Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  121

  Hey ya'll! My first post. Please help. In need of advice/comfort.

  by Stepford Wife in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey ya'll!

  i have been lurking for years on this site and others but never had the courage to post anything.

  actually i was afraid of posting on an apostate site in the event i was wrong.

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  Doubting Bro

  SW - I hear what you're saying. I use a similar strategy when people ask me about the borg because I still attend to keep family happy. I even turn in fake FS reports.

  Their specific purpose will be to try to find out why you are inactive and not going to meetings. It's fine to say you believe everything but you'll need to have a believable reason why you're not going. You were stumbled, depressed, discouraged, something.

  I'm sure he hasn't said anything about your doubts which is good. The problem is because your husband is an elder, it's attracting more attention.

  You are right, they can't DF you if you don't give them anything. Just make sure you yes them and you'll be fine.

  I've refused numerous shepherding calls because I"m not confident I won't get angry and say things that will cause me problems.
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  121

  Hey ya'll! My first post. Please help. In need of advice/comfort.

  by Stepford Wife in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey ya'll!

  i have been lurking for years on this site and others but never had the courage to post anything.

  actually i was afraid of posting on an apostate site in the event i was wrong.

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  Doubting Bro

  Stepford Wife - First of all welcome and I love the name!

  My 2 cents -

  1) yes they can remove him because your inactive but that will depend on how well liked he is on the BOE. If they like him, they can say he's done all he can to reactive you. If they don't, then they will wack him.

  2) I wouldn't met with any other elders. Say your not comfortable, depressed whatever you can do.
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  52

  $10 per pub. Money begging session last night

  by StarTrekAngel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  last night, during our "christian life and ministry" meeting, we had a session on local needs.

  elder opened the talk with a disclaimer saying that this was a reminder (cited psalms about how david loved jehovahs reminders).

  he reminded us of how bless we are of having our own local assembly hall.

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  Doubting Bro

  Obviously there are expenses associated with owning a building including ongoing operations and maintenance. Setting aside additional funds for improvements (replacing carpet, etc) also make perfect sense. So, coming up with a rent to charge each circuit is the easiest way to administer it. And since each circuit varies in size, figuring out a total annual cost and dividing by the number of publishers is a simple easy way of allocating costs.

  The problem I see is that the WTS gets a cut from each CA. I would bet that's where the increase is coming from. Also, at the AH around here, they've spent tons of money on large flat screen TVs and posted them all around. It's not that big of a building, I find them distracting and don't really need to see Brother Sweats a lot in close up HD!

  So they are wasteful with the donated funds and then send a large amount to the WTS who is really turning these events into more of a money maker than they already were.

  And the rank and file JW is starting to notice the money grab. I don't think many will do anything about it but it's another straw on the camels back.
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  52

  $10 per pub. Money begging session last night

  by StarTrekAngel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  last night, during our "christian life and ministry" meeting, we had a session on local needs.

  elder opened the talk with a disclaimer saying that this was a reminder (cited psalms about how david loved jehovahs reminders).

  he reminded us of how bless we are of having our own local assembly hall.

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  Doubting Bro

  At least they are actually forthcoming in the amount they are looking for. That's the first time I've heard a specific amount outside an elders meeting. At our local AH, the amount a year ago was around 4 per publisher. At the last CA, that amount jumped to $10 but they never publicly said that was the target. But doing the math on the attendance and factoring in the fact there were little kids not publishers, it came out to that amount.

  When they announced the expenses, everyone was expecting the 10-11k that it normally was. I don't remember the exact amount, but it was like 22-23k. An audible gasp went up when they announced the amount.

  This is why they put on CAs. It's a money maker.
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  53

  Finally posting and I'm FRUSTRATED!!!

  by stephanie61092 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  okay, i'm about to engage in a major word vomit.

  just giving you fair warning as your time may be better spent somewhere else.. so, i'm sitting on my lunch break, bawling my eyes out, and writing on this forum to people i don't know yet probably have a great deal in common with but at the same time, used to scare the daylights out of me.

  for years, i would come across this forum and 'lurk' awhile if you will, or see things on youtube.

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  Doubting Bro

  Welcome! The anger you feel is natural and will hopefully subside in time. You have a right to be pissed off! And, you aren't alone although you probably feel that way right now. Many here have experienced similar damage from shunning. The therapist is a great idea.

  Look forward to hearing more from you.
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  66

  New Here

  by Grey Goose in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi one and all.. i've lurked for 3 years, about time i signed up.. i'm a still in ms due to family.. fully awake.. i look forward to getting to know all of you..

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  Doubting Bro

  Welcome Grey Goose!
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  65

  How do I handle this situation?

  by BarelyThere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey everyone.

  i'm sorry that this isn't a very thought provoking post but i could really use some advice on how to handle this.

  there isn't anyone else in my life i can ask right now because, being dfed, all of my friends are "worldly" and don't know how witnesses function.

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  Doubting Bro

  I agree with the others that say you do nothing with it. It's not going to help you at all, the elders don't really care what you say and the only thing its going to do is delay your stated goal of reinstatement.

  I'm not saying its right, but there's no advantage to you in disclosing it.

  Sorry you have to go through this.
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  23

  Non JW friends don't understand

  by kozmo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it never ceases to amaze me that your personal friends have no clue what it is like to have been one.

  i was speaking with a friend the other day about having been a jw.

  she said, oh i have a dear friend of 30 years who is one and she is so nice!

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  Doubting Bro

  I recall explaining everything to a non-JW friend over several beers one night and I honestly don't think he believed much of what I was saying. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes. He was shocked.
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  35

  Dear Jehovah's witnesses, a question....

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  dear jehovah's witnesses and on-the-fencers.. isn't it even a little bit obvious that the watchtower organisation doesn't have jehovah's blessing?.

  if it did, why are your leaders, the governing body, asking you for your money and assets?

  surely, jehovah would provide for the organisation without having to use your hard earned money and assets?.

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  Doubting Bro

  Old Hippie,

  So you don't believe in the Bible? If the Bible is accurate and all those miracles occurred, then why couldn't it happen again today? Jehovah supplied manna to the Israelite nation as they wandered through the wilderness after he opened the Red Sea. This was after sending plagues on Egypt. Jesus fed large crowds with a few fishes and loaves. The apostles were released from prison by an angel.

  If the WTS truly is not only the true religion but also the earthly part of Jehovah's heavenly organization, then way can't He take care of things? I'm not being sarcastic,I truly want to know. When I actually believed in them and when I was having doubts, I prayed for understanding and got no response.

  Extraordinary proof is required for extraordinary claims. If we are really in the last days of this system, why can't they come up with something, anything, miraculous that proves Jehovah is with them.

  The only conclusion I can come up with is He's not.
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  49

  The wonderful things you hear AFTER you step down as an elder!

  by redpilltwice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  well, well, that was quite a heartfelt welcome on this site four days ago.

  thank you all for the encouraging replies.

  one of them was this one from magnum: "hey now, don't just pop your head in and disappear.

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  Doubting Bro

  Welcome brokethechains!! Looking forward to your contributions.