Posts by EasyPrompt

"My phone pinged before I stepped off the plane that had taken me from my new home in Southern California to my home state of South Carolina. My mom texted: “Trisha, I love you very much, but I can’t let you come to my wedding.”

I’d flown across the country for this; it was a rare opportunity to see her. 14 years earlier, I’d been disfellowshipped by the Jehovah’s Witness elders, which means I was considered spiritually dead and was excommunicated from the congregation ―including friends and even family."

"In the 14 years since, I tried to remind my mom I was still alive. I’d occasionally text photos of my cat or let her know about big news, like when I got my Ph.D. Sometimes she’d respond. Most times she didn’t. She refused to attend my own wedding, but she did send a gift. Her wedding was my last chance, I felt: I would show her I was still her family, even if I was no longer part of her religion, and she could still love me. But as my plane landed, she once again refused to see me..."

"When I was first disfellowshipped, I could only think of survival — with no place to live, no friends and no plans for my future. I had no time to grieve. It was only as I began to build a new life that I realised everything I’d lost. It was only when I found people who loved me that I discovered I missed my mother’s love most of all. All grief is nonlinear, but the particular grief of losing a loved one who is still alive is one that feels fresh with each time I’m reminded of her rejection..."

"I asked just to see her for a moment, for coffee, for a hug. And she responded with her best attempt at a compliment: “I’m proud that you are married and would love to get to know your husband, but we cannot see you.”..."

"But coming back wasn’t easy. For an entire year I would be required to attend meetings while vowing not to speak a word, even to my family. I had to submit to being literally silenced for a year. Elders would no doubt require me to narrate my sins to them in private to demonstrate my repentance. These would be tests of obedience and humiliation. Then, I’d have to submit to the elders’ rules, discipline and control for the rest of my life.

Mom didn’t mention any of this, but I was certain these strings were attached. I thanked her for the offer, shrugged and changed the subject..."

"This could be our last hug, perhaps forever, I realised. Our mothers are our first home. When I hugged her, my entire body clung to the home I’d lost. My mom was right: I would make her sad. I would make her cry. We both cried. I don’t remember who pulled me away from her. I remember it was not my choice..."

"Before the wedding, I didn’t have photos of Mom. Now I have a handful of photos on my phone of us at the ceremony. We are the same height. Our shoulders are delicate parallel lines sloping to strong arms. I’m told I have my dad’s smile, but my eyes get small when my smile widens, just like Mom’s eyes. We both look joyful and brokenhearted.

Looking at the photo, I know she’s always loved me. I grew up believing in a resurrection. My mom and I both cling to faith in a resurrection. She hopes I’ll repent and be saved. I went to the wedding hoping I could resurrect some semblance of a relationship. Through hope, we both show our love is alive in our different worlds."

20

JW org fighting Royal Commission of Inquiry 3 years, article by Anusha Bradley, RNZ

by EasyPrompt in

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497240/jehovah-s-witness-church-spends-3-years-fighting-scrutiny-of-royal-commission-of-inquiry.

jehovah's witness church spends 3 years fighting scrutiny of royal commission of inquiry.

from article by anusha bradley, rnz.... .

EasyPrompt

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497240/jehovah-s-witness-church-spends-3-years-fighting-scrutiny-of-royal-commission-of-inquiry

Jehovah's Witness church spends 3 years fighting scrutiny of Royal Commission of Inquiry

From article by Anusha Bradley, RNZ...

"The Jehovah's Witness church has been fighting scrutiny from a national inquiry into the historical abuse of children for three years, court documents show.

The church has accused the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care of wilfully "miscasting" its religion and ignoring evidence showing why it should be excluded from the inquiry.

In June, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses Australasia, which oversees 170 New Zealand congregations, filed for a judicial review to exempt itself from the inquiry, arguing it does not have historical abuse cases within the inquiry's scope.

The inquiry's scope was expanded to include faith-based institutions in November 2018 after lobbying from religious groups and survivors. The Jehovah's Witness faith is the only group to oppose being involved.

The papers submitted to the High Court in Wellington ahead of the judicial review hearing reveal the behind-the-scenes wrangling between the church and the commission over the last three years as the church repeatedly tried to avoid scrutiny by the inquiry.

The church's central argument is that it does not have children or vulnerable young people in its care, fundamentally disagreeing with the inquiry's definition that care includes 'pastoral care' in any setting. Because of this, it has declined to provide contextual information about the religion's beliefs and meet with the inquiry on several occasions, the documents show.

The church, represented by King's Counsel Paul Rishworth and lawyer Cathy Fisher, accused the inquiry of having a "predetermined outcome", claiming it has ignored evidence it has submitted showing why it should be exempt.

"This wilful and fundamental miscasting of the religion, including the role of elders is in part what the commission relies on to continue to seek to retain Jehovah's Witnesses within the purview of its inquiry," the church said in its Statement of Claim filed with the court.

"The commission has sought to interrogate the religious beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses which are non-justiciable by the state, and protected under sections 13 and 15 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act," it said.

The commission, represented by the attorney-general, said the faith did fall within its scope of inquiry.

The inquiry's definition of what constitutes care, published in this minute, is broad and includes "pastoral care" where there is a "trust-based" relationship enabled through the "conferral of authority".

This included in situations such as youth group activities, day trips, errands and pastoral or spiritual direction.

The Jehovah's Witnesses said it did not have any activities that separate children from their parents and church elders, equivalent to ministers or priests, were never alone with young children in any situation.

Moreover, the church said it had searched records held at its Australasian branch office in Sydney and with individual congregations in New Zealand and "was unable to identify any cases of abuse perpetrated by elders in the context of providing pastoral support," though it did identify cases of non-familial abuse against four elders.

In 2015, the Australian commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse found the Jehovah's Witnesses had files on 1006 alleged sexual offenders since 1950, but did not report a single allegation to police even in states where it was mandatory.

A recent RNZ investigation revealed there were many instances where elders or members of the church were alone with children, and it was common for child sexual abuse cases within the church to go unreported to the authorities.

The commission told the court it consulted faith-based groups in 2020 about the definition it would be using to carry out its inquiry and the Jehovah's did not oppose this at the time.

It denied mistreating the Jehovah's Witnesses or failing to take the faith's evidence into account.

A two day hearing is set for 9 October."

35

Help wanted finding images

by Lee Marsh in

i am working on a project that requires proofs that the wts did say it and jws believe and follow it.. i have found some but google is giving me a hard time with some things.. as i go i will post requests for various images.

they all must have a reference or at least post where i can find the reference and i will add it to the image.. both older and newer beliefs are welcome, especially flip-flops.. if you have something similar to what is already posted then more references the better.

i know there are images of the structure of the wts.

EasyPrompt

https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/learn-from-great-teacher-jesus/water-destroys-a-world-will-it-happen-again/

125

Mandated Shunning is a Crime

by Lee Marsh in

mandated shunning is on the rise around the world with devastating effects on millions of people.

shunning that is mandated by organized groups to its members is a form of both physical and psychological violence against those people being shunned and cut off from their family and life-long relationships.

mandated shunning means that the shunning is ordered from the top down.

EasyPrompt

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/i-flew-across-the-country-for-my-mums-wedding-when-i-arrived-she-uninvited-me_uk_64f1b6cce4b0fe066b17f93b

Shunning experience in the news today...

65

In Response to Anony Mous regarding the 144,000 and other questions...

by EasyPrompt in

still, you hold onto false teachings of the wtbts which are only there for the enrichment of its chiefs.. as pointed out, the rest of the book of revelation is figurative, yet you hold that the number 144,000 is literal.

the wtbts currently says that this number is limited to those running the wtbts and that anyone claiming to be part of it outside that self-selecting group could be mentally ill.. by what reasoning (not from wtbts origin) do you believe only 144,000 people will be ‘saved’, and how do you know who is part of this self-selected group, given virtually no other religious denomination does even remotely believe in the literalism of revelation.

do they have to be jws?

EasyPrompt

"why is anointed "killed" in quotation marks"

Some of the anointed are literally killed by the end of the 3 1/2 year tribulation. Others are "changed" without being killed. Either way, they're done with that part of the assignment.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

"Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

"Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord."

65

In Response to Anony Mous regarding the 144,000 and other questions...

by EasyPrompt in

still, you hold onto false teachings of the wtbts which are only there for the enrichment of its chiefs.. as pointed out, the rest of the book of revelation is figurative, yet you hold that the number 144,000 is literal.

the wtbts currently says that this number is limited to those running the wtbts and that anyone claiming to be part of it outside that self-selecting group could be mentally ill.. by what reasoning (not from wtbts origin) do you believe only 144,000 people will be ‘saved’, and how do you know who is part of this self-selected group, given virtually no other religious denomination does even remotely believe in the literalism of revelation.

do they have to be jws?

EasyPrompt

@stanlivedeath - I am being myself, thanks. I will take it under consideration that you don't care for Bible verses, but I can see that there are others here who don't mind. So if I am talking to you specifically, I will do my best to refrain from quoting the Bible out of respect for you. But if we are on an open thread like this one, I will continue to share verses, unless Simon tells me to stop. Since this is his site, I will respect his decision and rules. So far, he hasn't said anything to me about too many scriptures. If that happens, I will know it's time for me to graciously leave, because sharing scriptures is part of who I am.

65

In Response to Anony Mous regarding the 144,000 and other questions...

by EasyPrompt in

still, you hold onto false teachings of the wtbts which are only there for the enrichment of its chiefs.. as pointed out, the rest of the book of revelation is figurative, yet you hold that the number 144,000 is literal.

the wtbts currently says that this number is limited to those running the wtbts and that anyone claiming to be part of it outside that self-selecting group could be mentally ill.. by what reasoning (not from wtbts origin) do you believe only 144,000 people will be ‘saved’, and how do you know who is part of this self-selected group, given virtually no other religious denomination does even remotely believe in the literalism of revelation.

do they have to be jws?

EasyPrompt

@PetrW

It's not my opinion that counts - it's what God reveals that counts. Other parts of His Word help us understand Revelation.

Time is different in dreams. Revelation is presented as a series of visions. Revelation 8:1 ties the seals in with trumpets that follow. They are tied together. The trumpets, plagues, bowls, all overlap and depict parts of the 3 1/2 years in slightly different ways.

"When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."

The judgment on false religion and on the secular governments is in answer to the prayers of the holy ones who have been hurt all these years by religion and government. The trumpets in times of old heralded God coming to fight, the execution of God's judgment.

"And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them." (Revelation 8:2)

In ancient times, there was silence at the temple during part of the prayer time. The response in Revelation 8:3-6 shows that the judgments of Revelation are God's response to the cries of the lowly ones who have been oppressed all these years. His response is by first allowing the religious institutions and then later the secular governments to reap the consequences of their hypocrisy and bloodguilt. The plagues show God views those institutions as "sick" in His eyes. The trumpets herald His judgments upon them. The bowls of His anger represent His will being carried out (just as the bowls carried items from God's altar, which represented God's will.)

"Another angel, holding a golden incense vessel, arrived and stood at the altar, and a large quantity of incense was given him to offer it with the prayers of all the holy ones on the golden altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense from the hand of the angel ascended with the prayers of the holy ones before God. But right away the angel took the incense vessel, and he filled it with some of the fire of the altar and hurled it to the earth. And there were thunders and voices and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow them."

The trumpets, plagues, bowls all show us that the 3 1/2 year tribulation is in accord with God's will - that He is the One behind the execution of judgment on religious institutions and the corrupt governmental agencies of the world.

(Salvador Dali did a good job of depicting time in a dream-like way...)

65

In Response to Anony Mous regarding the 144,000 and other questions...

by EasyPrompt in

still, you hold onto false teachings of the wtbts which are only there for the enrichment of its chiefs.. as pointed out, the rest of the book of revelation is figurative, yet you hold that the number 144,000 is literal.

the wtbts currently says that this number is limited to those running the wtbts and that anyone claiming to be part of it outside that self-selecting group could be mentally ill.. by what reasoning (not from wtbts origin) do you believe only 144,000 people will be ‘saved’, and how do you know who is part of this self-selected group, given virtually no other religious denomination does even remotely believe in the literalism of revelation.

do they have to be jws?

EasyPrompt

@stanlivedeath, I am an ex-atheist myself. Before I became one of Jehovah's Witnesses I got my degree in anthropology/archaeology and was an ardent preacher of evolutionary theory.

I do appreciate the way you asked regarding not referencing Bible scriptures, so thank you for being polite about it. But I didn't listen to the elder body when they told me to shut up. I know there is a time to speak and a time to keep silent. I kept silent for so long regarding so many things. I am very appreciative to be able to speak here.

I try to avoid threads where I know the scriptures are not as appreciated, but at the same time I have lost my fear of man at this point, so if anybody gets offended and throws an insult my way, I really don't care anymore. I've heard it all already. I have become calloused to extremely abusive speech in other settings, so hearing less-hurtful words here directed my way really doesn't phase me anymore.

But thank you for still talking to me even though we have different belief systems.🙂 I respect your freedom to believe as an atheist even if I don't hold that belief in common with you any more. There are still many things we do have in common, and it's nice to build on those things.🌷

65

In Response to Anony Mous regarding the 144,000 and other questions...

by EasyPrompt in

still, you hold onto false teachings of the wtbts which are only there for the enrichment of its chiefs.. as pointed out, the rest of the book of revelation is figurative, yet you hold that the number 144,000 is literal.

the wtbts currently says that this number is limited to those running the wtbts and that anyone claiming to be part of it outside that self-selecting group could be mentally ill.. by what reasoning (not from wtbts origin) do you believe only 144,000 people will be ‘saved’, and how do you know who is part of this self-selected group, given virtually no other religious denomination does even remotely believe in the literalism of revelation.

do they have to be jws?

EasyPrompt

No, the dreams Joseph interpreted have nothing to do with the time periods discussed in Revelation. The Bible does not imply that they are related. The point of similarity is that some things are literal and some things are figurative. Also that the dreams were repeated in a slightly different way to show the same event from a different angle.

https://youtu.be/pq10bPBiuLc