Posts by TTATTelder

60

Can we excuse the R&F for ever ?

by Phizzy in

generally i go along with it when posters express pity and sympathy for the r&f jw's.

i feel this way toward them too, to a degree.. but where do we draw the line ?

we know that jw's do not have a conscience of their own really, they are told how to think and act, and they have to obey.. just as those living in nazi germany were told how to think and act, and had to obey.. but, " i was just following orders " was not taken as a valid defense at nuremburg.. as the wt descends in to becoming more and more like north korea in its do not question, simply obey !

TTATTelder

Who cares which GB was worse. They both abuse authority, take advantage of people mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially.

It's like trying to decide which rapist is the least moral.

As far as the r&f blame goes, I think it is definitely a case by case situation. Some know more than others. Some are more capable of thinking for themselves than others are.

Actually when I think about some of the people in my hall, it is disgusting how the GB (of whatever flavor/time period) have convinced many simple-minded people to dedicate their entire life energy to the organization. They really believe they are pioneering for God.

Also, the fear of being ostracized is a huge deal. The leaders create an exclusive community, engender dependence by talking people into cutting off any other sources of support, and then threaten to rip it out from under them if they dare step out of line. It is truly sick and psychopathic.

It's a hard hard hard reality to face. Even harder for born-ins who have barely any connections/relationships/support/family etc. outside the org.

Imagine waking up in the Truman Show as a middle-aged person. No wonder so many get on mind-numbing drugs and bury their heads in the sand.

30

What is it with teens/adults and dependency on everyone else?

by punkofnice in

jw
friends

i've seen a lot of this lately here in the uk, where teens and young adults still depend on their parents when they live away from home.. some just don't seem able to earn enough.

some are on benefits.

some earn more than me and are in debt.

TTATTelder

I personally believe that, generally speaking, people tend to do what they can get away with.

If kids can call up pops for a couple hundred bucks and get it, then they will probably do it again.

Parents have to say NO.

Many people are scared of confrontation these days.

I just heard a story about a pair of grandparents that feel they are being taken advantage of as the built-in babysitter. Apparently their kids drop off the grandkids almost everyday. The grandparents are now planning to move many miles away just to get away from it.

Strange us humans.

16

Creationism or evolution, or do I believe in god

by moley in

in the past year or so i've been completely evaluating whether i believe in god.

i studied marine biology at uni for the last 3 years and it completely change my view on evolution.

even when i was in i believed in evolution to a certain extent (ie the flood made no sense, the earth being 60000 odd years old etc etc) and this has made me question the existence of god.

TTATTelder

I agree with Terry.

I too just recently had a similiar epiphany. We were so indocrinated to believe we had all the answers, we think the world must be completely understood.

The JW religion creates an artificial black and white version of an extremely gray world.

When I first started seeing things, I had a lot of stress about not having an explanation now. Then finally it hit me. Neither does anybody else!

The GB doesn't have all the answers and nether do I. The difference is - I don't pretend I do.

13

"We're on different paths now."

by Pyramid God in

it's been a while since i've read or posted on jwn.

i guess i have been trying to put this chapter of my life behind me.. .

as is usually the case, just when i'm having a good week, i get contact from a witness.

TTATTelder

I don't remember that exact line, but I do recall similiar reasoning.

For instance when I was younger, I used to hear things like "does that worldly person care about your relationship with Jehovah?" or "does that associate care about whether you gain everlasting life?"

Actually now that I think about it, I think you hear those "different path/goal" lines a lot in their cousel against marrying "unbelievers".

It's all "us vs. them" stuff and used to convince those that are in to stay away from outside influences.

15

Mormons = Anyone Aware of This?

by Joe Grundy in

anyone aware of this?.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10619538/head-of-mormon-church-thomas-monson-summoned-by-british-magistrates-court-over-adam-and-eve-teaching.html.

TTATTelder

ldrnomo I agree.

While this type of thing will not get anywhere in the courts because of the "can of worms" it would open up, it is great as a publicity stunt.

This kind of story gets traction and brings the right kind of attention to these fraudsters.

30

Pioneer Encouragement - "You can sit in the back room"

by 4thgen in

jw
friends

last night one of the pioneers stopped by on her way home from the pioneer meeting.

she has always been very kind and i believe she is acted out of concern, however her visit was unsettling.

she mentioned that all the pioneers were counseled to invite everyone they know inactive or those who has had life has got them down to come to (a special?

TTATTelder

This is a seriously funny thread.

I look forward to hearing about this stuff at my hall.

They are really laying it on thick with the whole 100 year anniversary thing. They want to "call all the prodigal sons home".

They are in an all out P.R. BLITZ to turn this embarrassment - 100 years of failed predictions - into a huge sales drive.

"More Urgent than Ever!" "Time is Running Out!" "A Year of Special Activity!" "The Last Memorial - Maybe!"

40

Tech49 has the CO over for lunch

by Tech49 in

so awhile back, during our last circuit overseer visit, vic and i decided to bite the bullet.... there seemed to be very little support for the mid-week lunch plans for the co and his wife, so we signed up to host.

we definitely didnt want it to be awkward, so we invited a few others along, as a nice little group affair.

they were excited, and offered to do the cooking, so i said i would play along.. just some background.... this particular co is kind of a tool (big surprise right?

TTATTelder

I feel your pain Tech49.

My wife and I fed a CO and his wife once a few years ago. We fixed the house up nice, had it sparkling inside and out, fixed one of our special dishes, and really rolled out the red carpet. They came, ate one serving, never complimented our home, never complimented the dish, did not thank us for the meal, and then left.

There was a funky energy the whole time they were there. There was a self-rightoeus air about them. He didn't hit us with any counsel, but we felt like they were judging us for having a nice house and probably for both of us working and not pioneering.

Instead of being thankful we could afford to provide them a nice meal in a nice setting, they sat in judgement. They preach "Jehovah provides" and then scoff at the vessel Jehovah used to feed them that day.

It's amazing how some of these guys get so out of touch with reality, presumptuous, and self-righteous.

32

Is it Humanly Possible, that the writers believe this stuff?

by objectivetruth in

as many of you know, whom have been in the org for a while.. the wt is hard coded into your mind.

sometimes, i will read a wt, to make sure that i hadn't imagined all of the ridiculousness... and then i read a wt like this : http://m.wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2004168 (is linking to this legal?).

i especially enjoyed this section : .

TTATTelder

I agree with Phizzy all the way.

You don't just accidentally fall into this manipulative, propagandizing, deceptive, cult-speak.

It is written with an agenda. Often the agenda centers around fear, guilt, and control.

5

My confession: How i feel WT makes me a bigger liar

by Jon Preston in

jw
friends

this is difficult for me to discuss.

i love my wife and i live my family.

but since i became a jw i feel like ive lied more than when i was "worldy"...is it stress and the relentless pressure to do more?

TTATTelder

I do feel that way also. I don't take it quite as hard as you seem to be describing though. I feel like I am forced to take the cautious position I do. It is not because of any dishonesty on my part, but because of the childish, black-and-white world the org has created that my wife is bought into most of the time.

I am happy to know now what I know, but the knowledge comes with a large responsibility. I honestly look at it like not telling a child Santa Claus isnt real. I mean at some point you have to, but it would need to be at a point when the timing is right and they are ready.

That analogy speaks more to the childishness of it all and to the emotional immaturity it promotes. I know it's more serious than that.

I wish you well. I am still very much in the journey myself. I will say though - just when you think you are cracking - the mind has a way of moving to the next level of acceptance.

35

We Pray For The Governing Body...

by jw07 in

at the meetings i've noticed over the past 2 years or so brothers asking for 'special blessings' for the governing body.

it was everyonce in a while at first.

now it is almost at every single meeting!

TTATTelder

Jw07, funny stuff with the teen - text reference. It really is that way for some, and they are completely oblivious to how stupid they look drooling and fawning over these marketers.