Posts by no-zombie

13

Jehovah's Witnesses discontinue online Bible Study program today 12/12/2022

by Balaamsass2 in

well, that went by the wayside quickly.

another flip-flop by the indiscrete slave?.

december 12, 2022what’s new.

no-zombie

Clearly the Governing Body didn't want independent study, as it doesn't connect a person to the Organization like the effect of having a tutor.

7

Do you Attend University scholarly Lectures

by peacefulpete in

we've been privileged to attend a number of outstanding lectures on a wide range of scientific topics, some by now quite famous researchers.

for example, we attended a caltech discussion/lecture by svante paabo not long after his initial work on neanderthal dna was released and met him after the lecture.

he wasn't a dynamic speaker but a humble man who obviously felt more comfortable in the lab than on the podium.

At uni, it was always good to attend my lectures, and it was clear the speakers were very well read and had many years practical experience or research behind them. And for those of us who have never gone to university because of being a Witnesses, you'd be amazed at the quality of the simplest presentation, in comparison to the dribble we have to put up with weekly.

However work some really great teachers can now be found freely online (through YouTube and the like) and my top three favorite at the moment are ... Julius Sumner Miller, Richard Feynman and Jordan Peterson.

Look them up. Their enthusiasm for their topics will just suck you in.

38

Struggling to find a purpose

by My Name is of No Consequence in

i spent most of my life in the org.

we were taught that our purpose in life was to serve jehovah.

that never really made sense to me, but it was still a purpose to keep going.

no-zombie

When I reflect on my life past, I don't think that I ever gave much thought to my purpose of living very much. I was so consumed with the constant daily worries of looking after my wife, my children. my career and the affairs of the congregational treadmill, that a deeper looking into my life was not possible. However now that I am much older, I've had the time to do that very thing. And maybe this is the time when all of us start reflecting on the things we have done (or not done) and whether or not we have lost our way.

For me, I began to see that the Society is not really all that fulfilling. In addition to all its theological failures and political maneuvering, it has all be come quite vague. Back in the 80s there was a sense of certainty and distinctness. However now with the cannibalizing directives of informing on your brother (or at least, marking such ones as unfit for association) the feeling of us vs the world has all but evaporation. Sadly we are now only left with a shadow of the brotherhood we once enjoyed, with many occupied with looking out for the organized fifth column of apostates. How sad it has all become.

In regards to the question of purpose though, I think that we are fortunate that life offers us many purposes we can take up. However I believe that it is far better to think about the direction we have chosen, in the context of what it will ultimately give. This is because when our time is up and we are dying, will you be laying there in your deathbed with regrets and sorrows ... or will you have a mild feeling of contentment at how you've tried to spent your efforts when you had life and health.

And while in the end the choice is ours to make, I do think that from what I have seen, a self-centered life will not be as rewarding or remembered, as one focused on giving to others in some way.

35

Former Elders Please - Disbeliever recently married to a JW

by doasthouwilt in

jw
friends

i recently married my best friend of 32 years.

she is a life-long jw and once an active pioneer, i am a 'worldly' person through-and-through, always will be.

we married because it was the only way we could find a way of staying together while giving her a path back to her religion ultimately, which she does not want to (or cannot) let go of.

no-zombie

As a past Elder, I can tell you most definitely that her treatment by a body of Elders will vary between congregations. A judicial committee will be formed, as pornia has been committed, but one of the prime issues will be whether or not this occurred while your wife was a active witness or an inactive one. This is were some variance in judgment will occur. If your wife was inactive, then the committee might think of it as something done in the 'World' and just accept your wife back as a lost sheep needing help. Conversely, if your wife was going to meetings, had sex with you and then married you, it could be viewed as some kind of scheming. We had a case like the first one ... and it written was off as a done deal, with some minor restrictions to congregation participation. However, there are just too many factors and personalities a play. But I'd say overall women get lessor punishments that men in these situations, but be warned as the judicial meetings can be rough if the committee members want to know all the juicy details.

However in no time soon, she'll be in and love bombed to death.

22

questions for those who were once elders

by enoughisenough in

i watched some wendi renay youtube videos.

the former elder who was being interviewed mentioned a couple of things i noted.

i would like to know what your reactions were at the time you learned what i am going to relate if you had the same or kindred experience.

no-zombie

When I was an elder, I definitely understood that the congregational elders were the stars in Jesus' hand. However I don't recall it being spoken much of these days and I believe that the reason is not scriptural but rather political. By this I mean, the GB has clearly consolidated all power into its office, and the idea that Jesus may actually 'deal with' or 'hold special' local elders, without mentioning the 'faithful slave' in that verse, doesn't support their narrative.

Its just a thought.

26

JW's in war zone

by Gorb in

jw
friends

there is so much silence about the jw's in the ukraine conflict.

are the jw men arrested because they don't want to fight?

how is that going in the hyper nationalist fase the country is in?

no-zombie

I can guarantee that some compromises are now being made by many brothers in Ukraine. It must be remembered that it was only in the opening weeks of the invasion, that able bodied men could leave the country with their wives and kids. And knowing that the majority of witnesses are in the "Jehovah protects" mindset, I expect most stayed in-country with their families. This must have now lead to employment and conscription issues, as now nearly every government job is under some kind of military control and as the country's economy is in free-fall, many normal non-technical jobs just don't exist. Its really messed up. F**** even farmers have to deal with missiles and UXB's all the time just to plow. As a result, I wouldn't be surprised if the Governing Body reprints the "submitting to secular authority" and "compulsory community service" articles quite soon, to come onside with the Ukrainian Government and sooth the conscience of the local Brotherhood. This will be because the only work available I expect, will be either collecting used brass or Russian landmines, as the window cleaning jobs are now all gone, due to the fact that the panes in half of the country has been blown out.

Conscription in Ukraine

by no-zombie in

i do not look at the organization's propaganda channel, 'jw news', as its as biased as russia's rt network.however i would like to know what you guys have heard about witnesses and the conscription issue in ukraine.

interestingly, the ukrainian governments has publicly stated that it will require women to register for military service.

while i doubt that will include front line duties (although about 10% of their active soldiers are already female), it going to test their resolves.

no-zombie

I do not look at the Organization's propaganda channel, 'JW News', as its as biased as Russia's RT network.However I would like to know what you guys have heard about Witnesses and the conscription issue in Ukraine. Interestingly, the Ukrainian governments has publicly stated that it will require women to register for military service. While I doubt that will include front line duties (although about 10% of their active soldiers are already female), it going to test their resolves.

18

Ex JWs who use the catch phrase "Friends"

by jojorabbit in

its a personal pet peeve to me but i hate it when ex jws use the catch phrase friends.

this was used at every convention and many meetings i went to.

the friends, mother and others.

no-zombie

Yeh ... "friends" ... just another warm and fuzzy American term.

However, what really gets me going is when the GB closes an update video with ... 'we love you all very much".

Boy, what a joke.

23

Does he really have a sex problem ?

by ozziepost in

like many, i’ve been bemused at lloyd evan’s excuses/reasons for his lusting after prostitutes.

apparently, as he claims in his disastrous video, he blames his wife for being inadequate between the sheets.. could the real answer to his ‘problem’ be closer to home?.

perhaps if he consulted a medical person or even a sex therapist he may learn his “problem” is not down to the borg at all, it may simply be caused by his weight i.e.

no-zombie

I think that with all personal problems, its multi-faceted. However if a person started using women for sex after coming to the complete realization that he has just wasted the last 30,40,50 years of his life, giving it to a organization that doesn't give a damn about truth, then the idea of living it up before you die, isn't that irrational. I've read many posts on this board over the years, where people have confessed to going wild sexually after leaving the 'Truth'. And if you are now a true atheist yourself, then what does it matter what a person does ... as all human value systems, are just unreal constructs created over time by society. In fact in times past, what Lloyd has done was totally normal.

14

Encouraged to do something = forced/intimidated

by neat blue dog in

in a recent article there was this experience from el salvador:.

"during the meeting, brother baltasar perla, sr., who later became a member of the branch committee, asked all the elders present to give him their government-issued identity cards.

he then informed the elders that their names and addresses would be included in a written request to the government for legal recognition... then explained to us that since our names and addresses would be in that document, if the authorities ever wanted to ban our work, we would be the first ones they would come after and the first ones to be thrown in jail.

no-zombie

Its just like any congregational resolution. I've never been in one where someone has put their hand up, to oppose it.