Splash, Prologos, I see now. That makes sense. (EDIT: Your point makes sense, not WT dogma) This means my understanding was flawed even when in.
Steve2, sorry for the sideline.
the us edition of the june kingdom ministry urges the still-active witnesses to get out and preach in august saying that it is fitting because the anniversary of the start of the time of the end will be in that month.
what arch hypocrites!.
they won't allow children to have birthdays but they celebrate a date on a calendar that suits their doctrinal purpose...which is itself virtually the "birthday" of the start of the time of the end - according to their doctrine.. perhaps the "celebrations" will backfire when they try to load 100 candles on the celebratory cake and there will be a huge burnout of faith in this man-made date.. besides, the organization was incorporated in 1876 - decades before 1914.. there may well be moments of unease when the few witnesses with operating brain cells realize the organization has kept them in panic-mode to urgently preach about an end that never comes.
Splash, Prologos, I see now. That makes sense. (EDIT: Your point makes sense, not WT dogma) This means my understanding was flawed even when in.
Steve2, sorry for the sideline.
the us edition of the june kingdom ministry urges the still-active witnesses to get out and preach in august saying that it is fitting because the anniversary of the start of the time of the end will be in that month.
what arch hypocrites!.
they won't allow children to have birthdays but they celebrate a date on a calendar that suits their doctrinal purpose...which is itself virtually the "birthday" of the start of the time of the end - according to their doctrine.. perhaps the "celebrations" will backfire when they try to load 100 candles on the celebratory cake and there will be a huge burnout of faith in this man-made date.. besides, the organization was incorporated in 1876 - decades before 1914.. there may well be moments of unease when the few witnesses with operating brain cells realize the organization has kept them in panic-mode to urgently preach about an end that never comes.
Not trying to derail the thread...
Watchtower, September 1, 1989, p.18 par.3
Since Jesus will never die again, he is in position to rule as King over mankind for a thousand years and to “bruise” the head of the symbolic serpent, crushing him out of existence after the end of the Thousand Year Reign.
JWs understand his rule as king started in 1914. WT stated doctrine is that his rule will last 1000 years. If I'm missing something here I'll be happy to participate in a new thread to hammer out the details.
i consider myself a christian.
seriously did not even think that jw was that much different...but now i know better and it has my mind spinning.
i have stopped answering questions, say my own prayers to god at the meetings, and plastr on a fake smile.
HeyThere, as I was reading your post I thought of the experience provided in this thread by Don Cameron, author of Captives of a Concept - highly recommended reading for you.
Sounds like you're very fortunate in that your husband and in-laws don't appear to be hard-core against what you are saying, taking more of a Christian-esque approach to your difference in understanding. Use that card wisely. It is unique. May I suggest you get Don's book and try the method used by the guy in this experience.
And best wishes on your surgery.
i think next year they will have the memorial at a larger event space like where they held their circuit assemblies.
i noticed each first congregation at each kingdom hall has to leave immediately because each 2nd congregation is coming afterwards.
the first congregation does not really have the time to greet new people after the memorial.
Emeth that is the way my old congregation started doing it, just about the time I was waking up.
In fact, that first time in a large banquet room at a local Marriott Hotel was also the last time I met (in a JW atmosphere) with my then bible study. I had admitted to him during our last few studies together that I was beginning to have doubts about the religion I was teaching him. He rightly asked, "If you don't believe this stuff, what's the point of continuing this study?"
Anyway, he met me at the Marriott for his first and last Memorial out of respect. When the singing started, it sounded terrible and pathetic as this was also the first year the new song book came out and nobody knew the melody. I was SOOO embarrassed - not only in front of this soon-to-be ex bible study, but also the hotel staff that was supporting the event.
Watchtower craziness is bad enough when it is conducted within the confines of a Kingdom Hall. When it starts leaking out into other people's buildings... YIKES!
BTW - that ex bible student and I are now awesome friends.
BINGO! is gambling. They've already come out and said too much against it to use it as a money-maker now. Although, I sure if there was a way for them to do it covertly, like flipping real-estate without the flock knowing what's going on, I'm sure they would.
Televangelizing makes them look too much like every other religion on the street - and they're all about looking different, separating themselves from mainstream religion.
the us edition of the june kingdom ministry urges the still-active witnesses to get out and preach in august saying that it is fitting because the anniversary of the start of the time of the end will be in that month.
what arch hypocrites!.
they won't allow children to have birthdays but they celebrate a date on a calendar that suits their doctrinal purpose...which is itself virtually the "birthday" of the start of the time of the end - according to their doctrine.. perhaps the "celebrations" will backfire when they try to load 100 candles on the celebratory cake and there will be a huge burnout of faith in this man-made date.. besides, the organization was incorporated in 1876 - decades before 1914.. there may well be moments of unease when the few witnesses with operating brain cells realize the organization has kept them in panic-mode to urgently preach about an end that never comes.
This might actually be a good thing. I think most JWs have not given any real thought to the significance of it being 100 years later... that there are only 900 years left of Christi's reign... that they were supposed to have an entire 1000 years to grow to perfection, but they're still dying.
For the WT to highlight the anniversary could very well be a good thing, especially when they send the flock out to celebrate it by doing something most of them hate anyway
We'll see.
i was 13yo and largely clueless to what was going on.
i think i remember hearing something about an apostate being weeded out of bethel but really couldn't have cared less.
i didn't start getting zealous until a couple of years later.. .
I was 13yo and largely clueless to what was going on. I think I remember hearing something about an apostate being weeded out of Bethel but really couldn't have cared less. I didn't start getting zealous until a couple of years later.
What are your memories of those events? How did you react? Did you have suspicions? Were you in awe of how effective Jehovah was at keeping his people clean?
hope you don't mind me sharing my experiences of holy week in my new christian life.. went to my church for good friday.
it was really moving.
some lovely christian songs.
That's awesome! I'm happy for you.
It's been 4 years since my exit and I think this Sunday I am finally ready to stick my nose into a small, non-denominational community church for the first time. Kinda nervous.
Eh... we'll see what happens.
why do jehovah's witnesses shun former members?.
loads of jws answered on this one.
kind of old but thought people would still wanna see it..
Kate, YAHOO doesn't decide. The person asking the question can select the answer he/she likes best or leave it to be voted on by participants.
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It seems most JWs have a clear disconnect when it comes to the disfellowshipping/shunning matter. When they hear "disfellowship/shun", their minds automatically go directly to "unrepentant fornication, adultery, theft, lying, etc..." There does not seem to be a mental pathway that allows them to hear, "doctrinal questions, conscientious objection or peaceful exit."
was just wondering how many gay exjw's were on this site, and how did you deal with being in this organization?
and also, how did you end up leaving?.
Matt - I used to pioneer, special pioneer, be a ministerial servant, an elder, attended an early MTS class, worked at Brooklyn Bethel and Watchtower Farms, and served as a missionary in South America. But all of that pales to the joy I now have of living my life as God created me, with my partner of 8 years.
I imagine it would all pale to the joy brought on by a mediocre bowel movement.
But what do I know?