so i went to get a burger just now, and a couple of elders from my former congregation caught me off guard.
they started giving me the we feel so sorry for you, you must be so lonely bit.
i kept telling them im doing great and im not lonely but its like they couldnt hear me talking.
Sometimes the desire to not be alone outweighs the desire to hold onto your sternly held standards.
I believe according to the recnt Pew stats, close to 3/4 of the org is women. So yeah.....you could probably be semi-apostate and they would argue the "semi". :)
Keep us posted. This has to be amazing.
i read a comment on another thread that made me think of this topic.. how many catchphrases are used by the gb and organisation in an attempt to control or gain power or prevent questioning?
feel free to list as many as you can think of!.
i'll start:.
guess which my favorite photo is when you scroll down.. http://www.vice.com/read/my-weekend-with-a-surrey-bc-pastafarian-712.
Guess which my favorite photo is when you scroll down.
http://www.vice.com/read/my-weekend-with-a-surrey-bc-pastafarian-712
the neighbor child came over to play with my youngest child.
i think she's about 4 maybe 5. well anyway there was some strawberries out on the counter and she asked if she could have one and i said no.
when i looked over later i saw her sneak one.
i have talked to him ttat.
and he understands.
he doesn't wanna be a jw.
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?.
Sorry but that isn't happening. At the most there will be a meaningful token that is rolled out as some new merciful thing.
Think along the lines of now the elders can visit disfellowshipped ones TWICE a year, or some other token. Moms can talk to their kids but not dads. We can now look people in the eye at the checkout stand. All meaningless nonsense that does not relinquish the control mechanisms.
i remember this making the rounds and people swearing by it.
knew someone at the concern and whatnot.
how does this crap come up?.
These are hilarious! It truly speaks to the ridiculousness of the "inner circle".
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).
Introvert....your comments below are troubling.
I was not born in and find the Kingdon hope read as the main theme of the Bible. It's there from Gen to Rev. for everyone humble enough too see it.
You then appeal for others to be open minded. While I agree with you, this is an open firum,a nd Jeramy started the conversation. I think hes big enough to know what some may think and feel. At the end of the day open minded also includes the ability to disagree and accept criticism.
Your comments are very "JW". You direct specifically the ability to discern "kindom hope" with the quality of "humility" based on nothing more than your personal feeling, while appealing for open mindedness from others.
I mean this sincerely......you don't see any irony in that my friend?
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).
Too many things here already for you to respond to. In general I completely understand your point of view. In fact.....I once shared it. Not only did I see the distinction, but because in general I had great relationships, and loved the people in the hall, I thought I would stay for the sake of them, and the good that exists.
I agree that good exists as well. None of us is 100% good or 100% bad. We are percentages of both, all the time.
But here is why I could no longer go. I'll try to consolidate the two ideas.
1) You say Christ has a command to preach, but when you do so associated with the WTBTS, you direct them to that organization. You may think you are not, but you are. Or is your intent not to baptize them? why not just engage in a personal ministry as you see fit? You do not. You take place and therefore represent, the group with whom you disagree.
2) Blood. This is an incorrect doctrine. thoroughly debunked. If you "witness" to someone, they become a JW, you disagree with this doctrine but you have helped them into an organization where other factors come into play......are you bloodguilty if they or their children die as a result of this stand? It may be an extreme example, but what culpability would I have as a person who directed someone to do something that I personally did not agree with?
Your conscience is telling you something. Its why you are here. I'm not certain what you feel they have "right" vs "wrong". Maybe that is a good place to start the conversation.
Its not all bad. But are you tainting your worship to your God by not being authentic? I felt inauthentic, and therefore refused to support the GB in any ancillary way.
i hadn't seen this posted here yet.. source via wifibandit on exjw subreddit.. what are your thoughts/comments on this?.
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Close guys but that is not the answer.
While the KM is stating this about "other countries", it is implied that this is not the way to witness at all. I know many people who carry on a "study" via e mail, skype, etc...
I think this is meant to generally steer away from that being considered a reasonable mode of preaching.
