Posts by zophar

Maybe you are ready to leave, now is the opportunity and you will be on to your new life. As already mentioned there is the trauma that comes with shunning, but if you are ready, you are ready. It looks like you are heading down that path anyway.

Unfortunately, the way these things usually go, if it's not this event, it will be something else. Once the "investigation" begins it never ends.

Wish you the best.

18

How was it for you when you had to shun someone?

by Anator in

jw
friends

i remember a good friend when i was in and active who was d'fd.

when he started coming back, for me at that time is was gut-wrenching not to say 'hello' or at the very least encourage him to continue.

i thought even at this time, does this act of shunning really effective?

zophar

I never felt like I had to shun someone, but I understand completely what you are saying. I guess I used the excuse that I was an elder and I had certain rights so I could encourage a DF person. Of course I was just making excuses so I could act like a human and not shun!

Then again, there were some people I was delighted to shun whether they were disfellowshipped or not. 😄

It is very distressing to see, for example, a mother shun her DF daughter at a time when the daughter needs her mother the most. It is inexcusable and not Christ like behavior.

70

Any funny stories of when a"brother" giving a talk, said something "funny" or "questionable", and didn't even realize it?

by Dunedain in

there were always all types of speakers in the org.

myself, growing up a "witness", must have heard all types of talks, and given by all manner of speakers, especially on sundays, when almost every week we would get a "visiting" brother giving the public talk.. sometimes, you would have a "great" speaker, all fluent and animated.

other times we would get a comical speaker, one who would maybe purposelly get a few laughs outta the audience.

zophar

....and the illustration used in a DC talk about a Squid with giant testacles instead of tentacles!

101

My mom passed away yesterday....

by minimus in

jw
friends

thank you all for your sincere encouragement during these last few weeks.

finally, she is at peace.

i was with her , holding her hand when she died.

zophar

Very sorry to hear that. Hope you can reflect on pleasant memories of happy times together.

31

Has anyone noticed how in the October JW Broadcast, Losch encourages good works towards ALL people?

by Tenacious in

i can't help but notice how this past year alone has seen the gb start to turn more towards the teachings of the christ instead of peddling their falsities.. study articles have talked in length about the fine works of christ.

assemblies have been dedicated to speaking about christ.

and this month's broadcast is about doing good to others copying the example christ left for us.. what's more shocking is that losch actually says kids should speak, share, and even give food and clothing to non-believers!!

zophar

Good observation!

I noticed the same thing. It reminded me of the big controversy in the late 70's and early 80's about "Sacred Service" and what it is. For a while there they had it right, Sacred Service was everything you did as a Christian. This included good works toward thy neighbor. No doubt, this was, in a large part due to the influence of Dunlap and Raymond Franz and the research they did on the subject. They even re-named the Theocratic Ministry School to the Theocratic School. (They changed it back a few years later, but people still say Theocratic School instead of Theocratic Ministry School to this day.) And renamed Kingdom Ministry to Kingdom Service.

The big idea was all put to rest once Ray and Dunlap left and they went hard line that Sacred Service was only things related to direct worship. Being a good neighbor was not sacred service. Going in field service was.

In fact, early on, Rutherford came down hard on what was called Character Development, saying the preaching was what should be stressed instead. Now, Losch gives this long rant about basically, Character Development! It was very striking to me.

But that is how New Light works don't you see. You are going one direction, then you switch to a new direction, then you switch back to the old direction, then back again to a new direction..........

44

Who Qualifies for TTATT?

by John Aquila in

when i first learn ttatt i started telling every one.

ttatt will not help him, it will destroy him.

all his family are jws.

zophar

There are millions of people in "Christian" and "Non Christian" religions who receive great comfort from their "Faith" or religion. Of course, they can't all be "the truth" if any of them are. Nevertheless their religion gives them a certain comfort. Is it our responsibility to enlighten them an try to convince them they are wrong? I'm in line with your thinking John. In fact, isn't your mother sort of one of those, if I remember your story correctly.

Recently, a close friend lost his wife to a prolonged and painful illness. I would feel wrong about trying to show him the flaws of JW's and take his hope away. Of course, should he indicate a curiosity in the future it might open itself to share something with him, but I think you are on the right track with your thinking. It is a kindness to deal with a friend that way.

37

On the realization you will not "live forever"

by problemaddict 2 in

something struck me last week.

i have been dealing with what i can only describe as a fear of death.

i'm not old and not in bad health.

zophar

Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things, so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil, 15 and that he might set free all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

As JW's we always applied this to the poor people we called on in the ministry. How sad to live their lives in fear of death. But we had a real hope and no fear of death for us.

The 1969 Awake! about never getting old in this system was published my last year of public schooling. Social Security is next! Now that Scripture is the reality of many JW's of my generation.....overlapping or not. In fact I heard a Public Talk recently and that Scripture was used as a warning to JW's that they should not fear death since they were still alive in this system that was supposed to be over by now.

It is a sad reality to come to grips with late in life. So many things that were promised never came true. Still, they hold on and rejoice with new light. So glad that I can now allow myself to think for myself.