Posts by OnTheWayOut

23

Does the Watchtower have an official position on Alcoholics Anonymous?

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i ask because i'm working in a 28 day residential addiction treatment center and one of my co-workers is studying with the jw's.

he does not know i'm an xjw.

i suspect that at some point they're going to tell him he can't go to aa meetings anymore.

OnTheWayOut

Adding to what Blondie has said, Watchtower officially takes no stand against such groups as AA.

In order to prove that a particular person was involved in interfaith or false worship, someone would have to attend the AA meeting he/she also attends. And they would be violating the anonymous part by reporting to any group of JW elders what took place with another AA member. Too many problems for them. I am sure Watchtower lawyers would say to "drop it."

Keep in mind that no matter what reasons they give, such as not wanting to interfere in treatments, the real reason Watchtower would take no stand is so that they are not sued over preventing such a needed personal treatment and someone committing suicide or a crime afterward or being disfellowshipped for their drunkiness alledgedly because Watchtower banned their needed help.

26

How to "turn the tables" on still-in witness who pry about our status.

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

so many of us have had (perhaps well-meaning) jws ask us questions about our inactivity, or lack of attendance at meetings.

they may pry about why..... how is this for a simple, yet straight to the point response?

to a sincere person, it may play on their mind and make them ask more questions.

OnTheWayOut

"Thanks, but my God-given Bible trained conscience doesn't allow me to associate, now that I know a multitude of disturbing facts"

All most will hear is that you "disassociated."

8

I want to talk with other people

by Sammy12 in

i want to talk with people who are witnesses.

i’m 17f and wanting some company.

get in contact with me please.

OnTheWayOut

Whether you said 17f or 17m, I would say be careful. While I am pretty comfortable with the vast majority of people here, this is the internet. Pretenders can be around. You are a teen. Watch your back.

117

Lloyd’s new book

by jwfacts in

i see there has already been discussion over lloyd’s new book how to leave the jehovah's witnesses.

this includes discussion around his personality, motives and financial gains.

i have written a foreword for this book, because it is an important topic that has not been covered in such a complete format before.

OnTheWayOut

Opening post: ...When it comes to financial gain, their is very little to be made out of the exJW community, so I find it disturbing that people keeping bringing this is as motivation.

Thank you to Las Malvinas son Argentinas for answering to that. Whether someone can make money hand-over-fist in ex-JW activism has yet to be demonstrated, but I hope it is clear that Lloyd would like to make a go at what he is doing as a paying career.

As this thread starts to disintegrate into personality issues, the primary posting purpose was to address Lloyd's motivation.

Opening post: Support the efforts that you approve of, ignore the ones you don’t, but don’t second guess others motives or attack others, when most here are doing their best to move on and help where they can.

There is the problem. Lloyd could not ignore the efforts he doesn't approve of. Lloyd was not motivated to "help where they can" but was willing to hurt others in attempts to salvage his own goals.

I hope everyone is okay with people making money on their "activism." We just know that some people who have done much damage for personal gain can change or contribute worthwhile things later, but that doesn't mean they are off the hook. Plus, in this case, no change in motivation has ever been demonstrated. Perhaps Lloyd can apologize for not delivering an apology that many could accept, but I am confident it will still say he is blameless and the fault is with those holding a grudge.

5

Genesis to Revelation = Failure for God

by pleaseresearch in

no matter how i look at this.

god comes out losing.

the first humans on earth.

OnTheWayOut

So much is wrong in that Bible.
How about Lot's two daughters getting him drunk enough to not know he's having sex with his daughter TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW? Yet he was a righteous man.

I have similar problems as you mentioned with millions dying at the flood and with the same at Armageddon.

133

What Is The Most Ridiculous Thing You Have Heard From A Witness?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i remember an elder questioning a woman who had admitted to giving and receiving oral sex from her unbelieving mate.

he asked her the most intimate questions which clearly flustered her.

interestingly, she “confessed “ to the elders because her conscience bothered her.

OnTheWayOut

Stifled the questioner and she was “only” given private reproof.

So you mean she's been missing out since then? How many years?

My JW mother loves to say: "The most dangerous people are those that are sure they are right but they are not."
I die laughing and crying a little bit every time she says it.

9

Memorial Question

by charity7 in

hi guys.

my husband is a jw and i have a question because yesterday was the memorial.

i was wondering how they pick the date for the memorial because, even though religious groups are celebrating today as easter, next sunday is actually the anniversary date of the resurrection according to the jewish calendar?

OnTheWayOut

I think this is another clear cut case of "WE ARE RIGHT, OTHERS ARE WRONG!"

Best answer by stillin on this thread:
"The GB wants to out-Jew the Jewish faith."

It doesn't matter how they arrive at it, it is enough to know that it is added to their smug attitude about holidays, birthdays, stake vs. cross, and the likes.

32

How long since your last memorial?

by NewYork44M in

jw
friends

this is my 15th year without going to the memorial.

based on comments, it seems i did not miss anything.

.

OnTheWayOut

ELEVEN YEARS.

110

If you're expecting a mass exodus anytime soon, FORGET ABOUT IT!

by nowwhat? in

i have to make a token appearance at the k.h.

once a month or so and this week went to a different hall.

and believe me they are all still totally oblivious to all the negative news about the pedophiles and shunning that have come under scrutiny by the media and other governments.

OnTheWayOut

The main point is that on the jdub rank and file level in the U.S. they are still clueless and oblivious as to what's going on in other countries.

So true. Even when I say something to a JW about Australia or the U.K., they do not want to find out, they assume it's just propaganda from Satan's world, YADDA YADDA YADDA!!!

It is going to take a major news outlet in prime time For the word to get out about the pedophile cover up by the org.

Even that- there's been enough news by major sources to get all of California riled up, but it hasn't happened.
News moves on, JW's assume it's overblown, or it's one person with a vengeance getting lawyers to settle things. It would have to be WAY BIGGER to get U.S. attention of JW's.

I have resigned myself to accept that Watchtower will only go away if it is financially crippled. And some members will still be stuck in cult mode asking, "Where do we go now?"

9

My search for religion.

by joe134cd in

since leaving the jws i have become more interested in finding out about other faiths.

here are a few of my findings.. lds: i just couldnt get my head around the mental gymnastics i would have to do to understand their doctrines and theology.

i attended their services twice.

OnTheWayOut

I gotta say Joe, you visited some fringe outfits.
Might as well try Secular Humanists, Unitarian Universalists, and who is to say that Christianity is the one true way?
There are so many variations within. Disagree on one key point and you got yourself another Christian religion.

What about the Muslims and Buddhists and Hindus and YADDA YADDA YADDA?

I found it was sufficient to do my research online and through books in order to dismiss them all. And while I haven't specifically researched every last one of them, I figured the ONE TRUE FAITH should find me. The last time I wanted the ONE TRUE FAITH, I wound up as a Jehovah's Witness. Don't wanna wind up in a dangerous mind-control cult AGAIN!