Thank you all. It seems like they accomplished a lot of things by changing the vows. They dumbed them down, maybe so kids that got baptized cause it was expected couldn't say they didn't know what they were saying.
They cut out the part about the Bible and the Holy Spirit, so we can't say we follow the Bible not men. And the annoited are going to be all gone soon so we don't want to be mentioning the Holy Spirit. Covers their butts about who exactly is guiding our understanding doesn't it?
And last but not least they join us at the hip to the all knowing, all powerful organization.
Reading those older vows brought back some really odd memories for me. I was baptized in 1973 at the same time as my slightly older sister. I think now that I did it because she did. She was always the good one, the studious one who got good grades and always knew the answers at the meetings. You all know what I mean. I think if I had waited even a year or so I wouldn't have gotten baptised. I think I would have developed enough free thinking to resist. And I think my life would have been very different although there are a lot of things I wouldn't change even if I could. els
Posts by els
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91985 change in baptsm vows?
by els ini was just reading a post about the wts possibly downsizing and someone mentioned a 1985 change in baptism vows.
i apologize, i don't remember who it was.
85 is about when i started my meltdown about the witnesses so i don't remember much from then.
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els
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7
An Apostate Replies
by SYN insomeone that i publically flamed (well, sort of) here yesterday sent me an email.
much to my bemusement, they actually spoke to me & stuff.
note that this is unheard of.
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els
SYN, I love your picture. I've wondered many times who she was. Once I figured out you were a guy so it couldn't be you. lol. She looks like she'd be a hoot to hang out with. els
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9
1985 change in baptsm vows?
by els ini was just reading a post about the wts possibly downsizing and someone mentioned a 1985 change in baptism vows.
i apologize, i don't remember who it was.
85 is about when i started my meltdown about the witnesses so i don't remember much from then.
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els
I was just reading a post about the WTS possibly downsizing and someone mentioned a 1985 change in baptism vows. I apologize, I don't remember who it was. 85 is about when I started my meltdown about the witnesses so I don't remember much from then. What was this all about? Of course I really don't remember my vows from getting baptized at 13. Could someone fill me in? els
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38
What is your zip code? Warning: FLUFF!
by gilwarrior inmy goodness, more fluff.
ok, so what is your zip code?.
i live in las vegas.
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els
12827, Upstate NY near Lake George and the Vermont border. els
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8
OT: Taken in a stray dog...
by glitter init's bonfire night (well it was) and mum saw a skinny mongrel (alsatian x labrador x collie type thing) scared half to death in the street and took him in at least just until the fireworks stopped.. we've reported him found with the police, and we're keeping him until his owner comes forward but it looks like he's been straying for a very long time - nails all worn down, really bad fleas, bad ears, starving hungry, stinky, all stuff like that.
the lost dog police person didn't think it sounded like anyone would be looking for him unless he'd been lost ages.. he's very friendly, the only problem is he's chased the cats, and now none of them will come in (except one i actually went and picked up and brought upstairs).
ok it's only been a few hours, but if they don't get on he'd have to go to the dog warden - and then he'd only have 10 days.... the youngest two were very very close to our dog that died last year, so they probably don't remember him at all or how nice dogs can be.
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els
Right now I'm dealing with a stray cat. She's a pretty little orange and white tiger, maybe 4 months old. Really sweet. I've been feeding her on the porch but the nights are getting cold so I've been bringing her in. So far she's not getting on so well with Delilah our 16 year old white angora. Dolls (our nickname for Delilah) doesn't seem to mind her but every time she looks at the new one it starts growling. Dolls approached her today and she went straight up the drapes. Hopefully I can get her a spot with Adirondack Save a Stray. They find homes for them instead of putting them to sleep. I'd keep her but I really don't want to start over with a young one. Good luck with Ollie. He sounds like a great dog. els
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what to tell mommy
by madison149 infor any of you that faded away from jws without getting df'd or da'd, what excuse did you give your close (jw) family members for why you stopped attending meetings?
did you let on that you were having doubts about the organization, did you pretend to be just really spiritually weak, or were you just very vague, saying you were really busy or having heath problems, etc?
i ask because my mom is forever on my case about attending meetings.
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els
Madison, I am a firm believer in the slow fade, it worked for me for a long time. All I really ever said was that I didn't believe a lot of things anymore, and that I did not want to discuss it. I think this left them the chance to believe that at some point I might be ready to talk. We haven't had a close relationship but I guess something was better than nothing. Moving away would be great but that is still a couple of years away. It's funny but I wanted the relationship mostly for my kids, but now that they are adults and making their own decisions my family doesn't approve of them either. I haven't heard from anyone since the end of June when my son joined the army. I'm debating what to do about that. Anyway, good luck whatever you decide, and however it turns out you will find alot of support here. els
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33
Congregation get-togethers
by freedom96 indid your hall ever organize times for the congregation to do activities?.
about every 6-9 months, mine would have a congregation picnic.
people would bring food, and we would play a softball game.
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els
The congregation I grew up in had get togethers all the time. Every Sunday afternoon all summer (after service of course) we'd go to the state park at the lake to swim, play softball, have a cookout. We had several congregations that had square dances together. We went roller skating one night a month and had ice skating parties in the winter. My family had a huge hill by our house so we always had the best sliding parties and we always had people over for cards and board games. We really did have a great time together which I am reminded about every time I run into a witness I grew up with. They seem to think that the fun we had should have been enough to keep me in. The fun just wasn't enough to cover up the bad stuff. els
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42
What's Your WORST Vice???
by minimus innow that you no longer have any real restrictions, have you allowed yourself to do something "naughty"?
what's your worst vice?
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els
Staying in bed on Sunday morning to have sex, cuddle, snooze, read the paper, have more sex, the whole time taking great delight in NOT being at the meeting. els
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8
Have you ever had a premonition?
by DanTheMan inin 1990 one of my best friends (mike) was riding in a van with another friend of mine who was driving (scott).
they pulled into the parking lot of a mini-mart that was in a bad part of town, to say the least (people often referred to it as "uzi alley").
the reason they pulled in was because they thought they recognized someone in the parking lot.
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els
I don't really have premonitions but I do get feelings about people and they're almost always right. I do have dreams that come true. I have dreamed for years about different people in my family holding a very young girl with long shiny blue-black hair, obviously oriental. Now my niece is adopting a baby girl from China. She should have her by New Years. I probably won't see her cause I'm being shunned, but at least I can say I knew about her first. els
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16
Talk by a Branch Overseer
by Defender ina branch overseer of an asian country who happened to be visiting some of his family members in our area, gave a talk this evening in the hall that i used to attend.
i have not been attending meetings for months, but decided to go when my mother, a devout jw, came to visit me last week.
the branch overseer had just returned from attending the annual meeting in new york.
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els
Haven't they used that marching around seven times on the seventh day bit for a very long time? I'm almost 42 and I remember that from when I was a teenage, trying to inspire us to do more preaching. They must be very tired of marching by now. els