tor1500

Joined

Posts by tor1500

posted

22
Lack of young people in the congregation?
by IAmJustMe in
1. jw
2. friends
been baptized for two years but being in the truth for longer.

one thing i have always noticed is the lack of young people in the congregation.

does anyone feel the same ?.
tor1500

Hi,
In my hall there are some young ones, from babies to teens...if you look at them, most of them look like the life has been sucked out of them. The Teens look so sad, it's because their growth has been stunted...they just lumber around...being a teen is rough, hormones raging, then being a witness don't help...knowing that most of the congregation is older and has had they sex fun & we are telling them...hold on, the end is here...imagine just beginning your life & then finding out you may die...the pre-teens just lumber around with their bottom lip hanging..many of the kids in my congregation have one thing or the other wrong with them...
Young ones are not buying it...they are on the internet and know what is going on behind the scenes, but can't say nothing so they just lumber around the hall...trying to look like this is the best life, but they know it's not...they must hold on until they can leave the nest.
The friends are actually forcing their children to come & you can see it. We have some gay ones in the hall, but nobody talks about it...in fact they both got DF'd but are now back...
JW's young & old are suppressed..
30
The "Imperfect Men" Argument
by steve2 in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
one of the most common "defences" of jw organization is that "the brothers" are imperfect yet still strive to follow god's word.

"sure, they make mistakes," so the argument goes, "but so did god's people in the past, including in bible times.

" the key point is their readiness to keep studying god's word and learning from their mistakes.".
tor1500

Hi,
JW's know they are imperfect but not as imperfect as others, because they are trying to live by God's standards. Imperfectness is imperfectness....it's just a matter of degree...in the eyes of a witness...
That is their catch phrase...
Tor
24
ARC Information pack received in relation to my help, assistance, evidence and testimony
by jwleaks in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
this was sent to me by the arc for assisting and providing evidence and testimony in relation to jehovah's witnesses, the watchtower bible & tract society of australia, terrence o'brien, vincent toole, and geoffrey jackson of the governing body.. photo 1. a thank you letter, final report, summary brochures of the entire arc, every single case study and related document on a usb memory stick.. photo 2. close up of official arc usb memory stick with every single case study every single report and all the documents used.. photo 3. this arrived last year.

case study 29 into jehovah's witnesses.

i sent this official hardcopy to barbara anderson as a gift for all her hard work.. .
tor1500

Hi,
Wouldn't it be nice to drop off these copies to the witnessing carts... When they say would you like something to read...you politely say sure, but then say, you have something for them...their curiosity will get the best of them...just imagine having enough copies to leave with them...word will get around...give them out randomly..
Just a thought.
Tor
4
Let's play the "what if" game - a little thought experiment.
by doubtfull1799 in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
“if adam and eve hadn’t sinned they would have lived forever and we would all now be still living in paradise” is how watchtower theology goes, right.

(well not us personally, as history would have turned out completely differently and there would be different people on the planet, not us.

when you think about it you owe your very existence to the fact that they didn’t obey.
tor1500

Hi,
If Adam & Eve didn't sin...
We would all be naked & happy...
Tor
52
New to the truth
by MatthewHewey in
1. jw
2. friends
i have been meeting with member's of the kingdom hall, and i have attended a few times now on sundays.

i'd like to discuss experiences with this group since i'm new.

so far, i love it.
tor1500

Hi Matthew Hewey,
You have come to the right place. Good advice...Please pay attention to what folks say on here.
I'm a witness...& an active one, but I don't drink the kool-aide. Yes, they stick to the bible and they sound spot on. But in time this is what you will find...Someone said this on this site or another one, but to me it was profound...It's ok to have questions you can't answer but it's not ok the have answers you can't question. As you start to study or attend you will see that they can explain any & everything but....
Here's a case...I had a friend that was going for an operation & I asked a brother to pray with her (she isn't a witness). He said, she isn't a study & we don't know if she believes, so he couldn't...fast forward...we were doing our book for bible study....one of the questions was: Should we pray for those who are not witnesses...the answer was given & from the bible...yes, the bible says to pray for all men...I watched the brother body go rigid, because I know he knows he was wrong...but didn't bother me, because he now knows...even a sister told me that once...we only pray for one another...so she got an earful as well...
Here's another one...when you have been disfellowshipped, & you are re-instated, at one time it was just an announcement...& at the end of the meeting we would all love bomb them...now they clap....so one sister said oops we aren't supposed to clap when someone is re-instated...well, don't you know, a public watchtower said even the angels rejoice when one sinner comes back..so this is how they justified it now...but before they wouldn't clap...so I asked the sister, who told you not to clap, she said the society, & where did they get it from...Silence...
What you will find is that they run ahead of the scriptures then when they can no longer back it up, it's a new light...the problem is when the religion started, folks didn't read that well, now folks can read & comprehend...& don't think they don't go on sites to see what folks are saying about certain scriptures...
My favorite is when they say Jesus is Michael the archangel...If you read Hebrews 1:
God speaks by means of his Son (1-4)
The Son superior to the angels (5-14)
Hebrews 1:For example, to which one of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; today I have become your father”?k And again: “I will become his father, and he will become my son”?l 6 But when he again brings his Firstbornm into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.”* Now if you were to show this to a witness & say, so how can Jesus be an angel or was an angel...it states plainly here it can't be so...here's where you can't question their answer...
You have a nose ring and tattoos & for a while they won't bother you but they will expect changes...because now the bible should influence your thinking...
As you know we don't believe in Heaven but I could cherry pick a bunch of scripture that point to heaven...but not too many about paradise...you see the bible in the wrong hands can be dangerous...The bible was used to keep slaves in line...they used the scripture that says, Slaves be good to your masters...but forgot the rest of the scriptures and since the slaves couldn't really read but God said it...the rest is history...
I'll say this...see for yourself...many on this site have gone through many a heart ache being a witness...you won't see many things people have said on this site at first...because you are new...but pay attention...don't look for faults, just pay attention..
I go to the hall & out in service when I can...my relationship is with God/Jesus...they think meeting attendance is all there is...to be seen is their whole agenda...they don't have to be nice, forgive, help or be merciful...nope that comes from inside (the heart)...they can only do things that can be seen...are you that type of person that won't do anything for anyone unless it's seen, then being a witness is for you...if you need a constant pat on the back for just reading a scripture, then being a witness is for you...if you feel superior to others who don't worship like you, then being a witness is for you...if you feel guilty about anything...then being a witness is for you...
Go in with your eyes wide open...don't go in looking for problems, just keep an open mind...pay attention...just be cool & you will see that what folks say on this site is true...
You will find some friends are ok, but they need to be in a structured religion...most religious folks are extremist..either in church or hanging on a bar stool...they don't have balance to live in this world...
At the end of the day, just take care of your fellow man....all this religious mumbo jumbo is exactly that...mumbo jumbo...just be nice....& care .....
Tor

Come on, Mainstream Media!

by Wild_Thing in

jw
friends

it has been sickening to read the most recently leaked documents by faithleaks.

it makes me so angry because so many of us have experienced first hand the horrible policies of the watchtower on abuse.

i feel like these documents are finally the smoking gun we have all been hoping to expose the watchtower, and so far, the only mainstream news that i have seen pick it up is newsweek.. what will it take for the mainstream media pick this up and give it the attention it deserves?

tor1500

@London 11,

It almost makes me wonder if Watchtower has people of influence in some of these news organizations.

Exactly what I've been thinking....

But once I said this same thing on here and was told to be careful about that saying that.

Everything that has been done in the dark it starting to come out to light...so that's why I wonder why mainstream doesn't pick it up...

To me it's about warning people...yes, JW's may be a small religion compared, but 8 million people do count and exist...To me this would be the best time, because so many are coming out or being exposed...

What most people know about JW's is no holidays and no blood. Again, I think it's a great story...because it's more that goes on in the org. besides pedophiles (biggest deal)...again, it may not start out to be a big story but the more the org. is unraveled, it will at least be good reading...most people I know, know at least one witness...

How many children minds will be messed up because it's not newsworthy enough...

Sad....

Tor

Manmade rules

by Jrjw in

i was talking to someone a few years ago and he said in his congregation they have a rail of white shirts prepared in the cloakroom for if a speaker doesn't have a white shirt on.

it was a rule in their hall that all brothers in the platform must wear white shirts when going talks and if the speaker won't comply when asked to change into the shirt they provide an elder in the congregation will do the talk instead.

i have never known any other halls do it so it must be a rule the elders have made up without gb input.

tor1500

Hi,

Anytime man tells you what God wants, it's usually what they want..

We are here on earth to love & take care of each other, but that's too simple...a bunch of rules that humans think God wants, we'll do that...Know scriptures, don't associate with people who aren't you & so on....

God said, Love him & Love your neighbor...what a simple message but NOOOOOOOOOOOOO....don't take blood but if you do take this part. Jesus is God, no he isn't...he is God's son...it was a stake no a cross...Jesus was born on Xmas, no he wasn't...stay with your mate even if they are abusing you....obey the 10 commandments...NO, they are outdated...

Too many manmade rules that's why (if the story is true) God sent his son so we don't have to do all this things to please God...

Humans just don't know how to keep things simple....love challenges...so they have made religion a challenge when it's not supposed to be...it's supposed to promote peace...

Tor

Come on, Mainstream Media!

by Wild_Thing in

jw
friends

it has been sickening to read the most recently leaked documents by faithleaks.

it makes me so angry because so many of us have experienced first hand the horrible policies of the watchtower on abuse.

tor1500

Hi,

I've asked this question several times on here....why the mainstream media won't pick up this story...No JW's are not as big as the Catholic religion..it's not about the size but the lives of children and women...so because it's a not as big as other religions, this type of behavior is accepted.

At this time everyone is being exposed...The gov't down to entertainment. Day after day more folks are coming forth.

Is there a hungry reporter out there that doesn't have a story...now the story is Trump Trump Trump...if a reporter took on this story, sure it may start a small fire, but when they finish, it will be a big story...when all the info is brought out how they handle things, the story will blast...no it may not sound like a big story now but the more the org. is investigated the bigger the story will become...even though Watergate is a much bigger subject the reporters followed their noses and kept researching....

The real deal is that, if people are to come into the org., let them know what's going on & if they still want to join, then so be it...there are many Catholics that still attend church, even after the scandal...don't think the Catholic Church was eager to comply, like the witnesses, they most likely dragged their feet with info., until it could no longer be kept a secret....

The Media picked up Russia's ban on JW's, that was news worthy...

I think the info is starting with little leaks here & there & just a matter of time....

Yes, many of us on here are frustrated and want them to be exposed in one clean swoop, but it may be better little by little because the org. will not be able to plug up all the holes....the chariot won't be able to keep up...

Remember the clay feet the witnesses talk about.....well they are describing themselves.

Tor

Do You Know Any “Gay” Jehovah’s Witnesses?

by minimus in

jw
friends

of course the religion condemns homosexuality but did you know any gay witnesses?

i knew some bethelites that were very effeminate and i remember 4 women who were suspected of being lesbians by many in the congregation.

they eventually moved away and were very vocal against males, especially elders..

tor1500

Hi,

Yes, you can take one look at them and know....do they practice ? I'm not sure, but I know they are gay. One brother I know is gay but he is married and he walks around like he a big wheel but it's his father that is.

There are many in the org. that are gay, even females.

I have gay friends...worked in gay environments...it's not an easy life, at times it can be lonely....they didn't choose to be this way...

I've heard some parents say, if their child is gay, they'll beat it out of them...

So do I know any gay witnesses YES, but it's not discussed, so you can say you know them but can't mention whether they are gay or not...not up for discussion...not in the hall anyway.

Tor

Anxiety, OCD, Hoarding, and the JWs

by Spiral in

i'm noticing what seems to be a higher incidence of the above among the local jws than in the "general" (read: worldly) population.

i don't say this lightly, my wanderings around the fringes of jw society locally is revealing an alarming trend here.

the poverty doesn't help (there are good jobs, but you need a degree or qualifications to get one).. anyone else see this?

tor1500

Hi,

What I do notice is that the JW females, they are always moisturizing, sanitizing or digging in their purses...I think what most suffer from is PAYING ATTENTION...so busy trying to look neat, & holy...There is a sister that seems to always be picking at her fingers...

As I go out in the field with some of them I get to know them better...not to say I don't have any issues but when they get an ear, wow can they talk...I just listen...I think many of them would bleach bleach if they could...they clean so much because there is something in them they can't clean away so they clean the outside of the cup not the inside...as we all know JW's don't do anything unless they are seen, most need a pat on their back...aka: Needy..

What I find them suffering from is suppression...not depression...can't have sex, only married folks, can't debate any doctrine, must go to meetings even though it creates stress, they have no release...so no wonder they have issues...they got more than issues, they got magazines...

We all have ticks but some more than others....

I clean when I feel to do it...but most of them keep a spotless home...but don't open their minds...

Tor