Posts by truth_b

8

J Dublethink

by LoveUniHateExams in

i'm just thinking of examples of jw doublethink.. here's one - jws will tell a bible study or unbaptised publisher that there is no hierarchy within the org.

they typically remark on christendom's hierarchy but then say 'we are all brothers'.

but as a person gets further into the cult, jws will constantly stress the need to obey the governing body.. jw hierarchy .

truth_b_known

The greatest JW double think I can come up with is this -

The Watchtower advocates in its printed publications for all people to examine their religion for the purpose of finding out whether or not it is "the truth". Conversely, the Watchtower and its leaders, the Governing Body, prohibit their followers from examining the teachings of the Watchtower for their accuracy. To simply question a belief of the Watchtower is to risk being shunned by their organization. Followers are advised to simply accept what they are told and to question it is to question God. In short, that is the central belief of all Protestant/Reformation/Evangelic Christian denominations - Never question those taking the lead as that is the same as questioning God.

An unexamined life is not worth living - Socrates

24

I am still not able to solve this God's name paradox...

by psyco in

i am finishing to read the entire bible (nwt 2013) for my first time (my fault) and i wrote down hundreds, maybe thousands, of questions not clear to me, but one especially came in my mind meditating on god's name.. if i wanted to summarize the entire bible in one phrase i would say (even before the kingdom): god’s name sanctification.. god is jealous about his name.

he does everything for the love of his name, and he wants to be called and prayed using his name.

no doubt about all this (repeated several times in the bible), but it involves the pronunciation of his name.. god left us his name in the form of יהוה which is unpronounceable.

truth_b_known

To add on to the OP frustration, we were taught to offer our prayers "in Jesus' name" as Jesus is the intermediary between God and imperfect humans. "Jesus" is English for the Latin version of the Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) as there is no way to translate the Hebrew name ישוע‎ (Y'shua) into Greek. Some words and names just don't translate into other languages.

So Jehovah's Witnesses are told by the Watchtower to pray to Jehovah (a made up name created by a Catholic monk) through Jesus' name, which is also made up.

If you were born in England, the U.S., or any other nation whose language is English and your name is John I am sure you would appreciate it if people called you John even if you were to travel to Spanish speaking nations where they would use Juan instead of John. A person's name doesn't change based on geography or national language of translators.

27

Do local JWs want in-person meetings back in your congregation?

by JWTom in

jw
friends

i realize many here think that in-person meetings will return as soon as things are safe with covid.

but many acknowledge it will likely be 2022 or later when this happens.. surprisingly, many pimi jws in our congregation are not shy about saying they are fine with zoom meetings forever and do not want to go back to in-person meetings.

many speculate similar thoughts that are on this site....such as a combination of in-person and zoom meetings.

truth_b_known

If the Watchtower reduced meetings to a 45 minute public talk on Sunday and only asked for 1 hour a week of standing next to a literature cart for publishing hours Witnesses would through a ticker tape parade.

1

Ongoing Changes Happening - Even While Some Do Not Realize How Significant

by JWTom in

jw
friends

i posted this item a few weeks ago (link below) with a compilation of items that could happen as the organization unravels - even though many (including myself) may find it unlikely, improbable or simply too much of a change to believe.. https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5165806634663936/drastic-upcoming-changes-accelerated-pandemic.

as an active pimo though, i came up with the list in the above post simply from the standpoint that very significant changes have been occurring on an ongoing basis and sometimes i think even very active witnesses do not realize it.

a few major items that have been ongoing or were singular events listed below.

truth_b_known

8. Elimination of the Theocratic Ministry School

30

$15.00 minimum wage

by hoser in

jw
friends

while we are talking about economic stimulus i thought i’d bring up the $15 minimum wage.

pros and cons?.

truth_b_known

I bet you will find that most people make over the minimum wage. My question here is, what was the grocer paying before, 14.75 (even though the minimum wage was 7.25)?

$10.50 and hour was the starting wage.

I think what it comes down to is pricing. Pricing in driving main street out of business and only Wall Street can be profitable. The restaurant business is just one example of this. You can drive overhead down by getting a bulk discount on supplies.

I remember when I was in high school all the local comic book shops worked together to get their overhead down. In the U.S., all comics are purchased from the same distributor. The bigger the order, the lower the cost per issue. When 5 stores located in 2 neighboring cities put in one order to the distributor the started saving money and that kept their doors open.

20

Remember how it felt before you woke up. Living forever in a Righteous World.

by pistolpete in

i woke up early in life.

it’s not because i was smarter than my brothers and sisters.

in fact, reflecting back, i actually don’t know why i didn’t embrace the watchtower teachings?

truth_b_known

I was born and raised as a Witness. My dad was an elder and PO (now COBE). My mother was the matriarch of the congregation. I truly believed in the religion, but saw through the organization.

It wasn't until I was about 25 that I ever once thought about living forever on a paradise earth. The first and only time I gave any thought to it was when a close friend of mine had a mental breakdown, committed a serious crime, and went to prison for a decade. Right after his incarceration I had a dream that he and I decided to hike the entire planet after Armageddon. That was the only time I ever thought about it.

30

$15.00 minimum wage

by hoser in

jw
friends

while we are talking about economic stimulus i thought i’d bring up the $15 minimum wage.

pros and cons?.

truth_b_known

If a 40 hour a week job's salary is low enough for an employee to qualify for tax payer funded assistance for food, housing, and medical insurance there is a problem. Conversely, tax payer funded assistance should not be so high paying as that able bodied people are willing to sit at home and live off the tax payers' labor. That is what the U.S. is experiencing right now.

There are people in the U.S. who were laid off due to COVID-19. Their unemployment check combined with the Federal unemployment assistance is more than their full time wage before COVID-19. Regulations requiring unemployed persons to both look for work or return to their old job were not enforced as it was deemed a health risk due to COVID-19.

Where I live there is a "Now Hiring" sign in the window of every retailer and restaurant. Wait times for service at grocery stores and restaurants are unreal. Going through the drive through at a fast food restaurant is pointless as every driver is told to park and wait for their order. Customers who purchase groceries for online for curbside pick up are waiting over 2 hours out in the parking lot for their groceries. One major grocery decided to go ahead and just start pay $15.00 an hour starting wage even though minimum wage is $7.25.

40

What is your status (as of today) as a Jehovah's Witness?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

active believer...still attend meetings, go out in field service, believe it's ''the truth''.

active non-believer... go to meetings and field service to please family... living a double life .

inactive believer...don't attend meetings but believe it's the truth, one day might go back to kingdom hall.

truth_b_known

4. Bible is mostly fiction. Bible has some value. I find more truth in eastern philosophy.

46

The camp of Israel and the problem of pooping

by FFGhost in

so, in a couple weeks, the jws move on in their bible-reading slog to the book of deuteronomy.. take a gander at deuteronomy 23:12,13:.

a private place should be designated for use outside the camp, and there is where you should go.

13 a peg should be part of your equipment.

truth_b_known

More rational thought on why the Exodus never happened.

11

Street-Talk with Jehovah's Witnesses

by Vanderhoven7 in

street-talk with jehovah's witnesses.

opening up a street-level dialogue with jehovah's witnesses:.

since this will probably be a one time occurrence, an important objective of any street encounter is to bless jws with doubt about their beloved organization.. after exchanging niceties, you might say something like:.

truth_b_known

JW: Please read this Watchtower publication that proves my religion is right and your religion is wrong. You owe it to yourself to examine your current religion.

Person-on-the-Street: I will agree if you read my non-Watchtower publication that proves your religion is wrong.

JW: No thanks. Have a nice day.

truth_b_known

Posts by truth_b_known