Not a Jehovah's Witness, but studying.

by scoobie 153 Replies latest members private

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  scoobie

  Hello everyone. I'm not sure where I'm suppose to start posting. So I just kind of randomly chose. I am not a JW. I was raised Southern Baptist..I've been "saved" and baptized. My husbands immediate boss is a JW. And their daughter was in our daughter's class this past year. They (the two girls) had been talking about Jehovah and I didn't have a problem with that. We have not been an overly religious family, so what they were disgussing wasn't going to confuse my daughter. Then she gave our daughter a bible. And I had some issues with that. Having heard that ya'll use a "differen" bible and it's not right etc. So I started doing some reading and at the time was also trying to find a church to get my family involved in. Having been raised with the whole swear and burn in hell theory. And watching pastors have affairs and steal money from the church, I was pretty over the whole Baptist thing. I totally believe that Jesus died (on a cross or a stake, I don't think it much matters) so that we might have the chance at eternal life. So any church I went to would have to have that basic belief. I was always under the impression that JW's didn't believe in Jesus as God's son. To my surprise, they do. So I asked for a study. And have been studying for a few months now. Our kids have a study once a week with their kids, and my husband also has a study with his boss. We have gone to Kingdom Hall quite a few times, but the kids really don't like it. If I had one suggestion for JW's it would be childrens church. My husband doesn't like going because he's doesn't like to dress up for one, and two he doesn't like the Watch Tower. The talks he likes, but he sees no sense in an entire congregation going over the Watch Tower.

  I have learned alot, and have gotten alot of answers to some very confusing questions. I always had a hard time believing in a burning lake of fire as a child. And the concept of spending my days walking golden streets with a big gold crown on my head never seemed like much fun to me. And it didn't make much sense. There are many things that I have learned so far that I believe are true. But there are other things that I just don't agree with. I don't think I could ever be a JW, but everytime I mention that to those we are studying with, they just smile and say there is no preassure. Which oddly enough, puts preassure on me. My husband is very phylosophical and enjoys debating and is VERY...VERY politcal. He would never become a JW just on the basis that he couldn't vote. I don't think birthday's are a big deal. Though I can understand why Easter and Christmas are. I don't think celebrating either will mean you will be dead to God, I jus think that they are a capitalistic holiday that has gone way overboard and really doesn't have anything to do with God at all. The whole stake cross thing to me is just arguing over the fine print.

  I guess the reason I decided to join upon finding this was that I was looking for some non biased feedback. I can't ask anyone in the Kingdom all because they all say the same thing. I keep reading about conspiracies, and hidden agenda's, and secret society's, that the Mormons and JW's are actually connected etc. Is any of this true? What are the downfalls of this religion? What are the things I should watch out for? Since my husband has started studying with his boss, he feels he has crossed some threshold and has reached a point where he really doesn't want to study anymore, but is afraid if he quits studying it might have negative affects for him at work. Could this be possible? The boss does hire ALOT of JW's. There are jokes about them taking over the company. The owner is not JW, but the GM is.

  I think the meat and potatoes of this religion is sound and seems to be right. But just like so many other religions, I think they take some things a bit too far and add their own man made rules to it. I woul appreciate any information and advice that ya'll can share.

  Thank You,

  scoobie
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  onacruse

  Hello there scoobie, and welcome to JWD.

  I was looking for some non biased feedback.

  How about some biased feedback? Biased by cumulative centuries of personal experience with that religion, and backed up by reams of proof that the WTS is not the innocuous "let's all just worship God and be happy" religion that it portrays itself to be.

  As far as your hubby (and hello to him, too! ) is concerned: His employment might well be in jeopardy; once a JW starts a study with someone, and that person "drops out," backlash is not at all unusual.

  Not to be alarmist, but we've seen it happen, and all too often.

  Sincerely,

  Craig
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  FlyingHighNow

  Please stay here and read and comment. Many of us were where you are now, once upon a time. I wish I had had people like the members here to talk to and ask questions to when I had my own jw bible study going.

  Here is something very important that you need to know: you can question JWs now when you are not baptized. Once you are baptized though, you cannot ever seriously question them or make it known you have serious doubts. You cannot make it known you don't agree with them about a particular belief or point. They will label you an apostate and kick you out of the religion. They will shun you from then on. You can ask us all the questions you want though. We'll be happy to answer them for you.

  Flyin'
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  outoftheorg

  Hi Scoobie, welcome to this forum.

  There are some folks here who are active jw's. However the majority are ex jw's and have come here to find healing from the after affects of leaving or being thrown out of a cult.

  I was born into a very active jw family and at one time was an elder. About as high as you can get in this cult within a given congregation.

  I would give anything and I mean anything to have not ever been in this cult. It caused the loss of any association with my siblings, participated in the destruction of my marriage and destroyed my family to a great extent.

  I was disfellowshipped. Was my sin great? No it was a charge of having fits of rage. They were correct. I was raging over my daughter being molested by another elder and when she and 4 other sisters reported this to the church elders, they contacted the society for directions, they were told to do nothing.

  It was past the statue of limitations, so when I involved the police ,they could not prosecute. I was chastized for even going to the police.

  My daughter was devastated. When I pointed this out to the elders, I was told it was up to me to make her accept this.

  This is just the main deciding incident that caused me to doubt the jw's and recognize their hypocricy.

  If you think this is unusual or not true or exagerated, stay here for a while and speak to others and see what happened in their families and relatives and friends.

  There is much much more for you to know about this cult.

  Outoftheorg
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  shamus

  I was looking for some non biased feedback.
  Sounds like they're doing the old love-bombing technique (tm). Everyone at work is great, everything at the kingdom hall is great, all is well.
  Believe me, it isn't.
  Jehovahs Witnesses are a high-control religious group that has some pretty awful and dramatically different beliefs from other religions. I base this on studying, becoming baptized, then finally moving to another town to leave the destructive and pressure of the group.
  One thing that suprised me when I first studied was how they would give you explanations of disfellowshipping (shunning), and how hard it was to become disfellowshipped or disassosiated. Completely false. You ever once question a teaching, and you will be hauled into they're kangaroo court (I heard that expression when I was in through apostates and never believed it... it is a Kangaroo court) and get you out quicker than you will believe.
  But don't take my word for it.
  Hundreds of ex-elders, ministerial servants, and laymen like me post here. Most are DF'd or DA'd, or just faded like me. Find out both sides of the coin, and see. Remember, they will tell you that "Satan has blinded the eyes of the unbelievers" and we are under "satan's control"... utterly false.
  Indeed, some witnesses would have no problem watching all of us die. Many would be very thankful and joyful if it did happen.
  But don't take my word for it.
  This place is quite harsh... many here have lost families, loved ones, and lives all based on a lie. We are pissed off (for lack of a better word) and are quite blunt. So my apologies to you if you are offended by our talk.
  
  http://www.premier1.net/~raines/leave.html

  Interesting link as to why so many Jehovahs Witnesses are leaving 'the truth' or 'the organization' as they call it. Listen to them speak at the meetings. These words are used over and over again... sounds a little cultish no?

  Welcome to the board, and again, take what we say here (referring to our harshness) with a grain of salt.
• 

  GreenDragon

  Hi scoobie

  I am not a witness but I am studying with them [approaching 10 years]. You must get a copy of Kingdom Interlinear Translation for the Greek scriptures and see for yourself, just how awful the NWT is.

  Only two key points for you ...

  1. Holy Spirit is not simply an "active force" as in NWT Genesis 1:2, the word is Spirit but WTS decided to rendered it "active force". Some JW even tried to trick me and said to me "see it is in the bible". In some old NWT version there is a footnote about this but the current version omits this footnote.

  2. Jesus resurrection is bodily. Jesus did not become a spirit creature. Because if you believe Jesus is spirit then you are a heretic.

  Everybody in JW says the same thing because they go with the wave. And some of them had already invested too much into this religion that they cannot accept that they are wrong.

  If you believe and your husband don't believe and objected you to study with them then they may ask to to choose between them or your husband.

  Don't underestimate them, their brainwashing techniques have been refined over the years ...
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  BLISSISIGNORANCE

  Nice to have you here Scoobie. Welcome.

  One thing you need to know now is that they are not just trying to indoctrinate you but also your children. I would be trying to make a decision about the study sooner rather than later because the last thing you want is that you and hubby decide it's not for you but your kids take to it! The WTS encourages division from non-witness family and friends. There are many on this forum that are estranged from family because of the WTS direction toward non-believers. Children, parents, spouses who shun loved ones, putting the borg before anyone.

  I converted when I was in my 30s. Like you the borg's teachings appealled in some ways. It was a bit like wanting to believe something rather that really believing. And the love-bombing was on-going until I got baptized, and then the real organization was revealed. Just like a bad marriage, you fall in love with the idealistic partner, not the real one..............and once the ring is on the finger the reality is ugly. The same with the WTS. Oh yes, we are family orientated, we don't allow sexual abuser to get away with it, people only get df'ed for gross sin and unrepentant attitude!!!!!! Sounds familiar????

  I know different. I was slandered, criticised for being questioning and outspoken, I was hated because I wasn't ugly so some sisters got jealous, my child was sexually abused by a dub but I was told to keep it quiet, when I saw that other kids were at risk and told some mums I got disfellowshipped...........not the pedophile...........ME!

  So for your sake and that of your children.........look long and hard at the religion which sacrifices children rather than tarnish the name of the WATCH TOWER SOCIETY. An organization which encourages family to seperate, to let loved ones die rather than take blood, to not get educated, to not let kids play sport..............a hypocritical organization, which teaches that the UN is the wild beast in revelation, yet they are NGO members for 11 years.

  Please look deeply and when you see wrong don't over look it, look even deeper.

  Cheers, Bliss
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  scoobie

  Wow!! Thank you so much for the replies. And no problem shamus. I can handle straight forward talk. I prefer it that way. I want to know and the best way to find out is to ask. And of course no one who is a JW currently is going to say anything bad about the organization. So I was rather happy to find this place where I could get some answers.

  Something has struck both my husband and myself odd, is the young women who attend Kingdom Hall. They all look like they are just shy of being super models. There is a saying in town that the JW's have some hot chicks. It's just strange, because there seems to be a high concentration of them for one church. And they are all engaged. Now, what I am going to say next may be taken the wrong way, but I know no other way to say it other than to just blurt it out. These "hot chicks" are engaged to young men that normally the women wouldn't give the time of day to. What is up with that? The number of gorgeous young women? The fact that they are all engaged (none of them can be over the age of 21)? And I don't know if it's the area....or the organization itself. But why does it seem like all of the JW's are so well off? Not that there is anything wrong with living well. But again, it's just like the concentration of beautiful young women....it's so concentrated to the JW's here, that you can't help but wonder why.

  I know all religious organizations have their problems with sexual abuse. The catholic priests and their molesting of young boys. But it seems that the JW's have a big problem with this as well. Is that correct? I don't ever recall hearing alot of talk in the Baptist religion about child abuse or molestation. In retrospect, probably because gossip is rampant in the Baptist religion, and Southern Baptist is made up of good ole boys who would strng anyone up who did that. Not to say it doesn't happen though.

  Thanks again,

  scoobie
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  Sirona

  Scoobie,

  Firstly welcome to the forum!

  I suggest you read some of the JW information sites that are around. www.freeminds.org was interesting for me (maybe you should look up the womens issues part and see what they REALLY think of us women!)

  Something has struck both my husband and myself odd, is the young women who attend Kingdom Hall. They all look like they are just shy of being super models. There is a saying in town that the JW's have some hot chicks. It's just strange, because there seems to be a high concentration of them for one church. And they are all engaged.

  When I was a teenage JW there was so much competition between the women and mostly it was all about what you wore and how you looked. The reason all of these young lovelies are engaged is because in JWs you are told you should not date unless you are going to get married, so after a few months of dating most of them will think they have to get engaged. Aswell as that, sex before marriage is forbidden so most of them get married so that they're free to have sex as much as they like (stands to reason LOL) Therefore you see MANY JW teens getting married very very young. (Its not bad to ask kids to wait before they have sex, but overall it is counter productive to force them into marriage to express their sexuality when they're 18 or just a bit older. It happened to me, I was 18 and dating, and 20 when I got wed, which was way too young for me personally).

  Now, what I am going to say next may be taken the wrong way, but I know no other way to say it other than to just blurt it out. These "hot chicks" are engaged to young men that normally the women wouldn't give the time of day to. What is up with that?

  JWs must marry within the JWs, they are strongly discouraged from marrying non JWs. Therefore many JW girls look within their local area and settle for what they can get! I know lots of JW girls who married guys just to get out of their parents house! (a result of a life of being controlled 24/7)

  And I don't know if it's the area....or the organization itself. But why does it seem like all of the JW's are so well off? Not that there is anything wrong with living well.

  Not all JWs are rich, and it is sometimes the area BUT you will find that JWs are loyal to each other in business. They'll employ other JWs etc. (some have made LOTS of money from other JWs)

  I know all religious organizations have their problems with sexual abuse. The catholic priests and their molesting of young boys. But it seems that the JW's have a big problem with this as well. Is that correct? I

  You should check out www.silentlambs.org

  The JW religion goes much further than many because it hides the evidence and still has molesters in its halls (and knocking on doors). Pedophiles can be kept in the congregation and the parents are not warned. (be careful with your kids if you take them to the hall!!!)

  I would urge you to PLEASE research all you can about them on the net. You'll be amazed at the lies you've already been taught in your bible study.

  Lets start with the "before 1914 we preached 1914 as Jesus presence" thing - that is a LIE. Check it out. They didn't preach that 1914 was the start of his presence - they taught that 1874 was. Then they tried to say armageddon was 1918.

  There is just so much, so research research research and please don't join them!

  Sirona
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  Maverick

  Welcome to the JWD! You have been given very sound advice. They say, "All is fair in love and war." One could add, "spiritual war." These people, JW's, make up their own rules. Once you are in, you have to bend to their will. They have no issue with lying to you, stealing your children or mate from you or discarding you in the name of their god-like orginization. It would be worth it for your husband to get a new job and get as far away from these people as he can. Think about it this way, if he had a job and was around a woman that wanted him and would stop at nothing to steal him from you, would it be worth his job to save his relationship with his wife and children? This situation is a lot more like that than you realise! Think about it. Mav