Posts by scratchme1010

24

Last Week I Got A Call From An Elder I Haven't Seen In 20 Years...😳

by minimus in

jw
friends

while i was at work i got a phone call from an elder i haven't seen in decades!

he started asking me questions about my family, my ex, and told me that he heard i "was no longer in the truth".

i got a little defensive and he quickly picked up on it and assured me his call had nothing to do with checking up on me regarding the religion.

scratchme1010

When I thought he was going to a place I didn't want him to go I said to him I'm not going to answer any of your questions because I've been on the other side before and I know what to expect and that's when he laughed and promised me assured me that was not his intention whatsoever-

Now I wonder if he himself was reaching out. Maybe he's the one who's curious about the other side. If he's been in the WT organization for that long, chances are he's seeing and feeling the changes that are not too kind for old timers who have sacrificed so much of their lives. Maybe he's feeling too lonely in his congregation. I know how sometimes "uncool" JWs get as shunned even thought they are JWs in good standing.

I'd be thrilled if there will be more conversations. I hope you left the door open for him.

26

I feel like I'm losing my religion/faith

by christina1111 in

i'm a baptized jw...been baptized for 8 years...and throughout the years i've been baptized i see "hypocrisy" so to speak in the religion...when you're new and not baptized that's when the jws want to invite you to every gathering they have, they want to appear like they're your best friend...they want to help you out when needed and so forth...however, once you're baptized you go to the elders for help they don't help you....all they do is gather you around the office...have bibles in hand and so forth...they give you articles as well, instead of physically helping you out....but yet when you weren't baptized they would physically help you out and not throw scriptures and articles in your face.

also when you ask for help and so forth with the bros/sisters they want to throw the "each one must carry his/her own load" scripture at you.....but yet what happened to the scripture of taking care of widows and people who are orphans?.

it's not just one congregation...throughout the 8 years i've been baptized i've been through many kingdom halls...many towns...many states...when i was inactive for awhile i even pretended to not be baptized and just play dumb when the witnesses came to my door...they're much nicer to you when you're not baptized then when you are baptized...why is that?.

scratchme1010

I don't even feel like going out in the ministry....because why preach about something with a group of people that pretends to be your best friend when you're not a witness so you can join the group.. but yet when you become a witness they're no longer your best friend?

Hello. My two cents. As others have mentioned, follow your conscience. I'd suggest not to make drastic decisions. I know that it's overwhelming having all this awareness, but you have been there for many years now, so undoing that is a process, regardless of what you decided to do (I have known of others who feel that way but decided to stay JWs).

Many of us know exactly what you're going through. I hope you can find some comfort and a place to express your thoughts freely here in this forum.

3

This one's for you, WTBTS Inc.

by DATA-DOG in

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z8luw9skquy.

dd.

scratchme1010

Nice song. Thanks for posting it.

36

In Your Opinion Do Today's Elders Recognize That The Religion Is BS?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i always wondered that while i was in especially when i was an elder.

i recognize that some people,elders included are brain-dead.

but do you think that the average older today knows it's all nonsense?

scratchme1010

I always wondered that while I was in especially when I was an elder. I recognize that some people,elders included are brain-dead. But do you think that the average older today knows it's all nonsense? I know there are some elders that post here regularly and I'm sure they know that it's all BS but what about the others?

I think they do, but many don't feel like they are in the position of saying so or acting accordingly. Nothing worse that endorsing a product you know doesn't work. It's a horrible position to be in.

Additionally, and this is pretty much the case in all kinds of organizations, not just religious, there are other reasons for them to stay. Knowing that the WT is full of --it doesn't mean that it doesn't fulfill other needs that they or their families have.

Many people stay in cults and other organizations for a number of reasons, even if they don't agree or believe in everything they say or do. Those reasons have nothing to do with whether the organization lies or tells the truth.

24

Last Week I Got A Call From An Elder I Haven't Seen In 20 Years...😳

by minimus in

jw
friends

while i was at work i got a phone call from an elder i haven't seen in decades!

he started asking me questions about my family, my ex, and told me that he heard i "was no longer in the truth".

i got a little defensive and he quickly picked up on it and assured me his call had nothing to do with checking up on me regarding the religion.

scratchme1010

Interesting that some JW called you just for that. I mean that in a good way. Were you close as JWs? Was there anything that made him remember you? It's still odd that after decades out of the blue he just calls. Did you inquire about that?

9

Homeless guy begs with the Watchtower

by ShirleyW in

jw
friends

after that crazy story about the bride and groom going out in service in their wedding attire, that reminded me of a scene yesterday in one of the subway stations, a disheveled homeless guy had one hand out begging for some money, "does anyone have some spare change to help me " he kept saying, in his other hand was a copy of the magazine.

so what must've happened was some dub passed him by and instead of giving him a quarter gave him a copy of the latest publication.

although some of the beggars use their money for alcoholic beverage anyway instead of food i'm sure that magazine will be put to good use when he feels the need to take a squat somewhere and needs some paper.

scratchme1010

After that crazy story about the bride and groom going out in service in their wedding attire...

...I know a JW who tweets Bible verses to Britney Spears. The delusion that Bible verses and Watchtower litter-ature will magically save somebody is preposterous.

Gee! Just when I thought I've heard it all! What the heck is wrong with some people!!!

I have to agree that many JWs feel that the best they can do for a homeless person is giving them a WT magazine. Just like people who think that giving them food in thanksgiving or Christmas is all they have to do to help. I have to say, having worked in human services and understanding a little more about homelessness, I can see how much misinformation there is here in USA about homelessness and people who have no place to call home.

7

Thank you!

by longgone in

jw
friends

i want to thank everyone for the support you give in this forum, i know i'm just one of many who feel this way.

i'm not just talking about feedback about my issues but overall i have leaned so much from what is said to help others who have/are leaving the wts.

i also want to add the ripple effect that what help one person here goes forward to everyone else in our lives!

scratchme1010

I don't know if anything I have shared has helped you, but I'm very glad for what you shared. Thanks.

8

Funny event at the Memorial celebration

by DaPriest in

for this award, i would like to nominate something that happened in berlin south english, again.we all have seen people that try to disrupt the memorial celebration, and this is not amusing at all.

its quite sad.

what is amusing is when the disruption occurs from within.an incident occurred once, when a brother was passing the bread around.

scratchme1010

We all have seen people that try to disrupt the memorial celebration, and this is not amusing at all. Its quite sad...

I have come to have mixed feelings about people disrupting the memorial. On one hand I used to think that doing so is not going to have nay actual effect, other than people feeling disrespected and using it to play victim/martyr and claim persecution over it. On the other hand, the WT has had so little regard for so many people's lives and well being, that I can see how some people may want to hurt them in what they call to be one of their most sacred events.

Personally I can't care less about what they do, but I have come to understand some people using that as a way of making their point. I'm not condoning those actions, but I'm not judging (anymore) whoever decides to do that.

9

What could it be?

by Randy notmarsh in

jw
friends

i'm doing some research.

someone snitched over something minor-ish on me about six months ago the person is from a different hall, person got df ( over some other stuff) why haven't the elders talked to me?

.

scratchme1010

...why haven't the elders talked to me?

Not sure where are you standing. Do you want them to talk to you? Keep your research and go on with your life. I think that may be time you can use to prepare for when/if they approach you. Do you know what would you do/tell them if they approach you? If nothing happens now this could be a good opportunity to think about how to handle if they come to you with questions about your research.

If I were you, I wouldn't provoke them.

23

Book study this week...more trumpeting over the organzations greatness

by NikL in

jw
friends

you know, there are some studies that are painful to sit through because of the blatant lies or bull shite spewing from the platform.

then there are those that seem to have no reason for even taking place.. such was the case for last nights congregation bible study.. all it did was talk about how many books and magazines have been published over the years and "aren't we wonderful that we print so much stuff"?

this is a study into important biblical things?

scratchme1010

Seriously?

And you still come here promoting them, seriously?