Posts by ABibleStudent

42

Is the Bible just as fake as the JW's

by BackSlider in

jw
friends

it seems that the more i research, the more i find that it's all just a big scam.

is there any evidence that even the bible isn't just another big religion/government scam?

would we listen to putin or obama if they told us they have verified new holy writings?

ABibleStudent

IMHO the bible is a collection of stories (especially the OT) that can be described as didactic literature (read NOVA | Archeology of the Hebrew Bible - PBS). The creators of the stories wanted to convey a message. That message was conveyed by word of mouth until it was written down. Religions/people have used the bible for their own purposes throughout history which has victimized others. The WTBTS/JW.org has perfected victimizing JWs with BITE control, so I feel that the WTBTS is more dangerous than the Bible because the WTBTS/JW.org is a dangerous cult and do victimize JWs.

The bottom line is everyone has a brain, so use your brain and do not blindly follow what other people say. Do your own independent research!

To me the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ are useful to me to live a better life because Jesus Christ's emphasized loving others unconditionally and be wary of religions (i.e., Pharisees and Sadducees). After reading Steve Hassan's books to learn about BITE control, the Gospels become clearer that Jesus Christ was attempting to help Jews to critically think for themselves (or follow the Holy Spirit/Moral Compass inside of themselves) instead of blindly following the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

3

Reaching Out

by jim_bean in

jw
friends

hi all, i'll leave my full story for another time.

but briefly: i was born-in, raised by my single jw-mother, baptised at 18, faded less than 18 months later (never da'd.. or df'd to my knowledge!

), never gone back (though i looked over my shoulder for some time afterwards!

ABibleStudent

Welcome jim_bean, Thanks for relating your story.

Kuddos to you for reaching out to JWs. You are smart to only reach-out to the "Spiritually Weak" (still thinking) JWs and exJWs, because the "Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking) JWs would feel too much cognitive dissonance to do independent research themselves.

You have many options to help JWs/exJWs to overcome the WTBTS's BITE control. I would recommend that you read information by reputable cult-exit couselors such as Steve Hassan's books (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs"), visiting his website on www.freedomofmind.com, and watching his FREE videos on his website. Just sending them emails with pictures of what you are doing (except for parties) might cause them doubts. If you start talking with them, learning how to overcome them using WTBTS's thought-stopping platitudes might help them to start to critically think for themselves.

Best of wishes on your upcoming Birthday(s) - may you have many more B'parties.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

127

I'm sitting here listening to a JW try to recruit somebody

by Terry in

jw
friends

i'm at starbucks .

just outside in the courtyard.. i'm trembling.

my hands are shaking.. wow!.

ABibleStudent

Terry. I hope that you also volunteered to always talk with him and/or to help Jordan develop a new support network, if his independent research confirms what you are telling him. It is unfortunate that the WTBTS and JWs will not allow JWs to quietly leave and live their lives to their full potential.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

25

When did the line become so blur? Convention souvenirs & JW.org

by fredPotato in

i am pretty sure it has been discussed before here, but i just wanted to express how repulsive it is to me to see all that jw.org worship.. after looking at this picture, can you tell me where the jws are heading to?.

.

it makes me want to vomit.. cheers..

ABibleStudent

All JWs hail!!

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

8

National newspaper interview with JW's using the JW.org trolley

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

a dutch national newspaper (trouw) published an interview with some jw's using the jw.org trolley near the trainstation of utrecht.. the local coordinator of the trolley work acknowledged that many witness are not enthusiastic about preaching.

it's a wide spread rumor in our organization.. but the witness elders will remind them personally that preaching is nessasery.

then there is an question asked about the witness selection procedure for the trolley work.. the good looking pioneer sister answered she can imagine the need for selection because nobody would take a book from an old age leaning forward woman without teeth.. g..

ABibleStudent

It must have been a slow news day when they printed that story, Gorbatchov. After MH17 was shot down, I doubt that story would have been printed.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

127

I'm sitting here listening to a JW try to recruit somebody

by Terry in

jw
friends

i'm at starbucks .

just outside in the courtyard.. i'm trembling.

my hands are shaking.. wow!.

ABibleStudent

for confronting and talking with the JW, Terrry! The WTBTS's BITE control is very powerful!!! I agree with Finkelstein about segueing into JWfacts.com to JWs and to possible recruits, instead of getting upset.

How many exJW apologist will say that the WTBTS is not a cult and has the "Truth", even if they no longer believe in God nor that the Bible is the word of God? I know of one exJW who has been out > 20 years and told me that the WTBTS is not a cult and believe it has the "Truth", if he believed that the Bible was the word of God.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

43

My frist email letter from my JW Dad. So sad...

by suavojr in

jw
friends

i am in my early 30s and woke up to ttatt in late 2012. my dad just turned 65 in june!

wow, i never saw that being possible.. .

he just got himself a computer and was able to get internet in a remote location where he is serving as an elder with my mom (where the need is great) i was happy to see how he was able to send me a few notes saying hi and i was able to share some pictures of my wife and family, etc.. .

ABibleStudent

Be grateful that your Dad has a computer and is interested in learning how to use it, suavojr!!

Send your Dad and Mom lots of pictures of you and your family having fun doing non-JW activities. Also, send your Dad links to celtic music sites, and youtube videos of guitar players. Also, you can show him travel sites that might help him save money by staying in non-WTBTS approved hotels for DC/RC and would help him relax after without all the JW reinforced thought-stopping platitidues.

Anything that you can do to increase your Dad's interest in non-JW activities on the internet might help him to stumble on sites like JWfacts.com and JWN.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

21

Prediction: The organization to ease up on disfellowshipping for apostasy.

by kneehighmiah in

jw
friends

i believe the organization is already easing up on disfellowshipping people for apostasy.

they know most doubters just want to be left alone.

disfellowshipping them turns them into martyrs.

ABibleStudent

Disfellowshipping and promoting shunning - No way. Disassociating - unlikely. Silent fading - maybe, if the money keeps floowing in and doesn't become a flood of JWs leaving with there money.

The WTBTS is a dangerous cult so they do not use non-JW logic and compassion.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

41

Would like all of your imput on this. Please

by Still Totally ADD in

jw
friends

both reopened mind and i are now in our early 60's and it seems our conversations lately have been on putting everything up for sale and buying a rv and travel until we can't anymore.

it has been a dream of ours for along time to see all the site's in the u.s. and canada.

we feel we could make money as we go by selling and teaching using herbs and gardening.

ABibleStudent

Hi Still Totally ADD, Have you thought about renting an RV in the next two to three years for about a month to see if you like living on the road? It is better to try it before you sell everything to do it permanently.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

24

If the organization is all about money.....

by Pete Zahut in

then why would they be so insistent about dfing people ?

if it's money the watchtower org is after, it seems like they'd want to hold on to all the members they can.. how would you answer this logic?.

ABibleStudent

Hi Pete Zahut, It is about labeling people who no longer believe in the WTBTS, so that the cult personas of other JWs are able to justify shunning them. It is better to lose one JW instead of allowing one JW to influenance other JWs into believing that the WTBTS is a dangerous cult.

This characteristic of the WTBTS and reason for doing it was reported in Why the Jehovah’s Witnesses Grow so Rapidly: A Theoretical Application by Rodney Stark & Laurence R Iannaccone in 1997. Since that article was written the WTBTS has continued to grow, but I believe at a lower rate because of reduced hours to qualify as publishers/pioneers, the internet, and reduced social cohesivenss in congregations. Maybe the WTBTS is trying to reduce that trend of slower (declining) growth by rebranding itself as JW.org and holding social events at DCs.

Hubris (feeling unique/special) can be a great motivator for negative-type individuals to ridicule others.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert