Closer to Fine: Most churches that I have visited, seem to be encouraging their audience to do as you described... often in the form of a monetary donation.
Faithful Witness
JoinedPosts by Faithful Witness
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49
Extreme emotions re today's watchtower
by Tornintwo ini was supposed to attend the meeting today, one of my once a month duties for the sake of my family and my fade.
i read the wt and i just can't stomach going.... what this wt does is again and again reiterate that only jws will survive the coming destruction and that they should be happy about this and raise ourselves erect...eg:.
we cannot expect that many people will suddenly convert to true christianity.
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Faithful Witness
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49
Extreme emotions re today's watchtower
by Tornintwo ini was supposed to attend the meeting today, one of my once a month duties for the sake of my family and my fade.
i read the wt and i just can't stomach going.... what this wt does is again and again reiterate that only jws will survive the coming destruction and that they should be happy about this and raise ourselves erect...eg:.
we cannot expect that many people will suddenly convert to true christianity.
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Faithful Witness
The Watchtower pimps, are accusing other religions of being prostitutes?
Sickening. I'd rather die, than live among these hypocrites in paradise.
It makes me furious to think about all the children that are forced into this cult, and the way the society hides the evidence of their own sexual crimes.
"VIRGIN-LIKE?"
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Need clarification from someone who speaks JW: What is an "apostate" ...or... an "apostate website?"
by Faithful Witness inhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/27/jehovahs-witnesses-destroyed-notes-about-child-sex-abuse-inquiry-told.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/27/us-australia-religion-sexcrimes-iduskcn0q10ih20150727.
http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/07/28/australia-jehovah-witness-sex-abuse-hannigan-lklv.cnn.
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Faithful Witness
I am still amazed, at the way people can be controlled by peer pressure.
My own parents, who helped me learn to think for myself, now believe that it is more important to serve an organization, than to show love to their own grandchildren.
My mother once told me (while we were still studying), "Jehovah's Witnesses divide families."
Now, whenever I get a chance to talk to her, she always says, "I need to get out in service more." She is so confused, and I can tell she feels this conflict in her own mind when she is with me. She doesn't know which personality to use. She can't answer my questions, and she admits that she can't ask them either.
While talking with her, I've heard her mutter "apostate" under her breath. I had the sinking feeling that this was involuntary. The things she says sometimes leave me speechless, and I wonder (hope) if there is still a part of her brain that is awake, and realizing that she has been duped.
It is so sad to see her getting older, and becoming more and more convinced that her only solution is to keep on studying and repeating things that don't make sense. Simply saying, "We are the happiest people on earth," does not make it true... but you will believe it, if you hear it enough times.
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Are we helping to fulfill "prophecy"?
by LexIsFree ini'm sure this has been discussed before, but i have been thinking the last few days about all of us.
the "evil apostate" family.
we all have suffered at the hands of the org and their brain washing of our family and friends.
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Faithful Witness
It is a circular argument.
No one wins.
... and there is no reasoning with someone, who is convinced that they are a victim.
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Need clarification from someone who speaks JW: What is an "apostate" ...or... an "apostate website?"
by Faithful Witness inhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/27/jehovahs-witnesses-destroyed-notes-about-child-sex-abuse-inquiry-told.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/27/us-australia-religion-sexcrimes-iduskcn0q10ih20150727.
http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/07/28/australia-jehovah-witness-sex-abuse-hannigan-lklv.cnn.
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Faithful Witness
I realize that the WT organization uses the term "apostate" to scare people, and to keep JW's from discussing themselves with anyone outside the religion.
I've never been a JW myself, but I appreciate that this word is a powerful trigger in the mind of those who are "IN the truth."
I know better, than to quote or present printed material, from anyone who is outside their organization. I have never mentioned the internet to a JW, yet when I bring up a news story, such as those being reported about their policies regarding how they protect child abusers... I get the immediate response of, "Well, there are APOSTATE websites out there..."
Do they mean... (just some of the articles published this summer)...WASHINGTON POST
THE GUARDIAN
REUTERS
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/27/us-australia-religion-sexcrimes-idUSKCN0Q10IH20150727
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/07/28/australia-jehovah-witness-sex-abuse-hannigan-lklv.cnn
BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-33673240
NPR
If these news reports are all false, then why is the WT corporation not suing for defamation, or at least demanding that these lies be removed from the internet?
Can anyone give me a good JW definition for "apostate?"
Am I an apostate?
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Faithful Witness
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Mine was yesterday. September is a beautiful month to be born.
Hope your day is wonderful, and that you got something you really wanted!
I received 2 dozen deluxe chocolate-covered strawberries from Shari's Berries (my husband is so good at following instructions!), a lovely handmade card from my 9-year old daughter, a rainbow loom bracelet from my 7-year old son (it glows in the dark, and is my lifetime pass into his secret club).
It's not about the gifts, but it sure does feel good to be remembered! Even if my parents don't care anymore, I had a wonderful day. :) ENJOY!
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Thinking about taking my fiance to a meeting.. going as a "worldly person"
by OneStepOut93 ini may take my fiance to a meeting.
give them fake names and just see how my fiance reacts.
he's been curious about seeing what i hated so much about the whole thing (not that he'll really understand everything, i mean of course he never will to my extent but)... i'd like to see what an outsiders view on the whole thing would be as well.
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Faithful Witness
My husband and I attended a meeting a few years ago, and he carried a small recording device in his suit pocket. We dressed up as JW's (never have been real JW's). Only one lady spoke to us after the meeting. We explained that we "hadn't been to meetings for awhile, and wanted to catch up on the latest news."
We read the Watchtower study article ahead of time, and it was very interesting to play back the recording, with all the strange comments that were made by people in the audience. (The article being discussed, was the one "refining" the Truth about 1914... there were some doozy comments, indeed! - search my old posts, for a detailed account of our experience).
Of course, we did arrive just in time for the opening song, and left promptly at the end of the meeting. They were gathering for field service.
If your fiance is truly interested in this phenomenon, consider recording the talk and the study hour. I made lots of notes in the margins of my Watchtower, but the comments came too fast for me to keep up.
Attending a Sunday meeting, while fully "Awake!" is a very interesting study of human behavior. It was a good thing we found seats near the back... I'm sure my facial expressions would have revealed my amusement and disgust.
GOOD LUCK!!
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Do Kingdom Hall congregations communicate with each other?
by Faithful Witness inwhen asked, my mom denies that they do.... do local congregations pass along gossip or reports on householders in the area?
specifically, i am wondering if they might report on (unbaptized) family members that live in other towns?.
since the abrupt ending of my bs with miss k, i have not heard from the jw's at all.
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Faithful Witness
When asked, my mom denies that they do...
Do local congregations pass along gossip or reports on householders in the area?
Specifically, I am wondering if they might report on (unbaptized) family members that live in other towns?
Since the abrupt ending of my BS with Miss K, I have not heard from the JW's at all. My mom has stopped asking me if the "witnesses" are still calling on me.We didn't even get an invitation to the Memorial this year! We usually get paper invitations to 2 local ceremonies, because of where we live.
I'm not complaining about their absence, but just wondering. They have suddenly become obviously silent, even many months later.
Did word get around? Did I manage to find the trigger that really scared them away for good?
(I invited a friend to my Bible Study session, and she told the elderette that she had come to meet her, "to try to bring you to the Lord." - You can read about the resulting freakout in my older posts.)
I know they take some kind of notes. I've never actually seen a field service report. Do they record any information about conversations you have, or is it just the amount of time?
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My JW family - hypocrites or confused?
by Faithful Witness ini haven't posted here in awhile, and have really been focusing more on my own life.
i haven't been keeping up with jw updates or issues, as it was really getting exhausting, and taking too much of my attention away from my priorities.
(i was never a jw.
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Faithful Witness
Thanks for understanding. Anytime I try to discuss JW issues with anyone, I end up feeling like a raving lunatic. They just seem to be all over the place, and so inconsistent.
When I DO actually go and read a current study article, and then talk to my mom, it doesn't seem like she's following their instructions (suggestions?) very well. I'm not going to correct her ways, since I am a "non-believing relative."
I have heard her utter the word, "apostate" under her breath at me, but I think it was almost an unconscious outburst. I ignored it. She has accused me of "attacking the Watchtower" before (about a year ago), but now she really seems to be reaching out and trying to spend more time with my kids. I'm glad for that.
It seems like we are happily co-existing right now, ignoring the huge elephant in the room. I hope it will last awhile. When my dad starts introducing "Jehovah" into conversation, I don't take the bait.
Maybe we are actually seeing a glimmer of peace in the family, after 3 years.
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My JW family - hypocrites or confused?
by Faithful Witness ini haven't posted here in awhile, and have really been focusing more on my own life.
i haven't been keeping up with jw updates or issues, as it was really getting exhausting, and taking too much of my attention away from my priorities.
(i was never a jw.
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Faithful Witness
I haven't posted here in awhile, and have really been focusing more on my own life. I haven't been keeping up with JW updates or issues, as it was really getting exhausting, and taking too much of my attention away from my priorities.
(I was never a JW.)
Short version: My sister and her husband are very dedicated to the organization. She decided to stop communicating with me, because of "the way it affects her."
My dad seems to be dedicated, extremely brainwashed and like he has become a robot for the Watchtower. "They're smarter than me!"
My mom is confused, but going along with almost all of it. She has also made bizarre statements of faith in the governing body. "Yes, I do believe they speak for God."
Recently, I learned (from my JW mother) that my sister is working at the casino. She works in the restaurant, so apparently she and her husband have decided that this is ok with Jehovah... but "Don't tell Dad! He doesn't know."
During a recent telephone conversation with my mom, the JW's came and rang her doorbell. SHE RAN AND HID! She was saying, "I know they saw me..." Apparently, she was too ashamed to answer the door, because she had messy hair and was wearing her pajama pants. (SO many things I wanted to say, about her reaction to unannounced visitors on a sunny Tuesday afternoon... but I just laughed along with her, reminding her of the times we all hid from the Avon Lady!) She has admitted that there isn't really anyone at the Kingdom Hall that she can talk to... how strange! I thought you were a worldwide brotherhood, friends greeting you, everywhere you go.
My mom also sends weird cards and letters to my kids, and will send cash or gifts, months after their birthdays pass... along with a mention of, "I know you're a year older now..."
It's actually very sad at times. They don't seem to have anything solid to hang onto, and they remain confused about what they believe. My dad relies on Watchtower publications, to answer everything for him. My mom was telling me a story about how he was acting, and I had to remind her that he's 69 years old... you can't have a new personality at his age, and not get confused sometimes. (He doesn't know WHO knows WHAT about his being a JW, so he flounders around sometimes).
I'm not trying to be spiteful or mean. It makes me sad to see my parents choosing to spend their time and resources on this useless organization. It hurts to see them putting Watchtower interests above their own grandchildren. I wanted to scream, yesterday, when my dad started to tell me how gullible my other sister was (not JW). But I won't fight them about it, unless they start trying to work their Witch Tower magic on my kids.
To give credit to my mom: She skipped field service yesterday, and watched my kids for me. When we got to the house, there was a note on the fridge, left by my (recently baptized) 12-year old niece. It was spelled out in magnetic letters, to my kids, telling them to have fun. I thought that was a very nice gesture.
They are spending more hours than ever, in field service and "kingdom" work. Boo!
I will be grateful for the time we get with them, and resist the urge to bring out their "new" personalities. SO many things are just left unsaid (again)...