Also, I believe that most of the WT members including the GB really believe they are what they say they are. So the GB probably gains a feeling of holiness from their delusions.
FM
FairMind
JoinedPosts by FairMind
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23
What does the Watchtower gain...
by homme perdu in.
by recruiting new members,expanding.
is it money?
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35
Why Do People Become/Stay As Jehovah's Witnesses???
by minimus inwhat makes a person leave their religion and join the witnesses?
what makes a doubter or better yet a jw that knows this isn't really the truth, remain a witness?
i believe most stay on because being a witness is like being a member of a club.
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FairMind
Panicattck, I know how you feel. I'm an active JW but no longer believe the WTS is God's organization. The real "truth" is that the WTS is the focal point of JW's worship not Jehovah. An absolute must for you is to read some well-written books documenting WTS history, deception, lies and ways they acquire control of your mind and life. It might be hard for you to read "apostate" books because we have been warned to steer clear of them. Keep in mind though that Jehovah is a God of light and truth. If the WTS had nothing to hide then they would not fear their members reading outside material. Some books I have read and would encourage you to read as well are: Crisis of Conscience, Ray Franz; Captives of a Concept, Don Cameron; Apocalypse Delayed, Jim Penton; In The Truth, Paul McCool. These publications are easily available and can be found and ordered through Internet websites. Jesus said at John 8:32 "you will know the truth and it will set you free.
I would also suggest that you consider some of the accounts JWs and former JWs have posted on Internet sites like "Silent Lambs". Try the link to "Best of Watchtower Society" in this web site and read some of the soul-searching information found there. Only Satan doesn't want you to know the truth so you owe it to God and yourself to look into this extremely important matter.
FM
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Education - How encouraging low self esteem creates better witnesses.
by BigG infunny title you might think but consider this point and apologies if i am covering old ground here...its not intentional.. i was raised by my mother who was and is a devout jw and as such until i was 20 (10 years ago) i was the same...trying my best to fit into the social environment i clearly was not made for but benefiting from good wholesome association with fellow brothers and sisters (note the sarcastic tone...make what you will of it).. althought at the time i didnt realise it but i was what others consider intelligent and quite academically able; i had a mind like a sponge and would spend hours in the jw library at the kh (which surprisingly enough contained non jw literature)...it was this that i read and would digest endlessly where i could.. one of those books (why it was there i dont know), was what i later undertood to be criminal law reports concerning cases that had gone before the courts.
my childish thirst for knowledge was intrigued...(i was then about 12).
the legal arguments i hadnt a clue what they meant but the facts surrounding these crimes were good reading.. i then knew i wanted to be a lawyer and that was what i said when an elder asked me what i wanted to do when i grew up; i mentioned trusting this man that i had read a book in the kh library and found it interesting...and that i wanted to be lawyer...i remember him smiling and saying that it was better to pioneer rather than seek a highly paid job...personally i didnt know what he meant properly but i felt a bit sad...and demotivated...i later in the week went back into the library and found the book had gone...!!.
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FairMind
Walter, you are dead-on with regard to the WTS saying its’ OK to get an education but not really meaning it. Praise continues to be given to those who sacrifice education and career to pioneer. Recently a sister in my congregation gave a student talk in which she demonized education by saying “Hitler had a college education and look how he turned out”. I have no respect for the self righteous-ignorant.
FM
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35
Why Do People Become/Stay As Jehovah's Witnesses???
by minimus inwhat makes a person leave their religion and join the witnesses?
what makes a doubter or better yet a jw that knows this isn't really the truth, remain a witness?
i believe most stay on because being a witness is like being a member of a club.
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FairMind
Many people first become interested in WT teachings during a crisis period of life. The WTS provides answers and explanations as to why things are the way they are. Once the WT routine becomes ingrained people become comfortable with the belief system and really have no reason to leave. A place in the WT organization is all that some people have and they believe that somehow this makes them special. IMOHO.
FM
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What's "OK" in the JW org. today that was "wrong" just a few years ago?
by JH ini remember about 15 years ago, most jw's didn't have the cable, but today most of them have the cable.
what was wrong or borderline then is ok today.
give examples of what's "ok" today compared to "not ok" years ago.
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FairMind
(1) OK to accept blood fractions as medical treatment
(2) OK to go to college
(3) OK to serve on a jury
While these things are now conscience matters many JWs are still negative toward them
FM
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DID ANY ELDER DO anything questionable?
by badboy in.
i have read ozziepost's post on those tasmanian elders who raided a sda church.. does anyone know of similiar behaviour by elders?
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FairMind
JustTickledPink has a good point about how coming off the booze could lead to a sober minded assessment of what the WTS is all about. I am very serious here as that was the turning point for me.
Many if not most elders have done questionable things, after all they are only mere men. I tend to not be too overly critical of their flaws that are due to human frailty. I do take exception though with the MS (son of PO) who after having had a Service Meeting part went out robbed a liquor store at gunpoint.
FM
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90
Name Things That You Can Be Counseled For
by minimus ini'll start.......a woman wearing a skirt higher than her knee and a child crying during a meeting
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FairMind
I was once counseled for wearing a knee length skirt to the Sunday meeting. I told the brothers that my wife had picked it out for me so if they had a problem to take it up with her.
FM
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Fighters against God ??
by JustTickledPink inif you don't want to share in the preaching work, don't become an opposer of it.
why should you try to hinder those who are doing so?
no one of us is interfering with what you're doing.
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FairMind
In a way your mother is right but then again in a way she is wrong. Now that I've clearly stated my position I would say that everyone is entitled to defend their beliefs. If a person believes the WTS is lying, hypocritical, Orwellian, controlling, etc...then they are entitled to say so. Why would your mother have a problem with that (what's good for the goose is good for the gander, right?)
FM
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90
Name Things That You Can Be Counseled For
by minimus ini'll start.......a woman wearing a skirt higher than her knee and a child crying during a meeting
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FairMind
I was counseled for going to the Silent Lambs web site. They found out because I blabbed to my daughter about what I had read there. The elder who counseled me was real mad and I found out later that I came very close to facing a JC.
FM
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What happens when you die??
by mysterio91 init's been over a year now since my dad died.
i feel sad about it a lot because i don't believe i will never see him again.
i realised today that being raised a dub has closed my eyes to different views on death.
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FairMind
I also believe that when you die you basically cease to exist. I don't beleive in the idea of an immortal soul and truly believe in Jesus' teaching of a resurrection. If I'm worng then I'm wrong but that is what I believe.
FM