NeverKnew

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Posts by NeverKnew

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  310

  How I recently handled JWs at my door

  by Christian guy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the jws stopped by my house a couple weeks ago on a saturday morning.

  i knew that with others most likely waiting for them out in the car they probably did not then have much time to engage in any serious conversation.

  so i let them talk while i feigned interest in what they had to say.

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  NeverKnew

  Definitely will use this!
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  122

  Can the jw organization be reformed?

  by wannaexit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know that this has been discussed in the past but i wanted to get some fresh opinions.

  there are many out there that recognize the "rot" that is in watchtower but still feel that there is a "wholesome" side to it and are trying to bring about change or reform from within.. in 2002 when the rose colored glasses came off for me and i truly started to understand ttatt, i still felt that there was some redemable aspects of the organization.. i felt that russell had some doctrinal things right.

  i don't feel like that anymore.

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  NeverKnew

  I'm an outsider so take what I saw with a grain of salt. I'm only going by that which I understand. I hold myself responsible for my own theological interpretations and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me.

  That said, to me, you're asking if something that started off as a corporation that used religion to make money can become a religion.

  IMHO, no.

  It's a corporation leveraging religion to make money. The acquistion of the product is POST-mortem so they can claim any craziness they want to keep a person trapped in their insanity.

  There's no such thing as a post-mortem money back guarantee and dead people cannot sue for false claims.

  What a safety net, huh.
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  187

  The reason behind why the ex-JW community can never match Jehovah's Witnesses' success.

  by Stand for Pure Worship in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  an average of five kingdom halls being constructed daily, almost 8 million brothers and sisters, dissemination of bible literature in 595 languages, 111,795 congregations worldwide, distribution of 179 million bibles available in 116 languages, 239 countries where jehovah's witnesses have a presence, etc.. need i go on?.

  on the other hand........... crisis of conscience, freeminds, the awaa, jw.net, ummmmmm........hmmm........idk six screens or something?

  not exactly working out for you guys.

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  NeverKnew

  SFPW, I've glanced at some of the responses and started thinking about the OP.

  You really ARE comparing apples to... was it cats?

  If you want to do a comparison that makes sense, compare the pain, isolation, confusion, fear and anguish on THIS forum to the pain, isolation, confusion, fear and anguish on an ex-traditional Christian forum like an ex-catholic forum. I've seen more suggestions of suicide (and one actual suicide), grief and sadness than I thought could be possible in one place that speaks of God. I have no idea how active JWs can be so smug while inflicting so much harm. It's appalling.

  That comparison speaks VOLUMES to non-jws.
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  187

  The reason behind why the ex-JW community can never match Jehovah's Witnesses' success.

  by Stand for Pure Worship in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  an average of five kingdom halls being constructed daily, almost 8 million brothers and sisters, dissemination of bible literature in 595 languages, 111,795 congregations worldwide, distribution of 179 million bibles available in 116 languages, 239 countries where jehovah's witnesses have a presence, etc.. need i go on?.

  on the other hand........... crisis of conscience, freeminds, the awaa, jw.net, ummmmmm........hmmm........idk six screens or something?

  not exactly working out for you guys.

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  NeverKnew

  Pentacostals have 100 million members and started around the same time as JWs. Sounds like some serious fail to me.

  A respectful correction (I only know this because a dear friend pointed this out):

  According to Pew Research there are 279 Million adherents*. They began in the early 1900's.

  ...and have I mentioned that not one has ever knocked on my door trying to get me to find salvation through their organization? Wonder what technique THEY use? Seems to be more effective than door-knocking.

  *http://www.pewforum.org/files/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf
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  26

  My struggle in leaving WTBTS - What is yours- if you want to share?

  by Junebuggie in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my struggle- my journey finding salvationoctober 16, 2013 at 8:03pm"anyone who believes in the son of god has this testimony: god has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son.

  he who has the son has life; he who does not have the son of god does not have life.

  i write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of god so that you may know that you have eternal life.

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  NeverKnew

  Apognophos - I saw that interview. So much for the script they gave her to be angry about right before the interview. Her brain was incapable of processing what he was saying and as a result of her sticking to the talking point given to her, she ended up looking foolish. ...poor thing.

  Junebuggie- Welcome. :) I am a non JW. I'm nearing 50 and my exposure to JWism was only to understand a couple of JW friends I really care about.

  In being exposed to other faiths/denominations you lose sight of differences and start to see strong similarities instead. Sadly, given what I've seen in JWism, the limited exposure and constant railing against all others has done them a great disservice. It breaks my heart. My friends are knocking on doors of the uninterested with their chests poked out while variant churches and synagogues are finding common goals that contribute heavily to the improvement of humanity through charity despite doctrinal differences.

  As for finding peace in Christ/God, I completely understand. You walk with a different kind of confidence, don't you? :) Once Jeremiah 31:33 and Acts 15:10 become real, things are different. Fortunately, I've never known a faith that is overbearing.

  wait... does a request to fry chicken for 3 hours for the homeless count? I make LOUSY fried chicken. *giggling*

  All I know is, if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36). :)

  Now... I'm off to try and witness with your new points to think about.

  Thanks for the post!
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  406

  Goodbye JWD/JWN (my last post)

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after some considerable thought i have decided that i will no longer post on this forum because i want to return to jehovah.

  thank you for all the kindness and many interesting discussions over the years.

  i wish you all well in the future and the decisions you make.

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  NeverKnew

  Oubliette, thanks for posting that. Looking at his Day 1 would make me less trustful of his loyalty. I'm sure he's not a bad kid... Only on his 30's but definitely conflicted. Poor kid.
• 
  406

  Goodbye JWD/JWN (my last post)

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after some considerable thought i have decided that i will no longer post on this forum because i want to return to jehovah.

  thank you for all the kindness and many interesting discussions over the years.

  i wish you all well in the future and the decisions you make.

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  NeverKnew

  SBF,

  You will be missed. Hopefully the love you find there is as genuine as the love many of us have for you here.
• 
  406

  Goodbye JWD/JWN (my last post)

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after some considerable thought i have decided that i will no longer post on this forum because i want to return to jehovah.

  thank you for all the kindness and many interesting discussions over the years.

  i wish you all well in the future and the decisions you make.

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  NeverKnew

  Wow... I so don't get this.

  These posts aren't very common - at least since I've been around.

  I've never known an entity to require a total rejection of all previous experiences to be accepted.

  This is so foreign.
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  120

  In general, the people on this forum have a poor outlook spiritually speaking.

  by Stand for Pure Worship in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i waz reading the august 15 wt study article, elisha saw fiery chariots, do you?

  and it made me think about this forum.

  if you remember, syria was hunting god's prophet, elisha.

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  NeverKnew

  SFPW,

  Your arrogance has brought a few of my "never-even-known-a-JW" friends to jaw-dropping disbelief with this unscriptural faith in men. (Jer 17:5, 7)

  We're sincerely praying for ya' kid.

  In the meantime, please, keep posting.
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  45

  I will give my husband the divorce he wants

  by losingit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  not because i agree with him.

  because i do not want the divorce.

  but because i love him and i want to respect him.

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  NeverKnew

  I had to go back and read other threads to learn that you're getting your Master's degree soon? Are you kidding me? YOU GO GIRL!

  Now, let's get stronger. You have given him permission to make you feel like this. I know because I've been there. When you're ready to leave, maybe my frame will help you get through it.

  Twenty-one years ago, I left an abusive marriage with my daughter. I barely remember her early childhood for I was consumed with grief over my circumstances. It was an abuse counselor who told me that the biggest reason victims stay is because of the fear of the unknown upon leaving (what will happen to me? I will be alone...). In staying, you KNOW what is going to happen from day to day. In leaving, you're entering into the unknown and yes, that's scary.

  You know what was ultimately scarier for me? ... leading my daughter to believe through my actions that a life of abuse was acceptable and realizing that I was potentially starting a cycle of abuse that could last through generations. Was that the legacy I wanted to leave for her? That her Mom accepted emotional and physical abuse? Absolutely not! There's absolutely NO HONOR in what you're doing and the long term consequences could last BEYOND YOUR LIFETIME.

  As I started the process, I held onto the notion that if it was God's will, my ex would realize his idiocy and we could re-marry - but know that I was dead set on sending a declarative statement that he would NO LONGER control my life with his emotional fluctuations (I hate you - don't leave me syndrome). I needed my actions to be clear... I was showing him that at this period in his life, he was no longer worthy of the love I had to offer. I made the divorce a GOAL to take my life back from him.

  Divorce may be the answer while your husband grows up. Each minute, day, week, month and year that passes is another lost to what? Not worth it. It sounds like you've done what you can to show him honor. If you're done feeling what you've been feeling - unload him. If not, stay until you're sure.

  Also, I can't tell you how many people sympathize with how much money their ex will or will not have with respect to support. Not your problem. It was HIS decision to be an A$$, so let him pay for it. Your kids deserve to feel secure and have their needs met. Make sure you can provide them with as much security as possible. It's painful when you're a few dollars short of an opportunity for them to experience something.

  Maybe he'd act honorably but given his current behavior?... I'd get an insurance policy called "child support."

  ...Just my experience and opinion. You have to do what's right for you but just know that whatever your decision, you'll have a load of emotional support from JWN.