Posts by Simon Templar

recently i made a request to the elders to return my personal file but i haven't heard a whisper from the elders and its been months so i wrote them again this time with a time frame of 14 days and its now been over a month and still no response.

Simon Templar

Publisher record cards are the property of the congregation. You are not going to get yours. But, if you want to rattle cages, just go get a lawyer.

21

New video of interviews with Famous active and former Jehovah's Witnesses

by jwfacts in

jw
friends

i have put together a mash up of active and former jehovah's witnesses, including a number of interesting interviews.. http://youtu.be/ozwvh57erro.

as a side note, i hope it does not get removed for copyright violation, as software automatically scans for pieces of music and i have already received some violation messages.

the video does comply with fair usage laws, as the music is relevant to the commentary..

Simon Templar

Hokey Pokey; How did you come know these items about Billy Joel? My family knows his sister and niece. My knowlege is that he does not and never did like the JW religion. I am just interested to know of your source of info. There are so many stories floating around out there about celebrity JWs and encounters of the worst kind.

61

Thoughts on going back, am I the only one that feels this way?

by excaliber in

jw
friends

hello everyone, i know you have heard this topic before and your probably thinking.

...not again lol.. but i was wondering if anyone has thought of going back for the same reasons as myself, i don't think its the truth but i searched and my conclusion is that other religions don't have the truth, they are all wrong in my opinion.

if there is no other religion to go too, why leave were i was born and raised.

Simon Templar

thedog1 I am genuinely sorry to hear about your wife. I am similar in nature to her. I was forced into a level of activity related to the Congo, which was beyond the limits of my personal structure and have been ill for almost 10 years as a result. I sympathize totally. Please send her my regards although we have never met. I have dealt with company men as you are now. It was difficult to say the least. Just smile and watch what you say and do, but I am sure that you do not need me to tell you that.

40

Jws and poverty

by Julia Orwell in

jw
friends

when i say poverty, i mean not knowing where your next meal is coming from or being unable to pay your bills or afford necessary medicines poverty.

i'm talking the kinds of poor people who have to get food from charities kind of poor, or long term unemployment living in a trailer/caravan kind of poor.

holes in clothes poor.

Simon Templar

I agree. I have never seen that kind of poor in the JW religion.

61

Thoughts on going back, am I the only one that feels this way?

by excaliber in

jw
friends

hello everyone, i know you have heard this topic before and your probably thinking.

...not again lol.. but i was wondering if anyone has thought of going back for the same reasons as myself, i don't think its the truth but i searched and my conclusion is that other religions don't have the truth, they are all wrong in my opinion.

if there is no other religion to go too, why leave were i was born and raised.

Simon Templar

Excaliber:

I was never in Bethel. My beliefs now are semi-complicated, so I will tell you in summary. Generally, I go along with the JW teachings on morals and values. No quarrels there. I dont know when the end will come (and neither does anyone else, per Jesus) and therefore dont really care when it comes. I just dont want to talk about it all the time, or act in fear because of it. I believe that preaching is a requirement of any christian (yes this means you too Catholics/Protestants), and that God is justified in expecting that of a professed believer. Preaching means directing people to God and Jesus as the Savior. I think that gathering together periodically to worship is good and a required activity. Periodically means what it does to you. I dont believe that any worship or associated activity should be forced or overly controlled. I am not sure that the CA, SAD, or the DC are necessary or people should feel compelled to attend. I Think that it is clear that the "Elder Arrangement" hasnt yielded the expected results, and that in practice it has more negative impact than positive. This needs to be changed. I think that people get too tweeked over the GB and the Branch-DO-CO stuff. That has to be expected when running an organization, and has little daily impact on the rank and file. I dont spend any mental energy on those things. I think that the Memorial is a requirement. I think that FS time and placements should not have to be reported monthly, but who really cares? It takes 5 minutes a month to report. I think the demonization of higher education is way off base. I think the weekly emphasis on Pioneering is too much and needs to be toned down. I think that the blood issue should be converted to a personal decision matter in the advent of medical technology advances. Thats about it for a summary.

61

Thoughts on going back, am I the only one that feels this way?

by excaliber in

jw
friends

hello everyone, i know you have heard this topic before and your probably thinking.

...not again lol.. but i was wondering if anyone has thought of going back for the same reasons as myself, i don't think its the truth but i searched and my conclusion is that other religions don't have the truth, they are all wrong in my opinion.

if there is no other religion to go too, why leave were i was born and raised.

Simon Templar

I understand how you feel and think. I am very similar to you in background. Lifer, served for years, married in, family in on bothsides, blah,blah,blah. I find for me, the best course of action is to remain in and do nothing. I go to meetings regularly, do field service, I am minimally social, the "friends" like me. However, I am not in the school, and I dont do anything but comment once in a while and chat a little bit after the meeting. I come to the KH, sit down and then get up and leave. There is no problem for me (maybe it would be for you or others but not me). I play it straight. No bad conduct, no secret sinning, no nothing, and I have no inclination to do anything that can result in being thrown out. The Elders want me to be involved (again), but when the subject comes up, I change it. I go to the CA, SAD, and DC for the days that I can or wish to and thats it. I avoid the CO and wife when they visit. So, I am in control of the things that I do, not the BOE or anyone else and it is a pretty comfortable place to be in- for me. I do sense that this lack of control drives the "coordinating elder" and another one or two of them nuts, but thats all the impact that I see. The formula is a simple one. Oh yes, I dont let things bother me. I dont care what the recent understanding of this and that is, why it changed, what J.F. Rutherford wrote about it in 1929 or any of that stuff. I focus on what I believe, why I do and thats it. If any of it isnt the Party Line I keep it to myself. I am good with that.

3

Elders at the door

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

yesterday at 10 am the doorbell was ringing.

thank god we were upstairs bussy with the kids.. they left a litle note with the text "we, __ and __, found you not home, see you in the kingdom hall.

cellphone number xxxxxxx".

Simon Templar

Gorbatchov, if you dont want them to call, just tell them so. Now that you have a mobile number for one of the Elders, just send him a text message telling them not to call. That should be painless. Try this example: "Got your note in the door. Thanks. We would appreciate no future calls at our home."