Posts by gingerbread

24

We are seeing JW history in the making

by suavojr in

with all the current changes and downsizing, the 1914 "anchor date" appears to be drifting out to sea.

yes, i know the gb is putting all of their chips on 1914 but if you stop and think about it for a moment.. we are seeing jw history in the making for the next jw generation of 2114.. first they teach a date as significant.second, when it becomes obsolete, they come up with a convoluted explanation of how it really was significant, just not in the way "some believers" once taught.third, it becomes a historical footnote, as in: "bible students at one time thought... but now we see... evidently... .

the next generation of jws (100 years from today) will be talking about 2014 as the year of great expectation, and how close the end is in 2114. yes, when jesus spoke about this generation evidently he was talking in a symbolic way, and he was truly referring to the generation class.. .

gingerbread

In the 1830's, William Miller and his group of Second Adventists put their faith on the return of Christ in 1844. It became known as the "great disappointment" but the faithful kept faithful. They later concluded that Christ's return was invisible (sound familiar? - C.T. Russell borrowed many of our beliefs from Adventism).

This group later became known as the Seventh-Day Adventists. The strictly conservative Aventists now - 180 years later - number over 18 million. Still keeping the faith. Still adjusting their daily lives to the tenets of this religion.

For the past 2000 years, apocalyptic millennialist sects have used disasters (human or natural) as proof of the coming end. This won't ever end as long as there are people willing to put their trust in those ideas.

ginger

33

A Text Message Exchange

by Emery in

jw
friends

i have been in the fading process for over a year now.

nobody has really bothered my wife and me since we've stopped, which i am thankful for.

recently, i've had an old jw friend send me a few text messages relating to business.

gingerbread

A friend that you grew up with can be a great friend - understanding and supportive. The danger is that as JW's we are conditioned to reject 'false teachings' of apostates. If your friend suspects that you are doing this to him, he will drop you like a hot potato.

JW friendships are always 'conditional' - on the condition that you are an active Witness. Otherwise you are labeled as bad association.

Don't feel discouraged when your friend no longer communicates with you. It will happen at some point.

He is a victim of confirmation bias.

All the best - -

ginger

12

The WT and GB compared to Catholics before the reformation.

by EndofMysteries in

i just read this article about luther and i'll quote a paragraph.

it's interesting how you can substitute a few words and see it identical to the wt.

now let me substitute pope and catholic church for governing body and watchtower...... .

gingerbread

And the members of the Catholic church have accepted these tenets for amost 2000 years. The schism of the Protestant Reformation only happened 500 years ago.

Will a 'reformation' of the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses ever happen? Will the religion cease to exist in the next 50 (or 100) years?

I doubt it.

Will members continue to accept 'persecution' for their beliefs? Will members continue to die because of the blood issue? Will members continue to descent, leave or be 'excommunicated'? Will members continue to allow the Organization to control their personal lives? Will members choose the Organization over there friends and family members?

I think so.

ginger

59

JW Witnessing Trolleys. To approach or ignore what is your preference and why?

by KateWild in

i saw two brothers this morning next to the main train station in liverpool city centre this morning.

they were not actively approaching anyone.

what i found strange was that they were from a cong that has different territory, so i don't know why they were there.. anyway i knew them both, and they know i was df'd, i was in my car and couldn't park up for a chat, but i did beep and wave to them as i drove passed and they waved back.

gingerbread

Since becoming inactive I've realized that it is not my job to judge others - that is what we did as Jehovah's Witnesses. I've also learned how nice it is to be peaceable with and accepting of others. Aggression only confirms negative bias about JW's who have chosen to leave (or not return).

Respect is a quality that is not encouraged in the Organization. Obedience is.

Live and let live. To each his own.

ginger

13

Putting on the NEW "New Personality"

by stuckinarut2 in

we have often heard about the need to "put on the 'new personality'" as a jw.... but i have realised something in these last few years of awakening to the ttatt...i dont like what i had become as a 'good' jw!.

i realised that being a 'good' jw made me very:.

critical of my fellow man,.

gingerbread

We have a new saying in our house - "If you're a Jehovah's Witness, you can't be a Christian".

When I was examining the religion I was raised in, a realization came over me - Jehovah's Witnesses ignore the basic tenets that the 1st century Christians followed : sincere love and compassion for others, having only TWO laws and accepting Christ as one's savior (not the Watchtower organization or the Governing Body).

Jehovah's Witnesses behave like the individuals that Jesus faulted - using the congregation as a money generator, building 'treasures' on earth, being hypocritical in professed beliefs/everyday actions, acting as judges of other humans, looking for faults in other humans, an outward display of piety, praying for the distruction of one's 'enemies', burdening the 'flock' with regulations and rules, adding to the scriptures, etc.

ginger

101

New field service rules coming this summer

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

new guidelines for field service coming this summer.

new publication to be released giving new ways of counting time, conducting studies, group activities, etc..

gingerbread

Before 1975, JW's who "full-time pioneered" really meant business. They devoted their lives (every waking hour) to the ministry (their full time job). They relied on family, friends and the congregations for financial support, cars, food, housing, etc. They were always short on cash and physically fit.

When they weren't knocking on doors they were writing letters, studing for studies, conducting studies, informal witnessing, studing for the meetings, reading all the literature, street witnessing, finding new studies, studing with young relatives, researching deeper bible topics, studing with young ones in the congregation, bringing people to the the point of baptism ( when was the last time you saw that happen ???).

With less than two dozen folks getting baptized at conventions - the norm - in an assembly hall filled with hundreds of "full-time pioneers", it's obvious that things have really changed.

Pioneering is now a part-time venture.

And a full-time badge of 'honor'.

ginger

17

new look for SAD: during CO's, Bethel speaker's, baptism talks: SKIRTS!

by prologos in

gingerbread

The reality is that if it wasn't for wives who allowed their husbands to devote their free time to congregational responsibilities, there wouldn't be many elders.

The WT leadership knows this. And the new, younger GB members are changing as many of the old (20th century) rules and regulations as quickly as they can.

Part of that will be giving women positions/titles. It's going to happen. Many congregations have 6,8,10 or more elders - with few ministerial servants. The young guys aren't stepping up to the plate. The GB will show 'em...give these 'privileges' to the ladies.

The 'mature' women in the congregations are part of the 1960's generation - peace, love and equal rights. They'll be joining up and pushing their daughters & granddaughters to do the same.

ginger

17

new look for SAD: during CO's, Bethel speaker's, baptism talks: SKIRTS!

by prologos in

gingerbread

I'm expecting sisters to receive greater 'responsiblities' or 'priviledges' in the very near future. Women are constantly seen in WT videos doing building work. Giving the 'girls' more equal footing in the congregations will make the Org. appear progressive and 'balanced'.

It would be a selling point to new recruits and will help to keep young ones 'in'.

I can see women handling microphones, the sound booth, working the lit/mag/territory counter, managing hall care - inside and out, etc. in the next few years.

143

Letter to BOE: Adjustment in process for appointing elders and ministerial servants

by pixel in

hello, you read it here first!.

governing body of jehovah's witnesses.

to all congregations.

gingerbread

Again - this letter is the beginning of the new arrangement / relationship between elders and the branch. More details will follow over the summer.

The new arrangement for pedophiles within the congregation stays much the same as it has in the past years (contact the legal department when accusations arise and two witnesses are required for judicial action). The DIFFERENCE is the branch determines who will be considered a PREDATOR in the congregation.

ginger

31

How I Ended Up On JWN...

by Divergent in

jw
friends

this is the story of how i ended up here on this site.... .

i was stuck in a situation where reaching out took forever, an eternity.

it was ridiculous - no matter what i did, there was always more to do.

gingerbread

Thanks for sharing. Many of us have walked down a similar path.

You've lived through some of the pain of being part of this organization. You are not a victim. It's how the WT machine works.

Plenty of us have been full-time pioneers or elders and found ourselves in moral and ethical dilemmas. This frustration (and cognitive dissonance) with our relationship to the people in the congregation and the directives of the man made Organization causes us to examine our religion.

Many continue to stay in the Organization - hoping their situation is unique or that they need to work on their own spirituality by increasing their activity.

Some (like myself) decided to research - the history of the Watchtower Society and to read the scriptures (particularly the words of Jesus) by themselves.

Take your time. Be patient. Keep your doubts & reservations private. Educate yourself.

Welcome to the journey!

ginger