Posts by john.prestor

23

My Bible Study Conductor's Letter to Me

by ohnightdivine in

jw
friends

recently, i wrote a sister, my bible study conductor, an email just telling her that i thought of her, and i thanked her for being a part of some milestones in my life many many years ago.

(for those who are reading my post for the first time, i was a very impressionable teenager at that time and i had the chance to live in their country for a while, spent much time with her, got to know her way of living, and essentially she became my life's mentor.

closer to me than family.

john.prestor

It's not the translation, let's not take away from the fact that the woman wrote you one long extended guilt trip.

I get it, it's hard to move on, hard to accept this person doesn't care about you unless you accept her faith, which really means doesnt care about you. I met people like that too when I studied Jehovah's Witnesses, sweet older ladies that called me their pseudo-grandson or called themselves my grandmother, but the truth is if I told them how I really feel, what I really think or don't think, they wouldn't like it and I bet you good money they'd either cut me off or distance themselves at least, or try the same approach this woman tried with you.

Don't let this woman shame you into submission. Shame is toxic, it crushes out spirit, weighs us down. To hell with her.

23

My Bible Study Conductor's Letter to Me

by ohnightdivine in

jw
friends

recently, i wrote a sister, my bible study conductor, an email just telling her that i thought of her, and i thanked her for being a part of some milestones in my life many many years ago.

(for those who are reading my post for the first time, i was a very impressionable teenager at that time and i had the chance to live in their country for a while, spent much time with her, got to know her way of living, and essentially she became my life's mentor.

closer to me than family.

john.prestor

No, you're spot on. She tries to shame you and tell you what to do but subtly, by implication.

23

My Bible Study Conductor's Letter to Me

by ohnightdivine in

jw
friends

recently, i wrote a sister, my bible study conductor, an email just telling her that i thought of her, and i thanked her for being a part of some milestones in my life many many years ago.

(for those who are reading my post for the first time, i was a very impressionable teenager at that time and i had the chance to live in their country for a while, spent much time with her, got to know her way of living, and essentially she became my life's mentor.

closer to me than family.

john.prestor

You want my honest opinion? She sounds creepy and manipulative as hell.

5

Experts say new definitions of cults are not cut and dry

by Not_Culty in

http://www.the-standard.org/life/experts-say-new-definitions-of-cults-are-not-cut-and/article_85c22fb2-2e7b-11e9-8135-a7edf05c3843.html.

terry chapman, staff reporter february 2019. .

cebook.

john.prestor

I couldn't agree more. That's why we avoid the term in Sociology, used to use it as a counterpart to sect in a sort of three type 'typology' of religion, fancy way of saying we classified faiths as tradition (around a long time, socially accepted), sect (new, less acceptable) and cult (new, countercultural). We don't do that anymore because cult just means what the author says it means to most people: they're weird and they freak me out. Thanks for posting this, it's a good caution when we discuss a new religious movement like Jehovah's Witnesses

29

2018 BRANCH ORGANIZATION Manuel Says The members of the Governing Body do not regard themselves as the leaders of Jehovah's people.

by Fabian in

thanks to atlantis, this statement is mentioned on chapter 1 paragraph 1 in the middle.

but i like how the statement says members but the sentence right before has the governing body dudes in a collective whole like voltron here is the paragraph in whole.

1. governing body: the governing body of jehovah's witnesses is made up of brothers who are anointed servants of jehovah god.

john.prestor

The fact that they even hide behind that pretense, that fake and paper-thin humility, raises so many red flags. Honest people wouldn't do that, they would own that they lead the organization. The fact that the Governing Body won't definitely hints at a conscious effort to disguise who pulls the strings at the matinee. And why do that if your motives are as pure and selfless as they say?

29

2018 BRANCH ORGANIZATION Manuel Says The members of the Governing Body do not regard themselves as the leaders of Jehovah's people.

by Fabian in

thanks to atlantis, this statement is mentioned on chapter 1 paragraph 1 in the middle.

but i like how the statement says members but the sentence right before has the governing body dudes in a collective whole like voltron here is the paragraph in whole.

1. governing body: the governing body of jehovah's witnesses is made up of brothers who are anointed servants of jehovah god.

john.prestor

How can the Governing Body (they either authored or approved Branch Organization, like everything else the organization publishes) say they lead the organization but then say they're not leaders? Doublethink at its finest or conscious deception, what do other posters think? I lean towards conscious deception, of course they see themselves as leaders, they act like leaders, and they live like leaders too.

19

DA/DF Difference?

by Olig in

evening again.... i know this is my second part today but i've just been thinking.... possibly a stupid question, so don't laugh haha!.

can someone explain the difference between disassociation and disfellowshipping?.

never really heard of disassociation before if i'm totally honest!.

john.prestor

You can't formally leave without them shutting you, Olig. What a lot of people on here choose to do is called fading, they just slowly stop attending services, stop going door-to-door, and hope the elders don't notice snd that their family doesn't shun them for becoming inactive. Often it works, sometimes it doesn't.

16

Zealous much?

by Olig in

evening everyone hope we're all oreyt!

first time posting.... bit of my background i grew up in the wts (still keep on almost calling it the "truth!

" lol) and have been pimo for around 2 years now.

john.prestor

Definitely talk to her. Honestly, I suggest you avoid the doctrinal stuff beyond telling her about jwfacts.com, that site is great, and tell her about your experience, like how much better you feel now, how much happier you are (that comes across in your post, you sound relieved) The Governing Body talks about 'apostates' like they're all miserable, unpleasant people. Show her you're not. Even if she doesn't do any research, if she starts to doubt, she knows she can talk to you. Best of luck man, and welcome to the site. You need us, we got your back.

18

2018 Branch Organization Manual!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

just in case anybody needed this.. 2018 branch organization manual.

https://we.tl/t-vya6lknwtn.

atlantis!.

john.prestor

Atlantis, I run outta ways to say this but seriously man, you rock.

31

Part II: it's time

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

earlier i posted about the call from close family about that the end is expected in very short time.. today i had the opportunity to speak in person.. this is what is told to me:.

- the gb speaks to us personality through broadcasting;.

- the annual meeting was a very clear message from the gb;.

john.prestor

What do you mean speaking to us personally? It's absurd that this person wants you to perceive scripted impersonal performances prepared and sent out to over 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses as something intended for you individually. The Governing Body could actually meet with the faithful, just like the pope holds audiences for Catholic parishioners from time to time, but I'm sure they're handling much more important business as they lead Jehovah's Chariot forward into the future over all the ruts and potholes in the road they refuse to fix.