Blueblades - I gave the same answers as you. I am really annoyed with myself now. I used to be so careful. I suppose what they said sounded so wonderful, I didn't think for one minute that the society could be lying.
xxR
Posts by rebel
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8Investigating the Society
by Blueblades inin my research i came across this topic "investigating the society"which asked six questions, before you joined the society.
i answered no to all of them.i'm interested in what your answers are if you care to express them.i posted my answers below.. question #1:how did you investigate the watchtower society before you joined it?did you read books both for and against the society to help you judge it accurately?no!.
question #2:had you read the bible in its entirety?no!.
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51
Best argument against a Jehovah's Witness?
by Happy indon't get me wrong, i'm not one to actively persecute jw's, i'm just wondering what you guys think is the best agrument/point to use when a pesky brother or sister just won't leave you alone.
normally, i am willing to listen to their drivel out of respect (even though i have no respect for the wt) but there are times when i am not in the mood to hear them babble.
i normally bring up the 1914 generation point, and it normally works.
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rebel
I spoke to an elder the other day and mentioned the disfellowshipping/shunning belief. I asked about the parable of the prodigal son - somebody on this forum mentioned that the son's father did not ignore his son for months or years until he 'reinstated' him - he went to him and hugged & kissed him-he was so overjoyed at his return. Jesus gave that parable for a reason - he wanted us to know how to treat those that have sinned and are then repentant. He said I should not use that parable in connection with disfellowshipping???? I said that, if someone sinned and Jehovah forgave that person the following day, it could take months or weeks for the body of elders to reinstate that person. Does that mean that elders are more righteous than Jehovah and know when a person is truly repentant and Jehovah doesn't? He just got angry and left!!
xxR
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26
The Next Teaching to Fall
by Blueblades inwhile many have had their hopes dashed concerning the change on this "generation " teaching, there is yet another teaching yet to fall very soon.it must and will fall because it connected to the generation doctrine that has already been changed.. the teaching that could shortly cause the governing body a serious problem and could bring about a major change for the vast majority of the rank and file is "the great tribulation".while this teaching has been put off to the " indefinite future"the gb.continues to have a serious problem with it.if the great tribulation fails to occur reasonably soon,the doctrine concerning the earthly hope for the vast majority of jw's.will have proven to have been false.the' great crowd' are those who will have come out of the great tribulation.according to the society those persons began to be identified as present as early as 1932.so the youngest members are now in their 70's or 80's.. again, the time-line is running out!
and has the potential of adversely affecting hundreds of thousands of other witnesses in the not to distant future,as time passes without the fulfilment of their hopes for a new heavens and a new earth.. also, some time ago,there was a watchtower study article, i don't remember which one it was .it spiritualized, armageddon!
psalm 91,especially verse 7.it said that a thousand will fall at your very side and ten thousand at your right hand,applies to those leaving the org.
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rebel
This is really interesting.
Island Woman said recently on this forum that we should do a study comparing Matthew 24 with Luke 21 and Luke 17. I am going to do that this evening. Apparently, Luke's account does not contain the same sense of urgency as Matthew and I want to look into this for myself.....should keep me busy!
xxR
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58
Can You Discern What The Society Is Really Saying?
by minimus inso much of the watchtower is written in "code".
so much of the circuit and district overseers comments are spoken in "code".
for example, you are not told directly that you shouldn't read any other publication but the society's, but you are asked, "how could anyone spiritual ever have the time to keep up with their bible-based reading of all the spiritual food that we must take in, and still have time to read "worldly" books?
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rebel
I don't know if any of you have had a chance to see the new 2003 calendar yet. It is quite different to the usual sort. Every page tells the story of a current brother or sister who lived a dreadful life until they came into the 'Truth'. They were either on drugs, alcoholics, suffering from depression etc etc. They all completely turned their lives around when they were saved by the WTBTS!! It gives before and after photos of each person - they are fairly recent stories. It's funny, but after telling myself that I wouldn't be taken in by their propaganda again, I started feeling really guilty after reading the calendar. They are very crafty people.
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I was watching the telly
by uriah ini was in bed watching the telly this morning (what, i hear you ask, not at the meeting?
no actually) and the prog was "the world at war" on the splendid bbc2 - this is quality tv for all you americans that don't have quality tv and have to wait for ours to air over there - and this german was saying that he was present at the rallies where hitler was giving his speeches and that he looked around at everyone, their faces and apparent joy and ferver.
he said he listened to the speeches and understood the words but could not believe them.
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rebel
Uriah,
I know that series - it was brilliant - I saw it when it was first aired. I remember the theme tune - it was really haunting.
I know excactly what you mean. I have always felt that I didn't belong at the KH or assemblies. I was always waiting for someone to 'find me out' and pounce on me and say 'You don't belong here!" I guess it was just insecurity on my part. I was never much good as a Catholic, and when I became a JW, I always felt like a lapsed Catholic pretending to be a JW - how stupid is that?
xxR
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44
Where do I go for support???
by scaredyetresolved ini would love some support since i am scared and confused, but i don't know where to turn.
my husband and i are both having our eyes opened wide after years of doubts.
we have finally read the "apostate literature" over the past few weeks and have checked and rechecked their sources.
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rebel
Scaredyetresolved,
It is fantastic that both you and your partner are seeing the light together. My husband is well and truly in this organisation and will not listen to anything I say. It's good you have the chance to get your children out while they are still young. I wish I could say the same - my life's a bit of a mess at the moment. Just stick with what you know is true in your heart.
I wish you all the best
xxR
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53
Bible is God's word?
by Moxy inid like to hear some *reasoned* explanations for why you believe the bible is gods word.
ive been so fascinated by the study of *real* biblical scholarship since i began educating myself, i now find it incredulous that i used to take the bible as divine, along with all jws and tons of christians, including a good number here.
so id like to entertain your very best lines of evidence that this is the real deal.. mox
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rebel
It still boils down to the same thing.
If I loved my children, and I wanted them to know me and understand me, and I wrote them a letter, I would make sure they could understand it. I would not include puzzles, riddles, symbols, contradictions etc. How would that bring them closer to me? I would not expect them to be able to decipher what was symbolic and what was literal. I would not punish them if they were unable to understand the muddled letter. I would not elevate those of my children who were able to understand most of it over those that couldn't. Basically, I would MAKE SURE that they could understand EVERY single word - nothing would be open to interpretation - it is not clever or kind to hide important information which can either lead to life or death. Why was the Bible deliberately written in such a confusing, puzzling, symbolic (though sometimes non-symbolic), complicated way? If someone could answer that, I would be so happy!
xxR
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118
Would some of us be better off as Witnesses?
by Jerry Bergman ini have often wondered if many people would be better off if they stayed witnesses.
some people i have known have really gone off the deep end after they left the watchtower.
most all of my family have left now (not due to me as i was cut off from them for years) and many others i know who have left are now bitter atheists or have become pagans and worship stones or new ageers playing with crystals.
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rebel
Gary1914 wrote - "Jehovah's Witnesses do not teach morality. They legislate morality. If you are not moral you will be punished. So witnesses out of fear of losing friends and family are moral."
That is brilliant and sums it up perfectly. As a JW, I did things and didn't do other things out of fear - fear of the organisation. What has that got to do with a God of love? This is so far removed from the teachings of Christ, it is laughable. How can you call yourself a Christian and be devoid of love, compassion, humilty etc as many elders are? I am not saying all elders, but a substantial amount. They are supposed to be setting an example.
I would not be better off as a JW. It would make things easier and less painful regarding my family, as I have said on other threads, but I can't go back to all that hypocrisy. I know I will find it hard and will be treated unkindly by the JW community where I live, but I am preparing myself for that and I won't be going back.
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37
DubSticks
by Farkel in.....or why they won't let me play at the kingdom halls anymore.
sorry to wreck everyone's lovely christmas eve, but it's time for some brutal torture!
if nothing else, "dubsticks" illustrates how a perfectly normal and often happy person is going along in life minding his or her own business, and then dubs enter into that life and change everything.
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rebel
That was really nice. I am sitting here all alone and it cheered me up.
xxR
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26
The Next Teaching to Fall
by Blueblades inwhile many have had their hopes dashed concerning the change on this "generation " teaching, there is yet another teaching yet to fall very soon.it must and will fall because it connected to the generation doctrine that has already been changed.. the teaching that could shortly cause the governing body a serious problem and could bring about a major change for the vast majority of the rank and file is "the great tribulation".while this teaching has been put off to the " indefinite future"the gb.continues to have a serious problem with it.if the great tribulation fails to occur reasonably soon,the doctrine concerning the earthly hope for the vast majority of jw's.will have proven to have been false.the' great crowd' are those who will have come out of the great tribulation.according to the society those persons began to be identified as present as early as 1932.so the youngest members are now in their 70's or 80's.. again, the time-line is running out!
and has the potential of adversely affecting hundreds of thousands of other witnesses in the not to distant future,as time passes without the fulfilment of their hopes for a new heavens and a new earth.. also, some time ago,there was a watchtower study article, i don't remember which one it was .it spiritualized, armageddon!
psalm 91,especially verse 7.it said that a thousand will fall at your very side and ten thousand at your right hand,applies to those leaving the org.
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rebel
"Truth matters very little to the average JW so I see the 1914 doctrine almost becoming irrelevant in the bigger picture. It should matter, but I don't think it will."
Eyeslice - I don't think this is true. Most JWs don't know the truth regarding the 1914 teaching or the organisation. It is so clever the way the WTBTS does this - you are made to feel like the lowest of the low if you even question any JW beliefs because, by doing this, you are questioning Jehovah. Most JWs I know would never come to a site like this or read ANYTHING that contradicts JW teaching out of fear - fear of what will happen to them and their families. We are told that apostates are out to catch us and make us doubt the true teachings - if we doubt, we are doomed. I am sure if most JWs could get rid of this fear of the elders etc, they would look into the false teachings being promoted by this organisation. It is as if you are trapped in a snare - the very snare that the WTBTS teaches is promoted by the satanic world we live in. When you are unable to question anything out of fear, it makes it so difficult to find out the truth.