Posts by Spiral

10

A "Simple Life": Who's Footing the Bill?

by thebrokenkite in

after much lurking and even sporadic posting under an alias account, i've decided to come out of the "apostate" shadows.

this month marks my 1-year disfellowshipping anniversary.

it's been a long, arduous journey, one that nearly took my life.

Spiral

Oh boy what a topic. The JWs hate the "world" but because many of them are taught to live a simple life (read: poor and undereducated, struggling to find enough work) they often have to rely on benefits. I've seen so much of this in the last two years. The true cost to the government is huge, and the personal cost to those involved is also huge. You get to a certain age and you realize what a joke this is. On top of that, no retirement. I've met several sisters lately (and I mean several) who have decided they are too old and unhealthy to do housecleaning and windowcleaning (the mainstays here locally). And the elderly ones who have nothing...... sad.

Most of the JWs I know in this small town don't even seem to understand they were screwed over by pioneering out of high school and refusing (and I mean it, just watch the skits and experiences at the circuit assembly) to learn anything but basic skills to make a living. Remember, the new order is "just around the corner". Meanwhile, we have a college here and one within an hour drive away. Sheesh!

But the GB have everything they need for their old age in their new digs. I keep wondering why more don't see the disparity. Maybe they do and I just don't hear it. I shake my head every day.

6

My last talk

by Normalfulla in

so i was recalling my last talk , it was something to do with finding jehovah's treasures or something anyhow in my prep i decided to google "real life treasure maps " and i came across the copper scroll which was found with the dead sea scrolls https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/copper_scroll and i described the real life treasure map etc and of course likened it to the bible as if it were a treasure map to life (duh) anyway afterwards an elder present at my talk said "i wouldn't believe everything u read on the internet" .

i was totally pissed off by his comments as though if it didn't come from a wt publication it can't be trusted as true , this was before i woke up but i was so incensed by his comments it messed with me that he would doubt my research and then ..... i woke up but that wasn't what did it just an.event along the way.

Spiral

I've been told this too. What a self-serving comment for the org to make, to put doubt in your mind. So many JWs only read the JW publications, and remain totally brainwashed. Perfect for the GB to keep everyone in line! Sheesh!

13

The fate of all of Jehovah's Witnesses

by Half banana in

i have just posted elsewhere that there is no destiny for a jw other than to be deluded or disappointed, perhaps deluded or disillusioned would be a better expression.

there is no such thing as armageddon, no such thing as everlasting life, paradise is a mirage of wish fulfillment.. a friend of mine who is nominally a jw but who does not believe a word of it, told me about the dying words of another friend's father.

this man had been a lifelong stalwart jw and reared an exemplary jw dynasty but as he died he told his super zealous son that it (the jw religion) has got it all wrong.. ok, it's a social club for the majority of witnesses and an identity for those without self worth or clear goals in life, they will swallow the inconsistencies and biblical absurdities because it is in their community interests to conform.

Spiral

I can't even imagine JWs being around in 100 years. Time will tell.

But, like other religions, faith is just hoping that what you believe is true. Once you're dead, you find out. Unless, of course, once you're dead, you are just dead, in which case it was all a waste, but you don't know.

It's like a really bad gamble at the casino.

38

Talk to my Dad about beards.

by LovingLifeNow in

jw
friends

so i spoke to my elder dad the other day, and he asked if i still am sporting a beard.

i said yes, then i said, "i thought the society said its ok to have a neat trimmed beard now?

" he said "no, no, no..if you read the article , it says in countries where it is accepted" so my response was "ummm, its pretty accepted here in america"..which he says "it reflects your spirituality" "if another wittness saw you, they would know you are weak"...i was like, "ok, i don't get it, and i follow christ/god, not men..." then he said in his hall" if a brother came in with a beard , he would not have privelages" then i just gave up, and tried to change the subject..ugggggggggg if these people would just listen to themselves , they would see the sillyness of there teachings...

Spiral

Of course, because following is the list of countries where beards are not accepted:

Wait, there aren't any. Just in JW's heads.

35

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Mind Numbingly Boring To You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i honestly think they are the most boring people on earth!

even when they produce their so called "new light", there's no excitement.

jws just do their thing and refuse to think about their useless lives.

Spiral

Having been out for ten years, and now having to be around JWs again, yes, they are so BORING!!! For the most part, I do know a couple of exceptions.

Their world is so small and narrow...... but of course it is, because anything interesting, educational or controversial is considered wrong. It's no surprise then that being around them is boring. And the meetings are so repetitive now I just can't stand to go unless I can surreptitiously read a book on my tablet during meeting. Most look bored to tears, with just 20% of the audience participating.

I think a lot of JWs would admit this but they don't know what to do. If they'd only give themselves a taste of mental freedom in the wider world they would not be able to tolerate the meetings at all.

16

Laws in the 1000 year kingdom?

by CitizenofEarth in

hello there.. tried to bring this up with my family.

didnt go well - they cling on to the utopia that the org paints, so i am gonna put this topic to your attention.

i would love to hear what you guys/girls think about this - god or no god i find this interesting.

Spiral

I doubt Jehova would say or do anything other than giving the ability to live forever - after all, he hasnt said or done anything the past 2000 years.

Not that I think anyone will get the ability to live forever..... but this is a good point. Why hasn't the Greatest Being of the universe provided more info on what is to happen? It's been almost two millennia already and no further direct messages, isn't that cause for concern? Is he asleep? If he can create the universe, thousands of galaxies, over millions of years, and yet he's such a poor communicator, what the h**l?

13

Is it just me or is this weeks CLAM more "cultish" than usual?

by NikL in

jw
friends

maybe it was my mood, but last night the meeting seemed really over the top cultish.. mainly the latter portion that just focused on presentation videos which always seem creepy to me anyway.. then the local needs was pre-empted by a video all about ldc which seemed completely pointless.

(on a side note my wife knew a couple of different people in it).

the congregation "bible" study which dealt with the ever changing cover of the watchtower magazine.

Spiral

@pale.emperor, yes, having Prince write music would have been such an improvement!

Personally, I think all the new format CLAM meetings are extra cultish. Plus how the WT is handled. My biggest irritant is the "READ" scripture. Only a few scriptures are sited and they tell you which one the congregation can read. Treating the rank and file like children..... and they fall for it every time. The CLAM meeting is just pre-chewed food for babies.

Thanks for the warning will not attend this week.

17

Have you ever read the statement Jehovah discplines his organizatiion

by poopie in

jw
friends

i'm looking for something in publications that specifically says jehovah is diciplineing his organization.

.

Spiral

I remember that from the bookstudies of my childhood (ugh), so I assume that could be "old light" now. Don't know if they've said that recently. That would be anything in the 60s, what comes to mind is the old Babylon book.

7

Another family goes down in flames.

by dogon in

my wife's mother has alzheimer.

it is progressing to the point that she is writing things like she wishes she was dead and does not want to live.

if you know my mil you would know this is not her at all.

Spiral

Sadly, I think this is going to be increasingly "normal" with the older JWs. Funny how they end up relying on "the world" when they can't make it on their own.

20

Has anyone else experienced this?

by ToesUp in

jw
friends

my spouse and i have faded 4+ years ago.

we know the jw rumor mill has gotten back to our family that we no longer attend.

most of our family is out of state.

Spiral

We are also faded. It seems much the same with our family, a "don't ask don't tell" kind of thing mostly. Having said that, on occasion some snarky comments come out. Then it just fades away.

To be truthful, we don't hear much from the relatives (they all live out of state) but the funny thing is we didn't hear much from most of them (cousins, etc., but we're all in our 50s with kids and grandkids) when we were in the truth and even lived closer to them. We just weren't special enough, even then! At this point, we aren't sure who knows what about our "status".

Rather peaceful.

One more thing, though. When we talk they don't bring up "spiritual" stuff (I never thought about that having been protocol, actually) but it makes you think they don't want to hear our reasons. A few years ago a question was asked and our answer had news reports and documentation attached to it. That person had a major meltdown.