Posts by MrDarkKnight

27

Reality setting in for Jehovah's Witnesses?

by MrDarkKnight in

when my friends and family try to "reason" with me about my decision to leave, i immediatley begin to question the interpretation of the so-called prophecy in the bible, i am getting the following consistent response:.

"it does not matter if the end comes in my lifetime.

i know i am doing god's will.".

MrDarkKnight

@Blondie...I am 45...these are people my age and older...the 1975 generation...we all bought into the end of the world. That was the push in the 70s and 80s. I was serving at Bethel in 1989 when the wall came down in Eastern Europe. Big things were supposed to happen, then they didn't.

When they tinkered with the very things that sold me...the sheep and the goats prophecy and the generation, I immediatley concluded that the interpretations I dedicated my life to were being tossed to the side. From that point on I began my slow slide to making the decision to leave.

Starting your life over without any support system is daunting and very hard...trust me I know. But I am experienceing the happiness of doing what I really believe and being successful and happy. (Shiver me timbers!)

Now they seem to be focusing more on how terrible everyone else is and how righteious and happy they are. I only keep track because my 13 year sold is still in with his mom...although when he is with me the Kingdom Hall is not on his agenda AT ALL!

I think that many want to make change but don't quite know what to do. I started the thread to see what others have heard.

Just curious.

33

When Someone You Love Is Removed As An Elder!

by Bubblegum Apotheosis in

jw
friends

last week we lost a wonderful elder (removed, stepped down is what i will believe) , this man was as real, as you can get.

he loved the sheep,.

his eternal optimism of humanity is a rare quality in the jw religion.

MrDarkKnight

They make you give everything...in the end you get nothing.

27

Reality setting in for Jehovah's Witnesses?

by MrDarkKnight in

when my friends and family try to "reason" with me about my decision to leave, i immediatley begin to question the interpretation of the so-called prophecy in the bible, i am getting the following consistent response:.

"it does not matter if the end comes in my lifetime.

i know i am doing god's will.".

MrDarkKnight

When my friends and family try to "reason" with me about my decision to leave, I immediatley begin to question the interpretation of the so-called prophecy in the Bible, I am getting the following consistent response:

"It does not matter if the end comes in my lifetime. I know I am doing God's will."

This response is dumbfounding to me. The reason I became a Witness at 15 years old was because of the interpretation of so-called prophecy. The reason I left at age 44 was because I finally admitted to mysel,f that the interpretation of so-called prophecy was simply guessing and revising the guess. Strangely enough, for me, doing God's will was never the reason I joined.

Has anyone else had this experience? Are the rank and file resigning themselves to "serving God" until they expire and hoping for a miracle?

100

Latest Watchtower page 30... They have some nerve to put this!

by TimothyT in

one thing that i have always noticed even when i was a jw is that the jw org has lots and lots and lots of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make no difference.

when you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law.

am i missing something here!?!?

MrDarkKnight

Interesting thread. DJeggnog is definitetly not part of the JW establishment, because if he was he would not be posting on this board. He displays an inaccurate knowledge of JW teachings, and lacks the finesse required to be of the JW leadership. I am not sure of his purpose for posting, he is not drawing people as Christ did, but is alienating them.

I find him entertaining, but his commentary pointless.

84

BEARDS: Why JW men don't have them

by 00DAD in

i know this has been dished over before, but when i was doing some research i discovered a couple of interesting points.

as far as i can find, there is only one wt article that implies that jw men should not have beards.

*** w75 8/15 pp.

MrDarkKnight

The basic rule on beards or any other policy that has no biblical basis is this...you can do it if you want to, but you cannot have any "special" privleges in the organization. Conform and be promoted or rebel and be put in a box.

3

Do you think in time all jw's will leave the unbeliever?

by tif21 in

jw
friends

wondering with all that has been said about the mentally diseased has anyone heard if a jw can divorce a disease mate?.

MrDarkKnight

No they can't. My estranged wife would have tried by now.

27

I have never felt at home at a bar

by sabastious in

jw
friends

last night i went to the casino for a friends birthday, we played blackjack and some slots, it was a 6.5/10 on the fun scale type of night.

i got up from the blackjack table to go to the bar to get myself a drink.

i sat down at the bar and ordered my favorite drink: a long island iced tea.

MrDarkKnight

I have had a lot of fun at sports bars...going to some this weekend to watch the NFL playoffs!

49

11,824 Memorial Partakers in 2011

by FrankWTower in

there were 11,202 partakers in 2010. and 11,824 partakers in 2011.. there was an increase of 622 or 5.5% in one year.. your thoughts?.

source: 2012 yearbook (in spanish).

MrDarkKnight

Interestingly, the number of partaker hit a historic low at 8617 in 1994 just before the change in the sheep and the goats and the generations teachings.

The number then climbed 8760 in 2002. I remember that some stern direction was given on who should partake and the number dropped to 8565 in 2003.

The number has steadily increased to the current number of 11824. This an eyepopping number considering this comment in the 1981 Yearbook right after the so-called Great Apostasy in Brooklyn Bethel:

*********

yb81pp.31-321981YearbookofJehovah’sWitnesses

"Over the past seven years, from 1974 to 1980 inclusive, Jehovah’s Witnesses have made steady progress. Their growth is healthy. Only as to Memorial partakers has there been a gradual decline, which is in accord with Scriptural expectations. Thus there is no doubt that Jehovah has been guiding his people unfailingly through Christ Jesus their leader. Observe the following graphic picture of the worldwide progress of Jehovah’s work on earth in these last days."

They will have to address the whole anointed, 144,000, doctrine soon. It was fairly week to begin with and now is becoming an albatross. I have been inactive for over year and found this information pretty easily. It won't take long for others still in to ask the question.

Look for a Question from Readers soon.

MDK

81

WT Mar 15th 2012 - 144,000 no longer a literal number?

by dozy in

reading idly through this magazine , i read the study article "rejoicing in our hope" which discusses the two "hopes" according to the wtbts ie heaven & earth.. a couple of points were of interest:.

(1) absolutely no mention at all of the 144,000 or rev 14. usually an article like this would be filled with references , but it isn't even mentioned.

it does discuss the "limited number" , but only in contrast with the "no man can number" great crowd.. (2) a much more laid back attitude towards the two hopes.

MrDarkKnight

This was an question with me 25 years ago and now is a major issue. The teaching of the 144,000 will HAVE to be changed. They will soon have no choice. One of my best friends before I left now claims to be of the "anointed." Where will it end? The writers are guy I personnally know, drank beer with and partied with at Bethel. The thought they are now providing the reading material is incredible to me.

23

The Crux of the Matter For Me

by MrDarkKnight in

it has been very interesting and beneficial reading the posts and comments of everyone on the board since i joined back in june of this year.

the recent efforts of mankeli have made me consider exactly what it is i have issue with when it comes to the teachings of the wtbs and jehovah's witnesses.

i have stated my background before: 38 years in the organization, 10 years at bethel in responsible positions, 15 years an elder with circuit and district responsibilities and parts on circuit and disctrict assemblies, a former member of the hospital liason committee and a presiding overseer for 5 years.

MrDarkKnight

@palmtree67...I have serious doubts about the Bible...I am well aware of the whole Bible canon process...I don't trust it, I just did not want rile those on this board who believe the Bible and love it...

@jonathan dough...my time with the JWs has not been a total waste...I lucked out when I went to Bethel and expanded my training as an electrician by learning automation and controls...I now have a successful career as a security systems engineer for a prominent government contractor...I am dedicated to protecting the United States of America...and I am proud and well paid to do it!