Sevan

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Posts by Sevan

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  19

  Shunned by family

  by Ruth in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my fiancé is an ex-jehovah’s witness.

  when he was 18 years old, his 17 year old brother was killed in an accident.

  his parents having previously lost an infant daughter were understandably distraught and were therefore highly susceptible to an organisation which seemed to be able to supply definitive answers where more mainstream religion seemed to fail them..

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  Sevan

  Also, see John Cedars videos on shunning on YouTube.
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  19

  Shunned by family

  by Ruth in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my fiancé is an ex-jehovah’s witness.

  when he was 18 years old, his 17 year old brother was killed in an accident.

  his parents having previously lost an infant daughter were understandably distraught and were therefore highly susceptible to an organisation which seemed to be able to supply definitive answers where more mainstream religion seemed to fail them..

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  Sevan

  But beyond that, the whole concept of shunning as a way of bringing someone back to Jehovah is all kinds of illogical.

  Consider this: if you really believe in God and Armageddon and believe the JWs have the only true religion, you will come back regardless of whether your family talks to you or not. Your family talking to you is irrelevant if returning is a faith based decision. Your family not talking to you is not going to somehow make you suddenly believe in God and the JWs. The whole concept is ludicrous.

  The only reason that family shunning causes some people to come back is that they miss their family, not because they believe. It is due to the psychological torture and emotional abuse. Not due to faith.

  Maybe if his parents understood what they were actually doing, that they are actually being brainwashed into participating in group psychological torture of their own child, not doing anything godly or loving, not helping their child spiritually, maybe that would help. Maybe if they understood the many scriptures that show how unbiblical and un-Christian the JW shunning policies actually are.

  Jwfacts.com has a good break down of the scriptural issues. I plan to eventually write up my treatise of the Biblical issues with shunning that is a little more concise and digestible.

  Good luck and let us know if you make any headway.
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  19

  Shunned by family

  by Ruth in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my fiancé is an ex-jehovah’s witness.

  when he was 18 years old, his 17 year old brother was killed in an accident.

  his parents having previously lost an infant daughter were understandably distraught and were therefore highly susceptible to an organisation which seemed to be able to supply definitive answers where more mainstream religion seemed to fail them..

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  Sevan

  This is a good link that may give you some ideas:

  http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/disfellowship-shunning.php
  
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  28

  Necessary Family Business (NFB) is now acceptable according to the weekly WT Study

  by Quarterback in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  during the last decade i've seen so many articles, and top speakers try to downplay that nfb policy.

  now, this weeks wt study mentions a positive experience of someone applying having, "contact and applying nfb with a df relative".

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  Sevan

  I have never met a reinstated person who felt positively about the way they were treated while DF'd. I know that my husband's relationship with his family will never be the same.

  Not to mention that once DF'd you are forever looked down upon and treated with suspicion even after you are reinstated.

  This religion is such bull. I could tell so many stories.

  Dozy, you are right, I think a lot of the "experiences" from the WTS are completely made-up bull.
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  103

  JW and the Sabbath

  by Andromeda in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hello brothers and sisters and truth seekers,.

  i am an active jehovah's witness.

  i don't believe in 1914 and i'm tototally against their way of dealing with abuse cases.

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  Sevan

  2 1/2 years ago, I was sitting in San Francisco General Hospital watching my sister nearly bleed out from a gun shot wound. She was an innocent bystander of a gang shoot out. As they gave her bag after bag of blood as she tenuously hung on to life, I remember praying to Jehovah that she would live and being deeply thankful at that moment that she was not a Jehovah's Witness.

  That was one of the events that contributed to my waking up. I just didn't realize how devastating the no blood doctrine was until I faced it myself.

  And if anyone needs to know, she is doing very well now and has her whole life ahead of her thanks to those blood transfusions.
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  103

  JW and the Sabbath

  by Andromeda in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hello brothers and sisters and truth seekers,.

  i am an active jehovah's witness.

  i don't believe in 1914 and i'm tototally against their way of dealing with abuse cases.

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  Sevan

  As for the blood issue:

  jwfact.com does an excellent breakdown of the actual scriptural statements on the use of blood. Really worth a read.

  Not to mention that the JW stance on blood is completely hypocritical as fractions and medications that require liters upon liters of stored blood to produce and add up to 100% of whole blood are allowed. Not to mention that the organization has flip-flopped multiple times on this issue.

  I have a question for you? What is more important, the symbol of something or the actual thing? For example, what is more important, the symbol of marriage (for example, wedding rings) or marriage itself? What is more important, the symbol of life or life itself?

  How do you think the God of all mercy and the giver of life would feel about parents sacrificing the life of their children over a symbol?

  If you read the gospel accounts, you will see that Jesus consistently put human life above the law and gave many examples and parables about this exact subject. Jesus stated that the Sabbath was created for the sake of man, not man for the sake of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). Further Jesus stated, "Go, then, and learn what this means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice'" (Matthew 9:13). Jesus further said that it is not what goes into a man that defiles a man, but what comes out of a man that defiles him (Matthew 15:11).

  Moreover, the pouring out of blood is always done in connection with the death of that animal. It is to show respect for the life of that animal and respect that life comes from Jehovah. There is no way to fully bleed an animal, but pouring out the blood was symbolic for that dead animal's life (Leviticus 17:13, 14; Deuteronomy 12:15, 16). Consuming no blood was not the point as that is impossible, but rather the symbol showing respect. This is highlighted when David poured out, not blood, but water, showing respect for the life of his men (2 Samuel 23:15-17).

  Further, blood transfusions are a totally different scenario, as no life is lost when blood is donated. There is no blood to pour out in respect for lost life as no life is lost. In fact, life is often saved, which is the highlight of respect for life.

  Finally, Acts 15 read in context and in context with other scriptures makes it clear that this was a one time compromise to make peace between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Jewish Christians were trying to force Gentile Christians to adhere to Mosaic Law and this was a compromise for the sake of peace and unity. Paul and Jesus Christ himself both make it clear elsewhere that eating things sacrificed to idols and in fact eating anything was not a sin (Acts chapter 15; 1 Corinthians chapter 8; Romans chapter 14; Mark 7:15-19).

  The point is, the JW stance on blood transfusions is unscriptural and perverts the message and purpose of Christ. It does create human sacrifices and martyrs, which is what the organization wants. Once you find out the truth about the truth, you will see that the organization does not care about the flock, the "rank and file" Jehovah's Witness, and will gladly sacrifice them if it suits the organization's purposes. The blood issue is just one example. How many innocents died due to the former stance on vaccines and organ transplants? On selective service? In Malawi (research Malawi vs Mexico)? There is so much more. I suggest you research more both about Jehovah's Witnesses and about the Scriptures.
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  103

  JW and the Sabbath

  by Andromeda in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hello brothers and sisters and truth seekers,.

  i am an active jehovah's witness.

  i don't believe in 1914 and i'm tototally against their way of dealing with abuse cases.

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  Sevan

  Read jwfacts.com. Very helpful information. Whatever you do in life, you should do so knowing and considering all information.

  Also, you don't need to go to another church. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life," not where shall we go away to (John 6:68). As Christians, first and foremost, we need to follow and imitate Christ. If you think deeply about the situation with the organization, you will see how far they have strayed from the personality and example of Jesus Christ.

  Think about how Jesus would feel if we promoted and supported a religion that destroys families through shunning, that actively protects child molesters, that sacrifice their children through denying blood transfusions and that consistently puts themselves in the place of Jesus and Jehovah. That teaches many things that are in contradiction to the scriptures and that teaches false prophesies. There are so many other evils this religion actively promotes and causes, it could fill books and has filled books.

  "Go, then, and learn what this means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice'" (Matthew 9:13).

  Truth seeks the light and stands up under scrutiny. Falsehood seeks the darkness and crumbles under scrutiny.

  Think sincerely about the reason why the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, the supposed purveyors of the only truth, actively discourages members from reading anything critical of the religion and from engaging in critical thinking. If they have the truth, why are they worried and what do they have to hide? Do you not have the right to make informed decisions after considering all information? Why are they trying to prevent you from exercising your human right of free thought and access to information? Why do they shun those that simply disagree on a point if they have the truth? Cannot the truth stand up to scrutiny and debate?
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  67

  Recent mistakes of the Governing Body contributing to the decline of JWs

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  they have made so many strategical mistakes it's hard to keep track.

  some changes within the last decade or so that are contributing to declining numbers of jws:.

  1. elimination of book study groups, the most informal, enjoyable and sociable of the jw meetings, contributed to loss of sense of community among jws.. 2. policy of consolidating kingdom halls.

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  Sevan

  Really good comments everyone! Agreed!

  For me, the de-emphasis of Jesus and the emphasis and praise of the governing body increasingly bothered me. I may have noticed this more than others, being a convert from "Christendom" and all.

  That talk at the annual meeting in 2014 by Tight Pants Tony was all kinds of crazy. Our Kingdom Hall had a showing of the annual meeting and I was railing to my husband about how messed up his talk was the minute we got in the car and the whole way home. That was a real wake up call for me as I was always told how humble and godly the GB members were. I didn't see any of that in Tony. I saw a judgemental, bigoted, pompous, self-righteous man. I didn't see how this man could have so much more Holy Spirit than me and be a in a bosom position with God and then be exhibiting these qualities.

  I also increasingly noticed how unhappy the friends were at the Kingdom Hall. And how unhappy I was. I just kept thinking about that scripture where Jesus said come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you ... for my yoke is kindly and my load is light. I just kept thinking how that was not the case, how the burden from the Society was so heavy and how we were never good enough.

  There are so many other things, but I don't want to fill pages, lol.
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  67

  Recent mistakes of the Governing Body contributing to the decline of JWs

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  they have made so many strategical mistakes it's hard to keep track.

  some changes within the last decade or so that are contributing to declining numbers of jws:.

  1. elimination of book study groups, the most informal, enjoyable and sociable of the jw meetings, contributed to loss of sense of community among jws.. 2. policy of consolidating kingdom halls.

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  Sevan

  Should be jwsurvey.org

  http://jwsurvey.org
  
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  6

  Two Sparrows

  by The Searcher in

  1. social
  2. humour

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  Sevan

  Brits have an interesting sense of humor ...