i've recently openly joined this community and already have a huge favor to ask: if you are in the nyc area, would you be willing to be my marriage witness this wednesday morning?
all of my family and friends are either active dubs or abroad, while my "worldly" fiancée is a fl transplant and still new to the city.
we're happy to provide modest compensation.
Sorry not in NYC however that story about the wicked world is false. People are helpful and love to help. You might even make a new friend for life. So ask around in Starbucks and if worst comes to worst make sure to get there early and make your predicament known.
Best of Luck and congratulations!
sent the following to my jw friends and contacts.
thought you might enjoy the read!.....
anyone who is willing to have 8 kids deserves a medal!.
My inbox is very quiet. Not surprised. Too many things wrong with this medal event. Just not defendable.
Rubbing this in is much more effective than arguing about erred or changing doctrine or a Bible verse.
I realized this when the Bethel made the "Happy" video and the song's composer had recorded "Gush" on the same album. Put it out there to all the parents I knew who threw their kids disgusting albums in the trash when the org. went Nazi. They were quiet for that un-defendable GB internet antic too.
The GB just keeps giving out more and more food for the 'mentally diseased'. Thank you GB!. Praying for you!
sent the following to my jw friends and contacts.
thought you might enjoy the read!.....
anyone who is willing to have 8 kids deserves a medal!.
Sent the following to my JW friends and contacts. Thought you might enjoy the read!....
ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO HAVE 8 KIDS DESERVES A MEDAL!
You’ve probably already heard. A big Russian family just got a medal. Directly from Putin. And they happen to be Jehovah’s Witnesses. Here’s what it looks like:
It’s the kind of item JW’s tell their studies to destroy or discard with a certain revulsion. But wait, there seems to be a flash of new light!
The worldwide brotherhood is very excited. Brothers and sisters online are calling it an evident demonstration of God’s hand, Holy Spirit in action, and an answer to their prayers. One elderly witness wrote that, in her whole life, she had never seen such a clear demonstration of Jehovah’s Spirit. They are also crowing that it is a reaction to all the letters they sent, that Jehovah is manipulating or ‘playing’ Putin like a puppet, and are predicting a huge win in the next round with the Russian government.
No apparently, this is a really, really good medal! A tool Jehovah is using!
It’s not clear how the Governing Body learned about Valeriy and Tatiana Novik’s award but what is crystal clear is that they fully approve. They have proudly displayed the big story on their website and publicized it to news agencies.
(official JW.Org link)
In fact I think it is reasonable to say the JW.Org article is the source of all the excitement and the numerous thoughts and comments from the brothers and sisters online. The Governing Body’s message is very clear. They believe the Novik family’s medal is Jehovah’s way of helping them get their real estate back.
Witnesses seem to believe Putin is ‘after’ each of them and this miraculous medal story has tricked or manipulated him, or is evidence Jehovah has made him see the light. I suppose it never occurred to any of the JW’s that Putin really has nothing against them personally. Their lives and religious beliefs are of little concern to him or his government. As Russia’s has made pretty clear, their complaint or “radical extremism” concern is with the type of recruiting activity shown below.
I don't think Putin has been fooled by anyone or has changed his views, but then I could be wrong. I’m learning to accept I’m not a very good prophet. I was dead wrong about Trump LOL.
I also don’t believe Jehovah’s Witnesses are aware that these awards simply have to do with Russia looking towards its own future and nothing to do with Jehovah’s Witnesses and their family rearing skills. Russia is, without a doubt, extremely alarmed with the country’s slowing population growth. However it appears none of the celebrating brothers and sisters understands that the government believes encouraging Russian families to have lots of kids is preferable to encouraging immigration, which could bring a risk of radical religious ideas and cultural change to the country.
The reality is, this honorary medal is for producing future Russians and has a lot more to do with the 8 children than it has to do with being an exemplary family.
While I am somewhat amused with the Governing Body for, on one hand telling the brothers Jehovah is just not intervening in situations today and, on the other hand constantly pointing out His miraculous interventions with every new webpost and broadcast, I do have some ’more serious’ questions that leap into my mind.
The first (honor and glory): Don’t birthday celebrations pale in the ‘glory and honor’ comparison to getting an Honorary Medal directly from President Putin at an official governmental ‘medal party’? Isn’t JW.Org’s constant message: “don’t reach for glory and honor”? It’s even part of the witness reasoning behind the ‘do not pursue higher education’ rule. So does this change of viewpoint on receiving honor, and pinning it on your chest, indicate it’s now acceptable to honor someone worthy on his/her birthday? Can JW’s now have medal parties and wish each other “Happy Medal Day!” We really need to clarify this: Is honor from a banning, dictatorial leader to be classified as ‘approved by Jehovah’ while honor and appreciation from your friends and family is still considered something ‘wicked in his eyes’?
And second (pagan religious symbols): Why did brother Novik feel it was OK to attend this political ceremony and then accept this medal adorned with a pagan religious symbol? Did he fully reflect on the numerous Bible principles involved? If so, which ones? Did he consult his elders? Did they consult the Governing Body? Did the GB provide a reasoned Biblical analysis of the question? And, equally important, is the question of what Valeriy will do with the medal now? Throw it in the trash? Destroy it? Putting an honorary cross up on your wall or even keeping it in your drawer warranted a judicial committee just one JW.Org web article ago.
Anyhow, I’ll be waiting and watching to see if Jehovah is going to use a ‘glorious’, pagan, religious, symbolled medal to vindicate his name. And if He does, I think I’ll start wearing an ornate golden cross around my neck.
Just to be on the safe side. I wouldn’t want to question Jehovah’s ways and end up disapproved.
P.S. I just hope bro. Novik doesn’t get the idea to theorcraticize his medal and cut off the arms to make it into a stake medal. Or just throw it in the trash. ‘Cause if ever Putin decides to ask him to return the award, things could get ugly. After all, we are talking about the King of the North here. Or, does this still stand now. Not sure…anyhow I’m sure you get my concern. Think it would be safer to send it to the Governing Body, to be put in the glass case with the Telly awards. Putin sure can’t throw the GB in prison. And they can’t be disfellowshipped for possessing a pagan religious symbol either.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Good advice HK!
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?
.
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
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?
