Posts by Lightgrowsbrighter

34

Pursue Peace Assembly 2022 .. Joseph shares stories about his Bible days

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

pursue peace assembly 2022 shows a resurrected, newly shaven joseph, the son of jacob and rachel, having a nice dinner at a beautiful restaurant in the new system.

the survivors of armageddon all want to know if joseph can share stories about his life.. ''can you tell us what egypt was like?

what was pharaoh like?''.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Joseph's English is good, although I do hear a slight Egyptian accent- or is that Hebrew??

45

My story

by PimoElder in

hi everyone i’m a pimo elder ex bethelite and pioneer who has been having doubts for many years.

as of late i’ve come to have even more doubts mainly due to the gb pushing the vaccines and acting like salesman for big pharma companies .

i will never take these vaccines even if it meant i couldn’t go to the hall as was previously said but the gb have done a big u turn on this now.

Lightgrowsbrighter

BTW- I agree with you about the covid jab. PERSONAL CHOICE.

45

My story

by PimoElder in

hi everyone i’m a pimo elder ex bethelite and pioneer who has been having doubts for many years.

as of late i’ve come to have even more doubts mainly due to the gb pushing the vaccines and acting like salesman for big pharma companies .

i will never take these vaccines even if it meant i couldn’t go to the hall as was previously said but the gb have done a big u turn on this now.

Hi P.E. I was in your shoes also as a 3rd gen JW and PIMO elder. Very tough to ‘step down’ (I always hated that term), and I think even tougher now as you will be grilled as to why you would leave the ‘privilege’ of being an elder. After I quit being an elder, I tried to be a rank-and-file brother- next to impossible, you are viewed and treated much differently (weak in 'the truth'). My family and I left cold turkey in 2010. I understand your comment on ‘nice people’ in the org. I felt the same way. But believe me, they will abandon you if you leave- even if you fade without being DF’d as an ‘apostate’. I’ve come to the realization that JW’s are a high control social group, not interested in genuine Bible discussion as they portray. Accept it all 'as taught by JW's' or you’re out. Simply put for me: Any group (Christian or otherwise) that demands unquestionable allegiance to all their dogma is the wrong group to be involved with.

5

My escape from Jehovah's Witnesses to seek a life as an artist

by Terry in

jw
friends

dream of the unborn butterfly.

my escape from jehovah's witnesses to seek a life as an artist .... (1974 - i pulled up stakes in fort worth, texas, packed my wife and 3 small kids into a ford maverick, and headed to california seeking a job of some kind where i could earn a living --not as a janitor, window washer, or minimum wage slave - but as some kind of artist.

) ________________ “konichiwa” he spoke with a smile wrapped in mischief.it was paul miyoshi.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Terry, I enjoyed your story and the thought processes involved. You are blessed to have found someone to guide you through the spiritual crisis of leaving the JW org. So many leave and lose much of their sense of spirituality as unquestioning allegiance to the org is beaten into believers minds as the only path to salvation.

35

Pilot program for in-person meetings for the vaccinated

by Vidqun in

pilot program for in-person meetings to resume, to be launched in hong kong in nov. 2021. only fully vaccinated publishers are to be invited.

it's going to be a fader's paradise.. https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/q9e9pg/and_so_it_begins/?%24deep_link=true&correlation_id=fb861c4a-8c7e-4bad-b1e3-4c86b3254daf&post_fullname=t3_q9e9pg&post_index=1&ref=email_digest&ref_campaign=email_digest&ref_source=email&utm_content=post_title&%243p=e_as&_branch_match_id=936859150293933406&utm_medium=email%20amazon%20ses.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Bump.

I think this is a big deal as it will create divisions among JW's as we see on every other social level. 'Brotherly love' for those who decide against the jab will go right out the window if the GB is flagrantly pro-jab and covid paranoid. Maybe potential disfellowshipping for 'apostasy' if a JW refuses the jab?? At least 'marking'??

30

The Stupidity Of The Biden Administration Knows No Bounds

by Simon in

so picture this, you are suddenly withdrawing troops after 2 decades in a country and, well, its all gone to shit.. how do you ensure that your vulnerable citizens and allies can get out when the airport is surrounded and no one can get through?.

option 1: it's a trick question surely?

you don't get yourself into this mess in the first place - you withdraw the citizens first, not last, duh!.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Biden is a puppet of the globalists and this Afghanistan blunder was completely planned as a part of globalist goals. A strong independent America is in the way of these goals. Unfortunately, globalism requires authoritarianism that is more easily attained with totalitarian communist governments such as China. The facts are clear that Biden is owned by China (as well as many US federal officials and big US corporations), but most big elite media also support the globalist fantasy, so nothing is said. President Trump stood for free American values, but way too many angry sheeple bought in to the ‘orangeman bad’ TDS syndrome and here we are 8 months later in chaos. Lock down America with Covid, but open the southern border wide to all comers and flood the US with foreign refugees. Take away guns to tighten control. Close North American oil production but buy overseas. Destroy faith in God, but cultivate faith in a global human government. It’s so obvious. Leftist hatred of Trump and a free America is identical to hatred spewed by JW’s of those who dare question their authoritarian leadership. Unfortunately, the leftist political hatred is much more dangerous to our collective freedom.

I’m sure you angry leftist will try to refute what I just posted- don’t bother. Your opinions are authoritarian nonsense and you know it.

37

Love the don't use a gun for self defence by Gary Bro

by mickbobcat in

i just watched that stupid talk by gary while e bro on not using a gun for self defense but it went deeper.

i was that you don't defend yourself against violence.

well ain't that great from an asshat living in a gated and guarded compound.

Lightgrowsbrighter

JW’s repeatedly make ‘black and white’ issues that are scripturally personal decisions. The right to defend oneself is a basic human right. I just visited my 70 something hard core elder/JW father and this subject came up. I asked him what he would do if his neighbor or he and my mother were attacked. Meekly stand there and beg for mercy from a violent evil animalistic human? Or perhaps defend himself with only his aged hands? Why hands but no gun?? 65 years a JW and he had no answer.

JW’s often refer to the Old Testament (Heb. Scriptures) to support their dogmatic rules. Well, the nation of Israel- with Jehovah’s help- not only defended themselves, but also initially offensively used weaponry to take the Promised Land. Later, Jesus did command Peter to return his sword to his place (live by the sword, die by the sword, Matt. 26:52), but this was a specific contextual situation. One is not ‘living by the sword’ simply by preparing to defend oneself or loved ones. Early on, Jesus sent the disciples out without money, food, or even a change of clothes, just a ‘staff’, emphasizing trust in the Holy Spirit (Mark 6:7-13). But the initial preaching was a short term message publicizing Jesus as the living prophesied Messiah. Was he also encouraging his disciples to not store food, save money, or even have more than one garment? Obviously not. Later (Luke 22:36) he acknowledged long term preparation was a must as after his death the preaching work focused on the good news of salvation through Jesus death in whatever the hereafter is.

In Romans 12:18, Paul said ‘If it is possible, be peaceable with all men.’ He tacitly acknowledged here that there would be times where it may not be possible to have peace.

Regardless, self-defense is a PERSONAL CHOICE. Those who attempt to make religious laws of matters that are personal Christian decisions are themselves wolves in the Christian congregation (Acts 20:29,30)

12

Birthdays

by Mufasa in

i have an honest question, so i hope someone will explain this to me to the best of their ability.

i'm fascinated with learning about religion!

and i've been looking for a place to ask this, believe me it wasn't an easy find.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Job 1:4 is translated 'his own set day' in many translations, referencing banquets Jobs sons would have. But the same exact Hebrew word in Job 3:1 is translated 'the day of his birth', even in the NWT.

JW's do talk about undue attention given to individuals, but will celebrate anniversary's and even have parties for boys going off to 'Bethel'. What's the difference? The fact that there are two instances where wicked people asked for macabre birthday presents doesn't mean that all birthday celebrations are an evil event.

Like so many other things, personal decisions- like the celebrations of birthdays- are turned into organizational edicts by JW's.

71

400 Rockets Hit Israel

by minimus in

jw
friends

israel retaliated and some are accusing israel of an “act of terrorism”.

evidently these rockets are trying to get to tel aviv but the dome is getting overwhelmed.. i wonder if the usa and other nations will come to israel’s defense..

Lightgrowsbrighter

Pretty simple: If Palestinians lay down their arms, there will be peace. If Israelis lay down their arms, there will be no Israel.

17

"I still miss it Dad" My 41 Year Son Admitted

by 1234 in

jw
friends

on the 18th of september i turned in my disassociation letter in to the tigard congregation, 19 years ago.. my son turned in his letter in november 2001, 19 years ago shortly after me.

he was 21 years old.. two days ago we were working together on a wrap for his a/c unit on his bus.. out of blue, he says "i still miss it dad.

not the religion.

Lightgrowsbrighter

1234: Good post and all good comments!

I was born in and grew up totally immersed in the JW life, along with most of my extended family- I’m 3rd gen. Parents still hard core even in their 70’s and my wife’s in their 80’s. I started fading 20 years ago and left for good over 10 years ago, but I still miss some of the camaraderie, social things, and the feeling that we’re really a worldwide brother hood. Some of the good of living a basic Christian lifestyle and Christian community shine through even the JW’s (moral standards taught, community support within the group, etc). We’re human and like to be part of healthy groups.

It’s so sad that high control groups like JW’s abuse what should be a good thing to keep people in line. JW love and support is totally conditional and this becomes so obvious when one questions ANY JW policy. The Bible concept of Christian freedom under the umbrella of the ‘Golden Rule’ is crushed by many of the JW policies that should be personal choices.

It is hard to start over and make new friends, especially today with how divided and suspicious society in general has become. I have been able to have build a few pretty solid friendships though. I think being a long time conditioned JW permanently changes the way we look at people and that makes it tougher to build new relationships.