Posts by wheelwithinwheel

9

Legalities around summarising Ray Franz's book 'Crisis of Conscience'

by UnshackleTheChains in

just looking for some advice.

i know there has been a lot of discussion around the book 'crisis of conscience' and copyright infringement on this forum.

hence the reason for my question.. in 2004, i couldn't believe my luck in finding this book in the city library.

wheelwithinwheel

http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/what-is-fair-use/

Your notes and any commentary are yours.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the copyright holder. As dubstepped implied, she can't even get her out-of-stock book published.

32

Invisible Rulership - one of the dumbest things I ever believed in

by Black Man in

jw
friends

having now been out of the cult for a few years, it really shocks me about some of the nonsense i used to believe in.

like for instance, christ ruling in the midst of his enemies, but doing so invisibly.. let's let that one sink in for a minute.

you've supposedly got a king who is ruling for a kingdom, but it is an invisible rule.

wheelwithinwheel

This thread has me chuckling. Dad read me the emperor story when I was little. He compared the emperor’s people to Christendom. The blind following the blind.

He had it all figured out. Just like the boy who declared what was plain for all to see. The fact that he had little education and never read any books, other than the org’s was irrelevant. He had stumbled across the truth and seen everything clearly from the age of 12. He had also been a C.O and Gilead graduate. He knew he was right and liked to get his point across even if it meant sticking his foot in the house holder's door.

Too bad my dear dad has passed. He was a fanatic but I loved him.

It just makes for such a comical scenario in my head. The guy who believes he has the Emperor’s Clothes story all figured out, banging on doors to tell people they need to worship an invisible King who son is governing invisibly, from an invisible throne. Ironic

Thanks for the laugh BM!

8

(Young) Personal Experience of Leaving JW as a Baptised Brother

by hongkong123 in

i was a baptised brother born in a jw family with my dad as the elder.

i left (or fade) a year ago and i am still a student studying in college.

i would like to post something here since i have quite a complicated feeling after a year out.

wheelwithinwheel

Good advice HK!

14

Vegetarians in the "new system?"

by Lynnie in

so i was looking on instagram and one of my former jw friends was showing pictures of his bbq ribs and saying something about well we better eat all the pigs we can now since we won't be eating meat in the new system of things?

i don't seem to remember that teaching but does anyone else?

.

wheelwithinwheel

6

Did Watchtower get any money from the Holocaust Victim Assets Litigation?

by jwfacts in

the holocaust victim assets litigation (swiss banks) cv-96-4849 is a fund to compensate people suffering from the holocaust.

as stated at swissbankclaims.com/index.asp (3 mar 2006);.

"this is the official information website for the holocaust victim assets litigation against swiss banks and other swiss entities.

wheelwithinwheel

It's all about the money. Another question I'm wondering about is how many compensated victims made JW.Org the sole beneficiary of their estate i.e. the compensation? I mean let's face it, they're old and won't have time to spend it. Or perhaps they're deceased and the Org is already their estate's beneficiary.

I believe the org's sudden interest in the victim's compensation fund also has a lot to do with this aspect. Every noticed how the elderly brother or sister with no surviving relatives often gets more congregation sponsored support? Could be just an elder looking for some personal compensation but I suspect the C.O. has some precise instructions in this area. Happens just too often! (Am watching 2 elderly couples with no kids in my parents old congo. So far they're leaving all to the Org. and the amount it significant. The elder's support, and I will add the branches support, is amazing.

I remember a Km question some years back concerning funds being administered by a brother appointed power of attorney. The article actually called the money "dedicated" funds. The gist of the article was hey brothers 'make sure to keep your hand out of our cookie jar.'

33

Wanting Less Involvement (long newbie story)

by DepthsResounding in

i was raised a jw and am currently pioneer in a foreign language congregation.

i have been unhappy on and off with my involvement in this religion and am ready to step back again.

growing up i was always active but extremely reserved and a low hour publisher.

wheelwithinwheel

The big problem with JW.Org is the amount of control exerted on its member’s lives. That’s why it’s classified by many as a cult. But let’s be frank, much of the control is self-inflicted. Is anyone obligated to pioneer or go out carting?

Can a JW go to university, get a PhD, find a high paying job, marry a worldly person, buy a big house and lots of toys, drink and go on numerous, long vacations? The answer is many elders could fit a good part of that description.

Think of this year’s convention videos. Does the sister who loves to paint have to forego a good part of her ‘painting day’ to accompany another sister on a call? She could actually be “inactive” and paint for a week straight if she wanted to, and still be part of the JW club. It’s her JW.Org cult- mind that obliges her to believe she needs to cancel part of her day to accompany that sister. Is Gloria obligated to quit her job? Does Ricky have to shave off his beard? Should Tina get her hair back to being theocratic? Who’s making Joe and Gloria stand on the street with a cart?

I’ve always observed that JWs living on the edge seemed to be the most fulfilled in life. The sister with the non-JW husband who didn’t pioneer, lived her life and used her husband as her excuse seemed the most happy. The more devoted always appeared to be slugging through life, somewhat overwhelmed.

If you are OK living with frowns, I think it’s possible to live on the edge. It’s possible to still be part of the club quite happily, unless you really want to exercise a disfellowshipping freedom….in which case you might have to sacrifice one ‘happiness’ for another. But hey, that’s life. That’s freedom. Decisions. Choices. Your choices not a cult’s.

My advice: Stop worrying about status and what others think about you and begin by taking back some control of your life. Stop that ridiculous pioneering. You’ll feel a weight lifting off your shoulders. Did I say stop thinking about what others think of you? Repeat to yourself, “I don’t care what they think”. Take back more control and get full time work. Get your own place. You’re 30, almost at the ½ point of your life. Next, decide who you want to date and if you want to get married. He doesn’t have to be a JW. Stop being a wuss. You need to do more than dip a toe. The world is full of great people. The “world is so bad” is a JW.Org fallacy…a controlling cult falsehood. If you decide you want to be married, be extremely careful that you are compatible. A mistake can really mess up your life.

You can be happier. Good Luck!

...And the weak ‘brother’ from another country? Experience has taught me it’s always good to look for someone ‘genuine’. Hope you get my drift.

26

JW's Changing Tune

by SickofLies in

i left the religion back in the early 2000's, tell you the truth it's been so long now i've been out i don't remember exactly when i left.

i definitely used this site a lot when i first left and it was a great asset.

when i left i somehow managed to get my parents to come with me.

wheelwithinwheel

Last year's convention: Pioneer and you will get to pet lions, eat fruit on the beach and welcome departed loved ones to have fruit and pet lions.

This year's convention: Pioneer or you will be turned into a pillar of salt.

Sound any different?

34

Finally ready to join the crowd.

by Silent Knight in

jw
friends

hello, all you damn dirty apostates!

please, allow me to join this community of diseased minds.

i have been lurking here for over 2 years and tonight i decided it's time to come out of the shadows.

wheelwithinwheel

It's really encouraging to hear more and more are escaping the jail cells. It doesn't seem the escape can be made without any trauma. You will succeed in dealing with it.

Welcome to your new life without the shackles and chains.

20

Begining of freedom???

by JW-AWAKED J17 in

hello every body!.

it's my thirst time here.

i'm verry glad to tell you my resignation as an elder in my local congregation.

wheelwithinwheel

Excellent.

It can be difficult to step down. My wife began missing her pioneer hours and told the elders she felt she needed to stop pioneering. The elders told her she needed to talk to the C.O. first. The C.O. stepped in and said he did not want my wife to stop pioneering. He proposed to stay on the pioneer list and just not do the hours. She was shocked and actually mad that he did not want to respect her decision. She had to argue her case telling him she felt not doing the hours was dishonest.

Next she stopped service all together and began missing a lot of meetings.

Then we moved to the next step of our fade and I told the elders I needed to resign because I felt that my wife's situation was not a good reflection of my spiritual shepherding. Once again the C.O stepped in and said her situation had nothing to do with me. He said "She is not a bad reflexion on you. You do not need to step down and the body does not want you to step down."

Funny how they use the rules as they want. I've seen pioneers taken off very quickly when the elders want them off. I have also witnessed elders lose their privileges for a minor problem with their family.

Anyhow I fixed my problem by handing an announcement to the brother giving the announcements just before the meeting. It read: "For the present time, Brother Wheels will not be serving as an elder." He read it. Everyone was shocked. They looked at me with a 'what sin did you do look?'

When I stopped pioneering they had seen the writing on the wall and did not argue with my decision.

Congratulations and welcome to a new chapter of your life!

14

Can we talk confidentially?

by wheelwithinwheel in

jw
friends

the lot video shows what most elder’s offices are like.

actually it a pretty well-equipped one and with the video context is, without a doubt, org-approved.

but let’s face it.

wheelwithinwheel

The Lot video shows what most elder’s offices are like. Actually it a pretty well-equipped one and with the video context is, without a doubt, org-approved.

But let’s face it. There’s a big problem. Any discussion in this office is not confidential.

This family is well off compared to what ours was. My elder dad would just pull the telephone cord into our hall closet. I think we would have felt it was sinful to glue our ears to the paper-thin closet door but we didn’t have to worry about it. We overheard most of the conversation as if we were in the same room with the elders. Our whole family knew pretty much everything going on in the congregation, or at least all that was discussed in my dad’s ‘office’.

I remember being quite traumatized when I once overheard dad delivering a 6 month committee’s menace to the father of 2 very young girls who I considered my friends. The family had immigrated to Canada and bought a bakery. Dad’s conversation indicated they had been reported to have sold cakes decorated with pagan icing and chocolate Santa Claus’. The committee was giving them 6 months to sell. It was the reasonable and loving thing to do. They were already missing a lot of meetings just to keep the bakery going. Now they missed even more. I worried as the clock ticked. The family didn’t sell. The reason isn’t clear. It wasn’t discussed in dad’s ‘office’. Perhaps there were no buyers. Probably it was their only income. The mom and dad were disfellowshipped. The family stopped attending the Hall all together. I felt really bad but asked Jehovah to help me harden my heart against the wicked.

The lesson, which I’ve shared over the years…refuse to discuss anything you don’t want overheard and repeated over the phone… and don’t meet in an elder’s ‘office’.