Posts by TTATTelder

71

A big hello and thank you

by iwasblind in

i just wanted to introduce myself and say a big hello to all of my mentally diseased friends.. i say friends because i have been lurking for some time so it feels like home (us lurkers are a bit scared and cautious so it takes a while).

i won't bore you with too many details, but i am a born in, currently serving as the cobe of a congregation.

my wife and i have pioneered for the last 10 years and were shaken awake by that ridiculous 15th july 2013 wt about the generation and 1914.. my wife who is much smarter than me has questioned for years.

TTATTelder

iwasblind,

Welcome. I too am still serving. It's a sumbitch. Lol. Being fully awake and having to go through the motions is torture sometimes. I take solace in the fact that I carry an understanding and level head into the elder responsibilities. I have protected a number of folks from overzealous elders. Not that it makes that much difference.

I can't bring myself to use phrases like "the truth" or "Jehovah's people" anymore. I am quite selective in what I say in comments or parts. Actually what I hate the most now is being assigned as reader (and yes elders are used as readers in my hall). I used to enjoy public reading, but you are obligated to say exactly what is on the page. Sometimes I literally cringe.

Be thankful your wife is on board. That is worth a million bucks easy. My wife is a slow work in progress. PM me if you want to compare notes. Take care.

-TE

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

TTATTelder

Pete,

I see your point. I will say though, I respect the overall sentiment of Russell in that quote. Whether it was sincere or not, he acknowledged that God owns all the riches of the universe, and if an organization needs funds it means that organization is without God's backing.

Of course, I am sure there was a coupon or offer in the same journal for some subscription or books for sale by mail order (if not multiple offers), so it all boils down to how you define the terms like "petition" being used in the quote.

The point could also be made that the jw broadcast is the literature of today. It certainly is digital content straight from the horse's mouth.

I had a brief convo with the wife a few minutes ago. She asked about my demeanor lately. I told her I don't like what I'm seeing in the organization and mentioned the deceit and money focus. She listened pretty well, but rebutted along the lines of "Well God has had problems in his organization in the past" blah blah. Anyhow I don't want to say too much, but we are supposed to watch the broadcast when we get a chance. I get the feeling that she doesn't really want to watch it. Must be the CD kicking in.

-TE

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

TTATTelder

Thanks everybody. Your posts help a lot. I think I will watch it with her and gauge her reaction like jwfacts said. I'll try to sit on my hands as much as possible and let her take the lead down negative road. I'll keep the Russell quote in my back pocket. Also will check out "Going Clear" for future viewing with her.

I'll post here after the deed is done.

-TE

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

TTATTelder

Thanks for the good advice everybody. I would like to give individual responses but I can't right now.

I like the subtle approach mentioned and generally the outside take on things. It helps give me perspective.

Joe, to answer your question, it's borderline psychological torture if I'm honest. Not healthy. Can't do the elder thing much longer. I've planted some seeds so she knows it's coming. Just about timing and when I'm comfortable to take on the reactions and such.

Xanthippe, I thought about how some could take the title of the thread. I thought it made a catchier headline, though, if you will. I'm not that guy lol. Not by a long shot.

-TE

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

TTATTelder

For some background, I am still in. Still an elder. Very much awake. Still trapped by family, spouse, employment, yada yada. I am trying to gently wake my wife up so she doesn't freak out and divorce me to stay in the Truman show.

(btw Wayward Pines is a new TV mini series that is eerily like being a JW)

Anyhow, we haven't watched a broadcast yet. She has barely mentioned them. I have, up until now, thought this was a good thing (which it is). Now, though, with this Lett money-grab episode, I'm thinking it may be a better move to get her to watch it to see what they're up to. I'm torn because I see the broadcasts as additional indoctrination sessions, so part of me doesn't want to go there.

Any thoughts? Your help is appreciated.

-TE

PS - Admittedly it will be hard for me to sit through it without pointing out the lies and deception. Hell I can print off the letter that has the additional instructions for elders concerning the new "no mortgage" program.

75

Rumor about the Imitate Jesus Convention

by FusionTheism in

i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.

TTATTelder

I realize that the left hand may not know what the right hand is doing, but the elders school (end of 2014) was about disfellowshipping quicker and reinstating slower. They had videos of staged judicial committee meetings and everything.

This hope for the regional seems exactly opposite of what was taught to elders in my area just 6 months ago.

-TE

18

How Soon Will We See 9-Year-Olds in Committee Meetings?

by TTATTelder in

that teddy bear baptism video was shocking.. if you haven't seen it yet.

check it out on this thread:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/271170002/on-subject-child-baptism-video.

TTATTelder

Brokeback,

That's what bothers me the most. I thought about mentioning it in the OP. What happens when a baptized 8 year old gets molested? Now you have an arshole adult brother in the back room denying the charge and accusing the baptized child of slander.

It's ugly.

So obvious that the "baptized" realm of this cult is not a place for children. So yet again.... the WT leadership sets a course - not in the interest of protecting children - but sacrificing them for their selfish corporate agenda.

-TE

59

On the subject of Child Baptism - Video

by cappytan in

so, the latest "kids" kingdom melody video is out.. here are some screenshots:.

.

yep, that's right, they showed a kid with a teddy bear getting baptized.. here's the video in full for documentation, if you can stomach it.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ellrtyj_maq.

TTATTelder

BU2B,

Sorry to hear that. Hang in there. It is incogitable what they are doing to kids. Right is right and wrong is wrong. One day our families are just going to have to open their damn eyes to that.

-TE

146

Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses

by Brother Jeramy in

allow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.

i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.

some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).

TTATTelder

The problem is you are addicted to the thought of being one of "God's Chosen People" and frankly you don't want to give that up. Most of us here understand that feeling. You make up these distinctions in order to hang on to that label.

Unfortunately the truth is - this isn't and never was "God's Organization"- you and I and the rest on this thread were never "God's Chosen People". Bitter pill I know.

The next thought-stopper is "Where shall I go?". The truth about that is - nobody has all the answers. JW's are used to thinking in terms of someone or some group having all the answers. That was never the case. I don't know what's up - you don't know what's up - the GB also doesn't have a clue. One thing that helped me at the beginning come to terms with suddenly being aware of so many unanswered questions was the thought "The GB doesn't know either". This made me feel better. I was now equal to the overlords. Equally clueless.

The question instead of "Where shall I go?" should instead be "In what direction should I move?".

The answer is always to move away from those that abuse and toward those that empower, encourage, and inspire.

It is my opinion that if God wants to be found, he won't be wearing wolf's clothing.

-TE

18

How Soon Will We See 9-Year-Olds in Committee Meetings?

by TTATTelder in

that teddy bear baptism video was shocking.. if you haven't seen it yet.

check it out on this thread:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/271170002/on-subject-child-baptism-video.

TTATTelder

paulmolark....totally agree

I too was baptized as a pre-teen in the 80's, but it has never been pushed with GB approval like it is now. I think it will be 10x more common going forward and thus will present opportunities for authority abuse and general confusion organizationally. Up until now, with only a few rare exceptions,the "baptized" designation, with all of its commitments and consequences, has been for consenting adults or those at least old enough to somewhat know what they are getting into. It is one thing for an occasional outlier to get baptized "too early". It is another thing altogether to have it become the expected thing and the norm.

There is no section in the elder book for "baptized children". Little do the kids know, they are entering an adult marriage to a high control organization, and it is not a marriage of mutual respect or voice.

-TE