Jofi_Wofo

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Posts by Jofi_Wofo

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  18

  Do you think any of the GB have different beliefs?

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  do you think any higher ups know that much of the doctrine they teach is bunk?

  thinking back to the time of raymond franz, how he pointed out specifically numerous teachings that the churches really did have right all along, and really any of the hidden mic apostacy trials you listen to on youtube, you see that even when inconvenient bible teachings are proven, the elders just try to sweep it under the rug and move on.

  i think i remember franz saying how one of the gb approached him somewhat sympathetically, but there was nothing he could do.. whether you believe in the bible or not, there are some basic beliefs common among most denominations because they're just so plainly stated, such things as heavenly life for all christians, no central authority structure, minimal use of god's name, etc.

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  Jofi_Wofo

  I wonder how much of ANYTHING they actually believe. What sense does it make to believe that you are appointed by holy spirit by others who were appointed by holy spirit, but that the very people who appointed you by holy spirit we're WRONG about almost everything else they said and did?

  How could you seriously think they would be right about picking YOU when they were wrong about prophesy, doctrine, medical directives, organizational arrangements, ministry arrangements, public relations campaigns, publication tone, style, content matter etc. ad infinitum?

  Are they just as deluded as the people they lead (yes, including me for several years... ) or are they doing it on purpose?
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  49

  The Coronavirus Is Trump’s Fault!

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yes, it’s donald trump’s problem and he has no idea of how to take care of this!

  and he gets his vp mike pence to oversee this situation.

  donald trump doesn’t care about who could get this virus.

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  Jofi_Wofo

  There are an unusually high number of Trump supporters on this forum. I wonder what the correlation is between leaving JWs and joining Team Trump.

  I enjoy the way he throws the left's sanctimoniousness right back in their face, and I appreciate that he hasn't destroyed the country with his policies like the mainstream press claimed he would. But, he also has a lot of ye olde governing body untouchableness to him. No matter what he says, no matter what he does, he's always right and everyone else his wrong. Even when he flat out contradicts something he previously said. No, he didn't change his mind. No, he wasn't wrong before and right now or wrong now and right before. He was right both times and will be right again when he says something different next time!

  I can understand being a fan of his accomplishments, but I can't understand being a supporter of his as a human being.
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  16

  Just one foot in...

  by Jofi_Wofo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  ...with one foot out.. *deep breath*.

  from day one, i've felt like i was one foot out of this religion, but it took me until over a decade to reach the point where i am ready to move on.

  i'm a newly registered user to this site.

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  Jofi_Wofo

  A couple weeks ago, I finally told my wife that I no longer believe in the Bible. I refrained from giving her the full details- that I already planned my complete exit and that this is more than just a lack of faith, but a complete rejection of everything the organization is and ever was.

  My wife was very understanding and supportive. Much more than I expected. Unfortunately, she felt the need to call the elders over. Call me a fool, but I love her so much I have trouble saying no to her, so I sat and talked with them.

  They were extremely supportive and polite. When the time is right, I'll return to this thread and recap in more detail what went down. Basically, they just asked me some questions and wanted to hear me out. They tried to refute some of my arguments, but ultimately conceded that I had good points, that I had a right to question faith and require evidence. They also we're understanding how hard it must be to lose faith in something that was a huge part of my life for many years.

  They're all of the mindset that I will "figure it out" and be restored in due time, but none of them know just how far I'm gone. For now, I let them know that I don't feel comfortable preaching anymore, and they agreed that it wouldn't make sense to teach something I don't believe in.

  Wheeeew. There are so many ways it could have gone, most of them much poorly than it did. For now, I'm accompanying my wife to the meetings just to be her companion and because I don't feel safe with her going out alone at night during the midweek meeting. When we move from here, we'll be in a safer area and I'll drop my meeting attendance.

  Which leads me to the absolutely delicious question: Will this memorial be my last?

  https://i0.wp.com/jwsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/last-memorial-paragraph.jpg?ssl=1
  

  
  
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  5

  Publication 'Simple Swaps'

  by Jofi_Wofo in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  there are a number of wtb&ts publications that are quite useful in doing research, but would be significantly better if they weren't theologically and self-servingly biased.

  i'd like to find more reliable substitutions, especially from scholarly/secular sources, to help me, and others, get a look at the bible from a fresh perspective.

  here's a short list of "cool" books i'd like for which id like to find corresponding replacements.. new world translation of the holy scriptures w/references = ?

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  Jofi_Wofo

  There are a number of WTB&TS publications that are quite useful in doing research, but would be significantly better if they weren't theologically and self-servingly biased. I'd like to find more reliable substitutions, especially from scholarly/secular sources, to help me, and others, get a look at the Bible from a fresh perspective. Here's a short list of "cool" books I'd like for which Id like to find corresponding replacements.

  New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures w/References = ? (good/best Bible translations in English with footnotes, cross-references and glossary)

  What can the Bible Teach Us? = ?

  All Scripture is Inspired of God and Beneficial = ?

  Insight on the Scriptures = ?

  My Book of Bible Stories = ?

  The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived = ?

  Revelation: its Climax at Hand = ?

  Life, How did it Get Here? By Evolution or Creation? = ? (best books that compare biblical creationism to actual science)

  This could be a start of a longer list if any of you have other ideas, but I think that these examples alone could be enough information for a lifetime of study.
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  24

  Evil Wind Chimes

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i remember going door to door in the late 60's with my mother as a 5 or 6 year old.

  one time she caught me looking at the wind chimes on a porch.

  she told me they had pagan origins, were evil, and were somehow connected to demons.

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  Jofi_Wofo

  Daaaaaaaaaaang.

  I completely forgot about this. Back when I was a teenager and had just joined the not-truth, an elder told me about wind chimes being demonic. I thought he was just being superstitious and crazy, so I dismissed it entirely.

  Searching through the WOL, there is actually a Questions From Readers about it, and surprisingly, Watchtower is a lot more reasonable on this matter than on others- https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1981412.

  Noooow, let's hold on just a sec.

  "However, if one’s motive in putting up a wind chime has nothing to do with false religion, superstition or demonism, and there is little possibility of others’ getting the wrong impression regarding its use in the home, it is a simple matter for personal decision."

  ...but, ummm, just remember that for... reasons... the same doesn't apply for birthdays, wedding toasts, saying "bless you" when someone sneezes, disco music, hypnotism, yoga, ad infinitum.
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  22

  Brazil: Watch Tower claim raid on premises unlawful

  by Antonio_Madaleno in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  in september 2019, the branch of jehovah’s witnesses and a number of kingdom halls in são paulo brazil were raided by the police, in search of documentary evidence of criminal activities relating to child sexual abuse.

  the jehovah’s witnesses claim that the raid was unlawful.

  below is a translation of the court of justice determination.

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  Jofi_Wofo

  Harboring child molesters = religious freedom.

  Protecting children = unlawful.

  Honestly, fuck this religion. I can't believe I ever gave it the benefit of the doubt.

  If Yahweh is real, he deserves better than this, but even if he isn't, the children absolutely do.
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  10

  Brazen conduct

  by road to nowhere in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i just noticed the clam illustration of "reject brazen conduct" a young man in service walking past 2 others drinking beer and playing cards.

  i know elders who do both.

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  Jofi_Wofo

  LOL! I was thinking the same thing when I saw this picture. Just last week, I was playing cards while drinking beer with a few other elders and servants.

  Nah, it's not the cards and the beer that's the problem. It's the... umm... wearing t-shirts in public?

  Yeah, that must be it. When casually walking around town, you absolutely must be the only douchebag in the neighborhood wearing a tie, and make sure to take every possible opportunity to snub your nose at normal people who aren't doing anything wrong.
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  68

  Unwritten, congregational 'rules'

  by Thetruthhurts in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what were some of yours?

  the big one in our hall was no frontal hugs!

  these were generally thought of as inappropriate, only side hugs should be given between sisters and brothers.

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  Jofi_Wofo

  When I was a teen, and just stumbling into the religion in my own, the congregation gave me a surprise high school graduation party. I sat down and opened the cards everyone gave me and thanked them each personally. However, everyone was acting really strange around me. Most started backing away and keeping their gaze away. Most didn't even acknowledge my 'thank you so-and-so'. Later, an elder took me aside and let me know that JWs didn't open cards in front of others so that those who gave less wouldn't feel ashamed in the presence of those who have more. Never heard nor seen anyone else ever do that in my entire life. Not even among other JWs.

  In my entire time in and around the religion, I never once saw anybody vote against a resolution. Even those who grumbled and complained. Not one single person ever, ever, ever dared to disagree with the elder body's proposals. Sometimes they never even gave us enough information to know what they were even asking of us. But we voted in favor anyway 😳
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  37

  "Do you believe that the 'faithful slave' is God's channel of communication?"

  by The Fall Guy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if a jw had the nerve to ask me this question, i'd say to them, "you go first.

  using only scriptural proof, show me why you believe that the wtbts/ccojw is god's choice and i'll tell you if i agree with your scriptural reasoning.".

  wait for the silence and the rabbit in the headlights moment.. i searched on the wt cd rom for references of "channel of communication.".

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  Jofi_Wofo

  - Jesus didn't describe the faithful & discreet slave as a channel of communication, so it is a scripturally invalid question.

  - 1 Tim 2:5, Jesus is the only mediator between God and men, so it is a scripturally invalid question.

  - Mark 9:38-40, Jesus chastised his handpicked spirit-appointed apostles for thinking they were the only ones used by Jesus to perform signs and spread his message, therefore it is a scripturally invalid question.

  - How do we know who is annointed? Because the anointed, themselves, say so. How do we know that only the GB are the faithful and discreet slave? Because the GB, themselves say so. Proverbs 14:15 warns us against believing every word.

  - Humans used as God's channel of communication are, by the very definition of the term, prophets. If prophets make false predictions, they are false prophets - Deuteronomy 18:20-22. The GB has an extremely long history of disseminating false predictions and, even by their own standards, false doctrine and false assertions of scientific and historical fact. To continue to believe that God uses them as his channel of communication is to blame GOD for every wrong thing the organization has ever taught.

  - To follow false prophets makes you an apostate.
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  22

  Kiss the son lest God be angry and you perish in the way

  by Quotes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in another thread, quentin reminded us all of the lyrics to one of the kingdom songs: .

  "kiss the son lest god be angry and you perish in the way" .

  my question is: .

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  Jofi_Wofo

  @eyeuse2badub

  It's one of the clearer examples of Bible contradictions- God is slow to anger AND and anger flares up easily... ??? WTF???

  To soften the blow of what the scripture means Paragraph 4 of this 1972 WT article adds in brackets [when the time limit is reached]. That is, God's anger only flares up easily after he's done being slow to anger. Which completely invalidates what it means to have one's anger flare up easily. Nice one, Watchtower. Nice one.