The rome branch is outside of rome proper, takes forever to get a bus to take you there.
It is a big property, but not sure what its worth.
the watchtower society always attempts to disprove or discredit valid arguments or statements by criticizing the ability of individuals to think, reason, ask tough questions and make their own decisions!
if they can't logically attack the message, they attack the messenger!!
the name calling of apostates or anyone who doesn't agree with all the wtbts flip-flops ( the light gets brighter) never stops!
The rome branch is outside of rome proper, takes forever to get a bus to take you there.
It is a big property, but not sure what its worth.
so much for jehovah blessing this new arrangement.
they are barely keeping up with the birthrate!
so basically the org spent millions of dollars on their website and broadcasting so the only growth they are still getting comes from born ins and illiterate and superstitious folks from africa.
Absolutely and completely predictable.
Even as an IN ELDER, I was very concerned at the changes that I was seeing.
1. Get rid of the book study? - How will MSs get trained to be Elders and teachers?
2. The continued cutting of teaching parts on the Service Meeting and School.
3. Shortening Public talks (though that was a blessing because 95% of speakers were incoherent.
4. Then all the big changes to the meetings which GUTTED any semblance of training anyone on how to speak in public.
It was OBVIOUS that teaching was not a priority, nor was converting anyone.
yesterday i was looking to share a pic with a friend of mine, and i swore it was in my photo albums (i have 3).
so i start going through them, and i see so many jw pics!
i had a huge group of friends when i was 'in', and so there is just pic after pic of assemblies, dinners, game nights, rbc projects, my family and the house i grew up in, people from the hall, etc.
How do any of you make friends?
I find it hard to find anything to bond over.
Conversations about family and my past are hard to have.
No one can really understand.
I work from home, so its hard to meet people, I have kids that need lots of time, I live month to month because I didnt plan for the future (of course), and I am loosing my wife who I helped find out the TATT.
Life seems bleak.
......endeavored to create an image of the organization which they are a identifying part of.. when you think about this religious organization and most its social ideological expressions are expressed through lying.
its doctrines are lies and not supported by the bible.. the leaders intentionally twisted doctrines to enhance the proliferation of the literature the wts published, which were a false theology through their interpretation of the bible.
the proclamation that jws are generally good wholesome living honest people.. there is constant endeavor by the people involved to hold up a pretentious veil of honest righteousness identifying the organization and its adherent followers.
Finkelstein - one thought.
Its doctrines are lies and not supported by the bible.
ALL christian religion is based on the bible supported just as well.
The is so unspecific that anyone can make it say whatever they want it to say.
yesterday i was looking to share a pic with a friend of mine, and i swore it was in my photo albums (i have 3).
so i start going through them, and i see so many jw pics!
i had a huge group of friends when i was 'in', and so there is just pic after pic of assemblies, dinners, game nights, rbc projects, my family and the house i grew up in, people from the hall, etc.
babygirl I have had the same experience.
I have so many photos mostly from when my kids were born on.
I get sad that that entire life is gone. I dont miss the cult, but its hard not to miss the "family" that came with it. I am very alone these days.
I find it hard to make new friends, and I dont have the opportunity to meet many people.
I am on the back 9 of of life, so its not like starting over. More like picking up the last few pieces.
Sorry for the rambling.
so once pimo how do you deal with going to the meetings, ministry, social getotgethers, conventions assemblies?.
for one you know it is all off key,.
two your 2 hours or more so just wasted (not counting the time getting ready,travelling etc).
For the 2 years or so I was a PIMO and an elder, and giving talks at conventions, it was excruciating.
I would have to come home and have a scotch after every meeting.
as all jw's and awakened ex-jw's know, the very existence of the religion is dependent on people's belief that the "holy trinity" of the wtbts, the ccojw, and the governing body (aka the organization) were personally selected by god/christ.. 1) mr. rutherford claimed that this divine choosing occurred circa 1919, and that all anointed members were personally chosen by god/christ to be the faithful slave.
2) in 2013 this long-held, "profound scriptural truth" was discarded by apostates in brooklyn (the present-day governing body) when they personally decided that only gb members were chosen by god/christ to be the faithful slave.
(wt july 2013, p.22, par.
I recently asked a JW who is still my friend (only one left) to answer 3 questions using the bible and the bible only.
1. Show me a 1st century governing body that has a similar structure as we have today.
2. Show me how 1914 was an important year.
3. Show me clear proof for Overlapping Generations.
He could not.
when waking up it often isn't an instant switch, there's a period of time when your conflicted feelings are heightened and most uncomfortable.
can anyone remember specific instances in the time before you fully woke up that made you uncomfortable or guilty, despite you still being a 'believer'?.
i can think of two right now, both about a year or two before i woke up:.
Muddy - Me too. Amazing the power of a cult.
if you are a true believer, then you are toast.
because you will be a slave to everything the watchtower, circuit overseers, elders, pioneers, imply.
believe me, there are not many true believers anymore, and the majority of them are old.
This is not my experience nor of any of the people I still know in the congregations in the area.
It is the opposite! Everyone still in is amped up more than ever.
I say 90% of what you said is Fiction.
when waking up it often isn't an instant switch, there's a period of time when your conflicted feelings are heightened and most uncomfortable.
can anyone remember specific instances in the time before you fully woke up that made you uncomfortable or guilty, despite you still being a 'believer'?.
i can think of two right now, both about a year or two before i woke up:.
Lost in the fog. Yea it is hard when you combine the 2 things of something you are good at and love and thinking you can help others.
But now I am ashamed that I was really good at motivating people to "love jah".
I am sad that I had a part in keeping people in the cult.