i'm currently cleaning up our bookcase and need to decide what goes into the trash.
i'll keep the watchtower books that are not available online anymore (e.g.
the brown "reasoning" book).
Hello there,
I'm currently cleaning up our bookcase and need to decide what goes into the trash. I'll keep the Watchtower books that are not available online anymore (e.g. the brown "Reasoning" book). It could be useful for future arguments with my family ("They never said that!").
Did you keep any Watchtower publications, and if so, which one?
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"make the truth your own (song 56) - have you taken that step?".
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/children/become-jehovahs-friend/songs/56-make-the-truth-your-own/.
"Make the Truth Your Own (Song 56) - Have you taken that step?"
in my case; 27 years.
7 of which were as a ministerial serpent ... sorry, i mean 'servant' ;).
29 years
back in 2005, i remember sitting in the stadium in the special rows with 42 others.
8000 people were looking at us - maybe even with a binocular - while listening to the speech.
my family and my friends among them, being all proud of me.. i don't remember being enthusiastic.
Back in 2005, I remember sitting in the stadium in the special rows with 42 others. 8000 people were looking at us - maybe even with a binocular - while listening to the speech. My family and my friends among them, being all proud of me.
I don't remember being enthusiastic. The most exciting thing was that someone I had a crush on was sitting only two rows behind me and soon I got to see his half naked body. Instead I felt somewhat empty and scared. It just had to be done and there was no turning back. When the elders had gone through the questions with me I felt the question "Do you really want to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses?" very uncomfortable.
Were you happy when you got baptized? Did you feel particularly "close to Jehovah"? Or did you want to stand up and hide in the toilet like me?
was there anything positive about your jehovah's witness experience?.
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 don't know if this makes much sense, but that's my way to make the best out of it.
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..
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.
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.
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.
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?.
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.)
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?.
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?
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?.
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?"
