Posts by Driving Force

21

'Seek the Kingdom First' Economics

by Tornintwo in

jw
friends

has anyone else's family finances been victim to the 'seek the kingdom first' economic policy?.

for years, my husband and i have had our own business, my husband is not the most proactive guy, prefers to go in field service than to work, but he has always encouraged me to 'rely on jehovah and all these other things will be added to you', 'seek the kingdom first' etc etc.

there have been times, such as when i was heavily pregnant and we lost a big deal, that i have been begging jehovah on hands and knees to honour that promise, wondering why he wasn't helping us.

Driving Force

Yes, I agree with you. We also have financial problems because of putting kingdom interest first, expecting Jehovah to honour his promise, which he does not.

I am no longer under this mind control, and I also have no savings, no pension and do not own my own home, because I put kingdom interest first for 29 years. I gave up a military career and have turned down some very lucrative positions since then in companies because they were dealing with military equipment.

I am now free, but not my wife. The bOrg have split up our family.

I hope things work out well for you, whatever you do, do not pray to Jehovah, because he will not help. It is good that you have non JW family to help out.

63

Just found out their about to baptise my 14 year old boy.

by Crazyguy in

there doing this right under my nose but i just found out.

not sure what to do but would like your help on getting me wt information on my headship role and how they shouldn't be doing this with out my permission.

also would like some help on showing my son the ramifications on what happens to someone when they get baptized and how they'll expect him to treat me.

Driving Force

And that is it, let your son hate you for a bit but I wouldn't tell him anything just yet about why, because he is probably very much brainwashed at this moment and will tell them what you said.

This is spot on, he is brainwashed, do not attack the cult.

I have had some very good advice from psychologist that I applied with my daughter, who has just turned 15, and it works, she no longer wants anything to do with the Cult.

The advice was, do not attack the Cult, do not try to draw the child into a loyalty conflict, offer you child an alternative. This offering the child an alternative is a difficult one to implement the other points are relatively easy.

I see in your case it is just before baptism, one suggestion

i would get a court order to stop it! it's for his safety

from GTTM seems good if you have the courage to do that.

He will hate you for it, but love you lots later. And with such things as a court order the Elders will back off.

155

Headline: "Islamic Invasion: Europe now scrambles for guns." How true is this?

by cappytan in

jw
friends

a year to a year and a half ago, i would have taken this article at face value and believed it.. now, i realize this article comes from a dubious source.

world news daily has a die-hard right-wing bias.

so, in an effort to get real information, i'm asking my european exjw's, is this article all true?

Driving Force

prologos

The Turkish people never came to Germany as refugees, they were invited to come in the 50s and 60s as migrant workers, and we are now in the second, third and even forth generation. You cannot invite people to come to a land, give them work, give them homes and offer them citizenship and then kick them out when you no longer require them. The Turkish population should be kept out of the equation, that is a completely different subject.

155

Headline: "Islamic Invasion: Europe now scrambles for guns." How true is this?

by cappytan in

jw
friends

a year to a year and a half ago, i would have taken this article at face value and believed it.. now, i realize this article comes from a dubious source.

world news daily has a die-hard right-wing bias.

so, in an effort to get real information, i'm asking my european exjw's, is this article all true?

Driving Force

Something that causes a lot of the problems is misinformation, propaganda, sensationalism and stating things that are simply not true.

I have read through the whole thread and some peoples opinions are stated as facts, and that is sad, those who do that know who they are. This is a free site where everybody can state their opinions and feelings, but I really think where anybody states anything as facts then they should provide verifiable information, if they cannot do that then clearly state it is their biased opinion and not based on any facts, then everything is fine.

I do live in Germany and I am happy to live in a land that is willing to assist these people in need. Looking at history it is a fact that when the crisis/war is over a vast majority of those refugees will return to their own countries. In my opinion it is therefore in our own interests (western countries) to help solve the crises in these lands, until that is done, we (the west) being the cause of much of these problems have a moral responsibility.

Going back to the original OP about people seeking more guns to protect themselves, in my opinion this is not true, but again only an opinion I have no verifiable facts. It is a fact however that the ownership of guns is not part of the European culture.

54

Paranoia after today's Watchtower

by Truthexplorer in

boy oh boy did i feel paranoid at today's wt.

not only are we to watch our associations outside of the congregation, but also watch our associations 'within' the congregation.

this was emphasised by the wt study conductor.

Driving Force

This paranoia could actually be used against the bOrg. Because everybody is to suspect everybody else then mention to one of the Elders the name of a specific person in the congregation, who you think is going to be the next to leave for apostasy.

You do not need to give any details, its just that you have a feeling, no more. You can do this if you attend meetings or not. If you do not go but are suspected of apostasy anyway what you say will have more weight.

This should really get the witch hunt going, and help some to wake up.

11

One of the biggest complete 180 contradictions in the SAME ARTICLE, in the 9/15 study wt "Is your conscience a reliable guide?".

by EndofMysteries in

if you actually turn your brain on and process what is being said, this article keeps contradicting itself.

"jehovah god created humans with free will, that is, the liberty to choose between one option and another.neither a branch office nor the local congregation elders are authorized to make health-care decisions for a witness.

a christian needs to remember the biblical command to keep abstaining from .

Driving Force

The best summary I ever heard was by Douglas Adams in the "Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy"

"Because"

14

"Sorry, sister; but the CO said he isn't going to visit anyone durind the Special Week."

by Tempest in a Teacup in

jw
friends

third post about the big disappointments that woke me up.

i'm writing them in no particular order.

these episodes made me bitter when they happened.

Driving Force

Good for you. You made the right decision.

On one occasion when the CO and his wife were to lunch, I offered wine to the CO, he promptly refuse and indignantly mumbled something about sacred service. The manner in which he did this was so belittling, it upset his wife so that she turned round to me and said "I would love a glass of wine with my lunch".

So I could drink a nice wine with the COs wife and he just looked on. Anyway after that this CO never treated me with much respect.

33

If you are a current active JW, What rules do you deliberately break?

by Truthexplorer in

do the lottery.

celebrate my child's birthday.

sign workmates birthday cards.

Driving Force

As a witness I use to secretly watch porn and then get a bad conscience, I was hooked, of course never looked to the elders for help.

Anyway now I know this prohibition is just another form of abuse from the WTBS and I will not be struck down during the big A just for watching, it no longer has the appeal. I hardly ever watch porn now, cured, well almost.

What else did I do, got pissed occasionally, now more often, and its fun.

70

Any funny stories of when a"brother" giving a talk, said something "funny" or "questionable", and didn't even realize it?

by Dunedain in

there were always all types of speakers in the org.

myself, growing up a "witness", must have heard all types of talks, and given by all manner of speakers, especially on sundays, when almost every week we would get a "visiting" brother giving the public talk.. sometimes, you would have a "great" speaker, all fluent and animated.

other times we would get a comical speaker, one who would maybe purposelly get a few laughs outta the audience.

Driving Force

This is a story I heard.

There was a brother visiting to give his Sunday Public Talk. After the song and prayer he got up to give his talk, but it was quite clear to everybody in the congregation that his flies were open. At attendant immediately got up and approached the speaker to inform him. The very embarrassed speaker turned around to fasten his flies and bent down slightly to do so, catching his tie in the zipper.

14

Jonestown Survivor Quote

by cappytan in

jw
friends

"...when our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished; when contacts & friendships outside of the organisation are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means.

when our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger.

when we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult.

Driving Force

Thats deeply moving. I have to print that on a visiting card and on the other side of the card links to Apostate sites and give them to every JW I meet.