Posts by Gig

2

Insanity recalled

by Gig in

jw
friends

i was just sitting here trying to decide whether to be optimistic or pessimistic today, think i'll go with the latter.

i remember a study i had with a couple of elders, at one point, as if surprised at my recollection and question, i asked if they could better explain to me the un membership because all i could make of it was a tremendous contradiction.

this was awhile back so they said they would look into it and hopefully could offer something helpful at our next meeting.

Gig

I was just sitting here trying to decide whether to be optimistic or pessimistic today, think I'll go with the latter. I remember a study I had with a couple of elders, at one point, as if surprised at my recollection and question, I asked if they could better explain to me the UN membership because all I could make of it was a tremendous contradiction. This was awhile back so they said they would look into it and hopefully could offer something helpful at our next meeting. Now I had already done the homework, including exploring the UN website. So at our next meeting this guy was set and ready to go with his findings. He whips out some things he had printed off from the UN website and proceeds to show me all these supposedly clarifying Q and A's. In my own preparation I had re-visited THIS EXACT site and recognized everything he had to show. I also recalled the dozen OTHER Q and A's that he didn't see fit to share...including the OBVIOUS TRUTH of the matter. I really did have to fight off laughing at this pathetic attempt to mislead me. So I go ahead and ask him if he had thoroughly researched the information at that site, as I had done recently, the answer...yes he had. Then I ask what he thought of the OTHER information provided on that site this SAME site that I had studied recently, the answer...no answer...just the look of "why don't you just call me a liar?" I couldn't stop, with my attention directed at the other elder, I told him maybe he could make some sense of this. I suggested that he look at the site himself and decide for us what information would be more pertinent...what the one elder furnished or what he determined to be unhelpful. I handed him what the "researcher" offered, told him the web-site addy was right at the top, and asked him to add whatever he thought might solve my little problem. I went on about I don't want things like this to hinder my spiritual progress so I really do need to understand why the WT was a member of what they so condemn. That it would be difficult to develop the relationship of trust with an org that on this particular point seems hypocritical. Blah Blah Blah

It was unbearable to see a man being so blatantly dishonest and knowing so, an elder at that. I wasn't out to "win" this little encounter, I wanted a little insight to rub off. The fact that this guy KNEW the truth and sat there as if he didn't was very, very sad. Theocratic Warfare Strategy requires that one is able to determine all by themselves who deserves the truth and who doesn't, that's why it's a horrible concept...and even worse in irresponsible hands.

I left it by saying to the newly appointed "researcher" that I was thankful I could come to them for direction. I looked forward to what he might learn and that I expected I could learn from his example as an elder. Searching as if for hidden treasure and all, pouring the responsibility on as best I could.

Not surprisingly it became very difficult to schedule our next meeting, any conversations were also deferred until that next meeting. I don't know if he followed through or not, I can only hope so. I can't imagine anybody being that hard in their hearts not to deal with it in some way. I didn't push it and the next meeting never happened. Sad but true.

It is so much easier to believe a simple lie than a complicated truth.

Gig

33

Ever been to a "quick-build"?

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

" for anyone not that familiar with jw lingo, it is when everyone in the congregation gets together to raise a new kingdom hall in about a week, or a weekend.

kind of like the amish do when they have "barn raisings.

" lol.

Gig

Have any of the old farts in Broolyn ever gotten their hands dirty? Does blood-guilt count?

4

Exact Center

by Gig in

jw
friends

what is the shortest chapter in the bible?

psalms 117. what is the longest chapter in the bible?

psalms 119. there are 594 chapters before psalms 118, and 594 after.. 594 plus 594 equals 1188. this points to psalms 118:8, which reads:.

Gig

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Psalms 117

What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Psalms 119

There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118, and 594 after.

594 plus 594 equals 1188. This points to Psalms 118:8, which reads:

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (KJV)

Hey, it says not to put any confidence in me, but don't you think this is at least as good as some of the prophetic fulfillments the WT boasts about? KMA GB!

Gig

6

Big Effort, Tiny Results

by JeffT in

jw
friends

we've talked before about how ineffectual field service is, but i decided to test the idea.

i asked the question "what do you know about jehovah's witnesses?

" on a non-witness related board and got some interesting results.

Gig

Many JW's I've talked to are suprised to hear that they aren't the biggest religion and nowhere near the fastest growing. I agree that with the zillions of hours dedicated to "the preaching work" one would think results would be more positive. My conclusion is that Jah isn't blessing them as much as they are endlessly told. I give credit to JW's for putting forth so much effort in the field ministry, obviously the representation isn't selling the truth according to the truth, or it would bear fruit. Just another small satisfaction we anti/ex witnesses can enjoy.

20

Brain Washing? Mind Control?

by Sirona in

jw
friends

do the jehovahs witnesses use brain washing or mind control techniques?.

if a good dub attends 5 hours of meetings a week, does 2 hours of service a week and does 1 hour of personal study a week, this adds up to 416 hours a year of time thinking and being "taught" about jehovahs witness beliefs.

416 hours adds up to about 11 working weeks a year!

Gig

Any of you ever hear of the BITE model? Obviously the WT is determined to control witness behavior (B) for their own survival. Any slack in this effort allows a JW to discover critical analysis. For the most part the WT does this by controlling information (I), you all know they are required to read and study the WT and Awake mags, and any other WT pub as if they were the word of God, and they are forbidden to read anything else. This much info control makes it far easier, actually even possible to control thoughts (T), and the easiest way to control thoughts is with emotion (E). You've read the articles, everybody wants to do good and be good, and the WT only allows ONE way, THEIR way, or else you're out of God's favor...very emotional stuff. And what better way to maintain unity, kick anyone out who disagrees.

I agree that brain washing is too strong of a term, it's not defined well enough to fit...just like cult. High Control group dynamics, absolutely. The Bible speaks in terms of true faith causes action, yes works. This is the same type thing, they HAVE to believe and have faith in the WT or they would never do all that nonsense in the name of Jehovah.

Gig

16

Do You Tend To Be Condescending???

by minimus in

jw
friends

at times, some of us tend to think that we are superior.

we may come across as thinking we're a little better than everyone else.

do you seem to have "an all that" attitude?

Gig

One of the best lessons I ever learned is that there will ALWAYS be greater and lesser than yourself. There are three things that ensure success in life, one...a good memory. But I can't recall the other two.

Gig

9

have you been tricked about honesty?

by wheelwithinwheel in

jw
friends

i was brought up to believe i was part of the only honest group of people on the planet.

the worldly people were gougers, thieves and downright dishonest.

when wed go to the mall and some charity would ask for a donation, my parents would politely refuse, then tell us kids the charity was crooked and skimmed off most of the money for itself.

Gig

This all goes right along with all the other claims the WT makes, right down to the "one true religion" teaching, I mean obligation. The good is repeated endlessly, other ideas are eliminated by the failure to mention them. The evangelistic style is painfully blatant, but as we all know it's required to be swallowed whole, and happily at that. You've chosen a good word for your topic, trickery regarding truth, it's even a Biblical analogy and is plainly condemned. There are good witnesses and bad, there are good non-JW's/ex-JW's and bad, white people, black people, blah blah blah. The hypocracy of suggesting otherwise is obviously boasting, again condemned in the Bible. How can JW's spend SO much time talking the Bible and miss or abuse what it so clearly says? A very sad state of affairs.

3

A real life touching Christmas story

by freedom96 in

jw
friends

there have been a few posts lately about christmas, and what that time of year really means.

to many, it is simply a holiday where you exchange gifts.

there are many out there who slam the holiday, including the witnesses, complaining about this or that, and not having the holiday spirit that is supposed to be there.

Gig

That felt good, thank you for sharing that. It's no wonder the historical facts and scriptural proof show nothing but conditional love among witnesses, they are never taught what the Bible really intends. It's very sad and I have genuine compassion for those trying SO hard to please Jah. It's not the messenger I fault, it's the message, it's a bad one. Your's was a good one, thanks again.

9

NO Independent Thinking Allowed!

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

the watchtower january 15th 1983 issue, page 22:.

the watchtower january 15th 1983 issue, page 27:.

the watchtower march 15th 1986 issue, page 17:.

Gig

I'm very angry, tomorrow I may be sick, the next day who knows...I don't pretend to be a prophet. Was I just thinking independently? Man that felt good!

Gig

4

Ouch

by Gig in

jw
friends

well friends, it seems to be over.

some of you may remember i fell in love with a jw (before i had any idea of what i was getting into).

it's been almost two years ago and i tried every way i could think of to see what she sees, historically, doctrinally, evangelistically, liguistically, every way but realistically.

Gig

Well friends, it seems to be over. Some of you may remember I fell in love with a JW (before I had ANY idea of what I was getting into). It's been almost two years ago and I tried every way I could think of to see what she sees, historically, doctrinally, evangelistically, liguistically, every way but realistically. I got close enough at one point that she actually said she wanted to go through with me all of the information I had gathered in my research. In hindsight maybe I should have done it, after having tried for so long, but I declined. My thinking was that if she had questions then she should go find the answers, then maybe those answers would be far more credible than following any of my conclusions. She admitted she doesn't know how to research or study like that but I just tried to encourage her every way I could with much love and patience. Looking back at the record, she never did anything that she so encouraged me to do, I hate to say it but that's very hypocritical. It all boils down to I'm not a witness and therefore a worthless pile, specifically according to the teachings. It has been incredibly frustrating to study with them, ask legitimate questions, and get the SAME answers over and over. They simply are lost one you think of something that's not on the WT pages. I even would volunteer the answers beforehand hoping to actually PROGRESS, to no avail. If they didn't get angry you could plainly see they just dismissed me as insincere, prideful, totally lost and unsaved...in other words a bad association. I am still amazed at the consistency, none of which I consider to their credit. I am finally realizing that they are the bad association, for ME. I've done everything I've been asked except believe that the WT is God, which, as you all know, is unacceptable, unless the WT says otherwise...which they DO if the context calls for it. Rare form don't you think? that they would give even the least regard to context. I'm finally letting myself be angry, which I'm told is required for healthy healing. I won't go overboard, but it really is a comfort to rattle off this stuff to people who actually understand.

I do want to add that because I never was a JW I don't fully understand...if I've spoken in a way that sounded aloof I'm really sorry. I did the homework and figured it out before I was required to stuff my head up my butt in the name of Jehovah. I feel terrible that many of you spent so much time under the influence and wasted so much of your life...or rather had it wasted for you while you tried so hard to do the right thing. I do not attempt to set myself above you for recognizing early on the light and loving provisions for what they were, instead, I'm sure I'm the foolish one for continuing on after I figured it out. I sure do miss her. Thank you for listening.

Gig