Posts by Londo111

26

JW's Changing Tune

by SickofLies in

i left the religion back in the early 2000's, tell you the truth it's been so long now i've been out i don't remember exactly when i left.

i definitely used this site a lot when i first left and it was a great asset.

when i left i somehow managed to get my parents to come with me.

Londo111

They are rebranding to the point it's almost not the same religion anymore. But in regards being authoritarian, they are just as much if not more so.

The packaging is changing, but when you open it up, it's still a cult and a toxic environment.

I think the bottom line is: in a cult, "friends" are easily made, but it is an illusion. In the everyday world, it's more difficult for people in their 30's and older to make new friends. People by that age already have made their social circles. It's the one problem that is difficult to solve for those who leave the cult.

8

What Kind of Activism?

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

activism or any kind of push back really is not about the size of your emotion, your disgust, or the feeling of powerless frustration at the religion.being an ex-jw is about one of two things and two things only:1. being effective.

2. being ineffectiveto which i add: effective at what?1.

not identifying yourself as the foaming at the mouth, demonic, mentally diseased piece of shit the watchtower has framed you out to be in the minds of their captive slaves.2.

Londo111

Terry: I couldn't agree with you more.

I really don't get the mindset of those who are aggressive. It's as if they've forgotten what it's like to be a JW or they just don't care about helping them.

66

How Knowledge is Dissipated in Talks

by Cold Steel in

londo111 » each congregation has a “talk coordinator”.

talk coordinators will coordinate with other talk coordinators in order to find speakers to give the public talk on sunday.

typically, they come from the general area: the circuit or a nearby circuit.

Londo111

ColdSteel:

Perhaps the LDS church is a better environment than the JWs and has nowhere near the extreme control. Since I'm never been, I cannot say.

However, the way you describe former Mormons (and their websites, books, ect...) sounds allot like how many JWs would describe former JWs, including this forum here.

30

1914 is the Key !

by Phizzy in

i thought this deserved its own topic.

it is a thought that occurred to me as i read the wt rag that i took to be polite.. it is the public one about the 4 horseman, and it struck me that they are still 100% reliant on their false 1914 doctrine to hang everything on.. if 1914 is proved wrong, what can the credibility of their doomsday message hang on ?.

we all know how to disprove the old 2520 years nonsense, but they seem to at last be hiding that, and simply claiming that world events prove jesus slung the devil out of heaven in 1914.. so, what has that old devil done since 1914, 103 years ago ?.

Londo111

Indeed. 1914 is the key to the entire theology. That mountains of evidence that prove 587 BC as opposed to 607 blow the 2520 year equation out the water. The improving world conditions show these have been the best time humanity has ever had...whatever problems there are, in the past, prior to the 20th century, they were a whole lot worse. People in the middle ages had a better case for being in the last days.

Of course, without 1914, the year 1919 becomes insignificant as well. And it deals a huge blow to the idea that Jesus appointed the leaders of the Watchtower as his "faithful slave". The Governing Body's claim to authority is rendered meaningless.

66

How Knowledge is Dissipated in Talks

by Cold Steel in

londo111 » each congregation has a “talk coordinator”.

talk coordinators will coordinate with other talk coordinators in order to find speakers to give the public talk on sunday.

typically, they come from the general area: the circuit or a nearby circuit.

Londo111

If it were some sort of Bible study with the intent to convert the non-JWs, perhaps it would be okay. But only two JWs would be able to "count their time".

However, even a one-time meetup of independent Bible research, if come to attention of the elders, would likely result in them talking to the person. And a mixed theological discussion (JWs and non-JWS) might be viewed as "interfaith": a huge no no.

A non-religious meetup (book club,ect) would not bear that kind of stigma. However, most likely, a JW would be counseled at having unnecessary association with non-JWs and 1 Corinthians 15:33 would be trotted out.

36

Crossing the Elders

by Cold Steel in

few things draw my interest as much as people on this board who talk about the elders, the insidious little toadies who lurk around kingdom halls, the proverbial big fish in little ponds.

it amazes me the terror and the veneration they inspire, as well as the occasional ridicule.

it makes me wonder how they're selected and whether most of them come into the position with a sense of power, entitlement, authority and control, or whether many of them are pretty nice people and that i'm just hearing about the bad apples?

Londo111

From my observation, being an elder is allot of hard work, way more than the load of what the rank-and-file active publisher bears. That kind of stress might drive anyone nuts.

As the Bible says, “Mere oppression makes the wise one act crazy.” And we’ve established the elders aren’t very wise…so imagine what it does to them!

66

How Knowledge is Dissipated in Talks

by Cold Steel in

londo111 » each congregation has a “talk coordinator”.

talk coordinators will coordinate with other talk coordinators in order to find speakers to give the public talk on sunday.

typically, they come from the general area: the circuit or a nearby circuit.

Londo111

To copy and past what I wrote on the other discussion:

As the September 2007 Kingdom Ministry says:

“Does ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate? No, it does not …“the faithful and discreet slave” does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight."

36

Crossing the Elders

by Cold Steel in

few things draw my interest as much as people on this board who talk about the elders, the insidious little toadies who lurk around kingdom halls, the proverbial big fish in little ponds.

it amazes me the terror and the veneration they inspire, as well as the occasional ridicule.

it makes me wonder how they're selected and whether most of them come into the position with a sense of power, entitlement, authority and control, or whether many of them are pretty nice people and that i'm just hearing about the bad apples?

Londo111

Ah...I've seen people post about it.

Of course, the cult mechanism shut that down very quick.

38

Talk to my Dad about beards.

by LovingLifeNow in

jw
friends

so i spoke to my elder dad the other day, and he asked if i still am sporting a beard.

i said yes, then i said, "i thought the society said its ok to have a neat trimmed beard now?

" he said "no, no, no..if you read the article , it says in countries where it is accepted" so my response was "ummm, its pretty accepted here in america"..which he says "it reflects your spirituality" "if another wittness saw you, they would know you are weak"...i was like, "ok, i don't get it, and i follow christ/god, not men..." then he said in his hall" if a brother came in with a beard , he would not have privelages" then i just gave up, and tried to change the subject..ugggggggggg if these people would just listen to themselves , they would see the sillyness of there teachings...

Londo111

Agree with jp1692.

How flimsy a faith if it can be overturned by someone's facial hair?

36

How ballroom dancing helped our exit

by Finally Left in

just wanted to say hello and thank you for all of your comments.

when i finally figured out this was not the truth it was nice to know i wasn't the only one - it was a surprise to learn how many there are.

february was my last month of service after 43 active years.

Londo111

Congrats on both you and your spouse waking up!