my bible studies.

What is the purpose of the good news during this time? During a previous conversation that I had with her, she mentioned that she was doing letter witnessing. I thought that Jehovah Witnesses were going to stop preaching the good news because the current system of things had reached its end.