Very profound. Brought tears to my eyes and makes me feel stronger in my conviction that I will not compromise my beliefs and principles for anything, including my love ones. I cannot go back to lies.
Newly Enlightened
JoinedPosts by Newly Enlightened
-
25
An offer from the Governing Body
by irondork in.
the governing body took us along to an unusually high mountain, and showed us all the friends and family members that had been ripped away and they said to us.... .
all these people we will give back to you if you fall down and do an act of worship to us.
-
-
-
83
The perplexing conundrum 607 b.c.e condensed down to ONE SIMPLE FACT
by Brother of the Hawk ini was encouraged to post this thought, so here it is.. i recently finished reading "the gentile times reconsidered" by bro.
carl olof jonsson, ( third edition).
phew!!
-
-
Newly Enlightened
Thank you Pterist. That chart was very helpful in showing that he was a true prophet and Jerusalem was destroyed in 587/86... I was going to copy that chart to my post but figured it may not help anyone that is using the WT$ literature to still prove that the JW's are right.
-
16
Just realized I hadn't posted my story here yet
by Newly Enlightened ini've been so busy on other subjects and other people's interesting stories that i had not noticed that i had not posted my story on this forum yet.
kind of boring.
the usual.
-
-
Newly Enlightened
Hi Everyone. I've been so busy on other subjects and other people's interesting stories that I had not noticed that I had not posted my story on this forum yet. Kind of boring. The usual. My mom was introduced to the JW's when I was a baby, studied off and on for several years. Wasn't until we moved to another city and met a very nice older couple that studied with my parents. My dad was DF'd in 1972 for smoking. It was difficult because all the other JW kids would go around even at school and tell the other kids not to talk to me because our family was evil and disfellowshipped [Like other school kids would even know what that meant]
Fast forward to 1979, When I met a nice young brother that had just moved out west from back east. I was 15 at the time and he was 17 [I don't recommend that young by the way] . Love at first sight I guess and we were married 9 months later. Not before the elders of my KH pitched a royal fit tho. It was so bad because of rumors that we 'had to get married' that we had to go to another hall to be married. I remember one elder slamming his fist on our table and telling my dad that we had no right getting married at our young age and that we couldn't possibly know what love was and it was just lust and infatuation.
Funny thing about that elder. He moved back to the cong. several years later that Hubby & I were in. At first he didn't recognize us [It had been at least 15 years by then]. As I shook his hand, I reminded him what he had said and told him that Hubby & I had just celebrated our 15th anniversary and it was still just lust and that we stay together just to prove him WRONG!. Boy did he turn all shades of red & purple. I was joking of course. But his face was priceless. We will celebrate 34 yrs in Sept.
We had one kid, a lovely, great daughter [Gojira_101]. Didn't want to have any more because we were already pushing our luck with the Big 'A' around the corner. I can remember all of us saying, well at least she won't have to grow up in this rotten system and go to school. So 30 yrs later, she's is married herself now and they're doing great!
Hubby was able to regular pioneer for 1.5 yrs. Was an MS for 7 yrs and you wouldn't believe some of the 'crap' we had to put up with. I had a good paying job and was working full time so that Hubby could regualr pioneer, do you think the elders would be happy that a BROTHER was able to work only part time and pioneer? NO! I shouldn't have been the main support for the family. Then they told him that it appeared that I had lost my joy so they wanted him to work and study with me more so I could get my 'appreciation' back. Um, I'm miserable because these men were making our lives HELL. They kept dangling the carrot in front of Hubby to become an elder, but Gojira & I needed to get our service time up. So Gojira started regular pioneering. You can read that story on this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/244665/1/One-experience-in-our-old-Kingdom-Hall-that-still-HAUNTS-me
I couldn't get my service time up anymore because I was working 60 hours a week.
So we got fed up with all the BS and moved to another state. I couldn't find any other office manager positions in the area we lived so I took a job at a dry-cleaners. In 2002 I was spraying waterproofing onto a jacket in a closed up room and couldn't breathe and almsot passed out. Instead of calling an ambulance the other workers just took me outside and said I would be fine. I wasn't! The chemical had burned the lining of my lungs and I developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Asthma to the point that I could no longer work. Perfume, smoke, diesel fumes, dry-cleaning chemicals and especially anything with perclorethyelene in it. The minute I would walk into the KH, I would break out into a red rash on my chest and neck, my throat closes up and I start coughing and unable to breathe. I kept trying to go to meetings for the next several months. Even tried a circuit assembly and ended up in the first aid dept. with a brother who was an EMT. I was turning blue and could not breathe, almost killed me! I never tried to go to another meeting again.
When I tried explaining all this to my JW family, they could not understand the mental anguish I was going thru. To top it off, my own mother-in-law told me that I was going to die at the big 'A'. My little brother who is an elder and in the International building work doesn't talk to me. My sister has completely shunning me now [ http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/244524/1/Ive-just-been-Outted-by-my-own-sister
Because of my lung problems now, we had to move back to the Southwest, U.S.A. Got connected to a congregation here that is pretty nice, but same thing, they don't understand the situation. You can read some of my other posts of some things that have happened recently but it boiled down to we did not see any love from the cong. or our own family.
But we've learned TTATT from a dear friend of ours and we're happy and doing ok. And VERY happy to all be on this forum with you all
Sorry this is so long, but besides boring, I'm long winded and stuck at home
Love you all
K
-
8
JW Bombshell Seeds
by snare&racket inthough it is true that one conversation or one jw bombshell will unlikely rock a member from the cult, we are all here as a result of leaving or realising the lies we were fed, doubtless all the bombshells we heard or considered contributed to us leaving.. there seems to be a lot of apathy here at the moment that facts and information are not enough to convince a jw of the lies in watchtower.. this is not true.
even if one missile does not bring down the wall, it contributes to its fall.. information empowers people, it is the most valuble asset in the war on cults.
it may not sink the boat immediatly, but we know it springs leaks.
-
-
Newly Enlightened
I know what you mean. My Hubby just did a post on another topic of something very simple to bring a JW to the point of thinking about something and quite a few were trying to disprove/dissolve it. It was very discouraging that they would rather be negative and say hey that's not gonna work instead of even trying to see the simplicity and logic of it. Here's his post if you want to see what I mean...
We've been in this org. for 40+ years and we've dealt with this same BS from elders, CO's, & DO's we've had some experience in dealing with the JW mentality.
But you're right. Plant small seeds and TRY!!!
-
25
My first post...Facebook discussion
by mzmmom ini have been visiting this site for almost a year, and i have found it very useful.
there was a post on a facebook group last night about jw visits and to be nice when they call at your door.
so, after about 100 posts, i posted a link to this website.
-
-
Newly Enlightened
Welcome, nice to have you here
-
83
The perplexing conundrum 607 b.c.e condensed down to ONE SIMPLE FACT
by Brother of the Hawk ini was encouraged to post this thought, so here it is.. i recently finished reading "the gentile times reconsidered" by bro.
carl olof jonsson, ( third edition).
phew!!
-
-
Newly Enlightened
Maybe this will help shed some light on what Hubby was trying to say. You've got a JW visiting you and you're trying to show them that the WT$ date of 607 b.c.e is wrong.
You show them this from the 1956 WT 3/1 pg 144-146:
7
[Emphasis mine]
Finally 2,562 years ago the Davidic dynasty became dormant when King Zedekiah was deposed and the throne was declared unoccupied in 607 B.C. By this time all the prophecy of Isaiah and most of the communications through Ezekiel and Jeremiah and some of the minor prophets had been proclaimed and released for public distribution. This flood of prophetic truths pertained to the fall and restoration of Jerusalem and was spiritual food indeed for the minds and hearts of the faithful minority of Israel. While these prophecies had their miniature fulfillments upon fleshly Israel, yet longer shadows were cast of good to be fulfilled in later times to a far more glorious spiritual Israel of God. Then through the prophet Daniel came heavenly prophetic truths concerning the rise and fall of the Gentile kingdoms leading to the time when the New World kingdom of Messiah would appear on the global scene to break in pieces and consume all these old-world kingdoms. In victorious vindication this kingdom would stand forever. Then 2,397 years ago the last of the Hebrew Scriptures was written, Malachi’s prophecy, setting forth truths as to Jehovah’s coming to the temple for judgment in company with His “angel of the covenant” to arrange for a cleansed priesthood to lead in pure worship for the new world.—Ezek. 21:27; Gal. 6:16; Mal. 3:1,
Let's just forget the other prophets for just a moment since some of them continued writing AFTER the destruction.....The NWT large print reference bible 'Table of the Books' says:
Name
Writer(s):
Ezekiel
Place
Written: BabylonWriting
Completed(B.C.E.): c. 591Time
Covered(B.C.E.): 613–c. 591My Interpreter's Bible Dictionary states that the Book of Ezekiel was completed BEFORE 586/587 for the destruction of Jerusalem.
So, reasoning all of this out to our JW 'visitor or Elder' You can see where Hubby is coming from. Ezekiel finished his writing BEFORE the destruction so it could NOT have been 607. OR, Ezekiel was just writing history and we're ALL wrong [Including WT$]
-
29
2 jws just called on my door
by l p ini saw them coming down the street...the excitment grew.....then 2 people walked up to my door.... .
one could hardly speak english...struggling to invite me to the memorial....i said "why should i go".
they told me ...bec jesus died for everyone just one day a year is very important.... .
-
-
Newly Enlightened
Punk of Nice: You are thinking of the 1994 WT 2/15 pg 5,6
What about today? Would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult?
What
theEvidenceShows
A government official of the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, explained: “Jehovah’s Witnesses were presented to us as some kind of underground sect sitting in the darkness and slaughtering children and killing themselves.” However, the people of Russia have recently become better acquainted with the true nature of the Witnesses. After working with Jehovah’s Witnesses in connection with an international convention, the same official observed: “Now I see normal, smiling people, even better than many people I know. They are peaceful and calm, and they love one another very much.” He added: “I really do not understand why people tell such lies about them.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not hold ritualistic meetings, nor is their worship cloaked in secrecy. Non-Witness author Julia Mitchell Corbett notes: “When they meet, usually more than once a week, in Kingdom Halls (their meeting sites are not called churches), most of their time is spent in Bible study and discussion.” Their meeting places are clearly marked with a sign. The meetings are open, and the general public is invited to attend. Unannounced guests are more than welcome.
The “Witnesses have earned the reputation of being honest, courteous, and industrious,” adds Corbett in her book ReligioninAmerica. Many who are not Witnesses readily acknowledge that there is nothing freakish or bizarre about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their conduct does not clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior. TheNewEncyclopædiaBritannica accurately states that the Witnesses “insist upon a high moral code in personal conduct.”
The director of news and special projects for a television station in the United States wrote to Jehovah’s Witnesses in response to a biased report about the Witnesses on the TV news show 60Minutes. He said: “If more people lived the way your faith does, this nation wouldn’t be in the shape it is in. I am one newsman who knows that your organization is founded on love and a strong faith in the Creator. I want you to know that not all News people are as biased.”
A
Well-KnownReligion
Is it fair to say that Jehovah’s Witnesses are a small fringe religious group? In a sense, Jehovah’s Witnesses are few in number compared to some religions. However, recall what Jesus said: “Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.”—Matthew 7:13, 14.
At any rate, the Witnesses are far from being a small fringe cult. In the spring of 1993, more than 11 million people attended the Witnesses’ Memorial of Christ’s death. But more important than their number are their moral character and exemplary behavior, which have brought them worldwide commendation. Undoubtedly this has been a factor in countries that have given them official recognition as a known, bona fide religion.
Outstanding is a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights. It declared that the Witnesses should enjoy freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and that they have the right to speak about their faith and teach it to others. This would hardly be the case if Jehovah’s Witnesses were known to use deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members or if they used manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers.
Multitudes around the world are well acquainted with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Of the millions of non-Witnesses who are studying the Bible with the Witnesses or who have studied with them at one time or another, we ask, Were there any attempts to brainwash you? Did the Witnesses employ mind-control techniques on you? “No” would doubtless be your frank response. Obviously, if these methods had been used, there would be an overwhelming number of victims in contradiction to any argument in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“Absorbed
inHumanity”
Cult members often isolate themselves from family, friends, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses? “I do not belong to Jehovah’s Witnesses,” wrote a newsman in the Czech Republic. Yet he added: “It is obvious that they [Jehovah’s Witnesses] have tremendous moral strength. . . . They recognize governmental authorities but believe that only God’s Kingdom is capable of solving all human problems. But watch it—they are not fanatics. They are people who are absorbed in humanity.”
And they do not live in communes, isolating themselves from relatives and others. Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that it is their Scriptural responsibility to love and care for their families. They live and work with people of all races and religions. When disasters strike, they are quick to respond with relief supplies and other humanitarian assistance.
More important, they are engaged in an educational program that has no comparison. How many religions have an organized system to pay personal visits to every individual in their community? Jehovah’s Witnesses do this in more than 200 lands and in more than 200 languages! Clearly, Jehovah’s Witnesses are “absorbed in humanity.”
-
19
What`s your favorite dinner WINE
by OUTLAW inred or white,domestic or imported,a good wine can really accent a fine meal.one of my favorite red wine`s is a bordeaux from france,b&g 1725.inspired by the barton&guestier tradition which dates back to 1725 in boudeaux,fondation 1725 is a dry fruity wine with a deep garnet colour and rich,lasting aromas.merlot and cabernet sauvignon grapes confer strong flavours of black currant,violet and spices.it is excellent with red meats,poultry and cheeses.i also like to use it for deglazing when making gravies or sauces.enjoy!!
outlaw.
the golden rule:the people with the gold, make the rule`s!
-
-
Newly Enlightened
Anything cheap....... seriously tho, since I live here in the Southwest, Sangria is big around here and I've grown accustomed to it now.
Hubby who is sitting beside me [Brother of the Hawk -on here] Says to put down for him. "WINE???? What the HELL? When's the last time you saw a mountainman drink wine? WHISKEY is the only drink for me". LOL :0
-
15
Project: I need help finding Watchtowers that show hate, prejudice, and name-calling.
by Emery ini know there are a lot of examples to choose from but i want to find wt references that are the most blatant.
the printed evidence can be a great resource to all, including jw lurkers who fact-check.. .
.
-
-
Newly Enlightened
Here's another one that I just found thanks to Snarky the Apologists on Youtube:
1961 WT 7/15 pg 420:
Jesus encouraged his followers to love their enemies, but God’s Word also says to “hate what is bad.” When a person persists in a way of badness after knowing what is right, when the bad becomes so ingrained that it is an inseparable part of his make-up, then in order to hate what is bad a Christian must hate the person with whom the badness is inseparably linked. Indicating that Jesus did not mean for us to love the hardened enemies of Jehovah, David expressed this God-approved attitude: “Do I not hate those who are intensely hating you, O Jehovah, and do I not feel a loathing for those revolting against you? With a complete hatred I do hate them. They have become to me real enemies.”—Matt. 5:44; Amos 5:15; Ps. 139:21, 22.
-
80
new member- my story
by AndDontCallMeShirley in"that which can be asserted without evidence, can.
be dismissed without evidence.
" - christopher hitchens.
-
-
Newly Enlightened
WELCOME ADCMS! So very happy to have you here on the board with us. Look forward to hearing more of your experiences. We loved your post and hope you stick around with us.
You sound like a very logical, down to Earth person.
Love you Brother
K