Posts by gingerbread

The founders of the Bible Students took most of their core beliefs from the Adventists. Current JW's think God gave the Governing Body special insight.....

By the way (not that I care) but Adventists amount to 22 million members worldwide. As the JW's pat themselves on the back with a number just over 8 million.....?...

16

I listened. I obeyed. Then I realized...

by stillin in

what was that blessing part about?

i kept hearing pioneers talking about the blessings that they were receiving and as i looked at their lives objectively, there really isn't anything special about them.

maybe they are just more appreciative of things than other people.

gingerbread

This is cognitive dissonance in action.

A Pioneer is a professional JW.

Some do it for the recognition they receive - sacrificing their personal life in order to slave for the organization. They LOVE to let you know that they are full timers. They will always share how pioneering benefits THEM personally (and their STATUS in the organization). These are organization people and love its rules, regulations JW.org - unless it messes with own personal quirkiness and lunch dates. They'll tell you how you're not up to snuff. They love their iPads, shiny new "service car" and their never ending supply of new dresses. The pioneer 'ranks' are full of these kinda people.

Some do it because it's their life calling. These pioneers REALLY believe and follow the rule book wholeheartedly. They have come to the conclusion that their time is being controlled by Jah, Jesus and holy spirit. This type thinks they are sacrificing their lives to serve God. They are the 'old school' pioneers - live on beans and rice, work just enough to make ends meet, wear hand-me-down clothes, have yard sale furniture and a crappy car. Not many of these pioneers around anymore.

56

Who REALLY believed in the idea of living forever on earth??

by stuckinarut2 in

seriously.....even when you were 100% in "the truth", did you really believe in living forever?

?

gingerbread

The Adventists developed this belief (before the Civil War) and C.T. Russell & Nelson Barbour adopted the doctrine when they began publishing the Watchtower (1880's).

When we studied with or were raised in "the truth", we weren't told about the origins of this belief. Most JW's have no idea about the shaky scriptural underpinning - and Jesus never said "hey, when I become King I'm going to turn the earth back into a paradise". Most JW's think of the paradise hope as a Watchtower exclusive....

This carrot hope (that includes resurrected parents, grandparents, kids, etc.) is the primary reason questioning JW's remain in "the truth".

51

What JW's are afraid of~

by kairos in

just putting together a mental list:.

jehovah .

jesus.

gingerbread

I tell friends and family that are still active : The only "fear of man" I've ever felt was from those in the Kingdom Hall.

I usually finish that off with "It feels so much better now not having to be around people who are depressed, tired, sick and afraid."

ginger

38

University Application Personal Statement dilemma - Should I mention my jw past?

by will-be-apostate in

jw
friends

i am applying to chemical engineering course in the uk through ucas (a lot of things changed since i've posted last time).. i have a lot of skills i developed while regular pioneering, like public speaking skills, ability to reason (even if it's bs), presentational skills etc.. i feel it would boost my personal statement a lot, but i'm also afraid they would say "this guy beleives in god, and loves science, he must be creationist.

away with him".. how could i mention that i gave interviews front of thousands of people and did voluntary work in my hometown without giving a bad impression?.

i don't want to go into details and start explaining myself that "however i don't beleive in god", or something like that.

gingerbread

You are facing the personal dilemma that many of us that were raised in deal with (or not) - wearing multiple "masks", being careful to only reveal parts of our personality, seeing our job and our 'life' as separate entities, learning not to be 'ourself' around 'worldly' family/schoolmates/workmates/neighbors etc.

You're struggling with honesty - because we are trained as JW's to be dishonest.

This probably won't help you with your immediate situation - but it's something to think about it as you continue your exit.

ginger

52

TV.JW.Org - WTF is Wrong With This Guy? - CAPTION THEM

by passwordprotected in

jw
friends

i've heard about his bombastic, overly patronising, cartoon-ish delivery before, but i'd never actually seen it...until now.

and i should add, this religion bears little to no relation to the one i left 6 years ago.. .

.

gingerbread

The next steps for TV.JW.ORG will be crying and praying for all the brothers and sisters being persecuted. And continual reminders for the need for support the 'kingdom'.

ginger

41

How Much Drinking Is Too Much?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i have seen that some say if a man has 3 beers per day or a woman has 2 glasses of wine per day, that they may have .

.

gingerbread

Visit : www.aa.org/pages/en_US/is-aa-for-you-twelve-questions-only-you-can-answer

ginger

35

How many born ins actually stay?

by lostinthought in

jw
friends

i was wondering if anyone know sany statistics of the amount of born ins that actually stay in the orginization.

i think i have read it before on here but i can't really remember what it was.

.

gingerbread

Robert - You have a plan. Excellent! My son did the exact same thing you speak of - and it works.

Have a goal and make it happen.

I still advise not to 'destroy' your family in the process. Understand where their minds are at and show them how you can be independent and happy.

35

How many born ins actually stay?

by lostinthought in

jw
friends

i was wondering if anyone know sany statistics of the amount of born ins that actually stay in the orginization.

i think i have read it before on here but i can't really remember what it was.

.

gingerbread

RobertT18 - My advice is don't 'leave' your family behind. Just drift out of the WT control. If you're a 'floater', just use the same methods you've learned as a kid to get by - be good and pleasant, be non-committal. Your mom will go a bit crazy for a while but will come to accept your (non)decision. In fact, to others in the congregation, she'll make excuses or tell them she's 'washed her hands' of you.

Don't be confrontational or argumentative. Just fade...