Excellent article. Thanks for the link!
gingerbread
JoinedPosts by gingerbread
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Interesting Read About a JW Missionary in China
by Wolfy inhttp://www.believermag.com/issues/201302/?read=article_scorah.
i found it a very interesting read.
the article was linked on one of my fav websites digg.
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Governing Body MUST change the name!!
by The Searcher inunless all of the following scriptures are being taken out of context, it appears that the present day gb should "be at it urgently", and re-name our christian denomination pretty quickly.
otherwise, by claiming to be god's sole channel of communication on earth, they are indicting themselves as being 'blind guides' due to their adherence to j.f.
john 5:37 - "the father who sent me has himself borne witness about me.".
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gingerbread
The Governing Body of JW's has changed their name to God's "Faithful and Discreet Slave."
So....don't be suprised by any changes of labels. It's been happening in this organization for 100 years. The progression to re-naming "Jehovah's Witnesses" to the "Christian Congregation" has already taken place. The world headquarters of JW's in New York is now only refered to as the United States "Branch."
The next "new light" will be that the "World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses" is really in heaven. Wait....I think they already say that!
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Watchtower May 1, 2013 with William Holman Hunt quote
by bats in the belfry inup for grabs: watchtower may 1, 2013. .
what does it mean that jehovah draws us?
the greek verb rendered draws is also used in reference to hauling in a net of fishes.
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gingerbread
It's a quote from William Barclay, a 20th century Scottish theologian.
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How many of you followed the WTS direction on education years ago and have been screwed by it?
by Julia Orwell ini'm really interested in this question because i've heard for years that if you forgo further education and go pioneering, when you have a family down the track you will get a good job because jehovah will provide for you because you pioneered.
as long as i was a kool-aid drinker, even then, i thought, "how does pioneering pay your bills?
surely education should come first.
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gingerbread
I was fortunate to be raised by pretty liberal JW parents. I was encouraged to pursue and earn a degree (in the 1980's) and it has opened up opportunities throughout my life. I've seen the results of parents kneeled to the directions of the WT about raising kids. As these posts express, it leads to disappointment, struggles and resentment. But the JW "blame game" mentality for the woes in ones life has to stop - if a life well lived is your desire. Stop allowing the WT - or your JW parents - to control you as an adult. Erbie sets a great example! You're never too old to further your eductation. Adjust your circumstances (I know that sound JWish...) to achieve your goals. If you are in the US, take advantage of the Pell Grant and your state's grants. There are thousands of scholarships available. Get certified in something. Take classes at night or online. The majority of students in public university right now are going to school at NO COST.
As a side note, when some of us entered into college or universities after high school we were treated very badly in the congregations and circuit. After we had our degrees, these same folks were dying for us to marry one of their kids.
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A bit of a rant... the selfishness of older generations
by cedars ini was talking to mrs cedars earlier about one of the things that really frustrates me about our situation as "faders" - namely the fact that we are looked down on by our respective parents, not to mention other older generations of our family.
it strikes me that the incessant attempts to drag us back into unquestioned loyalty to the organization is actually extremely selfish, even though (in their minds) they have only our best interests at heart.. i think of it this way.
they made a decision when they were younger to follow in the footsteps of their own parents' faith - without doing objective research into the beliefs or history of the organization.
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gingerbread
Cedars - It's quite probable that your parents think ya'll are the ones being selfish... In their eyes you have been "corrupted" by independent thinking and are lacking the "self sacrificing spirit" that is held in high esteem by lifelong JW's (this is a justification device used to ease their own insecurities). You are ruining their hopes of having a family that is well known in your area for being "steadfast" in the truth. You have decided to break the cycle of victimization. As my spouse and I continue in our fade (both raised in), we are beginning to feel the pressure too. Our respective families are large and very well known in the southern US.
The trick is managing your own "separation anxiety" and guilt. You can't control what other folks think about you.
Thank you for jwsurvey. It's been a great help to many of us on the other side of the pond!
gingerbread
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I'm new, please come and meet me!
by Julia Orwell inlong time lurker, first time poster.
i'm really glad i can join your community because i've been in the wts for the last 14 years and now i'm on my way out and it's great to meet like-minded people!.
about me: i started learning jw ways when i was in my teens.
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gingerbread
Welcome! It's an exciting time in your life...enjoy the process and be patient. I was allowed to pursue a degree as a young adult and now see it as wonderful gift from rational JW parents. After 40 years of regular involvement in this religious group - myself, the spouse and our kids are exiting. Be careful and fade smart!
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The problems with fighting the WTS
by return of parakeet inover the years, many well-intentioned posters have been frustrated when they ask fellow apostates (wear the name proudly!
) to band together to let the world know how corrupt and destructive the wt cult is.
i think there are some hard facts about this particular cult that make combatting it so frustrating:.
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gingerbread
Jehovah's Witnesses aren't outwardly radical. To our neighbors we appear clean-cut, honest, law-abiding, family oriented, hard-working people (JW's are busy all the time!). The only odd things that neighbors might pick up on is the lack of holiday decorations (not necessarily all that unusual anymore) and we stick to ourselves (this could be seen as a personal or family quirk).
At this point of my family's fade - and eventual exit - we don't have any desire to join in on a "new" cause. We've had enough of trying to convince others that we are right. And we've decided to stop looking at life through a set of "negativity" glasses.
I guess we'd just rather go camping!
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Service as a way of relieving our painÂ…
by Londo111 inservice as a way of relieving our pain.... .
no, not field service.
i cant believe all the empty hours i spent knocking on doors, going where i was not welcome, not wanting to be there either, foisting magazines on people, occasionally studying with people in an effort to indoctrinate them.
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gingerbread
This is excellent Londo !
Participating in a positive activity after one chooses to leave or is forced out of the congregation is great way to transition into your "new normal." If someone is "fading", getting involved in a non-religious community activity is a wonderful step - volunteer at the library, clean up local parks or roadways, share a skill... Finally you can show love for your neighbor without strings attached....just being a good human being! This is a very difficult thing to do if you've been raised as a JW. We are trained to be judgemental and suspicious. Good for you!
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College Degree Required
by respectful_observer ini don't anticipate seeing this article, or its supporting data, referenced in any wt publications anytime soon.... ....................................... http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/business/college-degree-required-by-increasing-number-of-companies.html?hpw&_r=0.
a few excerpts:.
the college degree is becoming the new high school diploma: the new minimum requirement, albeit an expensive one, for getting even the lowest-level job.. like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelors degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills.
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gingerbread
Apognophos - If you still attend meetings (or choose to remember them), really listen to the comments made during a meeting. Folks in their 50's and up emotionally bemoan the conditions that we have to contend with in "this wicked world." They did things the "right way" and now find themselves without a pot to p#ss in. Because of choosing to do labor intensive work with low pay they find themselves with no savings or emergency fund, no retirement, bills they can barely pay, fighting depression and anxiety.... Sure they want things to come to an end as quickly as possible - to relieve their own pain. Sadly many have become "old people" before their time (look around at a convention). They have sacrificed their happiness and health for a religious organization.
These well meaning people are our grandparents, parents and siblings. The cycle has to stop!
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College Degree Required
by respectful_observer ini don't anticipate seeing this article, or its supporting data, referenced in any wt publications anytime soon.... ....................................... http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/business/college-degree-required-by-increasing-number-of-companies.html?hpw&_r=0.
a few excerpts:.
the college degree is becoming the new high school diploma: the new minimum requirement, albeit an expensive one, for getting even the lowest-level job.. like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelors degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills.
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gingerbread
Specialized training, certifications and degrees have become the dividing line between to hire or not to hire in many companies. There is also a direct, statistical relationship between levels of education and earnings. And between levels of education and unemployment numbers.
Some JW's think that the Society has put itself in a bad economic position by not encouraging higher education. I disagree. Persons of lower income brackets (and in most third world countries) historically give all of their surplus income to "the church." The Society also knows that knowledge is power and they want to control the education level of the faithful. The JW's (myself included) that decided to go against the "direction" of the WT and earn degrees find a sense of freedom. We make more money than we need to live on, enjoy vacations and hobbies, plan for retirement & stay out of debt.