trevor

Joined

• started 19 topics
• posted 2,393 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by trevor

• 
  26

  JW Stumper Questions!!!

  by Brutus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if the organization did not actually prophesy the end in 1925 and 1975, then how come so many witnesses left the faith immediately afterwards?

  ("they lost roughly three-quarters of the movement between 1925 and 1928, then suffered huge losses after 1975, when the end didn't come as they had implied over and over again," said jim penton, an ex-witness who writes entries on jehovah's witnesses for the encyclopedia americana.

  if the watchtower organization rejects others calling them "inspired" yet the watchtower organization does call themselves "god's spirit-directed prophet" what is the difference?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  The adoption of the name 'Jehovah's Witnesses'was a shrewd move. The Bible contains many references to Witnesses, and now these scriptures could be given a direct application. This was to be used to the full. Later their own version of the Bible was to render the previously quoted scripture: “You are my Witness,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen,… (Isaiah 43:10 – NW)
  It could now be claimed that far from being a new religion, Jehovah's Witnesses were in fact the oldest religion in the world to worship the God of the Bible.
  In the book entitled “The New World.” Abel, Noah and Moses are named in person and claimed as Jehovah's Witnesses, also Job:
  “It is the proper time, therefore, to consider carefully the life history of Job, who was a Witness for Jehovah God. His true life experience was a prophetic drama which exposes the war hotly waged by religion against Jehovah's Witnesses from and after Abel, the first martyr slain by a religionist.” (Page 130)(1942)

  Job, who was now a Jehovah's Witness, was still late returning, but not forgotten:

  “The scriptural and physical facts prove that Job is due to be resurrected shortly with those faithful men to appear on earth with them…those faithful men of old may be expected back any day now. The scriptures give us good reason to believe that it shall be shortly before Armageddon breaks.” (Pages 104 & 130)
  In the book entitled “Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose” further fascinating claims are made. The first chapter – “A People with a most Ancient History”- states:
  “Jesus himself was a member of this ancient Jewish nation and he was one of Jehovah's Witnesses.”… “No greater Witness than Jesus ever lived on earth, and one of his apostles specifically called Jesus a Witness.”… “Do you mean to say, then, that Jesus’ disciples were Witnesses too? Certainly. Christians are urged to emulate all those ancient Witnesses that preceded them back to Able.” (1959)

  The adoption of the name Jehovah's Witnesses was another example of scripture being applied with the benefit of hindsight.

  Trevor
• 
  17

  Helping a Family Cope with JW Mind Control.

  by Winston in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear freinds,.

  i have been asked by a concerned husband to speak to both his family and his wife family about jws.. his wife has been studying with the jws for some months and he is very concerned.

  he read alot on the internet and knows they use mind control, and make false claims to be god's channel, but he cannot convince her of this.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  pandora,

  You asked about the title of the book by Steve Hassan. The posting I did was a summary of his comments which I had typed up and have on file.

  RedhorseWoman did a post on this on May 2nd 2001. If you put up a new thread asking here to look it out and repost, she may help out.

  The book is called 'Empowering People to Think for Themselves.' Chapter two of 'realeasing the bonds.' Freedom of Minds Press. Somerville MA.

  'The bite Model' B.I.T.E
• 
  17

  Helping a Family Cope with JW Mind Control.

  by Winston in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear freinds,.

  i have been asked by a concerned husband to speak to both his family and his wife family about jws.. his wife has been studying with the jws for some months and he is very concerned.

  he read alot on the internet and knows they use mind control, and make false claims to be god's channel, but he cannot convince her of this.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  Steve Hassan, an ex-Moonie has written a number of books exposing the cult mind- control methods. He has devised a set of guidelines that any religion can be measured against to decide whether or not a particular sect can be deemed a cult.

  He divides the process of mind control into four basic categories. (1) Behaviour Control (2) Information Control (3) Thought Control (4) Emotional Control. Some of the methods used are briefly summarised below.

  (1) Behaviour Control includes, among many things, dictating to the members how they dress and groom themselves. How much time is spent on recreation and how much time is committed to receiving indoctrination. They are expected to ask permission before making major decisions. Information is distorted to make it acceptable to them and rigid rules are laid down. Individualism is discouraged and obedience is demanded.

  (2) Information Control includes discouraging the reading of non-cult literature and information that is critical towards the group. Keeping members too busy to have time to think clearly about what they are doing and insisting they have nothing to do with ex-members. Past sins are used to pressure and control members. The leaders decide how much information the group needs and expect members to report other’s misdemeanours.

  (3) Thought Control includes the group accepting the stated beliefs as “truth.” They are trained to see themselves in a good-versus-evil situation where every issue is simply black or white. Key words are adopted and used as “buzz words.” No criticism of the leaders or their doctrine is permitted and all alternative religious groups are seen as bad.

  (4) Emotional Control includes using any guilt they may feel about their thoughts, feelings, family or their past. Any problems individuals may be experiencing are to be seen as the fault of the one who has the problems. Fear is built up in the minds of the members by warning them of the dangers of the “outside” world and the enemies that surround them. Fear of losing the approval of the other members is a key factor in pressuring the members to continue. The members are indoctrinated to fear questioning the leaders or being made to leave the group as they are told they will have no future if they are outside the safety of the group. There is no legitimate reason for leaving and those that do must be shunned. Without the protection of the group they could be exposed to possession by demons.

  As you can see from the length of the last paragraph, fear is a prominent factor in keeping members of cults in line. As stated, these guidelines were not written with Jehovah’s Witnesses specifically in mind. These guidelines can be applied to any sect to determine whether or not that sect or religion is a cult.

  Trevor
• 
  18

  Questions for JWs

  by larc in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear jw,.

  i have some questions.

  as i understand it, if armageddon came tomorrow, those that never heard the truth, in such places as india or china would either live through armageddon or die and be resurrected.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  The requirement for life is supposed to be faith. Those resurrected into a new world would be able to see the evidence for themselves and would not need faith. The things hoped for would be there to see. It all seems a bit unfair.

  Still when were fairytales ever fair?
• 
  67

  Please help me with the forum

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  keeping a balance in what is allowed and what is not is very difficult and is more difficult if i have to take action against one person when i have let other things go by others.. it would help a lot if we could stop the personal attacks and some of the name calling & insults that are thrown about.

  i know personalities do and will clash but please disagree about the subjects being discussed and not get personal!.

  if you think someone is deliberately trying to cause arguments please do not respond to them as this is giving in to what they want.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  Simon,

  This is your board - your coffee shop.

  You are entitled to have double standards or as many standards as you want. Yardirf seems happy enough to have as many identities as he wants. He claims to be a JW and spews out more filth that a sewer. Double standards - he invented them! The first and most important lesson to learn in life is that - it isn't fair. If we don't like the way it's run, we can walk away. Didn't many of us do that with the Tower?

  I don't think you have to explain yourself to us - you are doing a great job. The attention seekers will always be critical of others, that's how they get attention. It is inevitable that they will criticize you.

  Put salt in their coffee and give them something to compain about!
• 
  10

  Who is Jesus?

  by beroea in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  who is jesus?.

  is jesus god or a god or any think else?

  have you consider your opinion about this or just swept it out on you mind.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  Everytime I exasperate someone they say 'Jesus,' under their breaths. I'd love to find out who he is!
• 
  42

  Dear Fellow Witnesses

  by Carlo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear fellow witnesses of the true god jehovah,.

  with all the anti-watchtower information that has been spreading all over the world via the internet, it becomes all the.

  more important to stay close to jehovah and his organization.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  Thanks carlo

  You have helped me to clear my conscience and hold firmly to 'the truth.' Brothers like you you are proof to me that God really exists and is helping to keep his organisation pure. What right has Ray Franz got to publish all those facts that could upset so many people, who do not want be bothered with all the goings on at head office?

  I like the big colour(color)picture books the Watchtower print. They are much easier to read and they tell me what I want to hear.

  I heard a rumour that some apostates are trying to spread the idea that the end of this wicked system is not going to come within the lifetime of those born in 1914. Beware of such trouble makers who are out to weaken our faith in Jehovah!
• 
  9

  Newbie - missing friends - need advice!

  by JW83 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been out for a year and miss a couple of my friends a lot.

  someone told me a saying yesterday, though, that some friends are for a reason, some are for a season and some are for a lifetime.

  i'm usually not into corny sayings but that one made me think.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  JW83

  It takes time to make real friends. Real friends are people who stick by you no matter what. They will be there for you whatever you decide to belive. If you become a Trappist Monk they will still want to see you.

  In time you will find that those you have left behind were only offering conditional friendship on their terms. You are now freed from a lifetime of worry trying to toe-the-party-line.
• 
  63

  To All Here..... just a question....

  by 7robert7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm just curious as to how many ex-witnesses here still believe in the god of the bible ?

  and how many, due to the societies teachings have given up on god all together ?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  I prefer to believe in Fther Christmas - at least he's real AND he brings me presents - so there!
• 
  19

  Seriously: Was this board for active JWs??

  by Eyebrow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have rarely found anything written by active jws here.

  it causes me to wonder if this was actually set up by an active jw and got out of hand.

  especially since the site asks us not to stumble our brothers.. ooooo....i have been warned about evil boards like this!!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  trevor

  Eyebrow

  If I thought for a minute that Simon was anything other that an active Jehovah's Witness I would leap from the top of the Tower.

  Stumble our brothers? I would rather miss the New World than be guilty of such a sin!