jwf did some very brave things to bring full transparency regarding the wts.
he also left the organization.
i respect him very much.
Thanks! He said in that thread
"Ok I am starting my memoirs this weekend.......
It is all about the writing dept...so hopefuly it will be informative"
I had not heard anything sense then and hope he is doing well. The transition period can be pretty tough... at least it was for us.
jwf did some very brave things to bring full transparency regarding the wts.
he also left the organization.
i respect him very much.
JWF did some very brave things to bring full transparency regarding the WTS. He also left the organization. I respect him very much. He has not been on the boards lately. For anyone who knows him, is he well? Please pass along best wishes.
zarco
startfragment.
charles grassley of iowa has for years been very concerned about abuses in the use of money by charitable and religious organizations.
he recently stated, the constitution does not exempt churches from federal income taxation or from filing tax and information returns.. his goal is complete transparency of how the dollars are used.
Charles Grassley of Iowa has for years been very concerned about abuses in the use of money by “charitable” and religious organizations. He recently stated, “the constitution does not exempt churches from federal income taxation or from filing tax and information returns”.
His goal is complete transparency of how the dollars are used. Interestingly, well respected Billy Graham did not classify his organization as a church. He opted for full accountability and transparency.
As many of you, I feel that true transparency in how the Watchtower uses it funds and full transparency in doctrinal and other matters – blood issue and child abuse issues – would crush the Watchtower.
So for those of who wish that to come true, encourage Senator Grassley to fight on!
http://www.economist.com/node/18010759
Best,
Zarco
there was a 'white elephant' gift exchange at my job today.
i finally got involved, for the first time ever.
(i couldn't last year because i needed plausible deniability, as i was still a jw on paper at the time.
Welcome to the wonderful light.
this past week i flew out of town to attend a seminar for work, then afterwards i drove 150 miles extra to go and visit my dad.. two years ago my mom died, and the lack of concern/caring from the so-called "friends" from two different states was a major reason why i walked away from the jw religion.. anyway, my dad is depressed and his local hall has him doing more fs, and attending the meetings,,, ok so that could be a good thing for him.. but i noticed that service and meeting attendance is the only thing that they are pushing on him.
nobody seems to check up on him, he just jumped at the chance to go out to eat with me.
and the negativity !!!
Sorry MNB - The Witnesses are not very good at doing things that really matter. The only elderly ones that really get enough care are the older "heavy" at Bethel. I am sorry about your dad not getting anything close to what he has has likely given over his life.
We rarely talk with Witnesses any more, but we did run into an old friend recently and the talk was all about how the economy is about to fail and how it is not time to waste trying to earn money or running a business. I feel that the next generation (over-lapping of course) is going to be even poorer than the current generation. They seem to be surpassing 1975 mode.
Best, zarco
what are the top 5 books you would either recommend and/or have had the greatest influence on you?
(if you only want to mention one or two that's fine as well.).
if you feel like it, please briefly tell us why.
OM - what a great thread. I imagine we would be great friends if we didn't live across the world from one another. I also love:
Fountain Head
The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Guns Germs and Steel - most thought provoking book I have ever read
A Moveable Feast by Hemingway - love all of his books, this one really provides a deep look into his thinking, friendships and profound guilt as a young writer in Paris
East of Eden - Steinbeck's best, amazing character development and he makes the Salinas Valley come alive
Freakonomics is a fun read
I read a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson on the plane to Australia and laughed the entire plane ride
All the best to you,
zarco
a few of my friends who also used to be jw's, say they miss certain things abt it...i can honestly say that i don't miss a single thing (my sister obviously who's still in but nothing else).. before i could sometimes miss having such a strong belief but that's also gone.
i guess i've moved on big time.
/newborn.
The only thing I miss is the homemade Mexican food at the circuit assemblies so many years ago
it seems that many people on this board get a certain amount of glee calling the jehovah's witness faith a "cult.
" especially former jehovah's witnesses.
and though it's true in a number of senses, we must be conscious of the fact that the early christians were considered by nearly everyone in roman and jewish society as a cult.
The word cult can be defined in many ways. I usually define it as having strange beliefs or practices. Consider a short list of JW beliefs and practices and see what you think:
They sacrifice humans and their children due to the flawed blood doctrine
They shun people because of thought-crimes
The wickedly shun children who have the misfortune of getting baptized at a young age and then disfellowshipped at a young age - for many such ones they never get reinstated so their disfellowshipping turns into a life sentance. I personally know of several young ones DFed at ages between 13 and 18 who are serving a life time of shunning
They speak out against education
They do not get involved in making the community better
They do not help clean up the environment
well things have changed big time for me.
on the 3rd of dec. finally, i have left my work at bethel and moved almost 500 kilometres away to a new life.. some of you were aware of my work in a european branch, and have kept my confidence.
for this i am eternally grateful...you know who you are.. the huge weight that has been taken off my shoulders is both a comfort and a relief.. when i settle into my new home properly, i intend to write some memoirs of life at the branch, hoping that others will find it of interest.. for now my future is for the first time uncertain and that makes it very very exciting, but i am no longer under the control of others yay!!.
Erik -
Thanks so much for what you have done to keep information about the WTS public. It is so important that the organization operate in the light with full disclosure --then if folks decide to join they do so with eyes wide open. It also allows many others to examine the policies and evidence and decide not to join or continue. The WTS loves the darkness because it has much to hide. Brave individuals like you provide a life saving service in allowing others to see behind the curtain.
All the best to you in your transition to the real life. I look forward to your memoirs.
z
i am at a point where i tend to think all religions are rubbish.
the bible is not a book to lead one's life by and not deserving of much respect.
if jesus existed then the gospels are not an accurate picture of his life and even if the non-supernatural elements resembled a real person there is much to repudiate as there is to admire.. so what about comparing jehovah's witnesses to other faiths?
It seems that religions should be judged by their contribution to society. Some religions, while flawed like the Witness religion, do some amazing things to better society. Building hospitals, feeding the hungry, charitable works, sponsoring institutions of higher learning are a few examples of good things that many religions do.
Religions should also be judged by their contribution to its individual members. Are individuals encouraged to educate themselves, care for the community, be involved in environmental and social matters and to build lasting relationships. Many religions do exactly that for their members.
Conversely, the Witness religion does none of those things. It cloisters its members from society, it looks at the community as either an enemy to be destroyed or as a population to convert. It takes a "god will fix it soon" approach to everything causing its members to live life with a short-term perspective which typically harms the economic, health and educational prospects of its members.
So by these general standards its seem that Witnesses are less legitimate than most other religions.
zarco
