Welcome Viva la Vida from Scandinavia
Bugbear
this is my first post even thou ive been lurking for some time.
i was raised in as a jw, and im still in because of my family.
since waking up i found meetings, assemblies and fs stressing and thought writing in here might be therapeutic.
Welcome Viva la Vida from Scandinavia
Bugbear
after all the real estate sell offs, im confidently sure that the wts must be a flush with cash (well at least for the present time).
i cant believe how blissfully un-aware the local dubbies are about where the money has gone and what it is been used for.
so my question is where has all this money gone??
According to the WTBS ”all spiritual” things is free. But there are always money boxes for contribution spenders in all KH and Convention halls. But the thing is, that all KH, and convention halls and branch offices, are “gifts” from dedicated members and people who free and voluntary offers their labors, minds and money sometimes their whole life. All these building built by congregation members is “handed over” (with papers of ownership) to the large org. WBTS, controlled by 8 men.
They can whenever they want “cash in” the value (millions of dollar), and spend them on bonds in Cayman Island, or pension funds for themselves. A majority of JW.s don’t realize these facts. Another disturbing fact is that the Society, is registered as a church and aid organis., which make them a non-profitable org. liberated from all taxation according to American law. The GB don´t even have to declare one cent of what they have given away to needed people. No wonder why the GB is so greedy.
Bugbear
we have co visit this week.
its official, after months and months of college bashing including but not limited to the wonderful jeremiah book the co's are hitting it hard with their talks now.
same as the jeremiah book, higher education sucks and worldy people suck.
I wonder how many people have had their life destroyed, being unable to take higher education, because of WT doctrines. I have seen so many pioneers, elders, CO, DC, when they become older, being unable to even own a cheap car, depending on other cong. members to drive them out in “the service”, being unable to pay their rent. Depending on “gifts” from other congr. Members. They cannot afford to go to Distr. Convention. Or can they pay medical attention themselves.
All this because they believed the “word” the end is near 50 years ago. Shouldn´t those responsible for their biblical theories pay them of now? The WBTS, is probably one of the richest estate owner in the world. They have the money to make life easier for our old faithful friends. But they are to grid to let them have a part of that fortune. I smell fraud.
Bugbear
a customer on my route with whom i have had some lively debates was his number 1 complaint is that "the witnesses have so many rules".
last month i agreed with on this issue.
he asked why the change, i told him that i have been doing some soul searching.
As a father of 6 children and a formerly elder, I can tell you that when the time comes, your child/children will make no use of your Christian indoctrination. Every intelligent creature takes influences from all people including classmates, teachers, other good friends, and then they will decide for themselves what is right or wrong.
All my children has passed high schools and some of them even University degrees. None of them become a JW, this to their mothers grieves. (This to my relieve). None of them lack moral or etic thoughts (Quite the opposite).
I think that so called Christian ethics, is very doubtful, and personally I believe that we could have spared us millions of lives and tragedies if we have loosened a little bit of our “Christian” doctrines.
Bugbear
i was a born-in, and in for over five decades.
in the comparatively short time since leaving the wt for good, for good in both senses !
, i feel i have become a very different person, in quite radical ways.. how do you feel you have changed ?.
I feel like just been broken out of mind jail. There is a fantastic life outthere with so many ideas and thougts that I never have tried before. And I am 67 years of age - finally free!!
Bugbear
i know i rarely if ever read the magazines that i used to promote and place with householders (besides the watchtower study).
hypocritical no?.
I stopped reading WT and Avake, about 5 years before I stopped doing the "service". I had just found out that the texts were copies of copies of copies slightly changed, with some words here and there. Exactly as the hebrew scriptures, as the book of Kings is almost equal to the chronicles or the books of Samual a.s.f.
This shows either a lack of intelligense from GB or just that they have no ideas of how to put the different texts to united idea.
Bugbear
is it possible to be friends with a woman, text her, call her, etc and not be physically attracted to her?.
TwttieBird!
Is it possible for a girl NOT trying to bee as much physically attractive to a men as possible.
Im a father of 4 girls. and I have every morning waitet about 1,5 hours outside our closet to get my shave.
What did my girls do in there?
Bugbear
over the course of decades as a jw, an elder, a bethelite, then learning ttatt and wanting to leave, i'd collected a lot of insight into the power of "confidentiality.
" although the confidentiality in a judicial hearing is supposedly to protect the sinner, in actuality, i saw that it was about control and was protecting the power of the jc.. i didn't use any of this knowledge until i was called before the boe because the other elders figured they had grounds to remove me as an elder.
it was a work situation that only lasted a matter of hours, but it was enough that they seized the moment.
Thanks Billy for your story!
I have a parable: If you tell other people in the room:" dont look at the big pinkt elephant in the room" what will happen?
Bugbear
i have served 20 years as an elder, 5 years as an ms. was on the district committee in 2010, held various positions on the district , circuit, and rbc level.
probably been on more than 100 judicial committees and even an appeals committee.
was the coordinator in our congregation and deleted because adult child was df ( i kicked him out at the time of his wrongdoing, but that wasn't enough for thr brothers).
Welcome JJ
You will have a diffic. time ahead. But It is worth going through. Be careful with what you are saying. Saying the wrong thing will make hell for the rest of your family.
Bugbear
i have to admit i never really thought about this question until one of my classmates challenged me with this very question.
she made an excellant point and i have to admit i am asking myself the same question does jehovah enjoy watching people suffer.
the case she brought up was the flood story.
If good exist, he will have a lot to explain when he comes back. Remember how he punished his first couple. "The women will hereafter give birth in pain!!
Ingersoll said : "who could love a father that drown his own children."
And I am saying :what child could love a father that beats them, kill them, hurts them, bring them deaseses, and promise (according to GB) that he will kill them all in fire and thunderstorms if thay dont do as he says? No one will servive, according to WT.
I think it is much better if he does not exist.
Bugbear