Posts by OnTheWayOut

22

Shift in beliefs?

by blankspace in

i was wondering whether anyone observed this point in the previous week's wt study, in paragraph 17: "jehovah’s spirit moves “the faithful steward” to keep giving his servants their food supply.".

i see this as a subtle move away from earlier claims to be channel for spiritual food.

the gb earlier said that they weren't inspired or infallible.

This is DOUBLETHINK as described in Orwell's "1984."

Doublethink: the acceptance of or mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time, especially as a result of political indoctrination.

In this case, it's religious indoctrination.

The steward/slave class/Governing Body is "not inspired."
The steward/slave class/Governing Body is "spirit-directed" and now is moved by Jehovah's spirit.

You should all realize that being "spirit-directed" or moved by the spirit means the same thing as "inspired."
But the doublethink comes in this way- when they change doctrine, they are not inspired and can make mistakes.
At the same time, all doctrine is to be accepted as if it comes to the G.B. through God's spirit and is absolutely correct. When it changes, it becomes more correct instead of going from "wrong" to "right."

Remember, it's a cult.

22

Dubtown - its nearly the end of the month, remember to do your reports

by Dubtown in

"everything we do in the truth is voluntary" ... something i heard many times.

does that include reporting ministry?.

https://youtu.be/chgdiof05bk.

OnTheWayOut

"You parents, do your best to package the gift of your children so that they will be useful to Jehovah and His organization."

That give me the creeps just hearing it.

I also got the creeps from the mother filling in the report for her son, making up the numbers so that he looked like he had return visits and video presentations to indicate "balanced" service.

"Reporting" is voluntary, but you can't get baptized until they have you reporting. If you stop reporting, they will harass you, but they cannot really do anything about it. Still, they brand you as "irregular" and then "inactive" and they say you are "not spiritual" and might even brand you as "bad association."

54

What Views or Beliefs Do Jehovah’s Witnesses No Longer Teach?

by minimus in

jw
friends

evidently they have changed their creative day from being 7000 years per day.

all blood transfusions were taboo but now blood fractions might be allowed to be taken into the body.

vaccinations were sinful at one time but not now.. can you name other views or beliefs that have changed from being considered “truth” to no longer “the truth “?.

OnTheWayOut

They have not changed the creative day- OFFICIALLY. Like many teachings, they just don't talk about what they used to say.

They don't mention "millions now living may/will never die" or what happened with "Beth-Sarim."

I expected them to do this with the literal 144,000. But maybe that is too embedded in the doctrine. They might have to do like they did to "generation." That didn't go well.

32

I sent in my letter - peace I’m out

by HiddenPimo in

da haters need not apply - thanks for your support.

.

OnTheWayOut

Everyone chooses his own path. If I had kids, I would DA so that I could be more active in giving them choices.

Some DA to just be left alone. We all go our own way.

Congratulations.

40

Still dont get the friggin birthdays

by nowawake14 in

jw
friends

i have read extensively about the origins of birthdays, and i still don't get it.

but it's not what it means today.. even wedding veils were used to ward off the "evil eye".

but it's not what it means today.

OnTheWayOut

Birthdays and holidays let you feel chummy with coworkers, schoolmates, or non-JW family.
They want you to feel like you are obeying something mystically important when you refuse that cake at the office. They want your kids to feel like Jehovah would strike them down if they get a cupcake on some classmate's birthday. That way, they might feel more normal about obeying Watchtower in other things.

They don't want you to feel like your worldly brothers and uncles actually care about you.

In short, it's a cult.

37

What do you do when you're home alone on a meeting night?

by nowawake14 in

jw
friends

go on.

name it.🤣.

OnTheWayOut

I am still in that situation. Sometimes, I watch some old "R" rated movie that the wife would never watch.
The Matrix or John Wick or something without Keanu in it.

10

I've made my decision...

by Jeff1 in

i've only made one topic post prior to this one and for the past two months i've been reading practically everyone's posts.

im not one to rush into anything so when i found out about the arc, multiple lawsuits, keeping pedophiles hidden, and 587 bc being the actual date jerusalem fell i decided to research everything myself.

i've always admired the beroeans as they made it their aim to research and see if the things they heard were true.

OnTheWayOut

Thanks. I'm hoping to leave in the smoothest way possible. I'd rather not make waves...

I faded. As I was in process, I made a few waves. Nothing came of them, but it could have hurt my fade had I made more waves. I support each person's decision on how to leave. You do what's best for you. Some burn bridges and some just fade away.

Fading has allowed me to have a full relationship with my JW mother and a tolerable situation with JW in-law family. I don't give a damn about "the friends" who abandoned me as I have made new real friends.

Anyway, I am just saying it works for me. Good for you.

13

Especially elders...

by stillin in

i was wondering how many of you that are ex-elders have actually read any da letters.

or did you just accept the synopsis given by the secretary or whoever opens the mail?

as an ms the closest i ever got was "he's an apostate.

OnTheWayOut

There were some that DA'ed while I was an elder, but I don't recall any mention of, nor a reading of a letter of DA.

I just accepted that the Presiding Overseer (COBE) and/or the secretary had what they needed.

58

Do You Support a Sex Strike?

by minimus in

jw
friends

alyssa milano is saying that women have to go on a sex strike to take control of their bodies.

what do you think about this?.

OnTheWayOut

I am still supporting her by holding out on sex with Alyssa Milano. What's it been- 4 days? I get confused when I don't have a regular "tension-release-session."

15

Beards

by HiddenPimo in

so i started growing a beard 2 weeks ago and i am making some nice progress.

it has been noticed by many in my workplace and they give me great compliments.

my skin would get all bumpy from the constant shaving and i am so glad to be done with that form of cult control.. last year (i was pimo then) i worked in the video department at the regional convention.

OnTheWayOut

I was still fully involved, a recently appointed elder, when I had to move away from my original congregation and relocate. I went to my mother's congregation for awhile as an in-between situation, so they knew I wasn't going to be there for more than 6 to 9 months. They asked me if I would take on some elder assignments and I said "Sure."

The elder sent to ask me said there was one problem. "Our elder body doesn't allow mustaches." I pictured these men and none of them had a mustache. After a brief pause, I said "Perhaps I better not serve with your elder body." He paused longer than a short while and said "I am just kidding, your mustache will be fine."

But he may not have been kidding. I think they really didn't like mustaches, and hoped I would shave it. But I think he was instructed to say that he was kidding so that I wouldn't say anything to the C.O. if I balked at their policy.