Thanks for your thoughts and the quotes. This has actually been something I've used when talking to my JW friend...ask her a question...then show her where the WT BOTH agrees and disagrees. It continues to baffle me that she can't see it, she is plenty satisfied that they had the right answer... even when her original answer disagreed with their most current answer. It gets me dizzy.
Posts by Gig
-
5Jehovah's Blessings ???
by MacHislopp in"the watchtower " 15th february, 2001 page 27, paragraph 17 :
"the watchtower " 15th , may 2001 page 13 18
the watchtower june 1st , 2001 page 19, 8,
-
-
-
22
One out of every 286 people is a Jehovah's Witness
by Country Girl inone out of every 286 people is a jehovah's witness?
yikes!
could this possibly be true?.
-
-
Gig
I honestly can't know what the ratios are, but I'm sure that because the WTS has every reason to fabricate that stat that it probably isn't accurate. The part that really got me is where Kody says, "We do not, as some claim, add to or take away from the Bible. To the contrary we strive to follow its every command and parable." Oh Kody, at least you've been paying attention, enough so that you can confidently repeat the Society's lies. JW's strive to follow ONLY what the WTS calls their attention to in the Bible...along with their additional interpretations (bias) and instructions (required).
I really need a computer workstation outside or nearer to a window, I can't spit while inside.
-
9
What Now?
by mackey ini gave my best friend crisis of conscience two weeks ago and she said she probably won't read it.
i hardly have had any contact over the past month because i was fired from where we work.
with every day that passes i worry more and more.
-
-
Gig
I can't believe this, I feel EXACTLY as you do...and have considered giving my friend a copy of C of C thinking that may be my best chance, and a way to communicate without our personalities getting in the way.
"It's agonizing to know what I know and not be able to share it with her." EXACTLY
As others are suggesting, patience my friend. I KNOW how difficult it is to think you might be their only chance, the only one fighting for them, but patience (maintaining your loving expressions and obvious concern WITHOUT the pressure that conditional love places) sometimes is our best tool... at times our only one.
If you're a christian, that would help significantly... she would be able to consider that there might just be something better out there. My thinking is that since she is DETERMINED to follow God, how seriously could she consider a life without God. I've asked my friend this question..." Do you honestly believe that anyone who ever left the WTS left God? Why isn't it a possibility that they left because it was the WTS that wasn't following God...as their history plainly shows? Just because the WTS doesn't offer that as an answer doesn't mean that it isn't possible. My friend has been willing to admit that she doesn't' believe that ONLY JW's are saved, it was effective to alert her that that's exactly what the WTS teaches...once you get past the intro/indoctrination.
I gotta tell you, because you took the words right out of my mouth (my mouthpiece?!) let's talk more...we seem to be in the identical place. (one exception-I never worked with her)
E-mail me if you want. Talking about it with someone who's there or been there sure helps with the patience thing. I expect you'll get lots of responses to this thread, your heart is in the right place.
-
7
*** WATCHTOWER EMPHASIS then and now ***
by Deleted inmorning, all.. randy graciously gave me some room at freeminds to link my project work on the theory that the wts only uses around 250 scriptures in the watchtower magazines to propagate and inculcate current truth and the scriptures used have moved from emphasizing the heavenly hope to that of strict legalism.
i am hoping, through the use of the wt magazines ony, to prove this statistically.
here's the link:.
-
-
Gig
What a great idea, although a TON of work. But how better to demonstrate how the WTS has morphed than to call attention to what is emphasized. Russell wasn't as bad as some might think, at least in comparison to some of their other prez's. This project of yours can conclude to plainly show their evolving "personality" and direction, scare/guilt tactics. It will be interesting to see if your research picks up the distinct changes from Russ to Joe to Knoor to Franz, maybe not so much after Joe knowing that Franz was pretty much the writer even while Joe was domineering. Also the current GB's emphasis. Exiting stuff!
MORE POWER TO YOU!
-
5
JF Rutherford's Son....
by logansrun injf rutherford's son (his only child, i believe) did not become a jw according to ray franz in coc.
(of course this post could produce an enormous amount of hilarious answers, but i am looking for actual information).
bradley
-
-
Gig
Hey, take the good with the good...allow the hilarious answers too. A laugh can be just as helpful as the facts to many of us. I too am interested in the Judge's son's why's and what for's, but a clever joke to go with keeps it interesting for all those who could care less about Joe and his family. Just a thought (neither factual or funny)
-
33
Deprogramming your "Last Days" phobia...
by logansrun inraised in a religion that preached a massive, theocratic holocaust for the majority of mankind can leave you with more than a few mental and emotional scars.
i remember being terrified on new years eve in 1986 (i was 9 yrs old) because of all the talk that that year was the "international year of peace.
" i was conditioned to look at world events as being a sign that the end is near, sound familiar?
-
-
Gig
Believe the Word as God intended: No one knows the day or the hour...and...Do not worry about tomorrow.
I hope I don't offend you, but that really is the plain fact and the best advice.
-
37
Do You Feel Better Since You Stopped Meetings?
by minimus inso many witnesses have been ill. i'm not talking about the flu or a cold, either.
many witnesses suffered from ailments that were not necessarily common to most people.
i know of jw's that had to literally run out of the meetings every week because they said they were allergic to perfumes and different scents.
-
-
Gig
It's a proven fact that people who change their natural, normal, God given since birth personality type experience many "side effects"...many of which have already been described above. We can change our thoughts and behavior, and should as we grow and mature, but it's literally unhealthy to change yourself at the core. God can do that for you but that's by his love. The WTS does it by fear and guilt and leaves witnesses feeling totally inadequate - even as they preach that they are the happiest most secure people on the planet.
-
7
So, What's Your Problem Then?
by Englishman ini'm a great problem solver.
give me enough time, and i can find the solution to anything you care to name.
i can always find the answer.
-
-
Gig
I am convinced that some of the most intelligent people are their own biggest problem. They literally drive themselves into dissatisfaction by the problems their own minds create... just for the sake of solving them...out of bordom, or the inability to control their creative instincts.
If you are anything like me, this, in all honesty, cannot be our problem. But isn't it an attractive sounding description of why we are such a putts?
-
12
One pissed off dolphin
by Dolphin57 inhey all.
i am so pissed off at the elders right now that its not even funny.
my spiritual grandmother died recently.
-
-
Gig
"They forgot her in life and they refused her in death." Your anger is justified, I hope the venting helped, that it was more effective than counting or deep-breaths. I have no answer other than the obvious, just please know we feel you.
-
13
A Growing Irritant
by Inkie inmore and more lately when i have occasion to read any of the society's publications or any postings here at this site which quote the society's publications i find more and more lately that i become really irritated, annoyed, chafing, at the redundant phrase "anointed christians.
" it just irritates the hell out of me.
i don't necessarily understand the "why" of this annoyance only that i recognize that i have it.
-
-
Gig
LOL @ Un-annointed annointed ones = the other sheep. Oddly enough there's some real logic in that, if they would adopt the term, they would be a little closer to the truth.
Thanks for the laugh, keep up the good work.