Faithful Witness

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Posts by Faithful Witness

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  44

  The purpose of changing JW names, titles and terms

  by gingerbread in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  during a discussion over the weekend, we exchanged ideas about recent changes in terminology related to assembly days, conventions and new titles for the higher-ups.

  i commented that for years in 'security' at larger meetings we were told to talk to any that seemed out of place and ask questions that would indicate if they were apostates - antiquated terms like 'overseer' or a reference the 'truth' book.. another in our group brought up the character in the orwell book 1984 and how his job was to separate new and approved terms from old words.

  this was called doublethink and blackwhite.

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  Faithful Witness

  Keep them confused.

  Reaffirm their beliefs that the GB knows what is best for them, and that they need to rely on the GB to keep them informed during this time of the end.
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  33

  "Worldly" Friends vs "True" Friends

  by DuvanMuvan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey guys i am new to the whole forum thing (long time reader, first time postererer) and i wanted to get some other opinions on something that has bothered me ever since i first became a jehovah's witness.. i was always taught at the kingdom hall that friends inside the orginisation were the only ones i could count on and that the ones out of it (mainly at school) were just being controlled by satan to trick me into leaving the religion.. however, i always found it to be the opposite.

  my "worldly"friends were all accepting of my religion (back when i was ok with being a jw) and are the only ones i have really opened up to about wanting to leave.

  the only things i have in common with the other teenagers in my hall (3 boys, 3 girls) are that we've all been raised in the truth and... well that's it.. i was just wondering if anyone else found the same thing when they were a teenaged jw or if anyone still in my age finds the same thing..

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  Faithful Witness

  DuvanMuvan: Do you mean to say that you are not a baptized member of Jehovah's organization? I know you are running out of posts for today, but I wanted to make sure you realize the amount of support you have found here on JWN.

  If you feel so inclined, you can send private messages to any member here. You are among friends.
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  33

  "Worldly" Friends vs "True" Friends

  by DuvanMuvan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey guys i am new to the whole forum thing (long time reader, first time postererer) and i wanted to get some other opinions on something that has bothered me ever since i first became a jehovah's witness.. i was always taught at the kingdom hall that friends inside the orginisation were the only ones i could count on and that the ones out of it (mainly at school) were just being controlled by satan to trick me into leaving the religion.. however, i always found it to be the opposite.

  my "worldly"friends were all accepting of my religion (back when i was ok with being a jw) and are the only ones i have really opened up to about wanting to leave.

  the only things i have in common with the other teenagers in my hall (3 boys, 3 girls) are that we've all been raised in the truth and... well that's it.. i was just wondering if anyone else found the same thing when they were a teenaged jw or if anyone still in my age finds the same thing..

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  Faithful Witness

  I also wondered about your friends. Do you have a wordly friend that you can talk to about your everyday concerns? Not just JW struggles, but a buddy who doesn't judge you... ?

  If so, what are some ways you can spend more time with that friend, and LESS time under the watchful eye and indoctrination of the WT Society?

  Are there any after school activities that can take up some of your time? It will really help you to have some social support outside the organization, even if you can't leave quite yet for whatever reasons.
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  33

  "Worldly" Friends vs "True" Friends

  by DuvanMuvan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey guys i am new to the whole forum thing (long time reader, first time postererer) and i wanted to get some other opinions on something that has bothered me ever since i first became a jehovah's witness.. i was always taught at the kingdom hall that friends inside the orginisation were the only ones i could count on and that the ones out of it (mainly at school) were just being controlled by satan to trick me into leaving the religion.. however, i always found it to be the opposite.

  my "worldly"friends were all accepting of my religion (back when i was ok with being a jw) and are the only ones i have really opened up to about wanting to leave.

  the only things i have in common with the other teenagers in my hall (3 boys, 3 girls) are that we've all been raised in the truth and... well that's it.. i was just wondering if anyone else found the same thing when they were a teenaged jw or if anyone still in my age finds the same thing..

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  Faithful Witness

  Welcome, DuvanMuvan!

  I have never been a JW myself, so I wanted to give you my perspective as a "worldly." I have a fairly high opinion of JW's, as people. The ones I have known throughout the years, have always been very easy to get along with.

  Unfortunately, it wasn't until I decided to stop being a Bible Student, that I realized the friendship only went one way.

  I found it disappointing, that they advertise family happiness and a better, more peaceful life. The opposite seems to be the case. My family is now a statistic, divided by a terrible lie.

  I can forgive and have compassion for people who are trapped in this religion. What I find most difficult to understand, is why JW's do not believe in making peace.

  True followers of Christ are not afraid to forgive and love.
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  26

  Pioneering: How the GB shamelessly capitalizes on members' worldly desire for prominence.

  by Island Man in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the bible likens the preaching work to a sacrifice of praise - praise to god.

  pioneering is also a sacrifice that involves praise.

  it's the sacrifice of a specified number of hours that wins you the praise of men.. when you really analyze the psychology of pioneering it is apparent that the praise of men or prominence before men is at the heart of it.

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  Faithful Witness

  Oh, I remember the fashion boots and the 6" heels!

  They can make claims about themselves, but the JW women were the most flashy and worldly-looking people I knew in this rural area.

  The hairdos, makeup & perfume... made it pretty evident that they loved to spend money on their appearance.
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  53

  Do Facebook "Friends" That Constantly Brag, Irritate You?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there are a few people who are fb friends that constantly brag about themselves, their looks, their accomplishments, their bodies, their job---etc.. one particular person is too close to ignore but it's never ending.

  i am thisclose to telling her, to please stop it.. any thoughts?.

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  Faithful Witness

  I had to quit facebook. It's been almost a year now! It started consuming me and replacing my real life.

  I would see "friends" in the store, but we wouldn't have actual conversations. I find real-life discussions about comments people made on facebook, to be disturbing.

  I was seeing photos of people I knew, posted by a different friend. The friend in the photo doesn't even know the pictures are online, since she doesn't go on facebook (just has an account). The privacy invasion is just too much... friends tagging me... people getting mad about things they read about me... running into someone I hadn't seen in a year, and having them make the comment "You've been busy!" (lurking and keeping track of me, why?? very disquieting...)

  I was reading all these posts from other moms, about the great things they were doing with and for their kids. Then I started taking pictures and posting our activities, so I could show I was spending time with my kids, too!

  I knew I was in trouble, when my daughter told me to take a video of her sledding, "So we can put it on facebook!!" The avatar I have here, is actually from that day... the dog was following me around, like she was trying to figure out why I had my ipad with me. To me, this dog's face is saying, "Please put down your iPad & play with ME!"

  Now that I am off facebook though, I know I am missing out on events and updates. I don't get invited to real-life gatherings, etc. My social network is much smaller now, but I don't need the recognition of others. I need to turn off the screens and spend more time with my family... I am still guilty of this, but now I'm anonymous on JWN.

  No more JW brother in law, keeping tabs on me and getting mad when I hire a local contractor. No more people I have never met in real life, thinking they know me and commenting on my life.

  Do I miss it? Yes... but not enough to go back.

  The other thing that really bugs me, is when people take & post pictures of their feet...
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  4

  FS manipulation tactic #137: "Are you the manager?"

  by rebel8 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this was to be used when visiting businesses.

  if you asked the first person you saw if he was the manager, either:.

  a. he is the manager and you can proceed with your pitch, getting permission to leave your literatrash in the business, annoy the customers, and interfere with the staff's productivity by witnessing to them.. b. he is not the manager, and having an ego built for a 6-yr-old, he will automatically feel so flattered that you thought he was the manager that he'll say yes to anything you ask.

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  Faithful Witness

  Good trick. Don't businesses usually have policies whether they will allow soliciting or not?
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  26

  Pioneering: How the GB shamelessly capitalizes on members' worldly desire for prominence.

  by Island Man in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the bible likens the preaching work to a sacrifice of praise - praise to god.

  pioneering is also a sacrifice that involves praise.

  it's the sacrifice of a specified number of hours that wins you the praise of men.. when you really analyze the psychology of pioneering it is apparent that the praise of men or prominence before men is at the heart of it.

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  Faithful Witness

  What did Jesus say about taking credit for your service, to be noticed by men?

  Matthew 6:1-6 (NWT 2013)

  “Take care not to practice your righteousness in front of men to be noticed by them;+ otherwise you will have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens. 2 So when you make gifts of mercy,* do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your gifts of mercy may be in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you.+ 5 “Also, when you pray, do not act like the hypocrites,+ for they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the main streets to be seen by men.+ Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full."

  When you fill out that field service time card, you are working to be glorified by men. No one should be reporting their hours or gifts of mercy* to the society. If you are truly a follower of Christ, you give and serve without recognition.

  Just an observation, but does it seem like the overseers and governing body are sometimes guilty of "blowing a trumpet ahead of themselves?"

  Cross reference denoted by the + in verse 1 above:

  Matthew 23:5 All the works they do, they do to be seen by men, for they broaden the scripture-containing cases that they wear as safeguards and lengthen the fringes of their garments.

  "Scripture-containing cases?" Is that like a JW bookbag, broadened (stuffed) with WT publications... your "safeguard" against the world?

  "Lenghtening the fringes of their garments?" Sort of like gaining titles and status within the congregation and/or organization?

  Just quoting what it says in their own version of the bible...

  *gifts of mercy has a note: "gifts to the poor" - do they publish this in their yearbook? Do they give to the poor? Oh! They must be doing that in secret... definitive proof that they are the true servants of Christ.
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  6

  Are Baptisms Internal Births or Converts?

  by Watchtower-Free in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  are baptisms internal births or converts?.

  there were around 6,000,000 jehovah's witnesses in 1995, during which time the global average birth rate was 22.4/1000.

  the estimated number of witness children born is therefore 134,400. in 2011, when that group of children were around the age of baptism, there were 263,161 people baptised.

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  Faithful Witness

  I hate to say this, but both my parents and my sister and her husband, were all converts and baptized sometime between 2010 and 2012.

  I have not given up hope on them... but for now, they are statistics.
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  7

  Is there a search bar for jw.org??

  by mauiboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i registered as a user (under an alias of course) but can't find a search bar anywhere on the site......i'm not a tech-savvy person, but usually can find what i need.

  i will repost this question under the post "counteract jw.org august 2014 campaign" participating in that idea was what prompted me to open an account on the jw site in the 1st place.

  other than that the whole thing makes me want to puke..

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  Faithful Witness

  This will be a good question to ask the JW at your door, when they come advertising the blessed website in August.

  How do I search for these answers? I will go to the site, and have them show me...