Posts by truthseeker1

47

Complete reversal: from Witness to atheist

by Ephanyminitas in

i'm pretty new here (five minutes old!

) and i'm curious: how many have left the organization and, in time, become athiests.

i was raised in the organization, so growing up, my thinking was -- of course -- stifled.

truthseeker1

I was athiest, became a JW and now don't know...
The god in the OT is pretty ruthless, I don't take stories form the bible literal, OT mostly. I just don't believe that it never rained before the flood. and WTF is that BS about a friggen water layer in the atmosphere that god pulled the plug and drenched the world...anyone else wonder about that?
If i believe in a god, it is an impersonal abstract force that started it all, and if we choose to call that god, then hey, I believe in god. I once read it as "first push" or something.

171

WHAT Kingdom Hall did Ya'll go to?

by thewiz in

jw
friends

i was looking at another thread.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=24809&site=3.

and was wondering,if i'm not being too forward, what kh did everyone here go to.. i used to go to the cranston kh in ri, usa .

truthseeker1

ShaunaC:
Hey, I'm from Fresno too, how long ago did you leave?

5

Remaining anointed persons diminishing?

by truthseeker1 in

how come every year during the memorial talk they say the number of partakers is dwindling.

if they just look back at the numbers in their own literature, its hovered around 8-9k, going up and down for decades.

example 2000: 8755 partakers.

truthseeker1

How come every year during the memorial talk they say the number of partakers is dwindling. If they just look back at the numbers in their own literature, its hovered around 8-9k, going up and down for decades

example 2000: 8755 partakers
1992: 8683 partakers

Oh, and another thing. Does anyone laugh at the attendance records? you could be at a convention and they say there are 4,432 people there. How can they be this accurate? do they count people in the bathroom, mothers with babies not in their seat most of the day. I heard they average the count, so why not make it sound like an average instead of haveing a number in the one's place holder....just something that makes me laugh

4

Watchtower Report Card

by Nathan Natas in

how do you rate them?.

cult danger evaluation frame.

i. bonewits.

truthseeker1

Actually on the Front groups(6) the WT is making new mini organizations under different names to handle different duties, so those could be considered front groups, perhaps an 8 or so

20

When Will District Conventions Be Abolished?

by AvailableLight in

jw
friends

the thread on cutting back the number of weekly meetings to two got me thinking:.

do you think the jw organization will continue to hold district conventions for very long?.

i wonder, how many people *really* feel upbuilt after attending a dc?

truthseeker1

Hey, those conventions ARE upbuilding! they must be. I mean at the meetings after them when people would look through their notes and say I appreciate Bro. so'n'so's talk on this(the only part they were awake) just to sound rightous to the congregation, you could just feel the upbuilding spirit. Everyone said it was a spiritual paradise, so it must have been, right?

Everyone I know who isn't an elder secretly hates conventions. Elders probably hate them too but don't want to give a bad example and say anything about it. Well, we got one coming up in May so I hope i can get outa it before then.

14

Traits of Abusive Churches and Toxic Faith Systems

by Richie in

jw
friends

an exhaustive study has been done on the behavior of cult groups - in several books about "cults", they enumerated 21 major points where you can identify the traits of a cult-like organization.

bear in mind that the authors did not target jehovah's witnesses as a specific group at all, which made it all the more frightening!

but this dissertation generalized all cult-groups existing in the world.... 1. control-oriented, arrogantly assertive, power-posturing leadership.. 2. authoritarian and legalistic with dictatorial, dogmatic doctrines that are proclaimed to be "the truth".. 3. claims of being the channel of communication between god and humankind; having unique knowledge that makes them special.

truthseeker1

Looks as if WTS built their organization upon these 21 statements. The thing that really gets me is only the information from within the organization by anonomous people is true. Shit, i'd like to be an editor for the WTS and have my words as law...

15

Telling a JW that you are anti-watchtower.

by jerome in

the time has finally come.

i am getting dangerously close to a situation where i will have to reveal to my gf's mother and siblings that not only do i not share their beliefs but the probility of them converting me to their religion is next to none.

relaying this information could cause one hell of alot of problems with the situation as it satnds.. in my country which is mainly christian the the jws eventhough not accepted are permitted to continue with their faith.

truthseeker1

Once you tell them you are anti-WT you will be kicked outa their click. There is not simple way to do it. I am/was a JW who is emerging out of this cave and contemplating if i should tell my wife's family that I no longer want to associcate with them. I don't care if they shun me or not, I just don't know how my wife(also a JW) will take it. If I can offer any advice is to get away from them asap before you are in too deep, too emotionally attached. If you end up like me, you will be wasting 10hrs a week going to meetings and listing to the same boring drabble day in and day out, by mostly uneducated bafoons. Sorry if I sound bitter.

8

Seeking help

by truthseeker1 in

hey, i found this site while bored at work.

i was wondering if anyone had any advice for me.. i was an athiest as long as i could remember.

now i am just confused.

truthseeker1

Hey, thanks so far for the advice. I guess what I'm looking for is some advice on how to break the news w/out tearing us apart. I still want to be married to her, just not the Borginization. I'd rather do it quickly and not over a period of years. If she chooses to leave me then thats her decision(I doubt she will). Another issue is her dad is the PO of our congregation...and all the elders told her she was dumb for presuing me because I was only in it for her. At first I wasn't. I really thought it was the truth until I realizes that the only information I was getting was from the Orginization. Once I wanted to look at the other side of the "pancake" i noticed all the holes. I don't think I will be an athiest, but I'm not sure where I will go after. JW's kinda ruined other religions to me. That will have to come later. I know I have to tell her before we start having kids tho, incase she wants to have a JW family. So, if anyone has some advice, let me know. I know this is for personal experiences so if anyone wants to know the more indepth story then let me know and I'll write it up. It might not be as well written as some of the other stuff here. TIA!

8

Seeking help

by truthseeker1 in

hey, i found this site while bored at work.

i was wondering if anyone had any advice for me.. i was an athiest as long as i could remember.

now i am just confused.

truthseeker1

I forgot to mention we don't have any kids

8

Seeking help

by truthseeker1 in

hey, i found this site while bored at work.

i was wondering if anyone had any advice for me.. i was an athiest as long as i could remember.

now i am just confused.

truthseeker1

Hey, I found this site while bored at work.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me.

I was an athiest as long as I could remember. Now I am just confused. I believe in a 'greater power' just not sure which one. I am starting to learn for myself what I believe in. Here is a little background of me so you can help me if you wish:

I started working with a girl when I was 19. We started talking and religion came up. I mentioned I was an athiest and she said she was a JW. It intrieged her that I was one of those fools who say there is no god. We really stared to like each other and I decided i'll look into her religion to see if it was the truth or not. I studied with her friend and also did some studing in the local library. I came across an apostate book a month into my study and wanted to stop. I was convinced by the person I studied with that it was lies, so i continued my studies w/out looking at 'apostate' books. I became baptizes and things were going really good for us. We married in 98' when I was 21 and she was 18. I always had doubts but figured this was the only way we could be together. I figured together with her living a lie was better then being alone. well, It was too much for me about 2 years ago and I told her I didn't want to be a witness anymore. I knew it wasn't the truth. We had a huge fight (non violent) and at the end I caved and said I was stupid to think that just to end the fight. Since then I have been living a lie, detesting every waking moment of meetings and service. I started looking at 'apostate' material for facts and stuff about WTC and have found enough to convince me I need out of this bOrganization (as some deftly put it) soon. none of my family are Witnesses, so I don't care about being disfellowshiped for me. I just love my wife so much I hate huring her, and I know this will really mess up her life. I believe she needs to be a witness, its just the way she is. Her whole family (parents, siblings, grandparents, ect) are witnesses. I couldn't care less if i saw these people again, I would just hate to put her through this.

If anyone has been in this situation, or a similar one and have some advice for me on what to do, please help.