Posts by Schnufti

66

Was There ANYTHING Positive That You Experienced Because of Being a JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

was there anything positive about your jehovah's witness experience?.

Schnufti

I met my husband because we both grew up as JWs. This and waking up was the best thing that could happen to me.

I don't regret being a JW. If I hadn't been a JW, I would take many things for granted and probably wouldn't be as happy as I am now that I've woken up. I feel relieved every day because:

I never have to go to field service again.
No more panic of being outed as a JW in front of workmates. I have nothing to hide.
I can work on my career without any guilt.
I love my husband as the person he is. Before I was an awful wife because I felt like he wasn't good enough as he wasn't as spiritual as I wanted him to be.
If I got sick or had an accident, nothing would hold the doctors back to save my life. My hypochondria is gone.
I can spend cozy evenings at home - instead of entering a room crowded with people who judge you and ask if everything's okay if you don't put on a fake smile.

I don't know if this makes much sense, but that's my way to make the best out of it.

106

So what caused you to have doubts in the first place?

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

i had no doubts at all about the 'truth' untill a friend of mine in the cong' began falling away.

in trying to help him i had to ask questions and do research and that of course cracked the doors of my mind open for the first time in over thirty years.. years ago, when jwd allowed members to have signatures, i used the following quote from voltaire as mine.

i still love it.. doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous..

Schnufti

I remember that I questioned the Bible as a teenager. But I put it aside because my life was comfortable.

It began years later when I had to stand up for my faith. I was in the hospital and had to refuse a blood transfusion. I refused it because I felt obliged, not out of deep conviction. I felt like I didn't have any other choice. It was horrible. I cried all day and was scared I would die.

This experience made me think. Why would Jehovah demand something that brings such bad reputation to his name? Why doesn't he save JWs that die of blood loss so that everyone would clearly see that they are his people? Why wouldn't he forgive me if I accepted a blood transfusion because I want to live?

At that time I also attended evening classes for two years. I was panicking about my classmates finding out I'm a JW. This fear reminded me every week on my doubts.

Finally my husband woke me up last year. I'm glad he wasn't afraid of doing research.

47

What did you regrettably not do because you were a Jehovah's Witness ?

by minimus in

jw
friends

jehovah's witnesses cannot do a lot of things.

i remember pioneers having to quit their jobs because they could not work in a convenience store and sell cigarettes.

i know of a young man who was offered a scholarship to any college or university if he wanted to go to because of his football abilities.

Schnufti

My husband and I would have spent weeks in the bedroom when we were boyfriend and girlfriend. Instead we waited too long until we got married and the butterflies had already flown away.

7

Like Mom and Dad?

by compound complex in

jw
friends

apart from the obvious -- "you have your mother's nose" and "you got dad's cleft chin" -- do you see any of your parent's behavioral traits and attitudes in yourself?

likewise, do you observe how your own children are 'apples fallen not far from the tree'?

the good, the bad, and the ugly?.

Schnufti

I make awkward dad jokes when meeting new people or when I'm with workmates or when having friends for dinner. And I catch myself telling the same stories for the 30th time.

And I'm a grammar nazi. (But not in English, that's not my mother tongue.)

27

"Don't listen to apostates!!"

by Schnufti in

next time a jw says that to me, i will ask him to read the following from "what does the bible really teach":.

watchtower itself uses this illustration.

so why is it that they throw apostates out of the congregation?.

Schnufti

Next time a JW says that to me, I will ask him to read the following from "What Does the Bible Really Teach":

Watchtower itself uses this illustration. So why is it that they throw apostates out of the congregation?

19

Fight Fire With Fire!

by The Searcher in

wolves use their "loyalty" questions to trap others - "do you believe we're living in the last days/this is god's organization/faithful slave?

" - yet resolutely avoid discussing topics which put their org in a bad light, my "loyalty" question to them would be - "do you accept literature truth over bible truth?

" they will either run or be forced to ask for examples of alleged differences.any other suggestions for "loyalty" questions?.

Schnufti

I haven't been in this situation yet, but these are the things I would say. Of course in a humble, gentle, non-confronting tone:

"The GB says in the February WT that they are not inspired. They also said that they are not prophets, and that the GB consists of imperfect men. Yes, I agree with all they said about themselves!

(But I'm interested in how exactly the GB is led by Jehovah. They do pray for the Holy Spirit, don't they? And can't I pray for the Holy Spirit too? So where is the difference?

And if an other religion changes its teachings or makes mistakes, we point out that therefore they cannot have been led by God. But if a householder brings up that we have changed our teachings, we say that it is New Light. Can't those other religions say the same about themselves? How can we show the householder the difference?)"

Another idea:

"What do we need to understand the bible?" - "The right attitude and the Holy Spirit. Oh, and the Faithful and Discreet Slave." - "In what organization was Russel? Who helped him understand the bible?"

12

What does Trump Win mean for JWs?

by anointed1 in

trump’s son-in-law buys watchtower hq, has big, beautiful plans for it.

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/39/33/dtg-kushner-watchtower-deal-2016-08-12-bk.html.

Schnufti

Oh my god the comments below that article.

203

My Explanation of Why They Got it Wrong About Blood Using Only the NWT

by cofty in

10 " any israelite or any alien living among them who eats any bloodi will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people.

12 therefore i say to the israelites, "none of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood.

15 'anyone, whether native-born or alien, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then he will be clean.

Schnufti

This is absolute gold. Thank you so much.

39

Front cover of the 2017 Watchtower - unbelievable!

by freddo in

jw
friends

study edition.

january 2017.

(can someone put up a link please?).

Schnufti

They're out hiking with backpacks on the ministry and they're wearing freakin' skirts.

That's exactly what I thought too!!

There are congregations where you could be pulled to the backroom if you are a sister wearing pants for ministry.

15

Governing Body Member Gerrit Lösch - What The Near Future Holds

by pale.emperor in

another talk from my channel.. gerrit lösch - what the near future holds.

apparently, jehovah god has "revealed" the future to us... unfortunately in 2008 when this talk was given he didnt reveal to them the mass downsizing of bethel staff and buildings, the child molestation payouts and many many changes to doctrine.. https://youtu.be/d8pvnrv5s94.

Schnufti

I remember when he gave a talk at the convention in 2014 (or 2013?), I thought: "This is proof we are not a cult. Cults have charismatic leaders."