Posts by scratchme1010

11

Secrecy?

by HereIgo in

were any of you shocked by the secrecy in the org?

i remember hearing that elders have to turn in their "flock" books if they resign, get deleted, etc, i didn't even know they had their own books and i was an ms. is the bible not enough?

i remember i asked one of the elders if i could see my publisher record, they refused to show me!

scratchme1010

Were any of you shocked by the secrecy in the Org? I remember hearing that elders have to turn in their "flock" books if they resign, get deleted, etc, I didn't even know they had their own books and I was an MS. Is the bible not enough? I remember I asked one of the elders if I could see my publisher record, they refused to show me! I was blown away. No wonder people called us a cult. Any similar experiences?

I was born in and therefore, conditioned not to pay much attention nor question things. That's one of the things we the born in have against us, that we don't have any reference to other systems, so to me and to many of us born in, we saw nothing wrong with the secrecy.

One important question you asked was "Is the bible not enough?". Something that was an eye opener to me was the fact that they claim to be all about the bible and that what the bible says supports all their preachings and believes. Yet, they need to have gazzilions of publications and meetings and studies to explain the bible. Furthermore, if you look at the number of publications that they make and leave in people's hands, it's exponentially more than the number of actual bibles that they print and give to people.

38

What is the biggest hypocrisy you have seen as a witness?

by HereIgo in

i have far too many to name, but ill start with obscene music, gambling and cussing like a sailor.

all the while preaching to "worldly people" about their impending death at armageddon.

thoughts?.

scratchme1010

Seems like my post got deleted, and my guess is because I was too graphic, so I am going to post again in a less graphic manner. Actually, I am going to add some additional thoughts

I can attest to two big displays of hypocrisy. The first one was myself. When I was on my way out I was still preaching and attending meetings. I was out there preaching to people things I couldn't care less about. Interestingly enough, I guess since I was preaching since I was born, I was very good at making people listen, and I did spark some interest. I never followed up even though I got people interested in a revisit.

The other display of hypocrisy was this one elder that liked having sex with me. Later he was one of the elders who sat in my JC to talk about "my" (read "their") homosexuality problem. At that point I couldn't care less about anything they had to say as I was already almost out and felt that they had absolutely no authority over me and my life decisions. I played along but to me the whole thing was a show (I guess from both ends - no pun intended).

8

Am I right in thinking that the most zealous JW make the most zealous apostates.

by Chook in

just a thought.

scratchme1010

I agree, though I am a very proud apostate and very loud and out there about it, and I don't think that i was very zealous as a JW.

I guess there are some of the born in who have a slightly different experience since we didn't choose to become JWs. So I think that there may be exceptions coming from those who are born in.

5

Double Standards?

by HereIgo in

i always found it interesting how there are doctors at bethel and jw lawyers, when the org frowns on pursuing higher education.

i guess it's ok if it's for their benefit?.

scratchme1010

I always found it interesting how there are Doctors at bethel and jw lawyers, when the org frowns on pursuing higher education. I guess it's ok if it's for their benefit?

Double standards exist in many different ways in the WT. Ask any JW woman and you will see how some perfect JW moron can enjoy better privileges and better standing in a given congregation simply for being a man, and how perfectly capable women can't do much but giving suggestions at best, just because they are women.

In the last congregation I officially belonged to, the double standard was based on social status. There was a clear difference between the way people of the higher socioeconomic status were treated. I remember this one elder who was the first agronomist in Puerto Rico. His attitude was very elitist. When his wife passed there was this massive mourning in the congregation as opposed to when other people were sick and/or dead. It was very clear that there was a double standard.

7

Kamikaze

by new boy in

jw
friends

there are many people out there willing to die or kill for what they believe in.

i was one of those in my early twenties.

i was a self righteous pioneer and bethelite willing to die for what i thought was "the truth".

scratchme1010

That is why my favorite bumper sticker is "Please god protect me from your people." for there is nothing more dangerous then god's people or someone willing to die or kill for what they believe in.

I agree. Though there are healthy ways of standing up for what you believe, a very different situation if getting brainwashed and lose your own humanity for a cause that may not even be yours.

3

Question About David

by berrygerry in

1 samuel 15:22 famous wt verse emphasizing obedience.. if saul was severely disciplined for offering a burnt sacrifice, then what's going on with david in 2 samuel 6?.

17they brought the ark of the lord and set it in its place inside the tent that david had pitched for it, and david sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the lord.

18 after he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of thelord almighty.

scratchme1010

The reason why wt writers like David so much ,is, that he got away with violating every law on the books, his victims were punished, and wt's history and it's future is full of the same sordid goings - on. They hope they can get away with it too.

...true, although they severely downplay the "friendship" he had with Jonathan.

10

Science my son and I.

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

a recent o.p origins of the universe bought home to me with ovbious clarity that i have no scientific background.

this realization was rather embarrassing for myself to admit, particularly as my child of 11 has began asking some rather intersting questions on scientific matters.

anyway i have subscribed to " scientific america" because i find it a great magazine for those with no scientific background.

scratchme1010

I have read the magazine, but like with many other magazines, they are used to promote advances in sciences and many other interesting things. I personally never subscribe to any source of information 100%, and I try to compare and search for more information, different opinions and/or the veracity of the published information when I come across a topic that interests me.

I'd suggest to do the same, as good of a magazine as it is.

28

Hello

by UnshackleTheChains in

jw
friends

i decided to join this forum as have been lurking awhile.

there are lots of interesting topics on here that appeal to me.. i have been a witness for almost 3 decades and am very disillusioned with the organisation at this time.

i am beginning to see it in a new light as i am getting older.

scratchme1010

Welcome. Seems like you just joined but have been reading some of the posts. Please don't get discouraged if you read some things that you may not agree with. We are from all walks of life and have different experiences, views and perspectives of things.

Unlike the JWs, here you are free to accept and believe anything you choose to.

25

My Story

by HereIgo in

my story: i am a 27 year old ex jw.

former ms and regular pioneer at age 19. i was very active and had many "privileges" including district assembly and circuit assembly parts etc.

as an example for young people.

scratchme1010

Thank you for sharing your story, Herelgo. I love to see people who were very involved and active as JWs come here and share their stories. It helps me feel good about not being good at being a JW.

7

Jehovah`s Witnesses Religion based on First Century Christianity ?

by smiddy in

jw
friends

who was the president of the first century christian congregation after jesus death , , the secretary ,the treasurer ,the field overseer ,the district overseer ,who were the lawyers protecting the congregations from secular authorities ,the mogul`s of real estate , buying up land and getting christians to build places of worship with free labor and then selling them off for a profit a few years down the track , with nothing going back to those who laboured on those projects .. where are the records on papyrus , that the 1st century witnesses counted their hours ,made return visits ,bible studies ,oops the bible wasnt even formulated then ,that didn`t occur until apostate christendom in the 3rd century came up with a number of books to be inspired ..

scratchme1010

Well said, smiddy!