Posts by problemaddict 2

19

Alternative witnessing

by Zyron in

jw
friends

those of us still attending meeting are actively encouraged to use out tablets or smartphones to direct people to jw.org.

how about, after doing the standard presentation casually say to householder, you can also look at this forum to read of experiences of life as a jw as well as the official version?.

obviously you need to be working by yourself or with a pimo jw..

problemaddict 2

Steve that story is hilarious. I remember having the balls to straight yell into peoples houses, or walk into garages. Where did I get off!?

I'm in a metro area of southern Cali (6th largest city in the state). I am much more likely to see a cart being ignored, or spanish brothers and sisters walking slowly down the street, than I am regular door to door.

I am right in the heart of the territory i served, and know many JW's here. So it makes it a bit odd. I have let them slander me for the sake of not having people I know come to the door.

Personally, I think you HAVE TO have been a JW to really understand the oddities. Telling a householder (are you really preaching still?), to look up this forum would be confusing, and honestly, most likely you could get yourself in trouble. But I would say there is a 99% chance they won't look up either one.

The "look at our website" line.......is literally the death rattle of the public ministry. Its a total joke now.

9

Updated Recommended Reading List

by doubtfull1799 in

not long after i joined here i posted a reading list of books that helped me wake up, but since then i've read so many more that i've found invaluable in furthering and refining my new worldview, plus giving me a more in-depth well read perspective on theological and scientific issues.

so i thought i'd post an updated comprehensive list for other voracious readers like me who are always looking for good books to read.

how jesus became god - bart d. ehrman.

problemaddict 2

May I ask why "Black Swan"? What about Talib's work there contributed to your awakening?

28

If You Question The Governing Body, You're Like Korah

by pale.emperor in

anyone who questions the governing bodys authority is labelled as an apostate and almost always they bring up the story of korah and his revolt against moses.. watchtower august 1st, 2002, the article loyally submit to godly authority paragraphs 8-15.. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002563.

in not so subtle hint, the gb likens themselves to moses, and those who disagree with the gb are korah.. paragraph 15 is actually quite damaging to the gb's argument though:.

it was so unnecessary for all those people to lose their lives.

problemaddict 2

This has been a comparison I have used in speaking to people. Its damning, because in this scenario, the GB compares themselves to an actual prophet....Moses.

So in order for me to be Korah....they need to be Moses. But......where is the evidence they are Moses of today? Didn't Jesus rebuke the Pharisees for "seating themselves in the seat of Moses"?

In the end, it comes down to authority. the bible says "all authority in heaven and on earth" was given Jesus when he ascended. So.......after that.......did he give it to anyone? At best, they can claim special "responsibility", which is very different than authority. This is not just a semantics argument. There is a HUGE difference between responsibility and authority.

27

Asking for help with wife

by Are you serious in

hello everyone, my wife wants nothing to do with my awakening.

every time i try explaining something she tells me she doesn't want to hear it.

i believe she's afraid of learning something she's not ready for.

problemaddict 2

If my wife can get out.....anyone can. She was a pioneer for 15 years striaght, DC parts, all that. Daughter of missionaries etc...

I had to reassure her that I was only doind what i was doing based on principle, and that she was the most important person in my life. The subconscious tells her that i am going to leave her, be a bad person, etc... the more i talked about my doubts.....the more she fought me.

I finally told her I would support her in whatever she decided, because I loved her unconditionally. I would love to speak to her WITHOUT her feeling like I am "trying to convince her" of anything. More than anything, I just reassured her of my love for her, let her see the emotion of what i was going through and be vulnerable (it was a rough exit).

Then she felt safe to talk, and we eventually found out what her thing was. Everyone has a different path....your wife included.

But do not reverse preach to her. I can't think of anyone that has woken up that way. Focus on reassuring her.

My wife is out....she is taking the kids trick or treating tonight. :)

32

Stagnation of JWs in Britain

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

this is an 'off-topic' continuation of this discussion.

steve2: in britain, growth of publishers is slowing down, if not stagnating.

darkspilver: .

problemaddict 2

On a large scale, worldwise population goes up by about 1.1% each year.

Last year the JW's had an increase of 1.3%

In that sense they could be said to be outpacing growth of population worldwide.

If you remove the rates of south america and Aftrica however, you find an increase of only about .4%.

So extrapolate what you like there. I would suggest that south america and africa, while lovely continents, also are still largely developing, and are sort of ripe for JW preaching (catholic countries that have experienced grand hypocrisy for example).

That would just be my personal observation of course.

35

Polish EX-JW Activism compilation video

by WTS Archive in

i'd like to show you a short video i made about exjw activism in poland.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt3qdtyxgd8.

i'm one of the people responsible for those information campaigns/protests, so you can ask me anything you like.

there's a lot i didn't show on the video because of the limited time i have for editing, i have tons of footage more.

problemaddict 2

Can I just say.....I LOVE the "anti-cart".

We need to do some of that here. Imagine just setting up opposite a JW cart, dressed nicely.......just sitting there. I am cracking myself up thinking about this.

21

quick question: When a governing body member dies, what happens to their spouse?

by Deltawave in

what happens to the wife after their gb husband dies..

problemaddict 2

Why they are killed, mumified, and buried ext to their husbands of course.

No but really....im sure each circumstance is different. Did they have children? Do they own a home somewhere? Rest assured, the branch is onmy taking care of these old ladies if they have exhausted all other possibilities.

22

Uber Cart Witnessing at the State Fair

by truth_b_known in

last thursday i bunch of us working decided we were going to head down to the state fair and badge our way in to get a fletcher's corny dog for lunch.

we had to go to a specific gate to park and show our credentials to get in.

this meant driving halfway around the perimeter of the entire fairgrounds.

problemaddict 2

Dark,

Its still their grounds. They are there at the pleasure of the fair grounds. If they are city owned, than elected officials would be the point of contact. Even better because.....you know.....they dont even vote. No reprocussions from the constituency.

22

“There’s nothing out there in the world for you...”

by Jules Saturn in

how would you guys react if or when you were told this phrase by a jw while having a conversation?

another phrase is “this world...” or “this system, like gum will chew you up and when it’s done with you, spit you right back out.”.

one i’ve been personally told was from a convert that had told me “whenever i speak to young ones that want to know if the grass is greener on the other side, i tell them i was a part of it.

problemaddict 2

There is no answer. If you leave and then crash and burn, its because you left the loving protection of the fold, Jehovah removed his spirit, etc... (of course.....if you are being shunned loosing your family and entire social structure could play a part)

If you leave, and thrive.....well then Satan is taking care of tjose who are his own to make sure you wont come back, and you have clearly shown "love" for the world. You are truely hopeless.

I mean.....this is 100% accurate. You cant win.

22

Uber Cart Witnessing at the State Fair

by truth_b_known in

last thursday i bunch of us working decided we were going to head down to the state fair and badge our way in to get a fletcher's corny dog for lunch.

we had to go to a specific gate to park and show our credentials to get in.

this meant driving halfway around the perimeter of the entire fairgrounds.

problemaddict 2

Yikes. Well take it from someone who has done this with some success. Find out who organizes the fair locally (this is the person that runs the fairgrounds). You can usually find oit who is in charge of selling space from one of the vendors. Might have to make a call or 2. Bit send a professionally written e mail, explaining in simple terms why this was something that bothered you, could reflect negatively on the grounds, and was at best incredibly "ironic" because of the family atmosphere. No doubt at the fair, all the family happiness books are out there. Explain a couple inconsistancies. Maybe quote some magazines. It works.