Posts by Research

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

Thanks everyone! It has become apparent to me that the Organization comes first, not people, regardless if they're JW or not. Praying about it seems like a good enough excuse for now lol Plus I told my mom I'd drop my doubts/researching until my mental health test later this month, so I've managed to buy myself some time.

I know my step-dad will back me up. I am just terrible at handling any type of confrontation, even if it isn't directed at me. I'm hoping after the test I'll have some info and then know if I can hold a job, etc and start working from there.

exjw Reddit has been a really nice place so far! I'm thinking of sharing an experience there about Apostates and how they're completely different to what we are told to believe.

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

Thanks! Unfort. not in the UK, but I can try looking up other versions, I suppose.

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

Thanks Fadeaway1962.

I have a psychological evaluation test on March 25th. But I don't know if I can go to the next meeting Tuesday or how much 'time I can buy' myself before my mom tries to kick me out. Just a little overwhelmed is all lol I tend to over-think things.

I've lived a really sheltered life on top of it all, to where I leave the house maybe 1x a week and don't have any IRL friends except one out of town, and my disfellowshipped older sister. I'm afraid if I tell them they'll try to put me in a shelter or something...

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

Thanks guys. Mom just told me that since I made my decision by being baptized that it's now mandatory to go to meetings. She won't even let me call in instead. There are some of my mental health issues at play, to the point where I don't even care what happens anymore.

She said if there was a bigger reason/if I no longer felt like going to the meetings (which I don't, for various reasons) I'd have to meet with the Elders. What about those who aren't disfellowshipped but disassociate, then?

Pretty much if I want answers I'll have to call the Elder...even though I can't stand talking on the phone due to anxiety + I want written answers in detail, not just something that can be brushed aside.

Mom also said that if I become Apostate she will try to kick me out and fight my step-dad on the matter. I know this makes me sound young and complainhitive with all this 'mom/dad' stuff. I'm old enough to be on my own, but am broke and no job, so that makes it difficult and nearly impossible.

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

From the earlier email/her first response: (italic is my note)

You do not have to be a baptized witness to be apostate. Satan is apostate because he knows the truth and "abandons or deserts it". The world itself is not necessarily apostate as most of them do not know the truth. I appreciate you trying to share with me but anything spoken against my friend I will not believe. I have also told you that I do not want this type of stuff (the news, apparently) in my home. So now you stand at a cross roads/fork, you need to pray for Jehovah to show you the truth but if you have already made your mind up, then you need to think about what you are going to do with your future.

I will always love you baby.
---
I gave the definition of Apostate, etc and her response was pretty much "I am not saying anything besides the fact that I would give the benefit of the doubt where it belongs..."

And we're going to talk later tonight, I guess.

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

That is a good point. I'm emailing my mother while she's at work, first with how the news has been reporting on it, and then the 'official JW' definition of Apostate, directly from JW Library.

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

Mini-update:

The Elder (who granted is older) called my mother instead of emailing me because he doesn't 'do' email. Roughly what was said was that the Australian Royal Commission is indeed Apostate. I had asked if it was then why B. Jackson would talk to them/comment but I don't remember getting a satisfying answer. Also Australia is a different land and has different laws (I assume he meant reporting laws).

My mother also asked if it were true, why weren't other major news picking it up? To which I replied that the Guardian spoke on it, BBC and ABC (though some articles/etc were dated)

The Elder claimed the Circuit Overseer got sick, so either I'll have to wait or maybe talk to his replacement. I was warned by my mother that I am strictly not allowed on any Apostate websites (so apparently that includes the news?) and if I become an apostate she'll try to kick me out. Thankfully though, my step-dad wouldn't allow that, and per "the rules" he as her head has the final say.

The Elder did admit to my mother, who didn't believe me at first, that they keep records/a file of serious wrong-doing, seal it, and store it.

Feeling a little exhausted by it all...

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

Thanks for all the comments! (Plus many of you are very nice lol I'm sure you know we're supposed to view any Apostate (not that all of you are) as evil, even to the point of fearing them. I'm glad you were able to prove that wrong.)

Thanks for the link to JW facts, too. I might update my questions, though as many of you have pointed out they might not even bother looking at them. My mother said that rejecting the Governing Body is the same as rejecting Jehovah, since he directs and guides us through them. Even if one were to believe that, they're still imperfect men.

I am hoping that using just the bible, JW library, and ARC materials they can't claim those are Apostate sites. (Though of course, they can dismiss the last one probably)

The time it's taken them to get back to me (a few weeks) isn't making me feel very confident in them. And thanks, The Fall Guy! I still have lots of research to do, so if I ever get stuck I'll be sure to take you up on your generous offer.

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

I am not willing to meet with them at this time, so hopefully they'll answer the questions or even say 'we can't'. I won't be caught up in an impromptu judicial meeting lol

55

Circuit Overseer to Answer My Questions + Concerns...or Not

by Research in

hello all, i'm 'researching', a jw who is in the first steps of taking a look at their beliefs.. i've semi-recently (about a couple weeks ago) heard about the sexual abuse cases (pennsylvania attorney general’s investigation request) and then the arc in 2015. this lead to a deep investigation, which lead to many questions arising.

a jw friend of mine suggested i be careful (due to apostates) and ask the brothers.

so i typed up my questions + concerns and emailed an elder my mother has known for a long time.

Research

Thanks for the advice! I may be avoidant regarding some of their questions, since how I view the Org., to an extent, will be affected by their answer if they do. So far I just have questions about the abuse cases and shunning, mainly. I am definitely not ready to be disfellowshipped, so I'll be treating this gently haha

I definitely will be posting my results!