Posts by gingerbread

122

Can the jw organization be reformed?

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i know that this has been discussed in the past but i wanted to get some fresh opinions.

there are many out there that recognize the "rot" that is in watchtower but still feel that there is a "wholesome" side to it and are trying to bring about change or reform from within.. in 2002 when the rose colored glasses came off for me and i truly started to understand ttatt, i still felt that there was some redemable aspects of the organization.. i felt that russell had some doctrinal things right.

i don't feel like that anymore.

gingerbread

The Watchtower writers have held the leaders of the Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther, John Calvin & John Wycliffe) as heroes. That Reformation caused a break from the Roman Catholic church and the creation of new churches across Europe.

Do you know what was the main element that cause the masses of people to leave the Catholic faith? > the printing press and it's ability to spread the 'truth' of the Papacy - very quickly into the homes of the people.

Sounds a bit like the internet...

JW leadership spread the illusion of reforms through 'new light' and the faithful lap it up like sugar water. 'Reform' comes from the top in this organization. The individual 'publisher' has no voice in changes of policy. None.

ginger

406

Goodbye JWD/JWN (my last post)

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

after some considerable thought i have decided that i will no longer post on this forum because i want to return to jehovah.

thank you for all the kindness and many interesting discussions over the years.

i wish you all well in the future and the decisions you make.

gingerbread

All the best SBF!

Perhaps "SBF" has been coerced into returning.

Perhaps he has been 'found out'.

Perhaps he's grown tired of arguing and being pulled into arguments on JWN.

Perhaps he's decided that he wants to become an 'ex' ex-Jehovah's Witness.

Perhaps he's realized that some ex-JW's never stop thinking like a Jehovah's Witness.

Perhaps his life has taken a dramatic turn - a birth, illness, new love or death.

ginger

59

No more by us!

by Atlantis in

no more boes or kingdom ministries will be posted by us on this board.

there is a very important reason why!

beware of anyone encouraging you to post any boes on this board.

gingerbread

Atlantis - Thank you for being a risk taker. While I'll miss the BOE letters (and the hidden special instructions to the elders), I look forward to your continued insights as an 'insider'.

Take care!

ginger

120

In general, the people on this forum have a poor outlook spiritually speaking.

by Stand for Pure Worship in

jw
friends

so i waz reading the august 15 wt study article, elisha saw fiery chariots, do you?

and it made me think about this forum.

if you remember, syria was hunting god's prophet, elisha.

gingerbread

You are correct Stand for True Worship - you fail to see the point of Psalms 146:3

Please read the whole section of this scripture and apply it to the Governing Body.

And remember that the members of the GB/Board of Directors for the WT Society who shaped 99% of this belief structure are ALL dead (and they're not in heaven on thrones directing the 'earthly organization' - they're pushing up daisies in a cemetery).

ginger

120

In general, the people on this forum have a poor outlook spiritually speaking.

by Stand for Pure Worship in

jw
friends

so i waz reading the august 15 wt study article, elisha saw fiery chariots, do you?

and it made me think about this forum.

if you remember, syria was hunting god's prophet, elisha.

gingerbread

Stand for True Worship - thank you for your comments. I won't bash your opinion or criticise your reasoning.

Just do one thing for me. Please read Psalms 146:3.

ginger

29

4 Letters from the Branch read tonight, no warning from this site

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

tonight at our meeting we had 4 letters from "the branch" read at our meeting.

i was caught off guard since we usually have an advance warning when these letters are going to be read.

is the watchtower getting better at hiding these letters?.

gingerbread

Thanks James. I visit this site from time to time (I'm not a full-time ex Jehovah's Witness).

The last meeting we attended was about a month ago - so I missed these announcements.

The message has stayed the same - this wicked system of things is on the precipice of destruction - but the methods of delivering the message is changing. The focus of the Org is more and more about building construction and the WT decision makers are doing everything possible to appear up-to-date with technology.

This is the REAL new light the faithful are excited about.

Shrug off the negative comments. As I've said before on this forum, some people leave 'the truth' but continue to think like a Jehovah's Witness (judgemental, argumentative, authoritative and self-righteous).

ginger

34

"Growing to perfection"

by DS211 in

ok i know ive been starting threads like a maniac but heres one.

where in the heck d they get the "when we survive armageddon we will probably have to start rebuilding while we resurrect ones, teach them, plant food, clean the planet, and grow to perfection"????

doesnt the scripture say that we die corrupted but raised an incorruptible body?

gingerbread

C.T. Russell took this 'paradise restored' notion directly from the teachings of the Adventists (140 years ago).

All Jehovah's Witnesses are now given the same picture - all the time - in the magazines, murals at assembly halls, in talks & prayers and in the calendars.

ginger

48

What Was Your First Experience In Exposing Yourself To "Apostasy"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

as a young teenager, i would look at "apostate" books at the city library.

i was always intrigued as to what was sooo bad and other than a few writings of some that seemed like they hated the witnesses, i would clandestinely look at literature, especially in "christian" bookstores.. it took years for me to finally disconnect.

i will say that ray franz' books enlightened me the most!.

gingerbread

I watched the 2002 Dateline program that featured Silent Lambs/Bill Bowen/Barbara Anderson regarding the official JW policy to not inform secular authorities about sexual abuse in congregations.

They were sincere in their motives. We were told from the platform not to watch this show. I did it anyway - and the content of the show really bothered me. Later I spoke with dozens of others and they watched the program as well - some of these folks faded out soon after.

It took ten years after seeing this 'eye opener' to finally get serious about researching my religion.

When the WT says not to view programs, read publications, visit websites or internet forums of 'apostates' because it will destroy your faith, they mean it.

Because it will destroy your faith - in the Organization and it's structure.

ginger

26

For those who are still IN and attending meetings, do you still study the WT & other books?

by ohnightdivine in

for those of you who are still attending meetings due to various reasons, how do you prepare yourself for each program?.

do you still read and study the wt?.

do you still read and study the okm, jeremiah, etc?.

gingerbread

Around three years ago I began to research in earnest the origins of our JW beliefs - the Org. encourages everyone to understand their 'spiritual heritage.'

When I realized that most of our beliefs were borrowed from other religions and religious thinkers, I really began to pay attention to the current publications. For the first time in my life as a JW (40 years) I began to study - deconstructing the reasonings and 'logic' behind the argument.

It lead me right out of the 'truth'.

ginger

13

The epitome of narcissism

by Separation of Powers in

there are several disturbing things that were said in the latest annual meeting.

one of the most disturbing was a comment made by david splane.

he made reference to how the clergy "howled" when the first new world bible translation committee produced the first nwt.

gingerbread

The WT Society's NWT uses the dynamic equivalence method of translation : not a word for word translation but an expression of the intended meanings. i.e. what the words 'really' mean. This is effective for them because words and phrases can be adjusted to fit and appear to uphold WT teachings.

Many are raving about this 'new' bible - especially among the born in youth - as a gift from God.

In the mind of the faithful, the GB becomes God.

And the truly faithful are the offspring of God and the Mother. They are spiritually fed by their Mother (the WT Organization) and saved by their father God (the Governing Body).

ginger