InquiryMan

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Posts by InquiryMan

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  16

  JW says the tract campaigns are working

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was talking to a pioneer yesterday; he was all excited over the new memorial tract, said how nice it looked.

  he commented that the "society said we don't have to take not-at-homes for this campaign.".

  i asked him what he thought of the campaigns and the fact that we have a convention campaign coming up soon.

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  InquiryMan

  In Denmark and Norway the number is half, perhaps even less. And interstingly, the hours drops in vacation months!!!
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  14

  2007 Yearbook

  by RubyStevens in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'll always have a weakness for looking through jw literature, the illustrations, the soothing repeating mush of a cult kind enough to do all your thinking for you.

  well i was looking through the yearbook and the seams are really starting to show.

  like was said in another thread, they try to have it both "intrest waning means the end is near/numbers are booming!

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  InquiryMan

  Which countries are features in this year`s yearbook.
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  60

  WERE THERE ANY BIZARRE ELDERS IN YOUR CONGREGATION?

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  any takers?

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  InquiryMan

  Hardly every met any wacko elders compared to the ones described here. A US phenomenon?
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  5

  Did you know any "ambitious" JW's?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i remember when the elders told us that it's not ok for a jw to be too ambitious.. wanting to have a big job, big house, lots of money, was not good at all.

  .

  prior to that, i always thought that being "ambitious" was something very good.

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  InquiryMan

  Almost all elders in my "neighbour congregation" (well I am DA, so I refer to terms I used before) are all executes, earning way beyound average. Most elders in the congergation I attended are executives, or similar, making much more than the average. Still they tell the flock to be humble and not using the world to the full (In my country, all tax revenues are listed on the internet, free for everyone to see). I even told our PO that, why, was he not way to ambitious in his careerbuilding in order to give a talk at the assembly urging the audience to be modest, not being materialistic etc.... Now, he had never been amibitious (although he actually manouvered his place into his executive position, after intially not getting the position, very few in the congregation knows about that). He told me that his work was challenging, that is why he pursued it. Still his wife is denied a car, having to work night shifts at the hospital.
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  8

  Knocking

  by InquiryMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just got knocking today.

  the two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way.

  their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though.

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  InquiryMan

  ordered it beginning of Februaryl, payment registered mid-February, received the copy beginning of March (overseas USA)
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  8

  Knocking

  by InquiryMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just got knocking today.

  the two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way.

  their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though.

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  InquiryMan

  Have not got the time yet to explore that materiel. Got it in the post just a few hours ago... But I will sure go into that material as well. It was, btw, because of your recommendation I did order it. And I was glad I did. It was a nice piece of work, not Watchtower-made, and not "apostate" made either, or made by some other religious group trying to pinpoint beliefs. I would call it a documentary, with a human touch perspective, highlighting JWism American side, being quite acceptable of Witnesses, but not totally in control of Watchtower cencorship... (I would think the Van Halen guitar play would by some witnesses be regarded as somewhat off, also some witnesses might dislike the statements made by the non-witness family members, but none of the statements made would be unfamiliar to a witness. It was, I guess, a bit more pro-Witness, than the other way. However, I guess that a non-witness impression would be that the faith is in a way naivistic, believing in utopia and an authoritarian system. American witnesses seem to be more outgoing in a way, their European counterparts more mechanic at the doors. Most Scandinavians do not have any deep religious needs. E.g. in Oslo, the number of non-believers in God, is higher than those who profess to believe in God. Less than 2 per cent attend church... So to be a witness, with that kind of commitment, is perhaps in a way regarded with more suspicion here than in the US.
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  8

  Knocking

  by InquiryMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just got knocking today.

  the two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way.

  their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though.

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  InquiryMan

  I just got Knocking today. Saw it together with my boy-friend. It was well-made, I think. The two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way. Their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though. It was interesting to see the non-witnesses relatives give their views as well. However, how well made, we both sort of thought the film was mostly a film of those two families, as well as the legal battles. There was little information on the JW life apart from that. No glimpses of baptism, family study, witness get togethers, congregation bookstudy, DF announsements or whatetwer. Was kind of suprised they allowed the cameras record a prayer. But a well made film. I see now problem on why it should be sent on PBS or other TV stations as well. I DA myself recently, have been four years inactive, been an elder. It did move me to see the KH glimpses, as I am not bitter or hateful. I am shunned by my family, I remember the good things, but the prize of being captive to a cult is larger than any desire to get the "benefits". But each witness or ex-witness have their story, based on their own personality, family background, congregation attitutude etc.

  It seems to me that American witnesses have an even stronger emphasis on family worshiping together. I could never imagine a Scandinavian JW of 23 going preaching with his father.... Most teenagers I know, either preached with other teenagers or other adults, not very often with their own parents... Nor did they sit together on the same row with their parents. Most teenagers sit with their friends. But in Germany, i saw witnesses sitting with their parents, being in their mid 20s. Kind of strange.
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  49

  Stuck in a dead-end job because of obeying anti-higher education policy?

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did you refrain from obtaining a degree or advanced studies when you had the chance because it wasn't the witness thing to do?

  how has this affected your life?

  comments, rants, and personal experiences please.

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  InquiryMan

  I was also living through the early 80s period of the strong anti-education propaganda of the society. My parents never stressed it though, but they did not encourage me to pursue higher education either, which would have been the proper thing of parents to do. I did attend four years of school after compulsury nine year school. 3 years of "grammar school" and 1 year of trade school after that. I even had a grain of bad conscious attending those schools. I ended up graduating as the best student of all my classes. More than one of my teacher told me that was a scandal that my religion stood in the way of me pursuing more education, but I was an ardent, obedient witness at the time, able to stand for my "choice".... The normal thing for me would definitely had been to go to university, preferably abroad. That was my dream. I, however, refused to pioneer, although everybody though I was one... Otherwise, I was very theocratic. Today, I am working in the same place as I have done since I left school. Being a graphic designer, I do like my work, however, it is varied, creative and social. But, I of course, know that my life would have been different if not been in the organization in my formative years (I quit four years ago, DA this year). I never opted for a career while working either. Was so naive that I believed the crap. Discovered that everyone on the witness community around me did otherwise. They were making careers, making twice or three times more money a year than the average salary in the country, still preaching to the flock that they should be modest and not seek a place in the world, that is doomed to be destroyed. Those double-standards, I guess, in part, paved way for my exit, although to a minor degree. I would have left anyway... But I have decided not to become bitter. But the facts are there nevertheless: after a divorce, I live in a rather small, yet modern flat, taking care of three children half of the time. Get by, but nothing more.. But due to my upbringing: I am content having the necessary things of life and able to be on holiday once a year.... I have the ability to be pleased for very small things. That is a gift I appreciate...
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  30

  When JW parents shun their df'd children...and grandchildren

  by Paisley in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this seems the epitome of "lacking natural affection".

  can you imagine being a parent and not being interested in how your own children are doing?

  and what about carrying it even further, having nothing to do with your grandchildren, just because the parents are disfellowshipped?

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  InquiryMan

  Disassociated two months ago, after not been active for 4 years (severing 25 years of activity, the last 11 as an elder). Now shunned by parents, sisters and grandmother. Although they have stated they do want contact with my children, they do nothing actively at all in order to achieve this. Never calls or whatever. Thus, the children get a very distant relationship to them. Not seen, not thought of. It is sad, they live only 15 minutes drive away. They have not even been to my new flat, although I have lived here for 9 months. (Technically, they could do so until I was DA). Basically, they are nice, devent people, though captive by a heartless religion. But I cannot blame them. My (ex)wife and I did shun my sister-in-law for 5 years when we were in. She had to loose a baby before we got in touch again. It was the beginning of the end of our involvement inthe religion. I guess it was the DF policy/shunning (that I actally never fully sanctioned, nevertheless adhered to because of "loyalty") that made us leave, in addition to other issues.

  It is their loss. My grandmother of 86 stated she wanted to keep in touch with me, but changed her mind. She sounded like a parrot when stating that "I have left the family, they have not left me (!). Too sad that they mix leaving a religious community with the family. But years of religious indoctrination takes it toll. Fortunately, I have got in touch again with my secular relatives, that I previously only met in funerals. They have accepted my fullheartedly. We only live once, and it is so sad that the Watchtower society makes the livesof 100,000 of families less enjoyable that it could be. They state "love thy enemey", but shun their own. It is honestly too much OT-theology.... Not strange that I have turned into an agnostic.
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  17

  What do you tell your kids about you're exit or near to exit WTS ?

  by Ancientofdays in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in the last year i made myself aware of wts.

  then i resigned from elder, i stopped service , i stopped family study, but i'm still a formal jw.

  my wife is still a convinced jw, and we often "discuss" (really sometime we scream a bit too much).

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  InquiryMan

  I was also an elder, but quit four years ago, and DA this January. My wife and I left at the same time. My parents and sisters and grandmothers are all in the organization, as well as my mother in law and her husband. We have not been to any meetings in four years. When stopping, I did have a conversation with two elders explaining my views in a respectful way. And were left alone. All our friends and work mates etc consider us as ex-witnesses. However, they could not leave us alone. Some witnesses reported my wife as having christmas decorations in the window, and two elders came to her door. We are divorced now, but have remained the best of friends. We decided to make a joint statement that we no longer regarded ourselves as members of the local congregation, in order to take hold of our own fate in a way. It was not a formal DA letter, but a letter that obviously would be interpreted that way. As we all know there is no way of leaving the witnesses without reprisals. So, now, after four years, we are finally "privileged" of being shunned.

  My children are now 9, 11 and 15 (obviously then 5, 7 and 11 when we left)... My eldest son stated past week that he was so glad we left and that he actually wanted to quit earlier than we did. He did attend TMS school and was a good, obedient JW kid. But he adhered to his parents faith as most kids do at that age. How many kids actually have the same inclinations while being fine JW kids??? Must be many... My 2nd son said last week to his mom: You know, mom, when we attended meetings, it was so boring. I only remember playing with dinosaurs.... (and the food in the intermessions of the assemblies) - so not that much harm done.

  I guess we were soft on teaching them, I never mentioned Armageddon or the Great Tribulation to them when a witness. I remember how horrified I was as a child with the awfaul illustrations in the Paradise Lost - Paradise Regained book. I had nightmares and did not to convey that. Still I remained a dedicated and obedient witness until 39, although harboring doubts for quite some time. It is often a hard and winding road to leave the Watchtower organization.

  I wish you the best, it is not easy to live in a divided household. The obvious advantage you have is that you know the mindset of the witnesses and know how they react and speak. Respect one another. I wish you the very best.... And can vividly imagine your feelings in this situation.

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