indoctrinated into all things watchtower, i once believed the bible was true history, that evolution was false and evil, and that the bible could be trusted to be reliable when it touched on science issues.
then i got introduced to the official catholic bible translation of u.s. catholics, the new american bible revised edition (or nabre--not to be confused with the protestant nasv or new american standard version) and things changed.
i was shocked to learn that the nabre teaches.... the creation and flood stories of genesis are jewish adaptations of mesopotamian heathen creation-flood mythology, not history.
I reread the Bible using the Catholic New Jerusalem Bible and learned tons. The footnotes were extensive. Especially reading Genesis, it was interesting seeing the various sources highlighted via the Documentary hypothesis. I came away with mad props for Catholic scholarship.
Evidently, both Catholic and mainline Protestants, learn this stuff in seminary.
In contrast, JWs (especially the Governing Body) know little to nothing about the Bible.
i have done this exactly as quoted more than once.
i ask elder if it's better to hide serious sin or reveal, of course we know the answer.
then i ask them to explain elders book page 38 paragraph 19, which say it's sometimes ok for elder who has committed immorality and has kept it secret to continue serving as elder.
Had I known this when I was a JW, I would not (as a regular rank-and-file publisher) reported a matter about myself to the elders.
I was under the impression that if I did not confess:
[1] I would be destroyed at Armageddon
[2] God could not forgive me without the elder's "spiritual healing"
[3] I would impede God's bless and the "flow of holy spirit" in my congregation and be just like Achan.
*warning this is long* it all started on the last day of the "remain loyal to jehovah" convention.
a little background story, i've been raised as a jw, been in and out of the religon, never baptised but was made an unbaptized publisher about 3 years ago, always felt out of place in the congregation, blamed myself for this because if i had just went to meetings and did all the right things then i would have friends and not be in the mess that i was.
right after becoming an unbaptized publisher i met my now fiance, end up leaving my mother's house to live with him, elders haven't contacted me about my situation even though i'm sure they know as my step father is an elder...but anyway on the last day of the convention my fiance came with me as i was visiting my mother and had planned to go with her and her husband to the convention.
Welcome!
And congrats for starting to see the organization through open eyes.
You might also want to read Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan.
i was reading again the parapble jesus spoke to his disciples about the sheep and goats.
when i read it, it was plain and simple in my eyes.. 34 then the king will say to those on his right, come, you who have been blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.
35 for i became hungry and you gave me something to eat; i got thirsty and you gave me something to drink.
I suspect "the least of these my brothers" will be reinterpreted to not mean the "anointed remnant", but supporting the Governing Body. In practice, that is how it works out in the Watchtower org.
had two lovely jws (stephen and ruth) visit this morning.
this was our second study in the last 2 weeks.
they first knocked on my door (bell is out) 3 weeks ago and i shared my testimony and we arranged to meet last tuesday which we did.. our first study went like this:.
It's like playing a boardgame with a kid who overturns the board and storms off when you don't let him him...
lets imagine you're a jehovah's witness elder.
you have zero theological training aside from what you've read in the watchtower and the currently still approved watchtower publications, you have zero counseling skills, and no medical training.
a recently bereaved sister approaches you in tears and tells you she just wants to die.. what do you do?.
And everyone knows more field service will solve all her problems...
If she is pioneering already, perhaps she can find ways to do more?
a new video is up about the commencement of moving to warwick.shawn bartlett tells the viewers that jehovah has said, through the governing body, ‘it’s time to move out of brooklyn.
‘ then helper robert lucciona says ‘ the governing body, these brothers, as soon as they see god’s direction, they just move, it doesn’t matter if it is long held, cherished ideas, this is the way it has to be done, as soon as they see jehovahs direction.
he just kept nudging imperfect humans, he knew where he wanted us and then we end up where we are supposed to be.
They Governing Body are prophets who get to play the "imperfect men" card.
these grads.
are a special people indeed.
how on earth they put up with all this indoctrination is beyond me, months of intense brainwashing.
Interesting stuff. Thanks!
jehovahs (hidden) message revealed
by terry
walstrom
Times have sure changed!
hello all.... i am new here so i figured i'd make a quick post introducing myself and giving a brief intro as to who i am and what i'm here for... as well as to hopefully meet others.. so, i made a profile and in it i gave a pretty detailed explanation as to my intent here and exactly why i decided to participate in the boards.
in case you don't read it, i'll give a brief summary.
the name is robert.
Robert,
In any endeavor in life, whether buying a car or finding a spiritual path, one needs to look at all sides. For a religion or church, you need to hear from members and former members.
If you were buying a used car, wouldn’t you want to hear if there were a high rate of dissatisfied customers? Why are they dissatisfied? Would you only listen to the car salesman and their brochures?
I would definitely balance what you are reading on the official website with: jwfacts.com
For the record, the Jehovah’s Witness religion does teach that it is the one and only restoration of first century Christianity. In fact, the current teaching is that in the year 1919, Christ chose the leaders (the Governing Body, who lead Jehovah’s Witnesses) as “the faithful and discreet slave”, the sole channel God is using to communicate with mankind. This is the core JW teaching around which everything else revolves. Their literature says: “Our spiritual health and our relationship with God depend on this channel."
Do you believe that your relationship with God depends on recognizing seven men in New York as “the faithful and discreet slave?” Do you believe that Jesus appointed the governing body in 1919 as God’s sole channel? If you are a JW and say no, then you are subsequently expelled and shunned. You are labeled an “apostate”.
Your friend’s mother took a blood transfusion and was excommunicated and shunned. By your own admission, the family was torn apart. This is par for the course. It has been estimated that 50000 people have died because the JW leadership not only bans blood transfusions, it enforces this ban with expulsion and shunning. Some elders are part of Hospital Liaison Committees who are there to help ensure JWs comply when they are in the hospital. BTW…blood transfusions and donating blood are banned, but blood fractions are allowed as of 2000.
Tens of thousands of people a year are disfellowshipped and subsequently shunned by their friends and family. This has resulted in countless suicides. The pain is very real, especially since JWs are taught only to make friends with other JWs. Overnight, a person can lose their whole support system and social network.
What can you be disfellowshipped for? Celebrating any holiday, like Christmas or a birthday. Not agreeing with Watchtower teachings (like Jesus invisible presence began in 1914, the ban on blood transfusion, ect…), associating with a disfellowshiped person….and countless other rules. A JW can be taken into the 'back room' of the Kingdom Hall and interrogated by a “judicial committee”, a panel of 3 elders who act as judge, jury, and executioner. No recordings are allowed. No observers are allowed. There are no defense or character witnesses.
The reason for this forum is because of this pain and because folks within the organization cannot speak freely or question anything…not without consequences. Some here do not believe in the religion, but still attend and go door to door, because if they choose to do otherwise, they will lose their family.
A recent Pew poll found that two thirds of those who were raised as a JW no longer were. That is a lot of dissatisfied customers! In the Pew poll of religions, JWs come in dead last when it comes to a retention rate, in higher education, and in income.
The official website is geared toward outsiders. It is worded in such a way to appear reasonable. However, a little digging can reveal how deceptive the official website is.
Did not Jesus warn to beware of false prophets who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing? Did he not say, “by their fruits you will know them”?
JWs set another record on setting of dates when it comes to when Armageddon would happen. To name a few: 1914, 1925, 1975. In 1918, they taught, “Millions now living will never die!” Until 1995, they said it was the Creator’s promise that the generation that saw 1914 would not pass away—now it is taught that the generation is two overlapping groups (one that sees 1914, the other that sees the End).
In comparison to all this, whether God is one person or three distinct persons with one divine essence seems a non-issue. There are other churches who espouse Arianism. Most churches, people are allowed to be guided by their own conscience and reading of Scripture as to what they personally believe. Even those with an official Trinitarian creed, most would not expel or shun an individual for having another view.
