do you think elders and gb members monitor this site to catch people?.
In any business it would be negligent stupidity not to monitor public opinion/press reports/media forums to see what your enemies/competitors were saying about you.
The WTBTS is first & foremost a business, and as such, you can bet your house on it that they will have assigned "spiritually mature brothers" to police sites such as this - all in the name of identifying copyright infringements no doubt.
i've already posted in this forum but i haven't told you my story.
nowadays i'm a pimo in my late 20s from spain.. i was born in the cult and i can say that during my whole childhood and most of my teenage years i believed in this.
however, i felt that here was something wrong with me, as i wasn't comfortable telling people i was jw, talking about jw stuff, nor did i feel "excited" and "grateful" whenever a watchtower publication told me that i should.
Best wishes Paradiseseekeer.
You've got your life-course decided, now you have to decide how "gentle" or "hard" your exit from the cult will be. There are are consequences associated with both choices. I hope you emerge as unscathed as possible.
i`m sure you have all noticed the ever increasing number of newbies and lurkers who have visited this site over the past months and i am sure we could all collectively welcome them to this site and support them on learning the ttatt .
and helping them to navigate how they can look up older publications and quotes of the wtb&ts that they would rather remain hidden.. we all know jehovah`s witnesses /governing body never apologizes for mistakes they make they just don`t mention them anymore and explain it away as new light from god.. actually a big cop out.. welcome to all you who are new to this site .. every day their seems to be someone new posting which is great .. and if this is any indication of what is happening in all other ex jw sites the wtb&ts are in deep trouble .
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Well said Smiddy.
I now have to catch up on what's been happening after having had a nice winter break in warmer climes.
for almost 12 years now, i have been coming to this site on a regular basis and in the last 5, i “faded out”.
i never regretted this and never will.
unfortunately though, yesterday, i realized that, until i can publically tell all my old acquaintances why i have left, i will never be truly free.
Best wishes Stephane for a happy future without any JW-speak in it.
What a glorious thought - but sadly, many of us have to fade gently without triggering the apostate alarm.
jws teach babylon the great is the whole empire of false religion.
interestingly, bible’s definition of it would include jws also because it is the entity “that rules over the kings of the earth.” (rev 17:18) since revelation is given in symbols (rev 1:1) “kings” cannot be literal, but can mean minds of people because mind acts like king over everyone’s bodily kingdom.. no one exerts power over the minds of jws like their gb does.
just like members of other religions blindly follow what their leaders teach, jws too do—even when changes that are introduced under the guise of “new light” are virtually numerous.
Grammatically & logically, since Babylon the Great is defined as "the mother of the harlots," (plural) then clearly "she" cannot be a single worldwide conglomerate of religions, but rather the single greatest "harlot" which engendered all the rest.
i was just pondering whether jws are capable of having a calm, in depth discussion about religious or faith topics?.
i have just finished listening to a great podcast by "dogma debate" (dan) episode 333. this fantastic, in-depth conversation between a theist and an atheist was a masterful example of how a dignified conversation can take place without it resorting to abruptness or even nastiness.. jws on the other hand seem incapable of having such discussion without ending up in the following ways:.
1)they get dogmatic and defensive if a differing view is presented.. 2)if the conversation doesn't go their way, they cut it short saying something like "well, we had better agree to disagree" or the like.. so why the arrogance?
If JW's were totally honest, they would have to admit that they are instructed - directly or indirectly - not to even listen to teachings/arguments/debates which conflict with their "faithful slave's" propaganda.
The WTBTS's "truth" is so weak that its adherents cannot have a serious Biblical discussion to defend it.
Even the trolley-zombies are programmed to "avoid arguments" by directing questioners to the JW website.
good afternoon , .
i have been having doubts for many years and as most jw's i have certainly not done myself a favor by suppressing all of my critical thinking.
i am married with 3 kids and my wife and i are inactive, but my wife has made it very clear in speech and action that she wants to go to all meetings, field service, and indoctrinate our kids.
Welcome CovertsadJW. So sorry your family life is in turmoil
I've sent you a PM. Hope something is of use to you. I wish you well.
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.
Hi Matthew, welcome.
As an ex-JW myself, I hope you are genuine - because everyone who has replied to your post is genuine!
Illustration: if you want to walk through a minefield, take the advice of someone who's already done it.
Once you are baptised, you automatically put your whole way of life under the control & scrutiny of the local body of Elders. You will have to answer to them for anything you do or say which they disagree with.
As for "the truth," send me a Private Message if you'd like to read some of the things which opened my eyes to the JW version of Bible truth.
Enjoy the ride - while the love-bombing lasts.
loyalty appears to be the buzzword constantly promoted by the gb at the moment.
we hear it at conventions, assemblies, and meetings.. let's face it loyalty covers so much.
shunning of family, friends etc.
A cult's very existence depends on the followers loyalty and obedience - "But all of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether we agree with them or not." (Watchtower Simplified Edition November 15, page 20, paragraph 17)
If this statement emanated from any other religion, JW's would shout "cult, cult, cult, cult, cult" from the rooftops.
i think i read somewhere that if you have been inactive for ten years plus, the elders will not try to meet with you and corner you to get you back "in".
is that true?.
i just realized that mr. spiral and i haven't gone to meetings or reported time for over ten years.
When it comes down to it, Elders anywhere in the world will unilaterally decide if/when to to attack shepherd a lost sheep.
Always be prepared to respond if confronted by any JW; "I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing private & personal I wish to discuss with anyone at the moment. Thanks anyway."
Then exit, stage left - immediately.
