Posts by Londo111

46

The Elders are Coming Help!

by LaurenM in

so the elders keep bugging me and pestering me about having a meeting with them to "introduce me to my new congregation" for some reason (do any ex elders know what that even means??).

i keep postponing and making excuses and they are getting more and more aggressive.

i finally agreed for them to come over today, but really don't want to..should i hide from them again?

How did Matthew Use the Word "Generation"?

by BluesBrother in

another "generation" thread....i know!

when splane wanted a scripture that demonstrated the bible's use of the word he went all the way back to moses and used ex.

1.6. he could have stayed in the same book and used matthew chapter 1,written by the same hand.

Londo111

As demonstrated by the opening post, it is a teaching that can be demolished in less than a minute.

11

What happened with Dr. Applewhite's supplementary report? Mistery solved

by Viva la Vida in

jw
friends

542 on 16 august 2015, dr applewhite wrote to the legal representative of watchtower.

australia and advised that she was unable to prepare a supplementary statement due.

to other commitments.

The money question...

by Tornintwo in

jw
friends

i am intrigued to know if there is truly any evidence of financial irregularities in the jehovah's witness organisation or if any one or group are raking off funds or benefitting financially...?.

whilst i disagree wholeheartedly with most of their teachings and practices, dogmatism, legalism and superiority complex, i don't honestly think there's anyone making millions at the top.

yes you could say that the gb are comfortably off, don't have to pay bills etc but they do actually get up in the morning and 'work', they aren't going off in private jets to tropical islands or driving bentleys.

Londo111

"Ray Franz never mentioned financial issues"

Ray was in the Writing Department, thus finances would not be in his domain. His concern was Scripture, Christian qualities, ect...

50

An Atheist Visits A Kingdom Hall

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

http://nerdinthebrain.com/2015/01/25/why-i-spent-my-morning-in-a-kingdom-hall-partying-with-jehovahs-witnesses/.

he seems to have quite a positive view of jw's.. bangalore.

Londo111

I’ve seen nothing in this discussion that is about convincing anyone to dislike, mistrust, or condemn an entire group of people (Jehovah’s Witnesses). I personally love Jehovah’s Witnesses and want to see them live the best life possible. I wish them the best!

It is the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses that is the problem, the source of the teachings and practices and deceit. And it has led to many serious issues that both Jehovah’s Witnesses and those on the outside need to be aware of. For instance, google Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Australian Royal Commission.

Every group has some painful experiences, but it is a matter of proportion and degree. The Jehovah’s Witnesses organization (not the people), the Church of Scientology (not the people), the Moonies, the LDS church, and so forth have a magnitude of pain not found in mainstream religion.

In any of these groups: where there is smoke, there is fire. Do not hate the people in these groups, but people need to be aware of the organizations themselves. There are many victims and their stories should not be invalidated.

50

An Atheist Visits A Kingdom Hall

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

http://nerdinthebrain.com/2015/01/25/why-i-spent-my-morning-in-a-kingdom-hall-partying-with-jehovahs-witnesses/.

he seems to have quite a positive view of jw's.. bangalore.

Londo111

Unfortunately, my experience is all too common and this forum is full of like stories from all geographic locations.

It depends how you leave. Obviously, those who are disfellowshipped or who disassociate, they will face shunning from friends and family (not living in the same home). Not so much as a hello or an email. Some who have formally disassociated have expressed regret doing so later.

However many on this forum have opted for gradually fading and distancing themselves from the organization. If JWs believe you are merely inactive, family relations can continue. Of course, you simply never speak about your doubts (or certainties) or research about the organization and never be seen breaking Watchtower rules (like celebrating holidays). This is what I tried to do.

Even faded people do face cooling of relationships from friends and sometimes family. And there is a constant pressure to “return to Jehovah”, that is the organization. You constantly have to watch out not to say the wrong thing or be caught doing something a JW cannot do (like a birthday, Christmas, attending a church).

But then, what do you do if a family member point blank asks, “Are you an apostate? Do you believe the Governing Body is the Faithful and Discreet slave?” You might try to word things in a non-threatening way and establish some common ground. But it comes a time when you have to choose to be honest or dishonest.

If a family member is perceived as “apostate”, they can easily be cut off. “Spiritually stoned” as it were. Even in the same household, people have found themselves kicked out of their own home, divorces have occurred, jobs lost.

There is nothing a non-JW can do to convince a JW to associate with a “mentally-diseased” apostate, even family.

50

An Atheist Visits A Kingdom Hall

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

http://nerdinthebrain.com/2015/01/25/why-i-spent-my-morning-in-a-kingdom-hall-partying-with-jehovahs-witnesses/.

he seems to have quite a positive view of jw's.. bangalore.

Londo111

I definitely agree 100% about being kind and compassionate and helping one another, especially to JWs who are captive to their indoctrination. I detest belligerance, animosity, and condescension as well.

Of course, because I do not share my parent's views, I have not heard from them in months. It was a subject I didn't even want to bring up with them...I thought I had an "understanding" not to bring it up. If you read the emails I had from my father, you would have seen the belligerence, animosity, and condescension JWs have toward former members. I have not had the stomach yet to share them on this forum.

But I don't blame my parents...they are doing as they have been indoctrinated to do. I was once in the same place mentally.

50

An Atheist Visits A Kingdom Hall

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

http://nerdinthebrain.com/2015/01/25/why-i-spent-my-morning-in-a-kingdom-hall-partying-with-jehovahs-witnesses/.

he seems to have quite a positive view of jw's.. bangalore.

Londo111

Nerd in the Brain,

I am hoping my message via your site to you was reasonable. If you stick around and read people's experiences, I think you can understand why some people are very hurt and might lash out, sometimes in ways that are not optimal.

As a potential convert (from their view), they are going to be extra nice to you. Ask your friend this, "Do you ever count your time when you spend time with me? How many hours do you report?" Hopefully they will be honest, but sometimes a JW will slip into theocratic warfare mode and not give a straight answer.

7

jw
friends

http://nerdinthebrain.com/2015/01/25/why-i-spent-my-morning-in-a-kingdom-hall-partying-with-jehovahs-witnesses/.

he seems to have quite a positive view of jw's.. bangalore.

Londo111

Alas comments are closed. I sent a message to the writer.