Posts by SAHS

34

Hello- new here

by Kikura in

jw
friends

been lurking for a while on here and thought i'd jump in.

a great deal of many thoughtful posts on here but have to say am a bit turned off with the 'rabid apostate' ones!.

my history- was raised in a divided household, mum converted to jw when pregnant with me back in 1970, dad was never jw but was supportive of taking us to meetings, assemblies etc.

To “Kikura”: Welcome to the Board! I can identify with your situation having close family ties in the JWs and having different kinds of struggles regarding the religion (‘still holding to the teachings you were raised in’) and with your own personal identity. We are somewhat similar in age (I’m 47 years old). With me, I would love to be able to do a proper fade but I’m still physically stuck living under my folks’ roof right now. But non-physically I have left it in my heart about 15 years ago, as I have been discovering many eye-opening things about the organization that I never knew before beginning my online investigation.

It’s good that you were able to step out of the JW grind for a good while, and it’s a good, healthy sign that you are on a Web site such as this.

My advice to you would be to continue an open an honest investigation into the WT organization, including its doctrinal history and policy record. Check out different Web sites and gather information. In addition to getting the technical facts, also get a cross-section of personal perspectives of those whose lives have been affected by the WT’s teachings and policies. You will find that there are certainly many stories from many people in various levels of attachment to, and various stages of fading from, the JW religion, and that there is much understandable justification in the various ways in which profound anger, disgust, and a sense of betrayal is expressed on this site.

Be prepared to come across strong venting of emotions that have been building up inside people, some for quite a number of years, as they discover what we call “the truth about the truth,” or “TTATT.” You will find that this site is quite informative and is an excellent open forum for mutual support. Our fast-growing community of people seeking factual clarification, insight, and sometimes just a sense of closure benefits from the support and enlightenment which can only be found among those who truly and intimately know our unique common experience.

10

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-11-2014 WT Study (SELF-SACRIFICE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 05-11-2014 wt study (march 15, 2014, pages 7-11)(self-sacrifice).

review comments will be headed outside the boxes.

wt material from today's wt will be in quote boxes.

SAHS

“MysticMage”: “I have started by not donating on that piece of paper they gave me.”

I did, in fact, donate the exact amount I put on one of those little slips of paper they handed out to survey how much people would donate to the kingdom hall fund – and I put “0” (anonymously, of course). Well, I did show a spirit of self-sacrifice to the organization – I sacrificed a second or two writing that number “0” and then another three seconds or so walking over to the contribution box to drop it in. (I mean, after all, it did take thousands of neurons and hundreds of muscle cells to do that taks, right?)

7

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

by cultBgone in

jw
friends

for all the moms who never get to hear this from their disconnected family:.

happy mother's day!

.

SAHS

“cultBgone”: “Ex, I believe it was connected to the concept of "idol worship"...you know, can't focus on one person for their birthday or mom's day or dad's day because that's the same as worshipping them over the creator....”

Yes, and the thing that is really so distasteful about it is this: What about the very tangible “idol worship” demanded by and given to the Governing Body of the Watchtower organization (corporation)? They expect to remain elevated and venerated on their phony little pedestal every day of every year! (And somewhere in the mix is Jesus . . . somewhere, I think. The Watchtower would probably have him mopping the floors if he returned bodily and went to bethel headquarters.)

3

22 Characteristics Of A Cult

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

22 characteristics of a cult.. .

source : http://thewatchtowerfiles.com/destructivecults/.

if the leader or leaders write their own material and claim that it is from god or inspired by god or from the mouth of god then they are a cult.if the leadership tells you that you cant read anything written by any other church or religion and only can read what they write then it is a cult.if you are forbidden to speak to or read anything written by someone who has left the group for reasons of conscience or belief then it is most definitely a cult.if the leadership has to write its own version of the bible and call it improved or more accurate and the use of that translation is unique to that religion then it is most definitely a cult.if personal choice and independent thought is considered to be evil then it is most definitely a cult.if asking difficult questions is discouraged then it is most definitely a cult.if, when finding a particular question difficult or impossible to answer you are told to just have faith or wait on the lord then you are probably in a cult.if it is forbidden to disagree either privately or openly with the leadership on any point then it is most definitely a cult.if you are encouraged to sever ties with anyone not affiliated with your religion then it is most definitely a cult.if the group actively solicits membership it is probably a cult.if an interested person is only given enough information to pique their interest but not enough information to scare them away then it is most definitely a cult.if you are told to teach just the good stuff during the initial phase of a person studying with you then you are most definitely in a cult.if there are aspects of your teaching that are purposely kept hidden until the student is very far along in the indoctrination process then you are most definitely in a cult.if the members are instructed to be especially nice to new visitors then it is probably a cult.if the leadership teaches that they are the only ones with the truth and that everyone else is deceived then you are in a cult.if the members are encouraged to turn other members in for infractions then it is 100% most definitely a cult.if you are given a litany of rules and regulations to follow then you are most definitely in a cult.if your schedule is booked with group activities to the point that you have little or no time to yourself then you are most definitely in a cult.if you are told to have little or nothing to do with anyone, including close friends and family members, who choose to leave the group, then you are most definitely in a cult.if your leadership is nameless, mysterious, aloof, unapproachable, unaccountable or otherwise nebulous then you are most definitely in a cult.if your leadership doesnt have to report their income to you or the government then you are most definitely in a cult.if higher education is considered evil and strongly discouraged by the leadership then you are most definitely in a cult.bangalore.

SAHS

To “Bangalore”: All fits to a “T.”

“

If the leader or leaders write their own material and claim that it is from God or “inspired by God” or “from the mouth of God” then they are a cult.
If the leadership teaches that they are the only ones with “the truth” and that everyone else is deceived then you are in a cult.

”

Boy, those two points in particular really fit, don’t they! Isn’t that so true of pretty well all cults: “We’re right, and everyone else is wrong. We’re the only real true chosen ones.” Ya, ya, ya. Same old, same old. I guess there will always be suckers in this world.

15

Question: Where's The Doctrinal "Component" Behind Recent Changes?

by metatron in

jw
friends

i just wanted to toss this out there: is there any noticeable doctrinal backdrop or expressed scriptural component behind recent changes?.

now, there are many opinions about recent changes - ranging from complete and utter cynicism motivating the governing body to naive belief in their own bullsh*t. also, are they just reacting to sudden developments or is there any coherent long term plan?.

i would think that if they truly expect to 'trim down' the organization by laying off publishers (in addition to bethelites, do's, branch members) then the watchtower magazine and various assembly talks should reflect that.

SAHS

They DO have a dictrinal component/backing for all their decisions and changes – it is the doctrine of the GB! They rely on their own dictrinal authority, which, of course, they have manufactured. They in effect say, “We have divine backing, and we can prove it because it is in our literature.”

The reality now is that their decisions and actions are reactionary as they strive to keep the WTS power trip afloat through the mine field of factual exposés of the discrepencies and blunders of their own making.

4

The truth will set you free . . .

by zed is dead in

jw
friends

.

but first it will piss you off.

- gloria steinem.

SAHS

There is an expression which comes to mind: There is what you think the truth is, there is what I think the truth is, and then there is . . . . that’s right, you guessed it . . . . there is what the truth actually is. And I think that what the truth actually is is not what any religion (or cult) thinks it is. Folks just make it up as they go along on their own unique brands of their little fanciful make-believe power trips.

28

New light?

by Ignoranceisbliss in

jw
friends

my father who is an elder with decent organizational connections mentioned that very soon there would be "new light" regarding the resurrected being able to be married.

this would make sense because our current understanding has never made any sense to me.

has any one else heard anything about that?.

SAHS

This idea of people not being allowed to marry after they are resurrected is certainly NOT what I have understood all this time. (And I’m a born-in!)

Luke 20:35-36 states: “But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.” (NIV) This scripture must be referring to the anointed, because apparently only they are automatically considered to be “God’s children” upon their final sealing and resurrection – which is the first resurrection. This is in line with what Revelation 20:4-6 states: “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (NIV)

However, the other sheep (including the great crowd and the ones to be resurrected on earth during Christ’s Millennial Reign) apparently will not actually become “God’s children,” or “come to life” (i.e., attaining perfection), until after passing the final test when Satan is let loose for a little while at the end of the millennium.

So, therefore, both those above scriptures in Luke and Revelation would logically point to the anointed.

Also, consider this: the drawings depicting life in the “new system of things” show families – including couples and children. Furthermore, my mom, who has been a die-hard JW since the 50’s, to this day keeps telling me that it’s better for me not to get married until after Armageddon. From my experience in the JWs, I am guessing that by far most JWs are unaware of any prohibition against marriage in the “new system.”

As for a JW whose spouse dies before Armageddon, sure that particular marriage bond would officially be broken in death, but who the heck is to say that they could not eventually get married to their lost spouse again in the new system? Whether one or even both marriage mates die before Armageddon, why couldn’t they get another crack at their marriage? I mean, I would think that they would have to be considered suitable if they were already married before, wouldn’t they?

This whole idea of being forbidden to marry after the resurrection, and certainly the idea of being resurrected without genitals like some kind of Barbie dolls, must be the most ridiculous and asinine things I’ve heard of yet!

9

How To Prove That The "Truth" Is Founded On Negativity And Hate

by metatron in

jw
friends

wanna prove to yourself that jws can't let go of negativity and hate?

that it is at the core of their faith?

ask the following question:.

SAHS

The WTS certainly doesn’t mind billions of non-JW people, or even weak JW people, being killed at Armageddon – just as long as they are not included. Not only do they not mind the idea of such a great slaughter of “other” people (i.e., not them), they, in fact, rather relish that idea, as it helps reinforce the thought that they are so much better than everybody else in the world. Nothing like having everybody else (not them) in the whole world killed as a means to elevate them up on the highest pedestal.

And that is really the core foundation of their religion (i.e., We’re right, you’re wrong – prepare to die!). The WTS purports to be based on love, but it is obvious that such a religion which effectively seeks the ultimate trampling on everybody else in the world is in reality just another brand of rotten hate.

28

This weeks study article.....seriously flawed and insensitive reasoning

by stuckinarut2 in

ok, so this weeks study article says the following:.

14. how has jehovah been the rescuer of his people?.

14 the psalmist david sang: i am helpless and poor; may jehovah pay attention to me.

SAHS

The WTS certainly doesn’t protect children from fears, depression, and suicide relating to demons, stumbling someone, sinning against the holy spirit, being “disfellowshipped,” dying at Armageddon, . . . . oh, wait – THEY’RE the ones causing and promoting all that!

20

Frozen and Sparlock the warrior wizard

by NewYork44M in

jw
friends

given that magic is from satan, this is what we learned from the horrible story about the little boy and sparlock the warrior wizard.

i am curious to know if witness kids are allowed to see the movie frozen.

i am not a big disney fan, but this movie was wonderful.

SAHS

When you really think of it, technically Disney’s Mickey Mouse would also be demonic by definition. Mickey is a cartoon of a TALKING mouse. (Real mice can’t actually talk according to the normal rules of nature, remember?) And what did the snake supposedly do in the Garden of Eden? It TALKED to Eve. And who was behind the snake, controlling it? Ssssatan! . . . . So, by the WTS’ (super-idiotic) reasoning, then technically poor little Mickey would also be villafied on the old “demonic” list.

The WTS’ meticulous obsession with “Pagan origins” this, “worldly” that, and “demonic” the other thing really reminds me of when Jesus mentioned about the Pharisees ‘straining out the gnat but gulping down the camel.’ (Matthew 23:24) And of course Jesus himself was supposed to have basically gone on a magic spree that would put Chris Angel to shame.

Actually, I saw every single episode of the X-Files, and I’m proud of it! (But not my folks.)